Maybe I Should Rethink This Internet Thing


Now that we have scared you, you're probably thinking it might be a good idea to never ever let your kids use the Internet again. Well, that is probably not such a good idea because

  • It puts them at a serious disadvantage in school and socially. The Internet is a fantastic resource of information and communication that is helping kids to excel in learning.

  • If they do not use the Internet at home, they will access it somewhere else. It is too big and too easy to get access to. So it is a good thing if you are around when they do so that you can monitor and set the rules.

Given that, you can do a number of things to keep your kids out of dangerto protect children who do not know better and to prevent children (and spouses) from breaking the rules:

  • Educate yourself The fact that you are reading this is a big step in the right direction, but it should not end here. Keep up-to-date with new threats, scams, and solutions.

  • Browse in plain sight Only allow your children to be online in a common part of the house where you can see them and the computer screen by just passing by. Kids are much less likely to be lured into inappropriate websites or chat rooms if you are monitoring their online activity.

  • Explain the rules Make sure your kids understand the potential dangers online. Set ground rules and communicate them to your children, including consequences.

  • Use a parental control program Numerous programs are available that allow you to block inappropriate online content. We walk through a couple of programs that we found very useful later in this chapter.

  • Log and monitor (as a last resort) If you have a child (or spouse) who, despite your rules, keeps attempting to view adult material, you can buy a program that allows you to record everything that appears on a computer screen.

For all the good that the Internet provides, it can be a dangerous place for kids. For the most part, the good outweighs the bad and, although the adult sites and chat rooms and online gambling halls are fine for adults who want to visit them, you need to protect your kids from visiting them whether they simply mistype a popular web address or if their curiosity gets the best of them.

As a starting point, try these three steps. If they do not work, go on to something more restrictive:

  • Move the computers to common areas, such as a kitchen or living room.

  • Use a Windows program or other parental control program to put time restrictions on computer use.

  • Use the built-in parental controls on a Linksys router or at your ISP.

The next few sections discuss these options and others in more detail.



Home Network Security Simplified
Home Network Security Simplified
ISBN: 1587201631
EAN: 2147483647
Year: N/A
Pages: 130

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