Keep Your Kids Safe with a Thick Firewall

Your kids have the potential to attract malicious internet attacks and unwanted people from taking over your system. This is because they may not have the ability to know if the sites or programs they are visiting and using are safe or not. And this is not their fault. As a parent, you should always take the initial move to take care of your kids whenever they go online. One way to do it is by setting up a good firewall.

A firewall is a computer security device that prohibits illegal access to your computer. In physical analogy, a firewall is like a main door of your house with security lock the separates you from the outside world. If someone wants to enter through your door without a pass, that someone can't enter. The firewall can automatically decline the entry attempt of other network from your computer.

What does this say to you and to the safety of your kids?

Kids can accidentally or intentionally enter unsuitable websites, receive unsolicited email, or engage in scandalous online conversation without their parents knowing. And without something to block these things, kids may be standing in direct danger, as well as the computer.

A firewall allows parents to dictate the traffic of your system; just like the power to dictate who is allowed to hold the pass to your house. Parents can set and configure the security level of the computer which can protect your kids from illegal access that can protect your kids' personal file and personal information. This is called pin-holing. A firewall makes sure that the system inside your computer is safe from the outside threat trying to get inside as well as those coming from the pre-existing programs of your computer attempting connect with the internet.

It must be made clear that a firewall isn't capable of protecting your kids from phising, scams, and online predators. They are a whole different treat altogether. So if you want to protect your kids from these threats, you need to get a different program like web filtering software. A firewall only prevents these dangers from happening by blocking the access to these sites.

Again, firewalls enable parents to keep the computer clean from maliscious attacks and protect your kids by making sure that they don't attract anyone who tries to takeover your computer and get vital information about your family.

Playing Online: Tips for Parent to Keep Kids Safe

Kids spend a lot of time playing games online. This equates to kids having more chances to meet strangers and less time to do the house chores, school duties, and personal responsibility. This also means that there is a great chance that they expose themselves to inappropriate venue, unsafe people, and improper games.

Thus, you should do something about it. This doesn't mean that you ban online games from your kids; you just have to make some modifications on the way you let your kids play games online.

� Learn the basics. As parents, you have the responsibility to your kids and the things that influence them online. Make sure that you are familiar with the game ratings and the sites that offer online games that are appropriate for the age of your kids. It is better to read reviews from gaming sites to know appropriate games for your kids to play.

� Set rules. This must be done before your kids play for the first time. Discuss with them the specific time, day, and conditions they are allowed to play online; and the dangers of giving out personal information online including their name and the place they live. Make sure that they understand them pretty well.

� Use handle or nicknames. As was mentioned, your kids shouldn't tell their personal information to anyone online. Encourage them not use their real names online. Aside from the security, using a handle is cool.

� Watch and Suggest. Know what games your kids play and whom they play with. Make sure that the games are appropriate for their age. If they don't know where to find a gaming site for their age, find one for them.

� Monitor game messages and chats. Most interactive games online allow players to talk with each other. And there are instances where players use offensive words. Teach your kids to mute the voice message or block their messages from these players. You can also report these players to the administrator of the game through chat, email or feedbacks.

� Play with them. There is no better way to ensuring the safety of your kids online than by sitting and playing with them.

� Be open. Teach your kids to approach you if they encounter bullies online or if they feel uncomfortable with what they experienced during the game. Respond to them immediately.

Internet Safety for Kids: The Secret to Keeping Your Privacy

Parents often remind their kids not to fill out forms on sites that ask for vital personal information such as name, address, email address, and telephone number. But, parents are often underpowered by the desire of their kids and the smart tactics of some sites. The problem is, parents often fail to teach their kids how to respond so that their personal information isn't disclosed.

If you are one of them, then you need help. Here's how to teach your kids the proper way to respond to sites asking for personal information that would definitely keep their privacy at the same time while enabling them to still use the site.

If the site asks for the real name�

Use a handle or an alias.

If the site asks for the address�

If the site only requires your town and state, then it is probably safe. But if the site asks for a complete address including the house number, teach your kids to ask you first before filling this space out.

If the site asks for the email address�

If this field is required, then teach your kids to create a separate email account for this purpose. In this way, their primary email won't receive junk mails from unknown senders.

If the site asks for the telephone number�

If the completion of the form is only to grant access to online games, then the number is completely unnecessary. But if the site needs the number to send a verification code or access code through text message, then a cell phone number that isn't registered may be the safest way to give. But still, you may want to tell your kids to approach you first on this issue.

Sites have no capacity to know if the information that your kids have given are true or not, unless of course if your kids input their credit card number. So if the site asks for this kind of information, teach them to consult you first or better, click the back button and ignore the site entirely if the information asked has no relation to the service your kids want with the site.

What is important is to fill up those required fields on the form.

Bottom line is, the website can't verify if the information given by a user is true or not. They only rely on the information given to them. And if the sites are clever enough, then you teach your kids to think ahead in order to make sure that their privacy isn't revealed.

So, the secret to keeping your kids' privacy is teaching them common sense by knowing if the site is fooling them or not and by not revealing something that threatens to violate their privacy.

Ways to Teach Your Kids to Protect Their Privacy Online

Kids make a lot of visits to different websites. And if they aren't careful, they may stumble on sites that ask them about their personal information which can be picked up by other people for malicious intent. Other than that, some sites even deliberately ask for your kids' personal information in the forms of survey and non-existing contests that may lead them to your family's information. All these can put your kids and your family in great danger. Thus, helping your kids protect your privacy online is the best way to avoid the possible online threats.

1. Teach your kids that talking to people online is more dangerous than to talking to strangers on the street. Their names, address, school information, telephone number, email address, password, and bank information should be kept from strangers at all times.

2. Online strangers exist in chat rooms. But chat rooms are very in to kids and it is unlikely that they will follow when you tell them not to enter chat rooms. So the best way to make sure that they are safe when inside chat rooms, tell them not to entertain private chat, stay on public and moderated rooms, and ignore strangers that ask them about their personal information.

3. Teach them not to fill out forms from unsecured site. Tell them to always look for privacy policy statements before they give personal information to a site. This will ensure that the information they will give is secure. Security status can also be seen at the bottom right portion of the browser in the form of a padlock.

4. Tell your kids the risk of giving out personal information on instant messaging. Since instant messaging aren't encrypted programs, anyone using the right software can pick up their conversation and use your kids' personal details against them.

5. If they have personal profiles on the net, make sure they are private and no other people can see it aside from the people they know.

6. Tell them to always use alias and nickname when using the internet. Also teach them to create alternative email so that whenever they are going to fill out online forms, their primary email is still safe. Alternative email address is also helpful if they are going to use computers outside your home.

7. Instruct them to use an alias when posting blogs online.

5 Tools to Keep Your Child Safe While Using the Net

It is essential to maintain the safety of your kids anywhere they go and whatever they do. And with the internet becoming a whole new venue for kids to interact with other people, engage in activities, and encounter unlimited information, threats have never been more rampant.

Therefore, keeping your kids safe while using the internet is as important as keeping them safe outside your home. Here are the effective tools that make sure you realize this:

1. Child-friendly online browsers.

Kids love the internet because of the new experience it gives. But this experience should be safe too. So to make sure that you satisfy both the new experience and safety, you have to have a child-friendly web browser. This ensures that your kids stay on educational, fun, and relevant websites suited for their age. This prevents them from entering non-approved sites that may have unsuitable contents.

2. Search engines.

Most search engines have customizable search options or advance search options where the user can change the security settings that influence the search results. This feature blocks most of the adult sites. The good thing about filtering search engines is that it is free. However, this feature can easily be disabled by your kids. They can also use another search engines to look for their desired sites or just type the URL of the site they want to visit.

3. Internet filtering software

Many internet filtering softwares can block bad websites and webpages with undesirable contents. Take note that not all filtering softwares are the same. There are those that only block pre-determined words or websites that are included in the system database of the software manufacturer. Other internet filtering software can only allow sites that are approved by parents. The bottom line is, if you are going to select an internet filtering software, choose one that fits your needs.

4. Monitoring software

Monitoring software focuses on reporting to you the activities of your kids through email. The software will provide you the details about your kids' visited websites, sent and received email, online conversation, opened and closed applications, and opened and printed files.

5. Internet filtering from ISP

ISPs with internet filtering system are becoming more and more convenient for parents since they don't need regular updates. The IPS will automatically update the system plus it further enhances the security of your kids from bad sites.

Internet Shopping Safety: Guidelines for Kids on Picking the Right Online Store

E-commerce has been growing around the world in recent years and traditional shopping has been replaced by a more convenient online marketplace. But with the growth of the number of shops shifting from malls to websites, there has also been a significant growth of non-existent online shops that only aim to victimize unsuspecting people. And since the targets are mostly kids, you should know how to avoid this scam by picking the right online stores.

1. Shop with your parents � There is no better way to shop online safely than by doing it with your parents. If you want to buy something online, ask them to spend time with you. They surely can tell you the good sites from the bad.

2. Go to tried and tested auctions sites � eBay, Yahoo Auctions, Bidz.com, uBid, MSN Auctions, and Amazon.com are some of the tried and tested auction sites. Just make sure that you bid from a reputable seller by reading feedbacks left by their previous buyers.

3. Choose reputable companies � Every clothing company, electronic company, toys manufacturer, and everything you see on the mall have at least one online store. So if you don't to go to the mall, then shopping at their online stores is generally safe. They also have a good after-sales service.

4. Avoid too good to be true advertisements � If you find an online store selling an item with a price that is, as we say, too good to be true, then better doubt. This is one of the ways where kids like you are lured to drain your cash to them. They are probably a scam.

5. Avoid shopping from sites you get from spam. Spam mails are often the source of "too good to be true" item and scams. So better avoid them and settle for reputable sites.

6. Don't judge websites by design � Remember the saying, "Don't judge the book by its cover"? Then it is similar to this. If you want to know if the website store is real or not, verify the site by looking for a business address and contact number. You may also want to verify the existence of the site by dialing up the number.

Shopping online is risky but keeping these guidelines will make sure that every time you purchase an item online, you are sure to get it at your doorstep.

Internet Filtering Software: Why Use One?

Internet threats to kids come in different forms and sizes; and they are everywhere on the web too. So keeping your kids protected may be impossible if your computer itself isn't armed with the right tools to block these threats. Your question then is, "How am I going to protect my kids from these internet threats?"

The most logical and probably the best answer is by using internet filtering software. (Names such as web filtering tools, content-control software, filtering software, web filtering software, web blocking software, and blocking software are also used to describe the same thing.) Internet filtering software lets you protect your kids from accessing undesirable web sites. It is designed to let you take control on what contents are permitted and not permitted to enter to your computer.

Aside from the site, the internet filtering software allows you to filter unwanted emails and annoying popups.

Since kids may develop curiosity on topics such as sex and violence, installing an internet filtering software to your pc will make sure that they are incapable of accessing pornographic sites and sites unsuitable for their age.

Furthermore, an open access to the web may prove to be very dangerous for your kids as they may open sites that will lead them to disclose personal identification that can be used by online predators against them, and maybe against your family. An open access to the web will also put your computer at risk since many sites that are probably visited by your kids may contain spyware, adware, and viruses.

The internet filtering software is fully customizable nonetheless. You can add or remove websites whenever you want. Or, you can set passwords to some websites you don't want your kids to access.

Popular internet filtering softwares are ContentProtect, CYBERsitter, NetNanny, Cyber Patrol, FilterPak, Cyber Sentinel, Child Safe, Cyber Snoop, Norton Parental Controls, and McAfee Parental Controls. Prices range between $17 and $70.

One type of internet filtering software is provided by an ISP which parents can subscribe to eliminate up to the highest possible risk level. There is also a type of internet filtering software that is provided by the same server that gives the connection.

Pornography, sex, violent and graphic images, nudity, and gore; you surely don't want your kids to access sites containing these things. So better get an internet filtering software and all these will remain off your computer. Most of all it's inexpensive and effective.