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

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

Internet Safety Month promotes danger awareness

A June awareness campaign—known as National Internet Safety Month—was created to educate parents and children on the importance of using caution when going online and help the reported one in three teens who have experienced online harassment."I don't think a lot of kids realize that in going on there... how easy it could be to pick you out," said Holly Quist, a public health educator for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.

She said what is most worrying is that many people believe that private information is just a phone number or address, but posting the time and place of a sports practice after school can be just as dangerous to put on the web.

"Some parents are afraid to talk about the dangers out there because they don't want to scare their kids, but at the same time if you do talk to them they are less likely to fall victim to what's out there," Quist said.

It is much easier than many people believe to find information about others online, and in addition to online predators, cyber bullying and sexting are also very big dangers for kids and teenagers today, Quist said.

"Kids think because it's not face to face it doesn't hurt and isn't the same," she said.

Because there are so many ways that kids can get into trouble online, Quist said that it is important for parents to monitor their children's web usage, especially social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook.

"I think (for kids) under 18, as a parent you can do as much as you want. More than likely, they are the one paying for the bill," she said.

source:http://www.nooga.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/computers-articles/computer-monitoring-software-4333340.html

How To Make The Web Safe For Kids

Following this year's Safer Internet Day, which took place last month, NSPCC Northern Ireland has called on parents and carers to make sure both they and their children are web-wise.With social media constantly evolving, children are communicating online not just through their PC, but on mobile phones and game consoles. Understanding the internet and the risks it can pose is the first step to keeping your child safe.Neil Anderson, national head of service for NSPCC Northern Ireland, said: “The internet can be a wonderful resource, but it is not without its pitfalls.“Safer Internet Day has offered an opportunity for parents to find out more about the online environment, and make sure their children understand the risks and can make sensible and informed choices.“As young people across the region log on to play games, chat to peers and socialise, I would urge parents to find an opportunity to talk about the possible dangers online. Not only can you never really be sure who you are talking to, but without meaning to do so you can make yourself vulnerable by giving away personal information.“Parents can play their part by talking openly to their children about their activities on the internet, ensuring they follow advice on internet safety and encouraging them to speak out if they see anything that makes them feel upset or uncomfortable.”

While interactive social media technology continues to grow, the potential for misuse is high. Risks can include cyberbullying, grooming and potential abuse by online predators, identity theft and exposure to inappropriate content.

The NSPCC is offering parents some advice on how to make cyberspace safer:

• Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details such as their email address, mobile number, school name or arrangements for meeting up with friends.

• Make them aware that they need to think carefully about the information and pictures they post on their profiles. Once published online, anyone can change or share these images.

•If your child receives spam or junk email and texts, remind them never to believe their contents, reply to them or use them.

•Help your child to understand that some people lie online and that they should never meet up with any strangers.

source:http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/technology/internet/how-to-make-the-web-safe-for-kids-1.1042425

Keeping Teenage Girls Off Dangerous Websites

Like most teenage girls, Hannah Black and her friends love to check their Facebook pages and post photos.But one day, one of Black's friends was brutally attacked online."They were making up rumors about her, calling her a whore, saying she was ugly and she wasn't pretty and no one should like her and no one does like her," Black said."Here, this beautiful, smart, intelligent, well-rounded young girl being sexually harassed and taunted at every turn," said Black's father, Sam Black.
Besides being the father of a teenage girl, Black is an Internet safety professional.He knows first hand what dangers lurk online for teen girls."Body image, sexualization of women and girls, cyber bullying," he said. "All these things can play out on the Internet."Michele Borba, author of the "Big Book of Parenting Solutions," says while sites may post rules against bullying or harassing, not all teens follow them."There are a number of new sites that look like they're harmless, but are actually teaching our girls very, very vicious lifestyle changes," Borba said.

"Formspring is one of the new kinds of websites that looks like a social network that is popping up online for our daughters," Borba said. "It looks tame enough. But once they log on, what it actually encourages instead is to send vicious notes toward one another in an anonymous nature."Formspring.com said in an e-mail that they take safety and privacy seriously and have developed practices for blocking inappropriate content.The people behind Formspring say they're developing more tools for a safer online experience. For example, all questions sent to Formspring stay in a private inbox until a member responds.

But experts say social networking sites aren't the only types that raise concern.There are new online games where teens create and play highly-sexualized characters. "If you earn a certain amount of points in life, you can even buy yourself a sugar daddy," Borba said. "Totally unhealthy and you do not want your daughters in any part of it."Then there are the websites that promote anorexia and bulimia with photographs of frail and skinny models and step-by-step "tutorials."

"Specific directions on how to purge, how to purchase diet pills and it is doing damage," Borba said. "Stanford University found that 96 percent of girls who are anorexic learned a lot of their eating habits on those sites."So how can parents keep kids off potentially dangerous websites? They should invest in parental control software and monitor their teen's online history.They can also do Google searches on their kid's full name to see if anything comes up.A walk by to see if they abruptly stop as they're online is also a good idea.Finally, they should take the time to get Internet savvy. It could make all the difference in their daughter's life.

"You need to step up to the plate," Borba said. "You need to monitor because we're raising our children in a tough world."

source:http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8000536

Web Monitoring Software Popular With Parents

Many parents are using web monitoring software to keep track with their child's online activities. With all the sexual predators and internet crimes, this is considered necessary by many parents. The following paragraphs will take a look the software parents are using to keep up with their child's online activity.

Popular tracking software used to monitor computer activity are often referred to as keyloggers. These programs need to be installed on the computer you will be web monitoring. Once installed, the program will keep track and record each and every keystroke typed into the computer.

Once the data is collected, the log file is normally encrypted, as well as password protected. Most children (and adults for that matter!) are unable to detect that new software has even been installed on their computer. With most keylogger type software, the log file can be exported to HTML format or as a.doc file.

Many monitoring software downloads are available for free all over the world wide web. These programs can be highly effective if your child is not real computer savvy. These free keylogger programs rarely offer some of the more premier services that some paid programs do provide.

For example, some of the free programs will be detected as a virus if a child uses a virus scan. Most of the paid programs will not be detected as a virus in the same situation. In addition, most of the free versions are detectable in the task manager option of Windows. Most paid versions have the program blocked from showing up in the task manager.

Parents use web monitoring software to help protect their children from the evils of the internet. A nosy parent is an informed parent. It is important to know if your child is abusing the internet before they do something too stupid to fix. Monitoring software makes knowing possible.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/web-monitoring-software-popular-with-parents-1575690.html