11-12_BT_Nov-Dec 2021

Life & Style
Savvy Parenting
can easily set rules in a few
clicks. Audra is made with
three components - Cloud
AI solution to protect users
seamlessly, Management app
for setting rules and getting
alerts and a 1Gbps Wi-Fi
gateway device to connect
all smart home devices.
With a view to ensure
digital wellness in Malaysia, Audra launched its Home
Internet Security & Parental Control solution in partnership
with retailer AI Home. At the virtual launch event, a panel
discussion on ways to protect the family from gadget
addiction, harmful content and online attacks was held. The
panel featured internet security expert Ola Johannes Lind,
who is Audra’s Business Development Director, with parenting
trainer and educator Phang Chui Kean – better known as
Teacher Kean, serving as the host, plus appearances by TV
personality and entrepreneur Datin Dynas Mokhtar - a mother
of three, and Seven Ching, General Manager of AI Home,
who both spoke from a parent’s perspective.
Beyond an increase in online attacks, gadget addiction and
exposure to harmful content among children is also a pressing
issue. In Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and
Multimedia Commission (MCMC)’s Internet User Survey 2020
found that the number of children aged five to 17 who are
internet users has more than doubled in the past five years,
from 18.4% in 2016 to 47% in 2020, but only 34.4% of
parents use parental controls to safeguard their children on
the internet. In light of this, the MCMC encourages parents
and caregivers to keep abreast of risks and threats and make
use of parental control tools when it comes to children's
activities on the internet, while the MCMC works with other
government bodies and law enforcement to protect children
online from harms like pornography and paedophiles.
In the session, Phang warned that with 90% of Malaysian
households having access to more than one device,
Malaysian children face the same risks as their regional
and international counterparts. Echoing news reports and
At the same time, psychiatrists have reported seeing more
cases of young patients with gadget addiction as well as
manifesting signs of internet gaming addiction (IGA) or
internet gaming disorder, and anxiety disorder comorbid
major depressive disorder (MDD), besides being significantly
exposed to pornography. In addition, spending too much
time on digital devices can also cause physical harms such as
headaches, neck pain and eye strain as well as other harms
associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Empowering parents and simplifying
protection with Audra HomeShield
To help Malaysian parents address this issue, Audra
introduced Audra HomeShield, the 1st-ever DIY Internet
Security and Parental Control solution to solve technologyborne
problems with technology. With Audra, users can
prevent hacking, adware, malware, DDoS and other online
attacks. They can also set schedules and time quotas to
prevent gadget addiction, besides blocking pornography,
gaming, gambling and other categories from their children.
Managing Audra is so simple that a non-tech savvy parent
38 BabyTalk | November/December 2021