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.