your family
Keeping kids safe online
We’ve all heard the horror stories about children falling victim to predators online. But how can you protect them when they know their way around a computer better than you do? Whatever you do, you shouldn’t leave it to your child to safeguard themselves online. You may not be as technologically savvy as they are, but there are still some steps you can take... • Check some of the sites your child visits. Particularly those that collect personal information. Norton Internet Security includes parental controls that stops personal information being transmitted. • Change the settings on your search engine. Set it so that it does not return any results containing explicit words or imagery. (You can do this by clicking ‘Preferences’ or ‘Settings’ on the search page – look for ‘Safe Search’ options.) • Change your browser. You can get internet browsers that are designed especially for children, which filter out explicit words and sites featuring chat, gambling, or adult content. Try MyWeb or Noah’s Web. • Install surveillance software. If you have cause to be concerned about your child’s chatroom activity, you can install a piece of software that records chats, emails, and keystrokes. Try Guardian Monitor or Computer Cop. • Set limits on downloads. Free games, free music, animated toolbars, and other downloads
can expose your computer to spyware and other unwanted software. Get your children to ask permission before they download anything. Also, install good antivirus and antispyware software. • Create different user accounts. You can give yourself an Administrator account and your children Limited User accounts. Administrator accounts have full control over the computer. Limited Users cannot change system settings or
install new hardware or software, including most games, media players, and chat programs. • Remind kids not to talk to strangers online. Teach them some basic safety tips, such as only using a first name or nickname to identify themselves; never disclosing their phone number or address, never sending photos of themselves, and never ever agreeing to meet someone they meet online without supervision.
8TH FEBRuARY IS SAFER INTERNET DAY. For more information, log on to www.saferinternet.org
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