| Suggestions on Internet Use |
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The risks of Internet use The Internet can be a wonderful resource for the family. It can be used to research school reports, communicate with teachers, communicate with other family members, business needs, and many other edifying options like listening to preaching. :) Children who are old enough to punch in a few letters on the keyboard can literally access the world. But that access can also pose hazards. For example, an 8-year-old might do an online search for "Lego." But with just one missed keystroke, the word "Legs" is entered instead, and the child may be directed to a slew of websites with a focus on legs, some of which may contain pornographic material. That's why it's important to be aware of what your kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves online. Just like any safety issue, it's wise to talk with your kids about your concerns, take advantage of resources to protect them, and keep a close eye on their activities. Internet Safety LawsA federal law, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), was created to help protect kids online. It's designed to keep anyone from obtaining a child's personal information without a parent knowing about it and agreeing to it first. COPPA requires websites to explain their privacy policies on the site and get parental consent before collecting or using a child's personal information, such as a name, address, phone number, or Social Security number. The law also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or participate in a contest. Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 if you're aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography online. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI if your child has received child pornography via the Internet. But even with this law, your kids' best online protection is you. By talking to them about potential online dangers and monitoring their computer use, you'll help them surf the Internet safely. Online Protection Tools / Internet FilteringWe suggest that anyone that accesses the Internet should utilize filtering software to prevent access to inappropriate content (accidental or intentional by others). The use of filtering can block many types of content such as pornography or other sexual content from being accessed from your computer. ( Psalms 101:2 )Open DNS free version - Internet Filtering - easy to implement and it is 100% free Open DNS paid version - Filtering -easy to implement & provides more features at $9.95/yr K9 Web Protection - Filtering - medium difficulty to implement and it is 100% free SafeEyes - Content control, Time based limits, Instant message monitoring, usage alerts.. $49.95 per year or $69.95 with McAfee AntiVirus bundle. AntiVirus and Anti-Malware Tools (Free) AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012 Avast Free Antivirus Malwarebytes |
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