General Web Security

By taking responsibility for your children's online computer use, you could greatly minimise any potential risks of them viewing unsuitable sites. By following the simple guidelines below, you can greatly reduce your child's exposure to inappropriate content or individuals.

Search Engines

The older the children get the more likely they are to use search engines like Yahoo, AltaVista and Excite. These sites are great for finding out tons of information but they can also locate sites where you would rather your kids didn't go.

There are search engines that filter out any potentially bad sites for kids. They will not return sexually explicit, violent, or hateful content. This is the idea, but it is not one hundred per cent fool proof. You shouldn't let this deter you, but just be aware of it.

There are great search engines out there that will provide great entertainment for your children like Yahooligans, Ask Jeeves for kids and SuperSnooper. These will restrict searches to appropriate sites for children. If you feel this option would be easy to manipulate, you can apply a filtering program yourself.

Filtering Programs

Filtering programs are also available to buy. Some are designed especially for parents. They can give the parent total control for designating appropriate Web sites and blocking objectionable ones. Filtering programs can do a variety of things. Some can allow the parents to monitor incoming and outgoing messages and some allow multi-user access with customizable profiles for each family member, allowing you to have complete access but your child might only be able to access a number of safe sites.

Chat Rooms and Bulletin Board Safety

You or your child should never give out identifying information in a public message such as chat or bulletin boards and make sure that both you and your child know and trust the people you give this information to via e-mail. Also be aware of the services your child uses. Find out the information it offers and whether there are ways for you to block out objectionable material.

You should also set reasonable rules and guidelines for using the computer. Set time limits and avoid letting them use the computer late at night. If your child has made an online buddy, get to know them like you get to know their school friends. Don't allow your child to meet up with another computer user that they've met online. If you do, make sure the first meeting takes place in a public place and accompany them yourself. Remember, it's easy for someone to misrepresent himself or herself. Someone saying they are a 13 year-old girl could easily be a 50 year-old man.

If you or your child becomes aware of the transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography, or receive obscene, lewd or indecent messages and/or images whilst online, you should contact your service provider and report it to the Internet Watch Foundation (http://www.iwf.org.uk/) You can also go to the CyberTipLine (http://www.safekids.com/cybertip.htm) online and report it online.