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If you are the parent of a child or a teenager who uses the internet, do you take steps to protect them? If not, you will want to start right away. Although the internet can be neat for your child, it is important to remember that there are dangers that lurk online.
Since there are dangers that lurk online, such as the potential for meeting an online predator and the potential of being harassed online, you may be curious as to how you can protect your child. Of course, you will want to discuss internet safety with your child and you will also want to set rules for your child to follow, but did you also know that you have other options? One of those options is internet safety tools.
What is nice about internet safety tools that are designed for parents is that you have so many options. Typically, you will find that most of these tools fall under the heading of parental controls. For information on ways that you can protect your child with the use of internet safety tools, please continue reading on.
The ability to rate websites and set levels for what you want your child to view online is an option that you have. This often is featured in the safety tools that are provided by Internet Explorer, as well as other similar internet browsers. What you do is decide what type of content your want your child to view. Would you like to keep your child away from internet websites that use crude or violent language? If you do, set your website level ratings to say so and the websites should automatically be blocked.
In addition to blocking websites through the use of website rating tools, you also have the ability to outright block websites. This is another option that Internet Explorer gives you. For example, if you would like to block social networking websites, like MySpace and Facebook, all you need to do is enter in the website address and hit the block option. Internet Explorer also gives you the option to let a list of approved websites.
Keyword trackers can also be used; however, there are some individuals, including other parents, who consider them to be an invasion of privacy. That is why it is important for you to use your best judgment and make the decision as a parent. Keyword trackers work by recording each word that is typed by your child. Many parents find keyword tracker programs a great way to catch their child if they think that they are communicating with someone older or a sexual predator online. Keyword tracker programs are a nice option to have, but they do need to be purchased, as they aren’t free like many other parental controls.
There are also internet safety tool programs out there that work to keep your personal information safe. This is a great way to make sure that your child doesn’t share personal information about themselves with strangers online. Although these programs do vary, you can usually enter in information that you want to prevent your child from sharing online, like your phone number, email address, or home address. The program, if it works properly, should catch the information before it is sent.
As you can see, you have a number of different options when looking to use parental controls to keep your child safe when they use the internet. Additional online safety tools can easily be found with a standard internet search.
Internet Safety Tools that Can Protect Your Child Click Here Now
Are you a parent who has recently decided that you would like to keep your child safe when they use the internet? If you are, you may want to use internet parental controls. They are one of the best internet safety steps that you can take to protect your child.
As nice as it is to hear that internet parental controls can help to protect your child from danger online, you may be curious as to how they work or how you can get started with them. Although you will find some variances, most parental controls for the internet are free, cheap, and extremely easy to set up.
If you are using Internet Explorer as your internet browser, which most computer users have, you have parental controls that are built right into your computer! How neat is that? To set these parental controls, you will want to open up a new internet window, just like you would when surfing the web. Next, select “Tools,” and then “Internet Options,” from the dropdown menu. A new window will appear and then you can click on the “Content,” tab. Enabling the content advisor will allow you to start protecting your child online.
Although Internet Explorer comes standard on most computers, there are some internet users who use FireFox instead. If you are using FireFox, setting parental controls for the internet isn’t as easy as it is with Internet Explorer. This is because there are not any built-in controls. With that said, they do make it easy for you to get them. The main website for FireFox has links to add-ons that you can easily use and install. Many of these add-ons are free of charge.
AOL is another common internet browser that is used. AOL also has parental controls that are easy for you to use. AOL provides parents, like yourself, with the largest options. In addition to customizing your options, AOL also has preset controls. These controls are based on a child’s age range. Even if you choose to set your own options, these are great guides to follow, especially if you are unfamiliar with computers.
Now that you know you have a number of different options, when looking to get started with parental controls, you may be curious how you can make the most out of them. Some parental controls allow you to set ratings for certain websites and choose levels that you want to accept. For example, Internet Explorer can allow you to block websites that focus on just fighting or you can go higher up and block websites that have blood and gore for content. This option is nice, but it may unintentionally end up blocking some “safe websites.”
A more direct approach to take is to outright block the websites that you don’t want your child to visit. The parental controls that come with Internet Explorer easily allow you to do this. What you will want to do is perform a standard internet search to find these websites. For example, if you want to block social networking websites, perform a standard internet search with the phrase “social networking websites.” Any websites that you find, you can simply just add them to your blocked list.
As you can see, parental controls are easy to install and you have a number of different options. That is why you should get them set as soon as possible.
Parental Controls for the Internet:How to Use Them Click Here Now
Internet Safety for Kids: Rules to Set for Online Message Boards and Chat Rooms
Is your child or teenager interested in meeting new people online? At this age, they aren’t very likely to meet the person in real life, but communicate through way of the internet instead. As nice as this sounds, it is important to remember that it can still be dangerous. Just because your child is talking to someone who claims to be another teenager, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.
Since it is relatively easy for false identities to be created online, especially for internet and child predators, you will want to set strict rules if you intend to let your child use online message boards and internet chat rooms to do this communicating. As for what you rules you should set, it will honestly depend on your child’s age. Teenagers may have a little bit more freedom, but still don’t let them use online chat rooms, online message boards, or the internet in general without at least a few rules.
One of the many rules that you may want to impose, concerning internet chat rooms and online message boards is approval. Instead of letting your child pick which websites they want to visit, you can do so for them. Favorite place the approved message boards and online chat rooms so that your child can easily find them.
As for how you can find safe chat rooms and message boards for your child to use, you will want to get started with a standard internet search. Closely examine all of the websites that appear on your screen. Are private messages allowed? Most chat rooms and message boards for kids have them disabled, as this is how many internet predators target children. Also, look for moderated forums and chat rooms, as this means that all content is reviewed by an adult.
You may also want to set rules as to when your child can use an online message board or an internet chat room. For example, only allow your child to communicate and socialize online when you are at home or even in the same room. This internet safety for kids step works pretty well, especially for teenagers. They are less likely to have adult conversations, share personal information, or exchange pictures or videos when you are in the same room or when they know that they are being watched.
It is also a good idea to limit the amount of time that your child can use online message boards or internet chat rooms. It often takes internet predators more than one discussion to gain the trust of a child target. For that reason, you will want to be cautious if your child signs onto the internet at the same time everyday. Ask your child if they can wait until later or start using the internet earlier. If they can’t or don’t want to, they may be meeting someone online to talk directly to. That is why it is always a good idea to limit when your child can use online message boards and chat rooms and for how long.
You should prohibit your child from posting pictures or videos of themselves online, as this makes them an easy target. If your child wants to post a picture, have them pick out a generic picture online, of like a football or a flower. Also, do not let your child exchange personal information online. Remember that they are not the only ones in danger if your child gives away your address or phone number, as the rest of your family may end up in danger as well.
Child Safety Click Here Now
Are you a parent? If you are, have you already had the internet safety talk with your child? If you have yet to do so, this is a discussion that you will want to have. Since many teenagers like using social networking websites, online message boards, internet chat rooms, and instant messaging programs, internet safety is a subject that must be discussed.
As nice as it is to hear that you should talk about internet safety and internet use in general with your child, you may be curious as to why it is important that you do so. For your convenience, just a few of the many reasons why you should have the internet safety talk with your child are outlined below.
1 – They May Not Know
How old is your child? If they are just starting to use the internet, they may be unaware of the dangers that lurk on many popular websites, including online chat rooms and social networking websites. If your child has just started using the internet to research school projects, be sure you discuss internet safety with them, as it won’t be long before they realize that they can communicate with and make new friends online.
2 – It Is Your Job, As the Parent
Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should talk to your child about internet use and internet safety is because it is your job to do so. As a parent, it is your reasonability to guide and protect your child. Parents need to set some rules and guidelines with their children and the internet shouldn’t be any different. You don’t have to completely outlaw chat rooms, online message boards, or social networking websites, but be sure that you set clear cut rules that your child will understand concerning their use.
3 – It Will Help to Keep Them Safe
As much as we would all like to believe that the world is filled with nice, happy people, it isn’t. Unfortunately, many of those people, who may be child predators, are finding it easy to target children online. Why? Because the internet enables anyone to create their own identity. While most internet users that you meet online are truthful, all it takes is one online predator to cause serious harm or damage to a family. When you talk to your child about the dangers of the internet, you are keeping them well aware, which can help to keep them safe.
4 – You Can Teach Them What to Do
As for teaching your child what to do online, there are a number of different aspects that should be examined. For starters, teach your child how to properly use the internet, especially chat rooms and social networking websites. Let them know that they cannot discuss personal information or share pictures or videos with strangers. You should also let your child know what to do if they are targeted or harassed by someone online. This should involve coming to you immediately or saving all information, as opposed to erasing it from the computer, until you or the police can examine it.
5 – They Can Feel More Comfortable Talking to You
If your child is in high school or junior high school, they may automatically get defensive when you try to talk to them about internet safety. This is because most kids believe that they already know all that is needed to know and others just assume that you are being an overbearing parent. Despite this, discussing internet safety with your child in a calm and cool manner is likely to make your teenager feel comfortable about the issue. This increases the chances of them approaching you when they run into trouble online.
As you can see, there are a number of reasons why you should talk to your child about internet safety. Although this piece focused on discussing internet safety with teenagers, remember that internet safety is a lesson that can and should be started as soon as your child turns a computer on.
Discussing Internet Safety with Your Teen Click Here Now
Are the parent of a child or teenager who uses the interenet? As much as we would all like to believe that are children are safe when using the internet, there are certain situations that may, unfortunately, arise. It is important to remember that most children use the internet to communicate with their friends or to make new friends, not just to do research for school projects. If your child finds themselves in trouble online and comes to you, do you know what you can or should do?
As it was previously stated, numerous situations can develop online that have the potential to be dangerous. One of those situations is when personal information is exchanged with a stranger. Has your child recently given away your phone number, address, or their email address to someone who they don’t really know?
If so, be sure to change as much information as possible. This may involve changing your home phone number or your child’s cell phone number or email address. Be sure to take additional safety steps, such as always being aware of your surroundings, locking your home and car, and you may also want to contact your local authorities. Be sure to talk to your child about the dangers of exchanging personal information online.
In keeping with exchanging personal information online, your child may end up talking to an adult, thinking that they are another teenager or close to their age. If that is the case, your child is likely dealing with an internet predator, who can be old enough to be a parent or a grandparent.
If your child has made contact, intentionally or unintentionally, with an older person online, has any personal information been exchanged? If so, change that information, like your child’s email address, cell phone, or even if your home phone number. Make sure that the contact stops immediately. Contact the authorities, school officials, and make sure that all family members know. Get as much information you can about the real person behind the computer. The police may be able to help you do so.
Many high school and junior high school students use social networking websites, like MySpace. Unfortunately, many also mistakenly believe that it is a good idea to try to look “cool,” online and at any cost. Your child may post pictures or videos of themselves online doing illegal activities, like smoking or drinking underage, stealing, or doing drugs.
If this is something that your child has done, be sure to remove the pictures or videos right away. If your child’s pictures or videos have been viewed by school officials or authorities, they may be facing punishment. A lawyer should be called if your child is arrested. If your child is suspended from school or extra curricular activities, speak to school officials. What can be done by both you, the parent, and your child?
Online harassment is another common problem that children, namely junior high school and high school students face. This harassment can be done by a complete stranger, an online friend, or a friend right at school. When friends have a falling out or even just a simple disagreement, many turn to the internet to seek revenge, as it is easy to hide behind a computer.
If your child finds themselves a victim of online harassment, the authorities should be contacted. This is particularly important if your child does not actually know, in person, the individual who is making threats or spreading harmful rumors. If the individual doing so is a former friend or another individual at school, there are a number of steps that you can take. If you know the child and their parents, consider arranging a meeting, but be cautious and use your best judgment. Alternatives involve contacting the authorities or the school.
As you can see, there are a number of troubling and potentially dangerous situations that your child can find themselves in online. Just make sure that you, as the parent, take steps to help and protect your child.
What to Do If Your Child Runs Into Trouble Online
Social networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster, Yahoo! 360, and others may seem to be a good way for your kids to connect with their friends, know more about the people they meet at school, and to find new people online. However, these sites may also become a venue for online predators to search, know, and target your kids which may definitely put them in danger.
The question now for parents would be: How can I ensure the safety of my kids when they use social networking sites?
To answer this question, you need to focus on 3 things: personal identity, profile privacy, and photos.
Personal Identity.
This includes your kids' name, home address, home phone number, cell phone number, email address, school information, interests and others. Teach them not to post their personal information on these sites. Explain to them why. That way, your kids will know that it is dangerous. The alternative? Instead of giving their name tell them to use a handle; instead of complete address, just the state or town; and instead of using their primary email address, tell them to create a secondary dedicated for this purpose. And, tell them not to post their phone numbers online. The key is: be vague on posting personal information to their profile.
Profile Privacy.
Most social networking sites give options that will give the user the option to secure their profile from access. This way, the information that your kids have in their profile will only be viewed by people whom they are directly connected. This will also keep unwanted people from viewing their profile and using it in a predatory purpose. Thus, tell your kids to keep their profile secured.
Photos
Online predators often view photos of users to judge if that person is a good victim. So, to keep your kids from being a target, review all the pictures they want to post on their profile. Make sure that all photos they will post don't reveal identifiable landmarks that can trace them easily such as street names, doorsteps of your house, and plate numbers of your cars.
Other helpful ways in keeping your kids safe when using social networking sites:
Set clear rules about their limitations on using these sites such as schedule and frequency. Make sure you both agree on these. Also set a consequence if they break this rule.
Tell your kids not to post any blogs that contain their emotional vulnerability since online predators can use this as a weakness to victimize kids.
Finally, sit with your kids and make their profile open to your access.
Helping Your Kids to Stay Safe Click Here Now
There are many ways to keep your kids safe while surfing the net. The best way of course is to sit with your kids while they are online and supplemented by strict guidelines on the "do's and don’ts of using the internet". However, even if you have done both of these, your kids will still try to sneak out from you and access bad sites and do things online that are included on your don't list…
That is if you don’t use a web filtering software.
What is a web filtering software?
A web filtering software is a computer program that lets you take control of the traffic happening on your computer. Since the internet is two way traffic (data comes from the web to your computer and vice versa), the web filtering software can block the entry of data from the web and block the request of the computer user to go through the web.
This way, internet-based treats in the forms of pornography, graphic images of violence, explicit content, sex, nudity, online sexual and financial predators, viruses, and spyware will have to pass through the security wall you setup with the web filtering software. If the sites or data requested are considered banned, the access won't go through.
Some popular web filtering softwares are Norton Internet Security, Cybersitter, NetNanny, CyberPatrol, K9 Web Protection, and ContentBarried (OS MAC).
What specific security features are included in a web filtering software?
• Application Blocking
• Chat Blocking
• Chat Filtering
• Chat Monitoring
• Customizable Port Blocking
• Editable Filter Lists
• Email Blocking
• Email Filtering
• Filter Categories
• FTP Blocking
• IM Port Blocking
• Newsgroup Blocking
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Blocking
• Popup Blocking
• Predator Blocking
• Web traffic monitoring
Take note that different web filtering softwares have different features so it is important to choose the right software that fits your security requirements.
Why is web filtering websites effective in keeping your kids safe while using the internet?
It keeps your kids from opening …
• websites and IP addresses you have blocked,
• predetermined programs such as instant messaging and chat rooms,
• pornographic sites, and
• websites with spyware and viruses.
It keeps your kids from downloading…
• files from illegal sites,
• using p2p programs, and
• email attachments.
And most of all, it keeps you in control.
Internet Safety for Kids Click Here Now
Buying a software that filters the sites allowed to be accessed from your computer may not be a good solution to keep your kids from visiting porn sites and webpages with graphic contents. However, this isn't the only way. Believe it or not, the ones you always use to search for your desired webpage has the capacity to filter unwanted sites, which gives you a peace of mind and makes it safer for kids to surf while you are away.
Yes, Google and Yahoo can do it for you. Here’s how:
Google.
1. Go the Google homepage (www.google.com).
2. Click the Preferences link on the right side of the dialog box.
3. Just at the bottom of your screen, you will see the "SafeSearch Filtering".
4. Then click on this: Use strict filtering (Filter both explicit text and explicit images)
5. Click "Save Preferences".
Note: The Google preferences are saved on the "Cookie". If the Cookies are erased, the settings will be lost.
Yahoo
1. Go to Yahoo! homepage (www.yahoo.com).
2. On the search tab on top of the page, click "more" (located beside "shopping").
3. Click the "All Search Services". A new page will appear.
4. Click web search. The address would show: http://search.yahoo.com
5. Click the "Search Preferences" link. That’s right before the last line at the bottom of the page beside "Search Services".
6. Then click the "Edit" button on the Safe Search menu. Choose, " Filter out adult Web, video, and image search results - SafeSearch On".
7. Then save.
8. Click Finish.
You can also go directly on the Yahoo! search page and follow the procedures from 5 to 8.
Note: If the changes on the search preferences are made when a Yahoo account is logged-in, the changes only affect the user of the account. If you want these changes to take effect to the computer, make sure that there is no one logged on before making any changes. Or, if you want to apply these changes to your kids' personal account, log-in to their account first and do the procedure.
Google and Yahoo preferences settings only take effect if your kids use any of these 2 search engines and will be useless of your kids type-in the URL on the address. Therefore, if your kids don't rely on their web navigation through these two search engines, use other types of security tools.
Internet Security Wall for Kids Click Here Now
Online tools such as web filtering software and web monitoring software can't replace the actual presence of parents when it comes to ensuring the kids total safety while using the internet. Thus, the active role you can provide to your kids will ensure that they use the internet properly and stay on good sites.
Here are the things you can do to keep your presence with your kids:
1. Sit with your kids while they use the internet. Not only will this ensure that the sites they visit are safe, it also helps them to respond properly when they encounter online bullies, online predators, and inappropriate websites.
2. Be computer and internet literate. Know how to navigate the computer properly. Learn the basics and advance techniques on web security. Learn how web browsers and search engines work especially the way to enable the security settings. The point is, you should know more on how to operate the computer and internet than your kids.
3. Learn the chat lingo. Abbreviations such as brb (be right back), lol (laugh out loud), and btw (by the way) are some of the more common terms used in online chatting. There are more. Make sure you learn them so you understand what your kids are typing.
4. Create a family email account. If your kids are still too young to handle their own email account, create one for your family. This way, you can monitor the mail they receive and scan if the mail is safe or not.
5. Be open. Keep the communication open between you and your kids. Encourage your kids to share with you’re their online experiences. This will also help them to easily open up to you if they encounter any problems while you are away.
6. Help your kids bookmark their favorite accounts for easy access in the future.
7. Set rules that you both agree to. Set a corresponding consequence if any of these rules aren't followed.
8. Teach your kids the online safety rules. This includes not giving personal information to strangers, not to accept gifts, not to meet personally people they only met online, not to open sites, the right time to use the computer, and the proper way to treat others online.
9. Always be there for your kids whenever they need your help. Take them seriously and respond immediately if they report something to you.
Teach your kids the online safety rules Click Here Now!
No matter how hard you try to protect your kids, they will still find a way to navigate the internet and manage to access sites that you block. And if at the moment they can't access these sites, I say to you that it is just a matter of time before they break your security lock and proceed to their online activities without you knowing.
First of all, there is something you should know. There are many ways your kids can manage to break through the security wall of your computer. They will and they can keep finding ways as long as they see something to block their access to forbidden sites. They can use proxies, other IP address, disable security settings, and download software that can counteract the security setting.
What's the use of web security software then?
Take note that even web filtering software manufacturers will admit that their products aren't 100% foolproof. So if you have different security software installed on your computer, your kids can still access sites beyond the security line. Web security softwares are only effective if you use it properly and if your kids don't know how to unlock it or use other ways to bypass your setting.
What should you do then?
If you have different security filters on your computer and still your kids are able to make access of the following sites, then you have to know which method they are using. This is the only way where you can outsmart them.
Learn more about the computer, the proxies, RDP, SSH, VNC, Google translator and Tor. These are the things that are commonly used to crack security access. Ask your kids about them. Suspect that they are bypassing your security setting if they can explain these vividly to you or if they are obviously avoiding discussing these topics.
Create access passwords so that they can't disable your web filtering software. Change it regularly.
Most of all, you need to talk to your kids about this issue. They may resist what you say and may argue with you on this but if you talk to them good then they may reconsider. The thing is, good parenting coupled with open communication is the key to make sure that they are always safe when they are online. Try to invest in these things early and you can reduce the risk of your kids being put in danger.
How to Protect Your Kids Click Here Now!
Relying solely the safety of your kids while they use the internet to different security softwares you have installed is a complete misinterpretation of what these softwares are all about. You must understand that computer programs designed to keep your kids from accessing certain sites aren't the solution to keep your kids safe. Because believe it or not, your kids can still visit bad sites even if your computer has all sorts of web filtering systems available. How? By disabling it or finding a way to bypass the current security configuration of your computer.
It is important therefore that you get personally involved with the activity of your kids online. Thus, these are the things you should do: (this is not to say, however, that web security software isn't useful; it only says that parents shouldn't use security features from web security software, search engine, and web browsers as alternatives to actual physical presence and proper guidance.)
1. Educate yourself.
Knowing what you are doing ensures that you get the things you want to achieve. This also goes when it comes to the safety of your kids on the internet. Make sure that you know what you are taking about so that they will understand what you are saying and in turn, will yield to the result you are expecting.
You can't simply tell them "do this and don’t do that" without knowing why. So, learn the internet, understand the threat, know where threats can come from, learn the language your kids use online, and go to number 2.
2. Teach.
Teach your kids how to safely use the internet. Here are some of those:
• Follow specific guidelines on the proper use of the internet.
• Never give personal information to other people they meet online.
• Never visit bad sites.
• Never use real name online.
• Never become an online bully.
• Never open spam mails. Never download attachments from unknown senders.
• Tell parents right away if they feel uncomfortable with someone or something they encounter online.
3. Remind
Sometimes, it isn't enough to teach your kids what they should do and what they shouldn’t in one sitting. You need to keep on reminding them about it all the time. The effective way to do it though isn't through constant verbal approach but through the paper. Make a list of the things that your kids should and shouldn't do while using the internet. This will stand as the rules. Post it near the computer where they can easily see it.
Protect the Safety of Your Kids on the Internet Click Here Now!
Phishing is an internet term used for a certain kind of modern crime performed over the internet. It basically involves people masquerading as something harmless, like a bill collector or online survey taker, in an attempt to gather sensitive information and/or insert harmful programs like worms, spyware, and viruses into your computer.
More often than not, children are the biggest security breach in this case. While adults have often been victims of phishers as well, children are often in a greater area of danger because of their inexperience and lack of knowledge. As in the old days, teaching your children to defend themselves is one of the best thigns you can do to avoid this problem. Here are a few things to do:
1) Explain Phishing to Your Kids - let your children know about phishing. Explain to them that people CAN pretend to be your business associates or government representatives online, and that they should NEVER give out any information to someone they don't know.
2) Drill Your Children in Anti Phishing Procedures - aside from refusing to give information, treat this as you would the old case of what you teach your children to do when approached by strangers: that they should contact you if you're available, or play safe and run away (go offline and disconnect the internet) if the stranger is persistent. Also remember that phishers can come in many forms, even over something as harmless seeming as an online game.
2) Install Simple Firewalls and a Computer Activity Monitor - these two programs are essential. While they may not prevent the actual act of a person getting information from your kids via phishing, they provide their own security measures as well. Firewalls insure that, in case your children accept a hermless seeming survey form, no viruses or worms get inserted into your PC. Also, in the even that a phisher manages to get information from your kids, a system activity monitor program will allow you to trace what happened while you were gone, so that you can forward the recorded information over to your local police if you wish to have them investigate what happened.
3) Know and Teach your Children about Alternate Phishing Methods - Phishing does not simply involve people trying to access your information by contacting you and your children online. There are other, more indirect methods that they can employ, so make sure your children (and you yourself!) keep aware of the following:
3-a) Link Name Manipulation - this is a common trick used by some phishers. They take the name of a famous and trustworthy site and alter it's name slightly to appear, at a casual glance, like the original site. A common trick used is to substitute a small letter "L" for a capital "i" in the name, or to replace a capital "o" with a zero "0". Aside from these simple naming tricks, placing an extension at the end or middle of a URL, like say, sitename.com.realname.com, is another common way of masking a hidden site. These sites will often sport a front page that looks almost exactly like the home page of the site they're mimicking, and as soon as you enter your user name and password, the phishers will have it on file and you're in trouble.
3-b) Phone Phishing - sometimes, in an offer to "validate" themselves, phishers will offer to call the victim's home to "prove" that they exist and have a "physical office" (As if you could see that over a phone! You'd be surprised at the number of people who fall for this though). As above, remind your children that this does NOT prove anything, and they should avoid any offers of such contact. Under no circumstances are they to give the home number, and if the caller already knows it and calls but you have caller ID, have them take the number down on paper for the authorities.
4) Anti Phishing Programs - there are a few licensed anti phishing programs that interact with most major firewalls. Get the latest one. These will have the names and locations of known phishing sites, as well as the programs commonly used by phishers to build their sites. These licensed programs also update themselves from their own secure websites on a constant basis to keep up to date with any changes and new information. This added security acts like a firewall or antivirus program but is dedicated to blocking, detecting, and tracing phishers.
Explain Phishing to Your Kids Click Here Now!
The Internet is both a marketplace and a library: while thousands of companies are vying for the attention and money of consumers, thousands of informational materials are available to cater to everyone’s need to learn. The age of Web 2.0 has also turned the Internet into a soundboard for the world’s whines and pains, as blogs, diaries, and e-books proliferate. As the information age comes, so does the age of uncensored free expression, where everyone and anyone can post his or her thoughts online, in any shape, manner, or form.
As the once valued prize of privacy is constantly being violated online, and as the lack of private thoughts is lauded on the very much open World Wide Web, the privacy of Internet users is becoming more and more an issue. Credit card theft runs rampant on the Internet, due to the ability of hackers to get into home computers and bank records to retrieve the information they need. Whole websites can be destroyed by malicious software. Students lose years of information and files after their computers are damaged by viruses.
There is a privacy of a different sort at play when Internet usage is concerned. It involves the right of every human being to read, view, and listen to what they want online. This privacy is something that every website owner holds dear, hence the lack of inhibitions on the Internet. Anyone interested in reading more about the Middle Ages is given a chance to do so, thanks to various history-related websites that feature timelines, footage of reenactments, and even pictures of important historical sites. Anyone who wants to cook can do so, and well, thanks to online culinary courses, and free recipes.
At the same time, anyone who wants to read or view pornographic materials can do so on one of the millions of pornography websites available online. Anyone who wants to see footage of child prostitutes can do so through websites linked to the sex trade. Anyone who wants to steal your credit card, your children, and your life can find a link to you, hunt you down, and do what they want with you and your possessions.
All these claims may seem overblown, but with the lack of inhibitions online, and lack of security of most websites, they aren't entirely unfounded. According to research, over a quarter of all families surveyed become victims of credit card fraud and identity theft because their children were preyed on by seemingly trustworthy online thieves. Thousands of children are kidnapped each year by predators who introduce themselves as well-meaning adults in forums or chat rooms. Even more children are abused, sold to the slave or sex trades, or exploited.
So should you violate your child’s right to see what he or she wants online? The answer is a resounding yes. You as the parent have the right to safeguard your child’s interests, and it is certainly in your best interest to protect your child from disturbing images, lewd materials, and possible predators. It is you duty to raise your child in the best way possible, and to do everything in your power to give your child the chance to be a better member of society.
You also have the duty to monitor your child’s computer activities, which is especially important if your child has his or her own computer, and his or her own unlimited access to the Internet. You may get into quarrels with your child, so be persuasive, not defensive or combative. You must explain briefly how your intrusion is for his or her good.
How do you check your child’s computer activities? An easy way would be to check your child’s history folder, which you can access through the Internet browser. Through this, you can see what files and sites your child has accessed and when. Your child, however, may constantly erase the contents of his or her history folder. If you check your child’s computer regularly and find that this is the case, check the Internet options to see if your child has set the computer to never store items in the history folder. If the computer has been set to store items, but the history folder is empty, then you may have to confront your child. Incessant erasing of history folder items may be a sign that your child is accessing pornographic sites.
You may also need to check your child’s email, especially his or her deleted items, which can contain items that are being hidden, out of parents’ reach. If you have the time, check any recently downloaded or saved files, and see the nature of these files. All of these measures may be difficult to do if your child’s computer has a password, or if certain files are hidden or hard to find, but you will certainly find a way to investigate your child’s activities as a caring, helping parent.
The Internet may be a cruel world for a child to walk through, but if you have the right principles and the heart of a truly devoted parent, then you can walk through this world together. All you need is perseverance and patience, and the ability to monitor your child’s activities, so that his or hers, and consequently, your privacy is protected.
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The times are truly changing. Because almost all essential transactions can now be coursed through the Internet, even crimes are emerging into new forms to underpin the rising popularity of the online medium.
Thus, you can hear of numerous reported cases of cyber crimes, or crimes that are perpetuated through the Internet. Take note that criminals and law offenders are equally effective when they operate online as they operate personally during normal circumstances.
Online crimes are new to almost all nations and governments, there are still not enough legislations and international treaties that would appropriately deal with such unique crimes. Thus, the online predators or perpetrators of crimes through the Internet are freely roaming the Web to find prospective prey.
Online abduction
In the United States alone, the volume of filed online abduction cases are on the rise. The US Department of Justice has revealed that in all abduction cases in the country, about a quarter had been perpetrated through emerging online technology.
About 49% of kidnapping incidences in the United States are committed by family members, when the child is abducted either by his dad or his mom. Such cases occur especially when the parents are separated.
On the average, about 27% of abduction cases in the country involve acquaintances or new friends of the child. Take note that the police identifies online chat rooms and interaction as the prime venue where kids meet new friends, that lead to abduction. The remaining 23% of kidnapping incidences are committed by total strangers.
How is online abduction committed? The process can be very simple and suspicious, but still, many kids fall for the trap. The abductor gets in touch with the child, befriends him or her, asks for personal details like address or invites the kid for a personal meeting, or popularly termed in online lingo as an eyeball.
The abduction of course isn't committed online, but the Internet becomes the facility that makes the crime possible. Criminals purposely meet kids over the Internet for the aim of kidnapping. They either disguise themselves as a boy or a girl who is of the same age as the prospective victim.
Experts and investigators analyze that the popular social networking sites are often the sites wherein strangers and kids meet. Online criminals target these sites, register to them and log in to them so they could meet kids who would be very easy to lure and convince.
What about international abduction?
International abduction is committed when the kidnapped child is taken abroad after being abducted. The criminal takes the child offshore so the parents can't easily trace their kids' location.
Also, international abduction somehow provides protection to the abductor. For one, federal police aren't as free to roam around and flex its muscles to find the abducted child and the kidnapper. It takes time before the parents and the police figure out that the case was an international abduction.
You might be wondering how the abductor can take the child abroad. As you see, there are many ways a criminal can take a child without proper documents. Crossing land borders can be one, as well as processing a fake or fictional identification for the child.
You might be asking, "Does it really happen?" The answer would be, "Yes, a lot!".
How to pursue international abductors using the criminal justice system
The criminal justice system is primarily instituted to protect the rights and legal privileges of US citizens. If they have been aggrieved by foreigners, there can still be justice using this system.
In the case of international abduction, you will have to file reports to the police first. After establishing that the child has been taken abroad, that is the time you will be advised to pursue the criminal through the federal criminal justice system.
The US has extradition treaties with many countries. If the criminal is staying in a country that has an extradition agreement with the US, then the criminal will be apprehended and arrested and brought to the US for prosecution.
If there is none, the criminal justice system will cooperate with the country's justice system, so the respective justice system will prosecute the offender accordingly. This can be possible especially when the law provisions violated by the criminal are the same with the provisions he violated under US legislations.
Overall, it surely won't be an easy fight, but it will be all worth it, if you want to get your child back. To prevent such problems, watch the online behavior and habits of your children and monitor the friends they make online.
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