With school back in full swing and kids starting to do more on the web for their school projects and papers, I have a question, “Do You Know What Your Kids are Doing On the Web?” Hi, I’m Dennis Cook owner of J D Webcrafters. I would like to talk to you about Kids and the Internet and their safety,

 It’s no secret that there are predators on the net looking for that one individual to scam or take advantage of. Don’t let it be your child. As a father and grandfather I care about this topic. When the Internet got started my children were very young and not much was known about the impact and scope the Internet would have. As I and  my children grew and began using the net for their school work, things were beginning to develop where the Internet was going to boom with information and technology and yes the scams and predators too. So being the computer and Internet junkie that I am there was no way to keep my kids from picking up on the tools of the computer. As time went on we had our problems trying to limit the amount of time the kids spent on the computer and I began monitoring what they were doing as best I could with the knowledge I had of working with programs. I began seeing things that disturbed me. One of my children started there own e-mail on yahoo and that was not OK with me. So to fight the problems and keep the kids safe from the now prevalent porn and the unmonitored e-mail I had to make it a rule no e mail unless I have the pass word to enter. Well! You know that went over like a lead balloon and they argued it was an invasion of there privacy. I just explained that there can be problems with e-mail and its not an invasion unless your trying to hide something. RIGHT!. We did not have Internet software that could be used to keep an eye on what my children were seeing and doing. Now technology has jumped and there are tools to keep the kids safe and monitor what there doing.

How about you?  Do you know what your kids are doing on the net?

It’s so easy now for kids to just happen onto a less then desirable website simply by accident. What about My-Space, Face-book, and all the rest of the new and crazy social networks and forums the kids can get in to. I have searched the Internet for just the right programs that will help parents keep our children safe, allowing Internet to be a teacher of good monitored information. The best way to ensure this is by using a software spy that works in the background logging what the user is doing.  This will allow you to see if there is a threat or problem that you need to begin talking with your child about to help them understand. The software program I recommend is PC-Tattletale. I have an interesting E-Book for you - FREE – just good information about My-Space.  Please take the time to sign up for this Free E Book “What To Do about Social Networking.”  Just click on the Image and get your FREE E-Book

Tips to Help Protect the Kids

1. If you use Internet Explorer you can set the security program to “on” to help stop websites that have bad language, subject - Adult origin. Here’s how, Open your browser, then click on tools, mouse down to Internet options. Click on the content tab. Then click on the enable button. Now you can set what is appropriate for you needs.  As time goes on you can train the content to allow websites that may be blocked at first by entering the site in the approved sight tab. Be sure and set a password so you and only you, the adults in the house, can turn on or off the content manager. 

2. Talk with your kids about what the Internet is for and be clear about what you expect from them when on the internet. Explain (age appropriately of course) the dangers of just random surfing and what can happen, what to do if they see something that is inappropriate. Pictures, statements in an e-mail, Face-booking with friends whatever the situation, you must let them know they can tell you or talk to you about it. If you have older children or teenagers and you’re not sure what they’re doing, then I suggest you use the PC Tattletale or software like it. 

3. Limit the amount of time your kids are on the computer - you decide what’s acceptable. But work it out so the kids can get school work done and get outside and play. Maybe limit the game playing to just an hour or two during the week and then a time slot of playing time during the weekend.

4.  Be sure and make the computer a privilege and a tool. There are ways to do this if you have a router.  Most of them have an area in the admin area that will allow you to block a website or limit the amount of time a computer can have access to the net or a website. If you do access your Internet thru a router, just consult your router handbook for this instruction. Don’t have your handbook? Ok just go to the maker’s web site under “support.”  Most have the original manuals and how-to on their sites for your particular model. 

5. Keeping your computer up-too date and free of Spyware is important not only for the kids safety but for you in general. That’s right Mom & Dad, we too can run into problems using the Internet.  Keeping your computer free from Spy Ware and Mal-ware is important.  In protecting your information and keeping Trojan viruses from tracking your keystrokes and Internet surfing habits. Making sure you have a good Virus program running on your computer is very important.  It’s not hard for hackers to find a computer that’s not protected and the next thing you know your computer is being used without your knowledge as an e-mail scam machine. Down loading a good spy ware and mal-ware program is essential for any computer that’s connected to the Internet.  I use PC Tools an excellent company that produces inexpensive Spy ware, Mal-ware and Registry Cleaner programs. I use them and my computer of 6 years runs like the day I bought it.  Using PC Tools helps keep my computer from not bogging down.  How does this help your kids?  Simple - a Virus free computer, that is managed well with the right programs, helps keep unwanted Pop-ups from happening.