Internet Safety

Imagining today’s world, that’s striving for efficiency and growth, without internet is not at all a possibility. We all have got so much used to internet that it has become our important need and necessity. The dilemma at our hands is that we do not acknowledge the fact that even though the Internet might help with our day to day work, the Internet is also the main contributor to social and personal chaos and society's demise.

Social networking websites are the most visited websites on a daily basis. Posting all your information on your profile puts your own security and private information online. Numerous sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, exist so that people can communicate with everyone from different countries. Here is the most surreptitious thing you might not know about the people on social networking sites. A stolen picture from there might get used at porn sites putting your privacy at risk. Remember once it is on the internet, it stays there forever, leaving a mark behind.

Internet safety has become a serious issue for everyone connected to the net. Even if you don't think you have anything worth protecting on your computer, it's still important that you keep it locked down. Your files are not the only thing at stake here. If someone gains access to your computer, it can be used for hacking into other computer, hiding the trail of the person who is actually doing it. How would you like to get a call from your local police telling you that there's been a virus attack that has been traced back to your computer? No, even if your computer isn't used for anything critical you need to run security software providing you full proof internet safety.

These programs will keep your computer "hidden" from prying eyes over the internet, as well as protected from viruses and other malware that can be spread through email or other methods.

You also need to make sure you're familiar with the different types of security threats so you can deal with them if they ever come up.

Internet, itself represents an insecure channel of exchanging information. So it becomes very important for us to use internet securely and safely through varied internet safety techniques. Internet safety establishes certain rules and measures that need to be stressed upon to tackle various cyber crimes such as phishing, intrusion, fraud etc. Cyber crime, which now resembles an industry, is witnessing double digit growth from the last few years.

Internet Safety for Kids

Internet has completely revolutionized the way today’s kids do their homework and research work. It has become an innovative and wonderful resource for kids to research school reports, online tutorials, communicate with teachers and peers, and play interactive games. But, every technology has some hazards as well. While searching keyword “hit” on Google search engine, a small spelling mistake of writing “p” instead of “t” would become “hip” and can redirect your search to adult web contents.

A study conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that 1 in 4 children between the ages of 10 and 17 have been exposed to cyber crime or unwanted sexual material online.

Most of the cyber crimes that are being committed against children are the responsibility of other child peers in fact, that are approximately the same age and in the same grade level. There is an interesting relationship between age and the evolution of more serious cybercrimes.

Younger children are the ones who have the most parental supervision when they are online, but at best only half of these kids are being monitored by their parents during times of Internet usage. By the time a child reaches high school this supervision virtually disappears. Additionally, as a child grows their exposure to content that makes them feel uncomfortable grows. Boldness in talking to, sharing personal information with and even volunteering to meet personally with strangers also grows. This increase in trust or curiosity is a key contributor in the amount of cyber crimes that are being committed and directed towards kids.
Internet safety for kids is a growing concern amongst most parents due to the increased presence of computers in the home and the significant numbers of hours spent by children "surfing" the internet.

Tips related to internet safety for kids

Personal information on internet
Sharing personal information such as address, telephone number, the name or location of school, parents' names etc. should be avoided. Websites or other online services ask kids for information in order to enter special contests or to obtain free gifts. The information could be used to harm or exploit them.

Face-to-face meet with strangers
Without a parent's permission, meeting with a stranger should be avoided. If a meeting is arranged, make sure that it takes place in public and that parents always accompany the child.


Never respond to adult contents or messages
Kids should never respond to messages or bulletin boards that are sexually obscene, threatening, or make them feel uncomfortable in any way.


Parents should be taken into confidence
Kids should always inform their parents whenever they come across anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Use Internet safety techniques for kids

Internet safety techniques should be smartly deployed on PC’s having kids access. This would make parents aware of what their kids are doing on internet, who they meeting, and what they sharing about themselves online. It's wise to talk with your kids about your concerns.

By stressing upon the above mentioned points of internet safety for kids, we can provide our loved ones an environment where in they can polish their skills and can remain safe from internet menace because, It’s better to be safe than being sorry.

Children Internet Safety Software - How to Keep Up With What Your Kids Are Doing Online

Are you trying to find children internet safety software?

In this post we are going to talk to you about how to keep up with what your kids are doing online.

There are many parents that are considering buying children internet safety software. They may have seen a spot on the news about this software; maybe some of the parents have seen ads on the internet. Not all software is created equal so it's wise to find some that is going to give you the option to get a free trial before you have to put out any money. Let's now go on to talk more about how to keep up with what your kids are doing online.

Talk To Your Kids

Talking to your kids is one of those things that you should do every day. Even when your kids get to be teens it's really important to talk to them and let them know how much you care about them. When you have a good relationship with your kids and talk to them regularly you will notice that you will be able to get them to open up and tell you the truth more often than not.

Check Internet History

Checking the browser's internet history is a good idea. If your child hasn't figured out how to delete the history you can find out where they have gone on the internet for whatever amount of time you have it set for. It can usually keep it for up to a week.

Look At Cookies

Going another step further is to check the cookies on your computer. This is a little harder to find and delete than the browser's internet history but if your kids know much about computers they can get those cookies deleted as well.

Software That Logs Keys

Keylogging software is the best line of defense when you want to protect your kids. This software can run without being detected even by the most savvy users and you can even have the information emailed to you or posted on another website so you do not have to get on that computer and check the log.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Internet Safety

From time to time people ask me "Why is Internet safety important?" "Why should I worry about it? I've got nothing to hide." If you're not thinking that Internet safety is important, then you're making a mistake.

Now the Internet is a wonderful thing, and I use it constantly every day without fear, but that doesn't mean I use it heedlessly and without thinking about Internet safety.When you're on the Web, you should think of it kind of like walking down the street -- if you live in a small town you probably don't think much about walking around downtown, and you probably feel pretty safe.

And even if you live in a big city, you may feel pretty comfortable, too, since you know your way around and you know how to handle yourself.But on the other hand, how would you feel walking down the street in the most crime-ridden part of a bad city in the middle of the night by yourself, dragging your wallet or purse on a string behind you while heedlessly listening to music on headphones and never looking at your surroundings?

The thing people don't realize about Internet security is that even if you live in a safe, secure small town with no crime, when you go on the Internet there is no real border between the "good neighborhoods" and the "bad neighborhoods", so you need to take a few basic precautions to protect yourself on the Web.

Here are a few suggestions:

1) Make sure you use a good firewall program on your computer; regardless of whether you use a Windows PC or one of Apple's Macs, this is absolutely essential

2) If you have DSL or cable Internet access, get a router and hook it up between your DSL or cable modem and your computer. Not only does a router allow you to share the connection between multiple computers, it also has a firewall built in to it, which adds another layer of valuable protection against threats from the Internet. And yes, this should be *in addition* to the firewall program on your computer

3) If you have a Windows PC, make sure you have a good antivirus program such as Kaspersky antivirus, that is still activated and up-to-date. Many people have poor quality antivirus programs and it's common for them to have expired after a trial period or the yearly subscription has run out, which means they're no longer protecting you.

Mac users do not at this time need an antivirus program, but this will likely change in the future.

4) Use a strong password, preferably a mix of letters and numbers that is at least 8 characters long, and which is not easy to guess like your name or a pet's name, etc., and don't use the same password for everything.

5) If you post in public forums online, or use a social networking website like Facebook, don't put too much personal information in your profile.

It is extremely common for people to share all kinds of information about themselves on their profile page, including birth date, pet names, children's names, address, etc. -- all of which might give a clue to passwords, answers to those "reset your password" security questions that you're asked if you forget your password on a website, and other clues that could be used for identity theft.

Most social networking sites let you set your profile to private, so only people you've added as friends can see what's on the profile. This is also a good idea.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

kids Monitoring Software

With the introduction of internet, kids are now knowledgeable in online research and the use of the so many applications, thus the need for kids monitoring software. Through kids monitoring software parents can scrutinize every message sent and received by their children, as well as the different applications they run on the web.

This is the greatest solution for parents to supervise the online activities of their kids. Devices like this can easily track down the message contents, web activities, and even provide random screen shots.

Through this software, you can be sure that your child is secured when using the computer. Some people disagree to its use because of privacy issues, but its advantages can prevail over this. You can always discuss your plans of installing a software to your family to safeguard them from unwarranted sources. They can also impose rules with the use of the internet which they need to follow.

When parents do not control the use of computer, their kids will freely visit anywhere on the internet. This could start with a simple interest that grows deeper as they access inappropriate materials that can affect their minds and decision making.

Having an open communication with your family regarding the use of monitoring software in your home computer will somehow lead them not to make an effort going on prohibited sites and sources. They will take precaution when using the internet by being aware that their moves are monitored. To guide you more in safeguarding your children from internet predators, take the following into account.

Let them be aware of the potential risks that lurks around the web and advise them to be cautious about these. Do not have a computer unit in any of your kids rooms. It should be positioned in an area where anybody can visibly perceive what the user is accessing to like the living room.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Parental Monitoring Software: Concerned About Where Your Kids Really Are?

Why consider parental monitoring software (or cell phone spyware)? If you're worried about your kids, you don't have to be like the millions of unfortunate parents out there who sit alone and worried at night, wondering if their kids are safe and behaving themselves. With parental monitoring software at your disposal, you'll be able to watch them at a distance without taking away their freedom to explore themselves. Here are a few ways this software can benefit you.

Parental monitoring software is unique in that all you have to do is install in on your teen's phone. It only takes a few moments, and once installed, there's no need to reinstall it or add upgrades. You'll want to create an online account through their website, however, as this is how you will receive your information. Many parents even install it before gifting the phone. Reliable, undetectable, and accurate, it provides you with everything you need to know without your teen ever knowing he or she is being observed.

What sort of things does phone spy software report? A few basics include call history, text history, address book names, and GPS locations. Some even provide camera shots, if the phone has a camera. Either way, you'll be able to know exactly where your teen is and who he or she was with at any given time, day or night. Best of all, you can install parental monitoring software on more than one phone and still receive all of your information in one tidy spot.

For more information on Internet safety for kids and  high quality programs please visit us from our bio links ...www.kidsguard4u.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Internet Safety For Kids : Kidsguard4u

Now more than ever our children are using the internet for everyday activities such as homework, researching, and even chatting with friends. Children are more comfortable using computers because they have grown up around them.Children also have an inherent need to freely explore, and the internet is the perfect way for them to do so easily from their own home. This leaves them open to become easy targets for manipulative adults with varying motivations. Some online criminals would rather gain access to personal bank accounts, or steal your identity. Others may try to meet your child in real life to try to sexually or physically assault your child.

The internet provides no more safety than meeting a stranger in real life. Because of the false security, many people get scammed for information and they don't even realize. Many parents and teens alike might not want to believe this, but we should consider the facts. One in five children were solicited online in the past year. One in five were exposed to photos or videos of people with graphic sexual content. Things of this nature are also free and easy for a child to download. The numbers themselves are enough to scare anyone, but situations like this are easier to avoid than you might think!

It's important to talk with your children. Let them know what kind of people could be lurking, no matter how nice they might seem. Instruct your kids to limit online conversation to people you already know. If you have a child that wants to "chat" (strongly suggest otherwise), but if they MUST make sure they know what is appropriate conversation.

Never under any circumstance should your child be allowed to give out any personal information such as name, phone number, email, and especially where they live, work, or go to school. Explain to your children disobeying these safety precautions could seriously harm the financial and physical well being of the entire family.


Parents want to think that our teenagers are older and wiser than our pre teens, but in reality they are more likely to get into trouble on the internet. Teens are more likely to venture around websites, exploring limitless information on everything from their favorite singer to downloading movies.

Teenagers are more curious and will take bigger risks than children. They are also more likely to reach out and chat with people from the internet that they don't know personally. Remind your children that people can pretend to be anyone through a computer, so even if they think they know this person, be careful.


Always remember that these are concrete steps that will provide Internet safety for your kids and protect them while they are online and still allow them to get the benefits of using and learning to use the Internet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Internet Safety For Kids

All around the globe, the Internet and computers have become indispensable. We communicate with friends, search for information, shop online, use online banking to pay our bills and many other things that make our lives easier. However, there are also certain dangers that come with Internet usage. Aside from viruses, the Internet could also pose threats to our children if they are allowed to use it without proper monitoring software.

Parents can take preventive measures to tone down the dangers. But in order to be successful with the implementation of parental control software over the Internet, parents have to be tough. For the sake of your children's well-being, you need to be a parent and not a friend. We are all aware that identity theft, pornography.

A parent needs to know how to deal with computers and the Internet. Knowing how to check the previous websites recently visited, learning how cache is deleted and having the know-how in putting restrictions to unwanted websites are just a few of the skills parents need to have.

Never let your children access the Internet alone in a closed room.

Children may need privacy but hours and hours spent alone in front of the computer could spell trouble and should not be permitted. You would have no way of knowing what is going on behind that door unless you ask them and there's no guarantee that they will tell you everything. You need to encourage your children to talk to you openly about everything under the sun to build their trust and it is a good thing to start while they are still young. Never burst out in anger if your children would have opinions which are different from yours and when they say things that would upset you.

Computers should be placed in a common area.

The best place for the computer that your children are going to use is an open area like the family room. Never place computers in your children's bedrooms. You can set-up a schedule for family members to take turns using the computer. For your children's protection, children should not be allowed to use the computer unsupervised and isolated.

Educate your kids about Internet security.

Children will grow into responsible adults if they are trained at an early age. Teach your children not to provide personal information over the Internet. Make it a point to know the people in your kid's chat list and the ones they usually chat with. You have to instill in their minds that important information like their home address, their present school, the time their parents come home and other information that may pose a threat to their safety should never be given to anybody online.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Internet Safety :Kidsguard4u

Now more than ever our children are using the internet for everyday activities such as homework, researching, and even chatting with friends. Children are more comfortable using computers because they have grown up around them.Children also have an inherent need to freely explore, and the internet is the perfect way for them to do so easily from their own home. This leaves them open to become easy targets for manipulative adults with varying motivations. Some online criminals would rather gain access to personal bank accounts, or steal your identity. Others may try to meet your child in real life to try to sexually or physically assault your child.

The internet provides no more safety than meeting a stranger in real life. Because of the false security, many people get scammed for information and they don't even realize. Many parents and teens alike might not want to believe this, but we should consider the facts. One in five children were solicited online in the past year. One in five were exposed to photos or videos of people with graphic sexual content. Things of this nature are also free and easy for a child to download. The numbers themselves are enough to scare anyone, but situations like this are easier to avoid than you might think!

It's important to talk with your children. Let them know what kind of people could be lurking, no matter how nice they might seem. Instruct your kids to limit online conversation to people you already know. If you have a child that wants to "chat" (strongly suggest otherwise), but if they MUST make sure they know what is appropriate conversation.Never under any circumstance should your child be allowed to give out any personal information such as name, phone number, email, and especially where they live, work, or go to school. Explain to your children disobeying these safety precautions could seriously harm the financial and physical well being of the entire family.

Parents want to think that our teenagers are older and wiser than our pre teens, but in reality they are more likely to get into trouble on the internet. Teens are more likely to venture around websites, exploring limitless information on everything from their favorite singer to downloading movies.Teenagers are more curious and will take bigger risks than children. They are also more likely to reach out and chat with people from the internet that they don't know personally. Remind your children that people can pretend to be anyone through a computer, so even if they think they know this person, be careful.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Internet Safety For Kids - Tips For Parents' Peace of Mind

The newest concern for parents is Internet safety for kids. Children are growing up with information at their fingertips, but many of the places they go on-line are not safe. Chat rooms can expose children to unsavory ideas, and many other websites regularly collect information from children about their parents, their schools, and even their addresses.Unfortunately, this is just the beginning. Pedophiles are attracted to kids's websites too, and regularly try to lure kids into meeting them in real life. There have been many abduction cases that resulted in child molestation and even child pornography.The facts of on-line child abuse are hard to face, but parents can be relieved to know that there are many ways to improve Internet safety for kids. As with all child safety precautions, it is best to work actively with children so they can learn how to navigate the world's traps and tricks when they are on their own.In a perfect world, parents will always be able to monitor what their children see on-line, but of course this is next to impossible. By following the tips below, parents can gain more control of what their children see on the internet, and also rest assured that their kids will know what to do if accosted on-line.

The big picture is to agree on some "house rules" for using the Internet. Even better is to make a pact with them about on-line behavior. Here are some common rules many parents make for kids:

1. Never give your personal information on-line, including real name, address, and school. If any webpage asks for information, check with parents' first.

2. No meeting with people from chat rooms - unless parents' agree. Also, parents' should arrange to go with them to a first meeting.

3. Never send picture of yourself to others.

4. Never download any software with parental permission.

Further protection is to keep the computer in the family room, rather than in the children's bedroom. Or, agree on times when they are allowed to surf the Internet, so they can be monitored from a distance.

Kids want freedom of information, too, despite legitimate parental concerns for their safety. Often it is difficult to monitor them directly, so consider these tactics:

1. Check the Internet history weekly by clicking on preferences for most browsers.

2. Enable parental controls on search results for Google and the other main search engines.

3. Invest in software that tracks Internet history and also bars web pages that may be unsafe.

It is unfortunate that parents have to balance their children's trust with concerns for their safety, so I always recommend that the above tactics are used only as a "last defense."

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Teen Internet Safety

ssues of teen internet safety are very important for your teen to understand as he or she naturally becomes more involved in social networking sites and other social habits that are based around internet use. Texting, IM, Facebook, and other electronic methods of communication have quickly replaced traditional dating and socializing. It is important that your teen knows the dangers of internet communication and how to stay safe when using these various mediums of communication. It's also important that you as a parent take an active role in helping keep them safe until they are mature enough to make good choices.

Establish Rules at Home

One of the first things you can do to establish teen internet safety in your home is to set rules with your teen regarding electronic communication. Veto the exchange of addresses and phone numbers on social networking sites and discuss about the importance of communicating only with people he/she knows.

Monitor Computer Use

Parental monitoring is a key part of teen internet safety. Make sure your teen understands that all forms of electronic communications are subject to monitoring. You can and will review the internet sites visited online. Use the history section of your web browser, read text messages on cell phones, review their status updates and their friend list on Facebook, as well any other monitoring you feel is necessary. You can use the parental control features on your internet browser to password protect your browser or to block certain types of websites on your computer.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Teaching Internet Safety To Children

If you are a parent you well know that parenting is easier said than done. To add to this parenting now is considered incomplete without teaching internet safety to children. And in this times of cyber crimes and online threats this is not something you can afford to neglect.Teaching internet safety to children effectively of course means that you have to first get yourself educated, become aware of the latest happenings online especially in regards to online safety for children. If you don't know already, you will be amazed even shocked at what is going on online, the kinds of content which is easily accessible by anyone including children too.

Simply knowing how to operate the computer and access the internet won't do, this is one area where you want to be at least a step ahead of your kid. You have to be able to find out whether they are hiding anything from you. Thankfully it doesn't take much to educate yourself in the areas of computers and internet, resources are within easy reach both offline and online.

Like in parenting, it does help in teaching internet safety to children if you already enjoy an open relationship with your kids. For that matter, if your relationship with your kids is one of trust and reliability, it will be far easier not only getting across your messages to them but anything important you want to share with them. Hence building up a good relationship with your children helps in keeping them safe too although indirectly.

Maybe you already know this, but there has been some unfortunate cases where some kids ended their lives due to extreme tormenting experiences online. Even if not this extreme, we know that experiences of deep hurt during childhood can scar a child for life. The parents of the kids who went through extreme sufferings due to online activities would surely have regretted not having taken the right steps in time to protect their children.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Why Use Internet Tracking Software?

It is impossible to imagine our life without the Internet. Indeed, the Internet is a powerful force and it is used in business, education, entertainments etc. At the same time, the Internet can be dangerous, especially for kids. Access to information is unrestricted. Thus, kids may become victims of scammers and even criminals. That is why it is extremely important to make sure your kids visit safe websites with appropriate contents. Use of the Internet monitoring software can be very helpful for parents who care for their kids.The Internet monitoring software can be installed to a PC in an invisible way. Thus, your kids will not even guess that you know what websites they visited. One of the greatest advantages of using such software is the ability to filter sites. Thus, it is an excellent opportunity to make sure your kids will be unable to visit porno web sites or other dangerous web pages. The filter can be adjusted in a variety of ways. The software is user friendly, thus parents with minimal software knowledge will be able to use it.

The Internet monitoring software can be also used in offices. According to the recent surveys, more than 50% of employees use the Internet for their personal purposes. It is not acceptable since such employees will not show their top performance. Besides, the Internet is very interrupting. At the same time, employees might need the Internet to perform their duties. What is the solution? The Internet monitoring software will solve the problem. If employees are aware that they are controlled they are unlikely to upload new pictures to their Facebook profiles. By the way, social networking websites are very popular and addictive. Thus, you can simply adjust the internet monitoring software so that employees are unable to visit, for example, Facebook.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Parental Control Filter Options

In this day and age of untrammeled information explosion, setting parental control filters to regulate children's online activities may be the wisest thing to do. It is laudable to offer children the freedom to explore the vast expanse of knowledge and communicate with others. But safety and security being paramount, parental control filters with time-tested and cutting-edge software are the right way to channel children's curiosity.Children are naturally drawn to anything that not only raises their curiosity but also offers them easy reward. Parents, therefore, have a duty and a responsibility, to guide their kids in their impressionable and formative years in the right direction. For instance, it is essential to emphasize early on the importance of never giving out one's name, phone number, address, social security number, or other private information to strangers online. It is easier said than done, especially when children run into tricksters who are too smart to handle. Of course, there are laws out there. For instance, according to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), any web site that collects information from children under 13 must clearly state the nature of information they're gathering and to what purpose. More often than not, it is mandatory that the web site obtains parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information about a child. Parents may want to read privacy statements in detail before deciding whether to give their consent. But if there is no reason why anyone should waste their time in the first place, there is no better way than to exercise parental control filter options to the fullest extent possible. Parents may want to configure software to allow only approved contacts to prevent children from running into strangers while instant messaging. And it is here that technology can play a major role. Parental control software can block exposure to such websites and inappropriate content for good. Software that can enable parents to monitor, manage, and administer their children's computer use is the key to success.

Parents would need to know how to limit searches, block or allow certain web sites. After all, any filter should be intelligent enough not to block educational content that can enhance a child's intelligence and social awareness. It is essential that parental control filters provide adequate guidelines that could help parents control child's use of online communications safely and intelligently. While setting user accounts, parents can filter any inappropriate, violent games, media players or chat programs by setting up limited user accounts for their kids. Being in full control as administrators, they can easily set web browser security and privacy preferences.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Computer Monitoring Software

If you are seriously interested in understanding computer monitoring, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know computer monitoring.
You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about computer monitoring. But do not be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.With advances in technology today, when it comes to software for monitoring children, whatether parents want - is likely to be available! As the popularity and the need for increased monitoring software, makes the need for a reliable source of information on software, including the various functions that are available to parents today.Parents should keep an eye on their children all day - not only when they do not work. One reason is computer programs, which is gaining popularity because parents cannot physically be at their house to watch a child or teen when they are online. Most parents have jobs and this means that they cannot always be present when their children out of school. Thus, today more and more parents are turning to software tracking than ever!

Keyloggers can also monitor keystrokes, thus, and can actually send you by e-mail so you know, when someone wrote a chosen keyword. It is commonly known as remote access, and it can really help you monitor your children when you are away, and also see what your employees are in place when you can be outside the office or traveler.Looking Up recorder essential services, Internet services and parental oversight of online monitoring, you can access a range of different services that are able to meet all your monitoring needs. A careful examination of the features offered and the cost can help you decide on the most convenient service. Once you've chosen the right product to download online, you just have a few minute for installation and you are on your way to understand precisely what others are when online.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com

Internet Safety - How to Protect Your Children

Has your child seen any adult images online? You might not think so, but recent studies show that more than half the children who use the Internet have been exposed to indecent material and only one in six parents is aware of it. As a parent, there are some things you can do immediately to stop it.Today, any computer-literate child can view anything, from adult material to graphic videos, online chats, live adult shows, virtual adult parties, user-generated offensive material, and material that is illegal and subject to prosecution. Children are given all this access free of charge as a means to lure them into becoming victims and to get them to reveal information about your family.

There are legitimate sites for children but predators have easy and anonymous access to children online where they can conceal their identity and roam without limit even on legitimate sites. While more and more law enforcement agencies are setting up cyber crime units, for now, it is the responsibility of parents to play cyber cop to protect their children and family.Explain to your children that talking online to strangers is a very bad idea. Be as direct as you can, even to the point of frightening them. Stress that they may be endangering not just themselves but your entire family by exposing details to a predator. Being online is not as anonymous as most people believe. Predators have ways of easily finding out real names and addresses of children they chat with.

Explain to your children, male or female, that child molesters frequent chat rooms on the Internet. If you are not familiar with chat rooms, it is time that you investigated what they are and how they work. If your children have access to the Internet, they have access to chat rooms. Child molesters pose as children or "confidants" trying to develop friendships with unsuspecting children. Child molesters lure their victims with promises of friendship and material goods. Many adolescent Internet users look for anonymous friends, someone they believe they can safely chat with while their unsuspecting parents are not present. And, too often, it works!

If you are not computer savvy, ask your children to show you how it's done or take some night classes. Do not just watch your kids surf or just talk to your kids about what they are seeing or doing online. Get involved. This will help everyone, including you, understand better what is going on.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Internet Safety - Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

As a parent, there is a responsibility to keep your child safe. While they use the internet, there are some potential dangers to be aware of. Part of good parenting is being sure that your child is safely using the internet and not being put into any danger. It's also important they do not run into any content that might be disturbing.First, you need to know where they are going. Most people use one browser and the history is shared. If you find a page that you may not approve of, you have no idea which kid or adult in the house was on that page. Some browsers like Firefox have profiles where each user gets their own settings and history. This would be an easy way of knowing who is going to what pages and being exposed to what content. If you have an idea of where the kids are going, you can know what steps are needed to take to ensure their internet  safety.

If you are concerned about the content that kids see, there are programs that help filter the internet. This would help stop most of the pornographic, adult only, and violent images that you wouldn't want your child being exposed to. There are even Firefox add-ons that can filter words. A parent can take a series of swear words, for example, and make them show up on the screen differently or not at all.

Be careful about who they chat with online. Generally it's best if they only chat with people they know in person. If they do use a chat client like Yahoo or MSN consider using a username that does not give away who they are and don't put in their personal information when signing up for the account. If they are using social networking sites, use the privacy option. This means that only approved friends can actually view the profile. This gives the child a way of still being part of the social network without many of the issues involved.

source:http://ezinearticles.com

Some Internet Safety for Kids Age 5-7 Years Old

Kids from 5 to 7 years old are very dependent on what their parents or older people tell them. They don't question people's authority although they are curious on finding out the "whys?" of everything. They are trusting and interpret the world as they see it.

Internet threats to Kids Age 5-7 Years Old

Kids from 5 to 7 years old have knowledge on the basic operations of the computer like manipulating the mouse, using the keyboard and turning the computer on and off. However, the internet may be complicated to them so they are very dependent on adults to find web sites and explain the information given online. They have little capacity to use the internet alone.Since they can't discern what is real from fictional, they are vulnerable to believing everything they see online as true. They can accidentally enter websites that aren't proper to their age. They may not exactly understand the text from websites, but they clearly understand the violent images. Since they are trusting in older people, they can easily be persuaded to provide personal information through instant messaging, surveys, or similar forms.

These vulnerabilities should be protected at all times. Here are the things you should do to ensure the internet  safety of your kids while using the internet:

•Never leave your kids alone in front of the computer. Always sit with them whenever they use the internet.

•Have a list of friendly websites saved on your personal bookmark so that you can easily access his favorite sites. Teach your kids how to direct the mouse to it.

•Enable the security settings of search engines.

•Keep the internet-connected computer where you can see it.

•Use filtering devices such as firewalls or setup a security system wherein the forbidden sites can't be opened (intentionally or accidentally).


source:http://www.articlesbase.com

The State of Kids Internet Safety

The internet has everything! But does your child need to see it. Online parental control is becoming more important as our kids become more tech savvy. In most cases, children are more computer literate than their parents. This makes monitoring their surfing activity extremely difficult. Kids internet safety is becoming one the most important tech topics in the industry. This is direct response to the increase in child exploitation on the internet. According to recent studies, 76% child exploitation victims met their offenders via social networking primarily chat rooms. In addition, cases of online bullying by classmates have risen exponentially over the years.

There are around 77 million kids using the internet. However, most parents are not taking the steps to teach effective online safety for kids. Both the FBI and FEMA have provided parents with an online set of online safety rules to educate their children. However, most kids and adults ignored these safety rules. Schools have also begun teaching online safety for kids. Is this really enough to protect your children? Like all parental decision the answer can't be a simple yes or no.

The illicit and illegal has always attracted our children. The internet gives that perfect medium to act out that desire. No matter how much education provided, the temptation remains for kids to break online safety rules. Having the uninhibited access to the World Wide Web at their finger tips is a desire that most kids can't bear.

source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-State-of-Kids-Internet-Safety&id=533328

Using Parental Controls

Parental controls allow you, as a parent or guardian to be able to control the computer in which your child or younger adult is using. You know the importance of doing so. Online predators are out there and they are readily stalking even the youngest of children that venture onto the internet. Using parental controls allows you to keep control of your situation so that you can make decisions for your child that will ultimately help them manage what happens online.


What Can Be Done?

Each internet service provider have their own different set of parental controls that you can use. First thing that you will need to do is to find out what types of software are being offered to you through your provider. If you do find that these parental controls are not enough to really protect your child, you can find others available to you to buy. Before you make that investment, keep in mind that some internet service providers do provide this, or at least some parental controls, with their service to you.

There are various options that you can use. Here are some of the services that are available.

- Monitor who can send your child email.

- Monitor who your child can send emails to, as well.

- Determine who can send messages to your child or who your child can chat with in chat rooms. Limit them by name or age, or just allow certain ones.

- Monitor the time that they are online. Set a timer for each visit as to how much time they could be online every time they are available onto the web.

- Determine which websites your child can go to as well as what type of website it is. Some limit the child to only those websites that are approved by you.

There are more services that you can use when it comes to parental controls. There is no doubt that you'll manage to find the right type of control for your needs either with your current internet service provider or with additional software that you purchase. The goal here is to find the product that provides you the overall best solution and protection for your child. This isn't the type of thing that you need to put aside and do later.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com