Secure Computer Software Web Tips Guide
Secure Online Safety
By Dirk C Wallace
Cyberspace is the latest space for predators to get to your children.
The anonymity of chat rooms and emails provide the perfect venue
for an abductor to gain a child’s trust. The news has been peppered
by tragic stories of children who have been lured to disaster
by someone posing as another child.
To prevent a tragedy from happening, you must provide your kids
with accurate safety information when using the computer.
A good firewall and/or parental control software is essential
for every computer in your home. You can prevent adult sites from
being included in search results. Google’s SafeSearch function
screens for sites that contain this type of information, then
eliminates it from search results.
Adjust Settings By Clicking On Preferences Link
You can modify your computer’s SafeSearch settings by clicking
on the Preferences link to the right of the Google search box.
Programs like Net Nanny and Cyber Patrol do a great job of filtering
out explicit or unwanted material, but no program is perfect.
There is no substitute for adult supervision.
So keep a close eye on what your child does on the computer.
Place the computer in a place where you can see it, like the living
room or kitchen instead of the child’s bedroom. You can
also check where your kids have been, by looking at the browser
history in the computer’s web browser menu.
Talk To Your Children About Online Safety And Security
Many kids are very, very computer savvy, so make sure that they
have all the privacy security information they need. Remind them
to never give out personal information like their full name, address,
phone numbers and email addresses. You should also tell them not
to discuss the specifics of their life, like where they go to
school, teams that they play for or places they shop.
This prevents stalkers from tracking them down. Be very careful
with social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and My Space
too. It’s best to play it safe and keep your kids secure by not
allowing them to join these sites.
Establish Guidelines For Online Activities
One of the most important things you can do to empower your children
about online safety issues is to talk to them. Establish guidelines
about their use and encourage them to tell you if they encounter
inappropriate material online. Chat rooms are fun places, but
make sure you are aware of who your child is talking to and the
nature of the conversations.
Do not allow private messaging or "whispering." This
is where predators lurk, so it’s best to keep chat room conversations
in the "public" area. Repeatedly tell your child that
they should never arrange to meet someone they have met online
in real life.
Increasing Online Security
Teenagers require more freedom, but you still need to make sure
that they are secure online. Be aware of online games and gambling
sites, and be sure that you know who they are talking to. Don’t
allow them to wear headsets so that you can’t hear what’s being
said to them during live chats.
Teenage girls in particular tend to build "relationships"
with the people they communicate with online, so emphasize to
them that they must not give out personal information or meet
someone from the Internet in person. Encourage your teens to come
to you, in order to review their options, whenever they come across
material or messages that make them feel uncomfortable or threatened.
While this will alarm you, try to handle the situation calmly.
If you lose it, your child may hesitate to come to you in the
future. Allow your child to surf and explore the Internet, but
protect them with the safety information they need.
About the Author:
Dirk C Wallace has written a number of articles on Computers and Internet Security Software including
Anti-Virus Protection,
Antispyware Software,
Computer Help,
Computer Security Handbook,
Computer Virus,
Frequently Asked Questions,
Internet And Security,
Computer Instruction,
Basic Computer Training,
Computer Training Software.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Did You Know?
How can I ensure my personal safety if I want to meet someone
from online?
The internet has become a great way to meet
people. It allows people to come into contact with others from
across the nation or even in another country. But it does come
with its fair share of risks. If you are interested in meeting
someone from online then you need to take some safety precautions.
The first is to not immediately suggest
meeting face-to-face. You should take some time exchanging email
messages first to get to know the person. The next stage is talking
on instant messenger. This allows you to really ask spur of the
moment questions and get answers.
If the person is being very vague or noncommittal
on answers, this is the perfect opportunity to stop communication.
The next stage is talking on the phone. Ideally you should talk
to them on your cell phone. You do not want them to have your
physical location information yet.
After a few phone conversations you can
then arrange to meet during the day in a very public location
where lots of people will be. Always make sure you drive yourself
there and do not ride with the person. Also, make sure and tell
people who you are meeting, where you are meeting them and what
time you are meeting them.
That way if something were to happen, someone
else would know where you are at and who you are meeting. If that
meeting goes well then set up other meetings and enjoy getting
to know this person. If at any time you feel threatened or that
maybe the person is lying to you, immediately get away and end
the communication.
|
