Internet Safety Just in Time for Back to School

Back to School time is generally pretty straight forward: get the supplies, pack the lunches, get the kids in the car and off to school, but there is a variable that will always be beyond a parent's control -- the computer. Safe use websites call it the door that's not locked, with good reason. It's very hard to really know what threatens your kids online because the threat can exist from behind a monitor anywhere. How can you protect your kids from something you can't see? From cyber-bullying to scams and fraud. We've got five commandments for safe surfing this year.

Never share your personal information (name, address, phone number, family members names, credit card numbers etc.) This one depends on the age of the child, but in all cases pre-teens and teens possess a lack of ability to see around corners to varying degrees, so they're probably unable to see the potential consequences of publishing their details or blabbing their password. (even to their best friend) They need to learn that everything they do online is public and even with website security settings at the maximum, they cannot be trusted to stay that way. Facebook has already been under fire for their lackadaisical security measures and on repeated log-ins, we're speaking from experience when we say the settings never seem to stay where you put them, or something in the system changes and you must reset your standards. It's just generally easier to have a ban on personal information for your kids. Also let them know that no person or company would ask for this information in an e-mail or online and if they do, it's an instant red flag.

Think carefully when creating user names and passwords Internet security experts recommend using a combination of numbers and letters for both your user name and password, along with using a separate user name for chat rooms and programs. That way it makes it harder for the other party in the conversation to track your child down if you enter into a discussion that makes them uncomfortable and they want to leave. It's also good to set up "invitation only" chat that only their friends can join and please encourage them to clean out their instant messenger list or friend list every so often of people they no longer remember or communicate with.


Know what to do when you're being harassed online There are two scenarios your child is likely to encounter when being harassed over the net -- one is when the aggressor is a former friend or stranger and the other is when the harasser is a girlfriend or boyfriend. In the first instance, it's important to not respond and let them run their mouths off while running themselves into the ground. It's also crucial to tell your kid to save the conversation so it can be shown to you, a teacher or a law enforcement official in the future. Always keep the lines of communication open and tell them that if things start spinning out of control, they can tell you or another safe adult. Limit contact with the abuser as much as possible and always tell them to stay calm and never show the culprit that they are getting to your child. If your kid reacts, it will only intensify the behavior of their adversary and give them a power they don't deserve. Finally, changing your child's cellphone number disrupts another prime communication avenue. Threats can always be reported to the Cybercrime tip line at 1-866-658-9022. In the case of a girlfriend or boyfriend, it's important to be straightforward and avoid baiting conversations about the two's former relationship, but always stress that they can contact you as soon as their ex crosses the line. to threats or violence.

Look into your online footprint The best way to protect yourself is to try and think like someone who may want to track you down. Ask your child to Google their name and see if they can find personal information about themselves based on the results. It's a great way to illustrate how easy it is to track them online and find out where they live and show them what things are available online that are personal enough to jeopardize their safety. Even if your page is private, inappropriate photos can be hacked and copied before being forwarded, so if your kids wouldn't show it to their best friend's mom, it shouldn't be on their profile page. Also, if they feel like flaming someone online, it's best that they wait a few minutes and calm down first because those instant message conversations can come back to haunt them in big ways, especially if they are reported.

Keep up to date Make sure your virus software and pop-up blocker are up to date, while old e-mail accounts are shut down. This makes your computer and your child less of a target to viruses, spam, phishing schemes and spyware. Plus, if they change their passwords frequently, they can keep their social networking profiles free from hacks.

For more extensive and age specific internet safety tips, visit the Canadian internet security website www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca