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INTERNET SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS
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| Introduction to Child-Safe Searching |
• Why is safe searching needed?
The Internet contains a vast amount of resources, making it an excellent research tool for kids. However, there's a lot of inappropriate material on the web. This material includes drug and hate-related content, violence and lots and lots of pornography. Not what an average parent wants their kids to research or see.
To help parents and educators, various tools have been created to filter out "the dirt". This section is designed to give an overview of safe searching and provide specifics about available defense methods, i.e. tools, kids' browsers and specialized and filtered search engines.
Keeping your kids safe from online predators and questionable content is a difficult job. Although the new technology offers help, the low-tech method of direct supervision is the only surefire method. Please monitor your child's Internet sessions carefully.
| The Internet as a Child Hazard |
The Internet is undoubtedly the largest collection of freely accessible info and resources. However, the Net can become a hazard to your children. Searching the web may lead your innocent offspring to objectionable material and activities.
Possibilities include:
• Pornography, violence, drug and hate-related content
• Downloading of malicious viruses
• Chats that lead to dangerous or deadly meetings
Protecting your children from the nastier side of the web is not easy. If you forbid your children from accessing the web, you will deprive them of interactive fun and an excellent educational tool.
Constant monitoring may not be an option for working families. This is unfortunate because while you're at work, junior could be surfing the Web and viewing material that may be quite inappropriate. Although, computers can be great tools when used properly and responsibly. Hopefully, the data, programs and information we have put together for you below will guide you in the right direction in keeping your children safe when they use the global tool known as the World Wide Web.
So, how do you prevent your kids from accessing inappropriate material? There are many programs, search engines and other tools to help you. You will learn more about them below. All of this, of course, depends on the age of your kids, how much you trust them, your particular values and how cautious of a parent you choose to be.
| Safety Tips for a Safe Online Experience |
• Monitor, when possible
Your attentive eye is the best monitoring tool but not always practical. Try to set a time when you can browse the web with your children. Ask them to wait until you get home, or use one of the tools below to restrict access at certain times.
• Set strict guidelines
Educate your children about the dangerous side of the Internet. Give them precautions about chatting with strangers. Remind them that they shouldn't download anything or enter contests without permission.
• No personal information
Tell your children to never give out their phone number, last name, address, school they go to, etc. Make the connection to the non-virtual world by telling them that unknown people on the Web are strangers just like unknown people on the street are strangers.
Make a list of identifying questions that your kid should ask if a person with an unknown screen name claims to be a friend. Also, take advantage of buddy lists and tell your kids that they may only talk to those that appear on this list.
• Never meet strangers
Making the jump from fun conversation in the virtual world to a real live meeting should only be done with parental supervision and with extreme caution, if at all. Instruct your kids that it doesn't matter if the person is nice, or even if he or she is "a friend". Screen names may be faked, especially in ICQ and IRC (types of chat systems). If a perceived real world friend requests a meeting, the most cautious method is to confirm by calling a known telephone number.
• Make the rules clear and available
Don't let your kids get away with "Daddy/Mommy, I didn't know that's bad" line. It's a good idea to write down all of your Internet rules on paper and post it near your computer. This list should include where to call for help or if your child is uncomfortable with something he/she saw on the web.
The above rules should help your kids stay out of trouble. You may also want to implement parental controls or monitoring programs for extra protection. See tools below.
| CHILD-SAFE SEARCHING / MONITORING TOOLS |
| Parental Controls for Browsers |
This section discusses the features and limitations of parental controls in Browsers. Use the links below to read individual tutorials on setting up parental controls in each of these browsers.
Most popular browsers:
• Internet Explorer (versions 5.0 and above)
• Netscape Navigator (versions 4.7 and above)
• America Online (versions 5.0 and above)
AOL offers more features than other browsers, allowing parents to set restrictions for time, AOL chat, e-mail and newsgroups.
These specialized engines allow your child to search the web without stumbling upon objectionable content. However, these search engines do not restrict your kids from accessing other web sites by typing in the URL (web address).
Most popular kids' search engines:
• Ask Jeeves for Kids Check it out!
• Google Safe Search Give it a try!
WARNING! Some sites are impossible to block! Use search words carefully.
• Yahooligans Take it for a spin!
 | Yahooligans! | |
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• Lycos Kids Zone
• Education-World
• Kids Click!
• Kids Almanac
Educational and fun tools for kids:
• Awesome Library
18,000 carefully reviewed resources.
• Surfing the Net with Kids Archive
Archived suggestions from Barbara Feldman's syndicated column.
• ThinkQuest Library
Over 5000 student-created Web sites.
• Berit's Best Sites
This is a directory of safe, recommended Web sites for children up to age 12. Each selected site has been carefully reviewed and given a rating out of 5.
• KIDS.NET.AU
Kids.net.au is a non profit search engine just for kids, which is operated by volunteers. Searching sites that are fun, educational, and child safe.
Useful tools for teachers and children:
• Searchability for Children
These are guides that children and teenagers can use to find specialized engines relating to their interests and school subjects.
• Wordsmyth
Explore, Discover, Create. A fun new way to search for word meanings and definitions.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)
A database of more than 17,000 education resources across more than 100 web sites.
| Filtered ISPs (Internet Service Providers) |
A filtered ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a complete Web browsing package that includes your Internet connection, browser and associated tools. All of which are pre-set to filter objectionable content. Your current ISP may already allow filtering of Internet activity. Inquire about this option if you have children that use the Web. If you would like a filtered ISP, here is a quality one you can use.
• 4Safe Internet
This software is installed on your computer to prevent access to certain sites, which are considered objectionable and are contained in the software's database.
Other variations may use keyword and URL analysis to prevent access to questionable material. When choosing a filtering tool, look for one that restricts not only web content, but chat and e-mail.
Some of the viable options are:
• NetNanny
• iFilter
• CyberSitter
In the early stages, some filtering software used rather primitive simple keyterm filtering. For example, a user may have been prevented from researching breast cancer. Make sure the the software and the settings you impose are age appropriate for both your concerns and the needs of your child.
These browsers are designed to filter out inappropriate content and limit such activities as chat and e-mail. Kids' browsers usually feature colorful and fun-to-use interfaces.
Browsers are the applications that allow for navigation and viewing of the web. Among the most common are Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and AOL. The makers of these browsers have added a variety of parental control features. These features allow parents to limit or restrict certain activities and/or filter or restrict access to certain content.
Parental controls in browsers
One of the easiest ways to control what your kids see on the web is through the use of parental controls in web browsers. There are, however, downsides. These downsides are outlined with each of the three most popular browsers listed above. Please view the browser links for more information.
Browser controls are a way of restricting access to objectionable material (unless your child is a computer genius who can crack the password). These browser controls are designed to insure that sites viewed are child-safe. Sites that are not rated by RSACi - Recreational Software Advisory Council or SafeSurf (content rating systems), will not be accessible without a password (if so configured).
Some of the viable options are:
• Kid Surfer
• CyberPatrol
These tools allow you to monitor what your kids are doing on the web even when you can't be there. Some allow for a later review of e-mail, chats and sites that your child visited.
These tools work by recording what your child is doing. Some record keystrokes (every time your child presses a button on the keyboard) and mouse clicks, while others take numerous snapshots of the screen and play it back to you at a later time.
Some may find this method rather extreme. Children may find this to be a great imposition and suppression of exploratory freedom (if they know about it) or a violation of trust (if they inadvertently find out about it). This is, of course, a parental choice.
Some of the viable options are:
• Spector
• SafeConnect
These tools limit the amount of time that your child can spend on the web. This is a great way to make sure that your children are not becoming surf potatoes and spending their entire life online. Unless the time limiting function comes as a part of a multifunctional tool, it does not provide filtering features and similar restrictions.
Some of the viable options are:
• EnuffPC
• ChildWatch
Most of the software products listed above are multifunctional and combine more than one feature to make the Internet safer. When looking for an Internet-safety product, choose one that: filters content, allows time limiting, and most importantly, restricts instant messaging and chat.
Program: PC Watch
File Name: PCWatch.zip
File Size: 4,821 KB
Type: Freeware
System: Windows 95/98/XP
Description:
• Have you ever wondered what your child, wife or husband are up to online?
• Who are your children talking to online, in chat rooms or instant messaging programs?
• Has your spouse or child arranged to meet someone off the internet unknown to you?
• Wouldn't it be nice if all activity on the household PC was monitored and stored on your hard drive?
Not only does this program give you peace of mind, but also gives you important information if the worst should ever happen.
Download: PC Watch
Program: GuardX
File Name: GuardX.exe
File Size: 462 KB
Type: Freeware
System: Windows 95/98/XP
Description:
When GuardX has been successfully setup on your PC, it will automatically be launched. You will then have 20 seconds to enter the correct password. After 20 seconds, if the password has not been entered, the PC will shut down. Using the Ctrl+Alt+Del buttons to try and bypass GuardX will not work. If GuardX is closed in any way other than using the password, the PC will shut down.
Download: GuardX
Program: SysProtect
File Name: SysProtect.zip
File Size: 3,117 KB
Type: Freeware
System: Windows 95/98/XP
Description:
SysProtect is a freeware utility that resides in the Windows 95/98/XP system tray (where your clock resides). It gives you the ability to lock down your Windows 9x PC just as you could with Windows NT. Additional features include the ability to display your screensaver after it has password-protected your machine for you, along with allowing you to specify a time interval for automatically protecting your system after a given amount of idle time. With this latest version, you can now use your own favorite images as your screen wallpapers while your machine is locked down, as well as receive log reports on any failed login attempts while you were away.
As mentioned by Leo Leport on TechTV.com
http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/freefile/story/0,24330,3377750,00.html
Download: SysProtect
Program: DeskTop Shield
File Name: DeskTopShield.zip
File Size: 3,759 KB
Type: Freeware
System: Windows 95/98/XP
Description:
DeskTop Shield protects your PC during your absence. Anyone wishing to tamper with your computer or look at your data will be locked out. Just double-click on the program icon in the system tray to instantly lock your desktop. When you enable the program, the taskbar is removed from view and task switching key combinations (Ctrl-Alt-Del, Ctrl-Esc and Alt-Tab) are disabled. You can automatically load the program when Windows starts, hide your Desktop altogether, and log access attempts to a text file for later reading. In addition, you can password-protect your settings. If you want to protect your computer, whether from curious eyes, hackers, or children, or if you have sensitive information, this program is for you.
Download: DeskTop Shield
Program: Winzip 8.0
File Name: Winzip8.0.exe
File Size: 1,204 KB
Type: Freeware
System: Windows 95/98/XP
Description:
If you do not have an unzipping program already, you will need this program to unzip the compressed files (.ZIP) above. WinZip is a straightforward, fast, and easy-to-use zipping and unzipping utility that includes built-in support for popular Internet file formats such as TAR, ZIP, UUencode, XXencode, BinHex, MIME, and Unix-compressed files.
Download: Winzip 8.0
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