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Internet Security

Protect your children... some safety tips

The Internet and your children

The Internet is a wonderful environment for discovery, research and amusement for your children. But it can also become a dangerous place for your children.

According to a survey^{1 (footnote)}, 59 % of children have assumed a different identity to chat or play games online. This means that 41 % use their own identity.

As a parent, it can be worrisome not knowing what your child is doing on the Internet. Especially when sex offenders have infiltrated almost all online social networking activities preferred by children.

How to protect your children

A good way to control your children's online activities is to install a filter program, such as Parental Control included with NorthernTel's Internet Security Services. It allows you to block access to inappropriate websites.

The Parental Control application included with NorthernTel's Internet Security Services:

uses a filter you can personalize based on six criteria: gambling, money, weapons, hate, drugs and adult;
also lets you configure a user profile for your child, and one for you, and then set a period of time when your child is allowed to surf the Internet.

Safety tips

Become familiar with the Internet forums and applications that your children use (instant messaging (IM), peer-to-peer (P2P), blogs, chatrooms, websites).
Explain to your children that you will be monitoring their Internet activity. Your children should have no expectation of privacy on the computer.
Be aware of when your children are sending pictures. Carefully and constantly monitor the use of web cams, digital cameras and mobile phones.
Emphasize the public nature of the Internet that picture is sent to others can't be taken back, distributing naked pictures is potentially illegal, and that such actions may be extremely damaging.
Use filtering options in search engines (e.g. Google SafeSearch).
Use filtering software such as Parental Control included with NorthernTel's Internet Security Services. This software alone is not sufficient to completely protect children from Internet dangers but they are useful for reducing the risk of exposure to sexually explicit content.
Ensure that your message regarding online safety is age appropriate.
Begin the dialogue now. As the parent, you know your children better than anyone else. They will look to you to model appropriate behaviour.
Reinforce boundaries. The importance of personal boundaries to your children's awareness of potentially dangerous situations. Encouraging and re-enforcing boundaries can reduce the risk of victimized nation.

(Source: Cybertip.ca)