Safer Kid Computing
“We don’t need a scare campaign, but we do need to educate kids about the basic rules of Internet safety.” – Michael J. Miller, PC Magazine
We need to teach our children that the Internet is like a very large city. There are lots of good things, some bad things, and a few very bad people.
Teens may be posting too much personal information online. They should never give out their home address and phone number online, should be particularly careful in chat rooms, and never meet with anyone who approaches them in a chat room, especially without parents around.
Consider Using These Guidelines in Your Home
Purchase a Comprehensive Anti-virus / Anti-Spyware Software Product - Free downloadable anti-virus software and spyware sweeping programs often provide the most basic protection, unlike of the paid-for editions which will provide the fullest protection with automatic updates and scheduled hard disk sweeps.
Enforce a Common Area - Always make sure children use the computer in an area where you can easily keep an eye on them.
Use a Timer – Use a time-based method to prevent Internet use (or computer use) during off hours. It’s built into Windows Vista’s User Accounts (even generates user-activity reports for you), and also in most parental-control software. You may even find a setting in your network router.
Limit Gaming - You limit their time on the PC, so limit their time on game consoles also. Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii can limit kids’ play based on ESRB ratings for games. Xbox also sets limits based on MPAA ratings for DVDs. PlayStation 3 has different restriction levels. (Reset that default password of 0000, or Junior will reset it for you.) Xbox Live now includes a family timer, to prevent too much gaming per day or per week.
Your Teens Are Smarter than You - Teens find out fast if a parental control is limited to a certain kind of browser or software and will just download something new to avoid the restrictions their parents have imposed on their Internet browsing and instant messaging activities.
Beware of any new Internet software - especially if it has been installed without your permission. Most “freeware” and “file sharing” Internet software must be actively installed by the user. By doing so, you can give that same software permission to be ignored from being monitored by your computer’s anti-virus software.
For more information, check out these websites and others like them or give us a call.
Internet Safety: Monitor internet, email & chats. Top-rated software, easy to install: www.AwarenessTech.com/Protect_Children
Internet Security Software: www.pctools.com
Internet Safety Software: Reviewed By Experts – See their top choices for 2008. www.Top-Parental-Control-Software.com
Source: PC Magazine; www.pcmag.com
