Protect Your Child Online

From the Desk of  Chad M. Barr, CISSP, CISA

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. This national campaign’s goal is to increase the public’s awareness of cyber security and cyber crime issues so users can take precautions to avoid these threats on the Internet.

Children present unique security risks when they use a computer. The National Cyber Security Alliance, a partner in the National Cyber Security Awareness Month initiative, offers the following tips to keep children safe and to protect their data. By taking some simple steps, you can reduce the threats to your child.

1. Keep your computer in a central and open location in your home and be aware of other computers your child may be using.
2. Discuss and set guidelines and rules for computer use with your child. Post these rules by the computer as a reminder.
3. Use the Internet with your child. Familiarize yourself with your child’s online activities and maintain a dialogue with your child about what applications they are using.
4. Implement parental control tools that are provided by some Internet Service Providers and available for purchase as separate software packages. Remember, no program is a substitute for parental supervision. You may be able to set some parental controls within your browser. To find these options in Internet Explorer for example, click Tools on your menu bar, select Internet Options, choose the Content tab, and click the Enable button under Content Advisor. (For other browsers, contact the vendor to determine what parental controls are included.)
5. Consider using software that allows you to monitor your child’s e-mail and Web traffic.
6. Consider partitioning your computer into separate accounts. Most operating systems give you the option of creating a different user account for each user. If you’re worried your child might accidentally access, modify, or delete your files, you can give your child a separate account and decrease the access and number of privileges your child has.
7. Know who your child’s online friends are and supervise their chat areas.
8. Teach your child never to give out personal information to people he or she meets online, such as in chat rooms or bulletin boards.
9. Know who to contact if you believe your child is in danger. Visit www.getnetwise.org for detailed information.
10. If you know of a child in immediate risk or danger, call law enforcement immediately. Report instances of online child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline at www.missingkids.com.

Children need advice, guidance, and protection. Talk to your child and let him or her know you can be approached with questions about behaviors or problems encountered on the computer. Teach your child how to safely use the computer and the Internet. There are many Web sites available as resources.

• National Cyber Security Alliance, www.staysafeonline.org
• iKeepsafe.org, www.ikeepsafe.org
• staysafe.org, www.staysafe.org/parents/default.html
• i-Safe, www.isafe.org/
• SafeKids.com, www.safekids.com/
• Federal Bureau of Investigation, www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm
• Enough is Enough, www.protectkids.com/