Childsafe - Protecting your child

Yahooligans
A wide collection of websites that children can search in the same way as they would the wider, less child friendly Internet.
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Use a child-friendly search facility with your children, as even if you are supervising or searching for them, unsuitable content can still be accidentally displayed

Nearly all children have some contact with computers, whether in the home or at school. Most kids can easily find their way around a computer system, whether to surf the net or chat to friends. One of the main things overlooked or misunderstood by their parents is security. There are a few things you can do now to stop younger and older children getting themselves or you into trouble in those unsupervised moments. The steps you can take range from simple browser tweaks, to the purchase and installation of Parental Control software, such as “Net Nanny”.

However, nothing you can buy and no technical changes you can make to your home computer will be a substitute for both parental supervision and education. No matter what you leave your children looking at on the Internet, if they aren’t fully supervised all the time they are at it, there are little or no guarantees that when you return your children will be viewing the same content or taking part in the same activity they were doing when you left.

It’s easily possible for a child to browse backward from the gaming site you left them happily playing at, looking for the page where they choose the next game, only to go a few clicks over the top to uncover what a previous user was doing, even if that was just shopping at Amazon.co.uk it could still be a problem, especially if you left one-click ordering on! Or do you really want your PartyPoker account left in the hands of a seven year old?

To Google, or not t o Google . . .

A good rule to have for children under, for instance, the age of 10, is that they are not allowed to search on the Internet by themselves. While this might seem like a massive curtailment of on-line freedom, it will go a long way to stopping an innocent search for “free screensavers”, or “Billie Piper picture”, turning into either the downloading and installation of seriously security-compromising software that you might never find out about until it’s too late, or the pushing of hardcore pornography on to your computer screen – both often no more than a single click away.

In the event you can’t always guarantee that your children will patiently wait for you before searching, here are some techniques you can deploy now at no cost. Only let your child search unsupervised in a safer environment, such as the family friendly searching at www.bbc.co.uk, or www.askforkids.com (See “Safe searching for kids” box).

Quick fix – Links

It’s not always about making things harder for your child on-line, making it easier for your child to find their favourite websites can help too. Don’t just add them to a long list of Favourites though, use the Links toolbar. Before you try this, click on View then select Toolbars, then make sure Links is ticked.

1. In Internet Explorer on a PC, hold your left mouse button down over the Explorer icon in the far left of the browser address bar.

2. Drag the icon – by holding down your left mouse button – to the Links bar.

3. Rename the icon by right-clicking on the title in the Links bar, and selecting Rename from the dropdown menu.

But even when you’re helping your child search yourself, make sure Google’s SafeSearch Filtering is turned on. It’s set to moderate filtering by default. Go to www.google.com and Click on Preferences. Go to SafeSearch Filtering down the page, and click on the radio button by Use Strict Filtering. Otherwise you could be the person who brings something inappropriate on to the screen.

Your family’s I nternet culture

Constantly explaining to your child how the World Wide Web works, that it’s not like television, which is closely regulated, and that anyone can say anything on the Internet and it’s not always true is a good idea that will help them have realistic expectations on-line.

All the incoming information, the constant offers of free things that pop up, such as a free Xbox 360 just for filling in a form, can be daunting for youngsters. Explain to them that their name, age, location, and e-mail address is a valuable commodity on-line and that many people make money by gathering and selling them and that the chances of them ever actually receiving anything, other than a constant stream of marketing e-mails, by filling in a form on a non-reputable website is slim in the extreme.

Have a look at www.quick.org.uk – go through it with your children to teach them – and remind yourself – of how to have sensible attitudes to websites and other aspects of on-line content.

It ’s chat Jim, but not as we know it

The most important thing you can do is educate your children about the behaviour of people in the Internet and how they are to not trust anyone unless they know exactly who they are, in person, in the real world, because that person is already a school friend or family member. You don’t have to fill your kids with “big bad wolf” fear, but you do have to teach them to adopt a healthy scepticism.

If you are worried about your children’s use of chat software, don’t know who they’re talking to, or aren’t even sure what on-line chatting programs look like, let alone if your children are using them, have a look out for the icons or program names on your computer: Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger.

Avoid added links

Look out for links that applications you might have downloaded and installed have added to your browser, such as the popular casino or poker websites. Clicking on one of these browser icons might well log you in automatically. Either way, talk to your children about the difference between on-line gaming and on-line gambling sooner rather than later.

The chat of the town

Yahoo! and MSN Messenger aren’t by any means the only ways your children can chat on-line. However, they are among the most common, along with AIM, ICQ, Trillian, Google Talk and more, and then there are websites that have chatrooms that don’t require any further software.

If your children are using any of the chat programs, consider turning on the program’s “Archive” function. You don’t have to “stalk” your own children, just quickly tear through the archive and make sure your children aren’t being targeted, bullied, or otherwise pestered.

As a parent with growing children keen for more freedom and privacy, this kind of “diary peeking” could make you extremely unpopular. However, it might give you an early warning that you have to take steps to protect your children. Or, and this is just as likely, it might make you realise you haven’t been giving your children the credit they deserve and that they’re just a little more streetwise than you are, on the Internet at least.

If you have a home PC, children who use it regularly and you are connected to the internet, security should be one of the main factors you should be concerned about.

Raymond Dunthorne is a computer journalist

Opening up a wide world

Nick Yull takes a look at what the internet can offer both you and your family

The internet offers links to a vast network of computers all over the world with almost limitless material. It offers educational material, entertainment and is a source of services and experts. It is a library of information, which allows people to communicate direct to organisations, countries and cultures.

For children, the internet can take them to places they may never have heard of or may never visit. It can broaden their knowledge and outlook like no other form of education. It can improve their reading skills, offers opportunities to special need children, co-ordination skills can be improved, disabilities and mobility skills can be developed, information on historic, artistic, wild life, news topics can develop interests and accelerate learning. The internet can also offer safe and fun entertainment. The internet can be used positively by families “surfing the net” together – sharing the experience the internet provides is an opportunity for children and adults to share and explore together.

How to use the Internet Safely

Potential risks for you and your children include finding inappropriate material and downloading files with viruses
Chat lines also hold potential danger – not only can they be very expensive if they are open too long, but you and your children are talking to strangers and you need to be made aware of this
Be positive – take time to find out the best and most useful sites for you and your children
Keep an eye on the kind of material your children are looking at – talk about what they see and what they have learned or are interested in
Get to know whom your children are meeting on line and remember to make sure they DO NOT give out any personal information about themselves and your family. NEVER let them meet someone they have met on line
There is more to life than the internet – limit the time your children use it – encourage them to keep up their other activities and friendships
Learn as much about the internet as you can – it is far better to enjoy the internet as a family

Reminders for your children - Discuss each point with them

Don’t ever give out your real name, address or phone number or any other personal stuff over the internet
Take your parents surfing – it is far more fun to be able to talk about what you are doing as a family – but you may need to teach them a thing or two first!
The term “flaming” means using insulting language – DON’T – never be mean or embarrassing; always treat others like you would like to be treated yourself
Tell your mum and dad if you ever come across illegal activities – odd chat rooms or websites
There should be NO spamming – that is sending e-mails more than once to the same address for fun
Be careful with the language you use over the internet – never use racist or sexually explicit language. This is no way to communicate on line
Don’t tell anyone your password
Remember safety first – NEVER make plans to meet an on-line friend in person
Don’t open mail from someone you don’t know – it could be a virus
Always assume your messages can be read by anyone else on the internet. Nothing is truly private
Don’t send chain letters – it clogs up the servers and can be misinterpreted
Try to balance internet time with your usual activities
Some people will misuse the internet – they may lie. If you don’t understand something or something seems dodgy,ask your parents for their advice
Your e-mail address can be traced – so don’t act in any way that you wouldn’t do in public

Have you ever talked to your kids about what’s safe to share on the internet?

Many parents assume that their child is a “good kid” and knows not to talk to strangers, right? And while most of the time that may be true, a child may not understand the difference between a friend that they know through the internet (what we call “virtual friends”) and the friends they know in person. Make sure they know to treat “virtual friends” like strangers and not to set up meetings without your prior approval.

Talk to your child about the difference and explain that it’s NEVER safe to disclose the following pieces of information when talking to someone on the internet – whether chatting with a physical friend or a virtual friend – because you can never be sure who’s on the other side of a computer screen.

What’s Private?

First and last name
Parent’s place of work
IM address
Your photo
School name
Phone numbers
Credit card numbers
Mother’s maiden name
E-mail address
Recreational activity team names
Home address
School adress
Passwords

Nick Yull has worked for 18 years in the MoD and industry dealing with computer and internet-related security

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In this issue...

FOREWORD

INTERNET SAFETY

DRUGS

MOBILE PHONES

BULLYING

STREET SMART

MEDIA

CHILD EXPLOITATION

ACHIEVEMENT

SIBLING RIVALRY

ROAD SAFETY

HOME SAFETY

TOMMY'S AWARDS

HEALTH

NEWS ROUND -UP

Q&A

DIRECTORY