Internet Safety

Protecting your family while using the internet
The internet has become one of the primary communication tools used in our everyday lives.  We use the internet to purchase goods and services, communicate with our families and businesses and also as an important tool in our lives for study, research and relaxation. As fun and useful as the internet is, it also comes with security risks and legitimate concerns for users of all ages in dealing with inappropriate content.

Just as you would wear a seat belt in an automobile and pay attention to the road signs, it’s important that as parents we are protecting our families as and ourselves from the hazards of internet traffic.

Here’s a list of some simple and useful things that you can do to help keep your family safe:

• Never let your children or teens use the internet unattended.
• Work with your children as well as the adults in your household to create a list of agreed internet places that may be visited, and then stick to it.
• Credit card information is normally safe when working with online merchants but never give another online user your login or credit card information.
• Keep your computers up to date with the latest anti-virus and internet security products. Make sure that the products you are using automatically download regular updates.
• Install internet filtering or accountability software. There are several products on the market that are inexpensive and reliable at filtering out unwanted content. Many Internet Service Prodivers also have a package available to their customers for a minimal charge so be sure to ask.
• When setting up computers in your house that family members will be using, consider setting up the computer in an open area of the home with regular traffic so that it is easy to monitor the usage. Make it a point to never allow online internet access to computers in closed rooms or behind locked doors.
• Most modern laptop computers have built in wireless functionality that allows them to connect to the internet from anywhere within the range of a wireless modem or router. Make it a point to not allow the use of these laptops behind closed doors where internet usage cannot be easily monitored.
• If you or your children frequent online communities such as myspace, windows live or facebook, make sure that you are constantly monitoring the conversations, friends lists and content.
• Internet content is harder to regulate than most of the other media in your home such as television and movies. Turning your family loose on the internet is much like purchasing the unlimited channel lineup from your favorite cable television company ( including the adult movie channels ) and then handing your kids the remote control before leaving to the grocery store.
• Stayed informed! One of the greatest things you can do in terms of safe internet usage is to stay informed of the risks and keep open communication with your family about the sites your visiting and how your family is using the internet.

Some recommended products

Antivirus Software

• Avast Antivirus
• AVG Internet Security
• McAffee Internet Security
• Norton Internet Security

Filtering Software

• Covenant Eyes
• Net Nanny