Internet Safety Consulting, LLC

Googe + Allows 13 yr Olds to Register

2012-01-27T05:52:00.000-08:00

Google+ announced that they are now allowing 13 yr olds to register for their social network. The reality is, many kids are getting accounts by saying they are older anyway. What this does mean is that parents need to be more vigilant about their child's online activities. Google+ allows the account holder to create "circles". These circles are a great tool to limit what your friends can see. By placing your friends in circles you can control what they can see of your postings. You can create as many circles as you like. Typically, you would create one for family, work associates, school friends, etc. As a parent, you need to set the rules that you will be a member of all of their circles. If you are only in your child's family circle you cannot see what is going on in their other circles. If your kids are using Google+ take a look at how it works, make sure you can see what is happening in their world.

Passwords and Personal Identity

2012-01-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

The Zappo's data hack is a great reminder for us all that we should not be using the same password for all of our accounts. If you haven't heard, 24 million Zappo's customers data was hacked and is in unknown hands. The data includes your name, email address, password, last four numbers of the credit card used and other personal data. Zappo's has voided all passwords on their site to protect their customers from unwanted purchases on their site.

If you have bought anything from the Zappo's site, you need to think about changing your password on all of your accounts that use the same password as the one you used at Zappo's. It's real easy for anyone with your password and email address to go shopping on the Internet. So here are a few tips for online shoppers:

Use unique passwords for every account. We all know it's a hassle to remember all of them and there are encrypted programs that can help you maintain a list of them. But much less hassle than if your identity is stolen.
Don't store your Credit Card information on the site to facilitate speedy check out.
Consider a separate email account to use for shopping purposes only. Limit your exposure to your other financial accounts.
Only supply credit card or personal information on secure sites. The url should start out https://....
Don't click on links in emails that you don't expect or don't know the sender. People are very good at creating emails that appear to come from the companies you do business with. Your banks and will never ask you to reply with a password to an email.
Use the links you have used in the past to go to a site. Enter it yourself or use your bookmarks to access your accounts. Not links in emails.

Remember, you have to be proactive in protecting your identity. Change your passwords regularly and always reconcile any statements you get.

Tools for parents who gave tech gifts this holiday season

2012-01-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, the holidays are over, the kids are back in school, and you are getting back to your normal routine. If you gave your kids tech gifts like IPads, Nooks, Smartphones or anything along those lines your kids routines have changed. Yours need to also. With the technology come responsibility, both for kids and parents. The parents need to establish some guidelines and what is acceptable use of the new tool. Common Sense media has put together a great list of things to consider with the variety of technology gifts that have been given to our kids. Click on the Blog title to go their site and read up on their suggestions.

A good suggestion is to add Common Sense Media to your favorites list or subscribe to their mailings. They do a great job of putting some common sense back in to raising kids in today's technological jungle.

Online Internet Safety Course

2011-12-24T05:01:00.000-08:00

With the holidays, many homes have new games, cell phones or some type of smart device that has internet access. If you have kids that will have the ability to access the Internet through some of these services for the first time. As parents, you have the responsibility to make sure they have a safe experience while online. Since you can't be with them every time they are accessing the net you need to give them the knowledge and direction on what is acceptable behavior from them while online and the tools on how to handle the situation if someone approaches them or exposes them to sexual content.

Now you can take an online course on Internet safety and give yourself the tools to have the conversation with your kids that gives them the tools to protect themselves. Internet Safety - Protecting Children in an Online World is an online course that will assist with keeping your family safe while online.

Facebook New Timeline

2011-12-16T04:14:00.001-08:00

Facebook is going through major changes in the look and feel again. All to remain competitive and leverage their earnings potential. They say its to give us a better experience but the reality is Facebook, and every other social network, is out to maximize their earnings. We all must be vigilant about protecting our identity, what is out there for everyone to find. Take the time to go through your Facebook Privacy settings again, you should do this often, especially after you migrate to Timeline. Make sure that your settings are such that only people that you approve of can access your pictures and updates. Don't give others access to your pictures and personal information. Identity theft and online scams continue to rise. Don't give these people the information they need to target you. Keep your information private and don't give third party applications access to your Facebook account. Click the title link above for Facebook's video on the time line.

If you haven't done so lately, use Google, Spokeo, PiPl, Bing or whatever search service you are familiar with and search about yourself. Run your name, screen names and email addresses and see what others can find out about you without spending a cent. Keep in mind for those that are willing to spend a few dollars, the amount and type of info is staggering. Your drivers license number and social security number for example are easily found.

You are the first line of defense in protecting your personal identity.

New Study on Sexting

2011-12-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

A study was released that incidates the level of teen sexting may not be as big of a problem as was originally thought. The study indicates that it is more experimental with teens with no criminal of malice intent and that it is not as widespread as others believe. This is good news for parents with cell phones. It does not reduce the need to be vigilant with your kids on their online and cell phone activities. Being a parent to kids or teens is something that requires you to have the conversations with them about their activities. All their activities. Ask yourself What if? and have the talks.

Click on the title link to read the report.

High Tech Holiday Gifts for Kids

2011-11-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Tis the season...

Each year the high tech gift options get better and better and consumers are faced with hard decisions when choosing what to buy for their kids:

How much to spend?
Am I getting best value?
What best suites their needs?

We need to add some questions to the list of things to consider:

What all are all of the devices capabilities?
Is it GPS enabled? (Scroll down to see previous blog on that on 11/2010)
Can you monitor activities?
Do you have a usage agreement on whats acceptable usage?

As you can see it is not as simple as handing them the device saying have fun like the toys of their youth. Its like handing them the keys to the car and with that comes the need to talk with them about the issues having the technology provides.

Be the parent, ensure your kids have a safe online experience by having the safety discussions about online activities and establish an Internet Usage Agreement. For more information on the topic see Common Sense Media's write up on the topic. (Click on Blog Title to take you to their article) Think through their comments and the questions listed above.

Have a happy holiday season.

Report on young kids and eletronic media

2011-10-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

Common Sense Media has a new report out on kids zero to eight and their access and use of electronic media. Interesting read for any new parent or guardian of young kids. It really gets one thinking about how we take for granted all of the electronic capabilities we have today. Its also a gentle reminder that you need to think about what you give to your kids and the message that you should be giving them when you give them the gadgets and access to the Internet.

Think about whether they really need it, and guide them on good usage. Limit the amount of time they do have access and allow them to be kids and play. Disconnect and talk with your kids and family. We all still need the time to interact at a personal level as opposed to an electronic one.

National Protect Your Identity Week

2011-10-17T07:57:00.001-07:00

The week of 10/16-23/2011 has been designated as National Protect Your Identity Week. This is something we all need to think about and take steps to make sure your identity is protected.

Think about your passwords:

When is the last time you changed yours?
Do you use separate ones for each of your accounts? If not you should.
Are you using a strong password. Does it have upper and lower case? Numbers and letters?
How easy is yours to guess?
Do you have security questions set up for password retrieval?

Think about you personal finances, do you monitor your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized activity? If not, you need to do so.

Have you checked your credit report for unauthorized activity? You can get a free copy of your credit report semi annually. Do so, and check it for accuracy. To get a copy click on this link:
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Do you shred documents before you recycle or discard? If it has your name or any other personal information on it, you should do so.

Have you talked with your kids about their identity and the need to keep things private and not share with their friends. Take the time this week to have the conversation.

Take a few minutes and do a web search of yourself. Find out what is out there about you. Use your favorite web search tool and run you and your family names. If you find something that concerns you, contact the site posting the information, you can probably get it taken down.

These are just a few things to think about this week but the key thing is to think about your personal identity and what you are doing and can to protect yourself.

Parade Article on Generation Wired

2011-10-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Parade Magazine put together a great article on the current generation of teens and how wired they are. The article contains some stats on the issue but also includes several interesting points and recommendations:

Parents need to limit cell phone use during meals. Take the time to have conversations with your kids.
Kids need to have alone time and learn how/what is like to be disconnected or alone. Constant connection via electronic devices prevents them from learning how to handle this time and when confronted with it, don't know how to be alone they will only be lonely.
Teens need to learn how to converse with people, how to apologize in person, how to have a difficult conversation in person and that sending a text should not be used as it can be the easy way out.

Click on the link above to read the entire article. Good reading for every parent of teens with cell phones.

Try taking their quiz on what kind of Internet Parent you really are. Click here to give it a try.

Facebook and Google+

2011-09-22T04:37:00.000-07:00

Well they have done it again. Major changes to Facebook. Clearly in an attempt to keep people from jumping ship to Google+, Facebook has added features and changed the look of their social networking site. I will leave it to others to decide if these changes are making it better for the user or better for their bottom line.

I like Google+ and the changes that Facebook instituted do appear very similar to what Google+ has rolled out.

With the two social networking sites being so similar and if you are a Facebook user, the changes being forced upon you now is the time to take a couple proactive steps towards protecting your online identity:

Go through the privacy settings and make sure you understand what you are sharing with the various groups of friends, family and colleagues.
When sorting your friends, ask yourself how well you know the person and do you really want them having access to your postings. Now is the time to clean house. The days of having the most friends is really over.

It's going to take you some time to go through your friends list, but your personal safety is worth the effort.

Facebook Security Guide-Own Your Space

2011-09-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

Facebook has a guidebook available to explain their privacy/security settings. It is a good resource for parents and teens that will help them understand how to control their online presence on Facebook. Its only 20 pages long, a great read for anyone that uses Facebook.

FBI App for missing kids

2011-08-08T04:54:00.000-07:00

The FBI has a new app for IPhones and IPads. It's designed for parents to enter information about their children in the app that is essential for law enforcement in the event that your child is missing. You can load their picture, description and other information about your child ahead of time. In the event you need to report your child missing you can send the information to the FBI right from your device. ITunes and the FBI have agreed that the information will not be shared with anyone unless you hit the send button, and you only do that if you are reporting your child missing. In addition to that feature, there are safety tips for children, steps to take in the first 24 hours that your child goes missing and quick links to place an emergency call to 911 and/or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. When a child goes missing, time is critical and this app will help reduce the time it takes to get the proper authorities notified of the situation. It's free and if you have kids you should check it out.

Personality Analysis Through Your Social Networks

2011-07-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

A recent study by the University of Maryland indicates that your personality type may be predictable just by viewing your social networking sites. Click the link to see an article that references the study.

Those who use social networks beware, for years Internet safety experts, including me, have been telling people, mainly children, to be cautious about what you post to your social networking sites.

Employers and school administrators have been using what you post when they are considering you for hire or admission. The University of Maryland study helps validate their practice by saying that they found they were able to predict what you would score on a standard personality test within 10 percentage points. Companies and schools could see vast cost savings if the analysis of your social networking sites is easier and cheaper than administering the test and analyzing the results.

I also have concerns on what people have posted in the past. Through data mining sites that have historical social networking information anyone has the ability to look into your past and get glimpse into your personality changes through life. This data mining of past posts on social networks is more widely known that a couple years ago. I have heard of people that know their sites are being checked when they apply for a job and are structuring their sites to present their best side. Nothing wrong with that, but whats to keep someone from embellishing the truth and crossing the line to flat out lying about themselves. If employers are relying solely on what they find online about someone they to are taking a risk.

The recommendations haven't changed but they are more and more important as time passes. Be cautious about what you post online. Be careful about who you give access to view your networks. Keep your social sites limited to family and close friends, not everyone you meet.

Use Linkedin or other work related networking sites for your professional side and the same rules apply. Be cautious about what you post and who can access your information.

Lastly, research yourself regularly. See what others can find out about you and protect your identity by taking steps to get unwanted data off the net. It takes time, perseverance and patience but it can be done.

www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Social Networks

2011-07-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

Are you keeping up with the changes in the social networking arena? You need to be if you have kids but also if you use sites like Facebook for other social networking sites. The changes in what they offer come quickly and when you use them to access third party sites to play games or do your shopping you are giving up control and allowing others to access your personal information. It also allows others to know who you are friends with, and gives them the ability to fully understand your movements and lifestyle. D you really want anyone to be able to know everything about you or your kids. The ability to use the new features they offer is tantalizing and we al want to be on the cutting edge with the technology. You can do so and maintain your privacy by going through the settings on your social networking sites about once a month. Be cautious as new features are added and make sure you know what the changes do to your privacy settings. Talk to your kids about how they use the social networks and make sure they understand that everyone they meet online is not their friend, they just may be out to take advantage of their innocence

Holiday Gifts and Safety

2010-12-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

With all the new technology that we are giving our kids these days and the holidays being no exception, remember to talk with them about acceptable online behavior. Know what you are giving them and how it works. See the previous entry about GPS and cell phones. What better time to have a conversation with your kids about their online and electronic interactions then when you first give it to them. Set the rules. Kids actually do better when there are rules than those that have parents that don't care enough to set any.

GPS Location via Cell phones and Social Networks

2010-11-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

GPS, Cell Phones, and Social Networks are making it easy and fun for everyone to share their location. But, is it a good idea to be so free with their location with anyone that wants to find them? It really isn't. Talk with your kids, make sure they use their privacy settings to allow friends only if they are using the location features of the device. There really isn't a reason for them to do it, so why give anyone with access to their social networking sites there actual location. Be part of your kids online life. Use the privacy tools that are out there. You can find more information on location sharing by clicking on the link above and more information on Internet safety in general by clicking here.

Video on Sexting

2010-02-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

Sexting, we hear about it, but what do we know about it? Adults and teens are using cell phones to exchange sexual images, and conversations. Is this a problem? Yes, it is on many levels. Underage kids sending sexual images of themselves can end up on the Internet, viewable by anyone. What starts out as a prank, innocent fun, or intended to impress some one can be be devastating to a young persons life. MTV aired a series on sexting, you can click on the title link to view the video. Both teens and adults should watch this video.

Kids and High Tech

2010-01-21T04:36:00.001-08:00

A study just released by The Kaiser Family Foundation on kids and high tech found that kids are spending much more time with electronic media that adults spend at their full time jobs. The study found that:

Youth spend 7 1/2 hours a day using some for of electronic media and by multitasking with different electronic devices they actually expand their equivalent exposure to 10 hours and 45 minutes.
Seven out of every 10 kids have a cell phone
Almost half of heavy users of electronic media have a C grade average or lower. 23% of light users are in that same grade range.
Few parents enforce any rules they set for using electronic media.

To view the complete report you can click on the link above to go to their website.

This report is another reminder how important it is to become part of your child's online and electronic world. Get involved with them on their use of all kinds of electronic equipment. From Ipods to laptops they are being distracted from learning by the constant barrage of music, chat messages, emails, and text messages. Its okay to turn things off, even if only for an hour a day, to read a book or more importantly talk with each other face to face. Use that time to talk about what is going on in their lives, in school, and their relationships. You might be surprised how easy it is to do. You can find more information at www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Teens and Sexting

2009-12-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

New data on teens, cell phones, and sexting was released today and has information on teens attitudes when it comes to sexting. An important read for parents and those that have some type of involvement in a teens life. The numbers are good to know but this report includes comments from kids as to their views on sexting, why they do it and their beliefs on how their activities affect their lives. As a parent or guardian of a teen you need to be a part of their online world, which now includes cell phones and sexting. Be proactive, have the talks with your kids and ask the What If questions. Talking with them is the best way to start. You can find more information by clicking on the Teens and Sexting link above or checking out www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Facebook Privacy Settings

2009-12-10T05:09:00.000-08:00

Facebook is requiring everyone to go through their privacy settings when you log on, starting today. Its a great time to make sure you know what you are sharing with whom. Don't just click on the recommended settings, they may actually share more information than you are now. Take a few minutes to go through and think about what they are asking and who will see it. You should not share personal information with everyone. It can lead to problems with people you don't know contacting you and open you to up to identity theft. Be proactive in protecting yourself online.

Sexting is more common than you would think

2009-12-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

An article quoting an AP/MTV study on sexting (the act of sending sexually explicit messages and pictures via your cell phone or PDA) reports that kids are more involved in sexting than anyone thought they were. Even facing the possibility of felony level charges for manufacturing, distributing, and possessing child pornography, teens continue to send explicit images of themselves to others. They don't see it as a problem.

Well, it is a problem, and we need to get the message to our teens about the ramifications sending these types of images can cause. Teens need to understand that once you hit send you have lost control of the image or message you have sent. It falls under the control of the person who received it. If they send it to someone else, even more control is lost and so on... The reality is, once it is sent, the sender has lost total control and it could end up anywhere.

So, the message should be clear, unless anyone would send the image or text to their parents, teachers, minister, or boss, they shouldn't send it. Ignore this rule, or you think you can trust someone, it will come back to haunt you at some point in your life. Online storage of data seems unlimited and years from now you could be confronted about images or messages done long ago and asked questions about your judgment and if you are the best person for a position.

Think before you post anything.

More information can be found at www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Going Full Circle on Internet Safety

2009-08-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

When I first first started working on Internet crimes against children we were routinely asked to give presentations on how to have a safe experience on the Internet to teens. Mainly high school age. Over the years the requests kept coming in but the audience age group kept creeping down. I have had requests to do a short presentation for grades K-2. What I am finding now is that when I do a presentation for parents I have to include them as possible victims too. With online dating services gaining popularity, Twitter and Social Network sites gaining a more mature audience there are more and more victims of Internet related crimes in all age groups.

The rules apply to everyone. Think about your online activities along with your children and keep the following rules in mind.

Be careful with your posting. Anyone can see it, and once you post it you have lost control over it.
Never share your personal information on your Blog site, Social Network site, or any other website that is accessible to the public.
Remember that people you meet online may not be truthful about who they really are.
Never meet anyone you met online in person without having a trusted friend along for the meeting.

For more information you can go to www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Think About What You Post Online

2009-08-04T03:38:00.000-07:00

Posting online, we all do it in one way or another. a recent news article is a reminder that we all need to think about what and how we are posting online. Recently a mother found that an adoption ad was placed on Craig's List using a picture of her child that was found on a family blog site. Imagine how you would feel if you found your picture or that of a family member being used in such a manner. Thankfully this is not as devastating as it could be for the family, but it should send a reminder to everyone that once they post something online, they lose control over it. Anytime you or anyone in your family is going to post anything online take a minute to think through what they are doing and consider the following:

What are you trying to accomplish by posting the picture or information online?
If you are just trying to share it with family and friends, use a site that requires a password to gain access to the images or information, or just send it via email to those that you want to share with.

Is there a way to secure your posting by making it available to people you give permission to?
Look at the privacy settings for the site you are using to post the information or images on. Most have settings you can use to control who has access to the information, use the settings to share the material with the people you want to share it with and no one else.

The Internet is a wonderful place for families to share their life story with each other, especially today when so many families are scattered across the country. Use the tools that are our there to keep in touch, but use them wisely, keep your data private and only share it with the people you know and trust.

More information about online safety can be found at www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Cell Phones and Teens

2009-07-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

Cell phones continue to offer more features, Applications (Apps), and data storage capacity. Everyone has embraced this technology for some time and they continue to influence our everyday social lives. Texting and Twittering have become part of the daily routine of many adults and teens. Parents need to remember that they need to talk about their teens usage of cell phones and all the extras they have to offer. It is important that families use cell phone agreements for their kids and teens that have cell phones. Check up on text messages by occasionally looking at the phone, check the bill to see where the calls are coming from and going to. If you don't recognize a number, talk to your teens about what is going on. You can find a copy of a cell phone agreement at http://www.internetsafetyconsulting.net/cellphoneagreement.pdf

Kids and Smartphones? When is to young?

2009-06-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Recently there have been several articles published on kids and cell phones, Iphones, and Smartphones. When is the best time to let kids start to play with and use these devices. The article that you can read by clicking the title of this article is a link to an example of what is being said and some thoughts that parents need to consider. Its not an Internet safety message but one about parenting. We need to look at what we put in out kids hands. How many text messages are your kids sending a month? Most parents don't have a clue, much less about what they are actually talking about. Past generations of kids couldn't be pulled from in front of the TV set as their parents used TV as a pacifier of sorts while they tended to other business. Video games, VHS tapes, DVD's have all been used to keep kids busy at times. Now the technology has improved and we can hand the kid the cell phone and Iphones to play with while driving or whenever we feel the need to distract them. We really need to be the parent, and find ways to occupy our kids in ways that help them become better teens and adults. Don't get me wrong, they need to have technology in their lives but they need to live in a way that they use technology when needed to be more productive or trying to learn something rather than the technology occupying their lives to the point where if the battery is dead they have no idea of what else they could be doing. Be the parent, teach your children, nurture them, grow with them and enjoy them while they are young. They will be off to college before you know it.

Funding Computer Investigations

2009-06-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Internet is a wonderful tool, it puts the world at our fingertips and the click of a mouse. It also is a tool for those that like to exploit our children, trade child pornography, steal our identity and pull scams on anyone they can. This is a major problem for law enforcement. 10 years ago, most police agencies didn't have anyone to do computer investigations but now they need to have a special computer forensic division just to work on crimes that involve the use of computers. Who pays for it? Most agencies have been able to get grants or special funding to develop skills and tactics in this new and growing area of crime. That type of funding is great to get an agency up to speed with investigators and equipment but then the fund dry up. There is an ongoing need for funding to keep these units active and current. The technology changes, at times daily. In my past position we floated the idea of an Internet tax on those with Internet access accounts, both business and personal accounts. We looked at taxing the accounts at one dollar a year. That would have brought just under a million dollars a year in Minnesota (in 2000). That would have funded a great deal back then. Now, more and more states are looking at the establishing some type of Internet access tax and using the funds to fund investigative agencies that are working on any type of Internet Crimes. Now, I am not one that wants my taxes raised on a regular basis but this is one that we all need to consider. Such a tax would allow police agencies to establish and maintain investigators, computer forensic personnel, and their equipment and allow them to have an impact on the worst offenders.

The link above is to an article about the state Louisiana which is considering a 15 cent tax per month on Internet access. We all can afford a couple dollars a year to work on cleaning up the criminals on the Internet. It is such a small price to pay and everyone will benefit from the good the funds would do.

What iph?

2009-03-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

The news is full of stories on kids meeting adults that are soliciting them for pictures, personal information, or to meet them. Kids are taking explicit pictures with their cell phones and sending them to their friends. Well you can imagine what their friends are doing, they are sending them to their friends and so on...

When it comes to the Internet and cell phones, adults, teens, and kids need to ask themselves What if, before they do anything. There can be consequences to what you post or send electronically. The thing to ask is, am I comfortable with anyone, including my parents, teachers, or employers seeing what I am about to post or send.

In leek speak terms what iph

Ask yourself What if? In everything you do or are going to do, either online or offline, What if? If you do, you will be better prepared for what you are doing and you will stop yourself from doing something that can hurt yourself or others.

Go to www.whatiph.com to learn more and how you can get a What if? button or What if? wristband for you or your group.

Nintendo's new Toys

2009-03-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

A new product from Nintendo is due out in April of this year. The Nintendo Dsi takes online activities to a new level. One feature that everyone should be aware of is the fact that it has two video camera's. One will be on the face of the user but the other is facing away from the user. So, as your teen is using the device they can be broadcasting or sharing their image but also of their surroundings.

I am not picking on Nintendo for the new features. I can see times where they could be useful for users. It is a reminder that adults need to be aware of the electronic gadgets their kids have and what their capabilities are. Have the discussions of what is acceptable behavior with those devices with your kids. Create an acceptable usage agreement with your kids. You can find a sample by following this link. www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Giving up Social Networks for Lent

2009-03-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

Its been in the news, youth groups and individuals around the country are giving up access to social networks, text messaging and other online activities for lent. Interesting idea and actually a good one for most teens. It helps them realize their dependence on these networks. Many don't realize how connected they are and what type of impact that has on their lives. When they do disconnect, for whatever reason, it opens the door for them to evaluate their online activities. They can think about what they are doing online, why they do it, and what alternatives they have at their disposal.

Parents, if you teen is one of those that are giving it a try, take the opportunity to talk with them about how they feel, what it means to them, and help them with opportunities to pursue other interests while they think about what their connectivity means to them.

Teens and Sexting

2009-02-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

Sexting, if you haven't heard of it, its sending sexual images and/or text messages via your cell phone. Kids are doing it all over the country. CNN reported on a case today in which a 13 yr old boy and some classmates face child pornography charges because one of them took pictures of his partially nude girlfriend and and sent them to his friends via his cell phone. Now, is that worthy of a dissemination of child pornography charge. No, but it is an indication of bigger problems with teens and cell phones.

The sad part of the story, and you can see it by clicking on the link above, is that the father says that he doesn't check on his sons activities on his cell phone after implying that he does monitor his online activities (more on this later). He defends his position by saying his son is 13, a good kid, and its a cell phone and that he wants everyone to remember that his son is 13, and to remember what it was like when you were 13. He doesn't get it, and is trying to minimize the fact that he isn't doing what he should regarding his kids cell phone usage.

Well, I do remember what it was like and I tried to get away with anything I could when they weren't checking up on me. My friends were the same way. With that in mind, why would he check on his kids activities online but not on the phone. You can do the same things on a cell phone that you can on a computer. That is why kids are getting away from the computers, they know its harder for people to check up on them.

Take the time to talk with your kids about their activities on their cell phones. Establish rules for using the cell phone and check up on them. Write up a cell phone usage agreement. Click here for one you can print out and discuss with your kids.

These kids should not be charged with child pornography, but I don't feel bad that they and their families have to go experience what they are going through. I am sure there will rules in the house after this and hopefully many more parents can learn from this experience.

Parents need to be careful too.

2009-02-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

Aaron Jay Lemon Jr. was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison and lifetime probation in a Minnesota court for sexually assaulting a child he had taken a babysitting job for. On top of the assault, he made a video of it. The parents had posted an add on Craigs List looking for a babysitter. Lemon responded to the add and convinced the parents they could trust him with their child.

When it comes to Internet safety, it's not just about the children. It is important that we all take care in our entire online world. We need to be cautious about everyone we meet or do business with. Take the time to get and check resources by calling past customers or providers.

Never meet anyone in person that you met online without having someone there with you.

Check references of people you are thinking of doing business with. Use the Internet to run checks on people by running their name through registered sex offender sites and doing simple name searches, and phone number searches. You may be surprised of what you find out. It just may prevent something bad from happening to you. The Internet provides us with so many resources. Everyone needs to learn how to take advantage of them to minimize the problems of society.

Check out www.internetsafetyconsulting.net for more information.

Reports regarding online safety

2009-01-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

Two reports have been in the news in the last few days that are worthy of discussion.

The first was done by the Internet Safety Technical Task Force and is to be released 1/14/2009, and was reported on by the New York Times who had come into possession of a draft of the report. Their report will indicate that they found that kids face little danger online from predators. They view offline and online bullying as the bigger threat to our kids. The news article also indicated that there was some dissension within the group as to the position that online predators are not a problem. According to the New York Times the report states that teens are unlikely to be propositioned online. It goes on to say that those that are propositioned are willing participants and that they are typically troubled youth with problems at home or other social or personal problems.

If you follow the news from around the country, there are stories in the news on a daily basis about online predators that are being arrested for attempting to, or successfully abusing a child. The Online Victimization report done in 2005 indicated that 1 in 7 teens had been sexually solicited online.

I am involved in a training program that teaches law enforcement how to do undercover chat investigations. Our training takes the officers into chat rooms to work with the tools and teach them how to properly conduct these types of investigations. These officers are being approached by online predators, usually within minutes of going online.

I do agree that those being victimized online do seem to come from families with problems. I don't think we should read the report and say "well, we don't need to worry about that anymore". Our kids do need to be cautious when they are online and parents to need to have talks with their kids about their online activities. We do need to keep an eye on their social networking, just as we keep track of who their friends are and what they are doing.

The second study I wanted to mention was reported in USA Today on the 5th of January and is about a report published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The report indicates that kids have a great deal of Internet savvy but are very immature and impulsive on the Internet and that these traits can get them into trouble. I agree, and in talking with parents I tell them that kids that are posting risky material online are more likely to be approached by someone online for sexual purposes. Suggestive screen names, photo's, or boasting of activities all send a message that they may be a risk taker and thus more attractive to online predators. That's the point. Parents do need to take a proactive role in their child's online world. They need to check their social network sites, their profiles, and who their online friends really are. Simply checking what they do online can have a very positive impact on their online experience. The authors of the second report indicated that they sent an email to teens that had risky sexual material on their social network page. 14% of those sites were found to be free of the sexual material when checked later. This is when an unknown person sent them an email saying they should clean up their page and pointed out some of the risks of posting that type or material. Can you imagine the effect it would have if the kids were approached by their parents about the problem.

The fact is, parents do need to monitor what kids are doing online and talk with them about the ramifications of posting certain material. They need to face the reality that what they post today may be saved somewhere and keep popping up in school and job interviews for the rest of their lives.

For more information on Internet safety, go to www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Think about Safety after opening the gifts

2008-12-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over, the gifts unwrapped and new accounts activated on all the electronic toys, cell phones, computers, and games, you need to take one more step and think about some safety tips when using them. This is especially true when kids are given Internet access, online games, and cell phones for the first time. Take the time to talk with them and establish your guidelines for their use of the equipment. Talk about what to do if they are contacted by someone they don't know and praise them when they do. You can find many online safety tips at www.internetsafetyconsulting.net You can also find family Internet and Cell Phone usage agreements that your family can use when setting the guidelines for their new access. Help everyone in your family enjoy the connectivity and access to the various networks they now have access to.

Adults need to be cautious online too!

2008-12-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

We all worry about what our kids are doing online, worry about online predators targeting them for their pleasure. Adults need to worry too. Yesterday an 23 yr old male from Little Canada, MN entered a guilty plea for manufacturing child pornography. He posted an ad on Craigs List, offering his services as a baby sitter. A family responded and hired him to watch their child. An investigation in California led the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children task force to the suspect here. The investigation revealed that the suspect had video taped himself sexually assaulting the child he was hired to care for.

Everyone needs to remember that online services don't do background checks on those that use their services. Adults need to be cautious too, they need to make sure they know who they are meeting, who they are bringing into their homes, especially when asking or hiring someone to care for their most precious, their children.

Take the time to check references, if they don't have any, move on to someone else, there are many good responsible people out there, and they don't mind providing references from past work.

Kids and Cell Phones

2008-11-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

In mid October a 14 year old girl's cell phone was seized by school officials in Michigan. She had taken explicit pictures of herself and was sending them to others. Local law enforcement stated that as many as 200 others were sent the images. Due to the nature of the images and her age they face possession of child pornography charges.

Parents need to have discussions with their children on what is acceptable to do with their cell phones and computers. They need to check on what their kids are doing by looking at the phone on occasion to see what kind of messages and pictures are being send and received. Check www.internetsafetyconsulting.net for an acceptable use policy for both cell phones and computers. Its simple to do, and is helpful in getting the discussions started with your children.

K.I.D.S Act of 2008

2008-10-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008″ was approved yesterday by President Bush. The bill requires registered sex offenders to provide their e-mail addresses to a national database which is then made available to social networking sites. This is great news and will help clean up social networking sites.

We must keep in this in perspective in that probation and parole officers must increase their vigilance in overseeing registered sex offenders online activities. It is to easy for anyone to sign up for a free email account. So, a registered sex offender simply reports an email address as required by law. That email is reported to the social networking sites to make sure the person doesn't have a social network site. The bad part is that the offender can sign up for another email account and join any social network site.

We need to make sure that the probation/parole officers are provided the tools, knowledge, and time to do a scan of the computers the offenders have access to for additional email accounts and online activity.

Senate passes The Protecting Children in teh 21st Century Act

2008-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

The US Senate passed legislation that is now headed for the Presidents signature. The measure will assist educators and parents in giving their children the information they need to have a safe online experience. The Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act:

* requires schools receiving E-Rate funds to offer education regarding online behavior, including social networking, chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response;
* creates an inter agency working group to identify and encourage technologies and initiatives to help parents protect their children from unwanted content; and
* requires a national public awareness campaign to be conducted by the Federal Trade Commission.

Internet Safety Consulting has been doing presentations in schools for several years now on Internet safety. Through live presentations and online learning opportunities you can give your students and kids the information they need to have a safe online experience. Go to www.internetsafetyconsulting.net for more information on how we can help

Combating Child Exploitatioin Act of 2008

2008-09-29T12:46:00.000-07:00

Congress recently passed Senate File 1738, or the Combating Exploitation Act of 2008 and it is going to the White House for approval by the President. There is heightened interest in this bill due the Oprah Show and related media reports. You can click on the link above to see a summary of the bill.

The cost is estimated at just $3 per American over the 2009-2013 period.
This is computed from a Congressional Budget Office report, merely by dividing the estimated cost by the U.S. population. Pretty cheap when you figure the average person spends that much a day on coffee or similar refreshments.

The time has arrived when we have started to address the issue and not just in a token manner but by truly taking steps to protect our children. Granted there will be many problems as the new legislation is applied to the existing programs and task forces that already exist, but those are problems that can be worked out through cooperation and keeping the goal of keeping our kids safe from predators.

Below is the summary of the bill from Govtrack.com

7/7/2008--Reported to Senate amended.
Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2008 -
Title I - National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction
Section 101 -
Directs the Attorney General to create and implement a National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction (National Strategy). Sets forth the required content of such National Strategy, including: (1) comprehensive long-range goals for reducing child exploitation; (2) annual budget priorities and federal efforts for combating child exploitation; (3) a five-year projection for program and budget goals and priorities; (4) a review of the policies and work of the Department of Justice (DOJ) related to child exploitation crimes; (5) a description of DOJ efforts to coordinate with international, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and private entities on child exploitation prevention and interdiction efforts; (6) a review of ICAC Task Force Programs; (7) plans for reducing the backlog of forensic analysis for child exploitation cases; (8) a review of federal programs for child exploitation prevention and education; (9) plans for liaisons with the judiciary on matters relating to child exploitation; and (10) a review of statistical data indicating the overall magnitude of U.S. and international child pornography trafficking.
Requires the Attorney General to designate a DOJ senior official to coordinate and develop the National Strategy.
Section 102 -
Establishes within DOJ a National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program consisting of state and local task forces (including at least one ICAC Task Force for each state) to address online enticement of children, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography.
Section 103 -
Sets forth the purposes of the ICAC Task Force Program, including: (1) increasing the investigative capabilities of state and local law enforcement officers in the detection and investigation of child exploitation crimes facilitated by the Internet and the apprehension of offenders; (2) providing training and technical assistance to ICAC task forces and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; (3) increasing the number of Internet crimes against children offenses to be investigated and prosecuted; (4) enhancing the nationwide response to Internet crimes against children offenses; and (5) developing and delivering Internet crimes against children public awareness and prevention programs.
Section 104 -
Sets forth the duties and functions of state and local ICAC task forces relating to investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions of Internet crimes against children.
Section 105 -
Directs the Attorney General to establish a National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System to assist the National ICAC Task Force Program and federal, state, local, and tribal agencies investigating and prosecuting child exploitation. Requires the Data System to develop and maintain a technology and training program to provide: (1) a secure system of online communications between ICAC task forces and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding ongoing investigations; (2) a secure online system for resolving case conflicts; (3) a secure data storage and analysis system; and (4) guidelines and technical assistance for the use of the Data System by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Directs the Attorney General to establish an ICAC Data System Steering Committee.
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016.
Section 106 -
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state and local ICAC task forces. Sets forth criteria for the distribution of ICAC grants funds.
Requires state or local ICAC task forces receiving grants to submit annual reports to the Attorney General on the operations of such task forces.
Requires the Attorney General to report to Congress on: (1) the progress of ICAC task forces; and (2) the number of federal and state investigations, prosecutions, and convictions in the prior 12-month period related to child exploitation.
Section 107 -
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016.
Title II - Additional Measures to Combat Child Exploitation
Sec. 201) Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish additional computer forensic capacity to address the current backlog for computer forensics, including for child exploitation investigations; and (2) report to Congress annually on the use of funds for such purpose. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016.
Section 202 -
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016 for the hiring of additional Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents and personnel to work solely on child exploitation cases as part of the FBI's Innocent Images National Initiative.
Section 203 -
Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2016 for the hiring of additional full-time personnel in the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Postal Service to work solely on child exploitation and obscenity cases.
Title III - Effective Child Pornography Prosecution
Section 301 -
Amends the federal criminal code to expand the jurisdictional bases for prosecutions of crimes involving child exploitation, selling or buying of children, material involving sexual exploitation of minors or containing child pornography, and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
Section 302 -
Expands the crime of child sexual exploitation to prohibit the transmission of live images of child abuse.
Section 303 -
Expands the definition of "visual depiction" for purposes of child exploitation crimes to include data capable of conversion into a visual image transmitted by any means.
Section 305 -
Prohibits the alteration of a visual depiction of an identifiable minor child so that it depicts child pornography.
Section 306 -
Allows a provider of electronic communication or remote computing services to voluntarily report apparent child pornography violations directly to a foreign law enforcement agency.
Title IV - National Institute of Justice Study of Risk Factors
Requires the National Institute of Justice, not later than one year after the enactment of this Act, to: (1) prepare a report on investigative factors that indicate whether a subject of an online child exploitation investigation poses a higher risk of harm to children; and (2) submit such report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Authorizes appropriations.

Google's new browser-Chrome, what it means for parents

2008-09-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

Google released their new browser yesterday which promises a faster and more secure online experience. There are many features about the product which combined with the popularity of Google and Gmail will make this a prominent web browser very quickly. From a concerned parents point of view it does make it easy to see the Internet history. Two clicks and you are there and its easily understood. The links are live so you can make another click and see the site in question. It does have a feature that parents need to be concerned over and if they are using the browser to have a conversation with their teens over its use. The new feature is called the "New incognito window". When its is clicked a new tab opens up that allows for stealth Internet surfing. No Internet history is logged and cookies from sites are not placed on the computer. So, if using Google Chrome as your web browser you really do need to have the talks with your kids. Create an Internet Usage Agreement, and consider using some type of monitoring or logging software like Spector Pro.

100 Tips for Internet Safety

2008-08-26T05:19:00.000-07:00

I found this information on another blog and thought I would share it here. It is a great list of some Internet tips and websites relating to Internet safety. The list includes:

General safety tips
Web Resources on Online Safety
Articles on Internet Safety
Organizations Promoting Internet Safety
Parental Control Applications
Filtered ISP's
Kid Safe Search Engines
Activity Monitoring Software/Sites

So, I would love to say that I did all the research and put this together I need to pass that distinction onto Kelly Kilpatrick.

Teacher and Student Online Relationships

2008-08-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

When adults take an interest in a child's success they tend to use all the tools available to them to make positive things happen. Social networking sites can be an effective tool to help teachers and other adults reach out to teens and be a positive role model in their lives. But social networking sites can also be a tool for those that are looking to develop inappropriate relationships with teens. Adults that are active in the lives of teens, (coaches, teachers, mentors, guardians, etc) need to be very cautious when using social networking sites to help in their involvement with the teen. The sites can be very beneficial in opening up communication with others but due caution on where the lines of communication should be drawn. Whether to use social networking sites to help communicate with teens should be determined through discussions with the organization the adult works for and the parents of the teen. Click here to read a CNN report on the subject that talks about the pro's and con's of teachers using social network sites to communicate with their students.

New Online Course on Internet Safety

2008-08-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

Internet Safety. An important topic that every family needs to talk about and take steps to insure they have a safe online experience. There is a great deal of information on the Internet itself but it takes time to sift through it all. Now there is a easy inexpensive way to learn about Internet safety and get information on software and web sites that can help your family with their Internet and electronic communication concerns. It is an Online learning opportunity, take it at your own pace and on your schedule. Click on the link for information on how to sign up and take the course:

Internet Safety: Protecting Children in an Online World Course

Cable companies are taking postive steps to curb trading of child pornography

2008-07-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

It was recently announced that cable companies that reach about 87 percent of the homes in the United States will start taking voluntary steps to limit transmission of child pornography via the Internet. The agreement is between the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children(NCMEC), and the National Association of Attorneys General. The cable companies involved reach over 110 million homes.

The cable companies have agreed to use NCMEC's list of websites identified as containing child pornography to make sure none of those sites are hosted on servers owned or controlled by their companies. The cable companies will report any such activities to NCMEC's CyberTipline which will instigate a referral to law enforcement and an investigation in to those responsible for posting the illegal material.

The cable companies that have agreed to sign the memorandum of understanding with NCMEC are:

Comcast Corporation, Cox Corporation, Charter Communications, Cablevision Systems Corporation, Bright House Networks, Suddenlink Communications, Mediacom Communictions, Insight Communications, Bresnan Communictions, Midcontinent Communications, Broadstripe, GCI, Harron Communications, US Cable Corporation, BendBroadband, Eagle Communications, and Sjoberg's Inc. They join Time Warner Cable which has already signed the agreement.

This is a great step in the right directrion and these companies should be commended for their actions and hopefully will continue to work to eliminate the transmission of child pornography.

Qwest takes steps to block Child Porn sites

2008-07-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

Qwest announced that they are taking steps to block known child pornography sites. The site information is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This is a step in the right direction and should be followed by other Internet service providers. There is no reason that anyone should be able to access images of children being sexually assaulted. For the ISP industry to finally work to stop the accessibility is a great stride forward and should be copied by all. Click on the title to read a news article about it.

Kids and Online Games

2008-07-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

The kids are home for summer, that surely isn't news but have you taken steps to make sure they are safe while you are at work. You have set rules for the older kids and have them watch the younger ones. You have the neighbors watching over them or have hired someone to be with them during the day. Have you set some rules for Internet use while you are gone. Now is the time to do so. Take the time to have the discussion about what is acceptable behavior when they are online. Remember, the games on X-box and other games have the ability to connect with other players online. Online predators can use this venue to contact and communicate with your kids.

Parents need to set the parental controls on these devices to make sure they know what their kids are capable of doing when they are online. Parents should also check their computers and gaming machines occasionally to see if their kids have changed the controls to give them more access. Many kids are very adept at getting around the controls. So, next time you get off work early, give the machines a check to see if they have hacked around the controls you have set. Click here for a link on how to set parental controls on your Xbox. If you have other game sets do a Google search on the brand you have to find instructions or drop a note here and we can get some posted. Have a great summer

Three major ISP's to block access to child porn

2008-06-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

Sprint/Nextel, Time Warner Communications, and Verizon Communications announced this week that they are taking steps to block access to sites that have child pornography on them and remove any such sites from their servers. They should be applauded for their actions and hopefully are going to lead the way for others to follow. When it comes to facilitating access to such sites, there is no excuse for those that can not to block that access. They are provided lists of such sites by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who compiles information on such sites through mandatory reporting by Internet Service Providers and complaints received by the Cybertip line. Click here for the published news story on the subject.

Facebook announces new safeguards

2008-05-09T04:45:00.000-07:00

It was reported that Facebook has announced new safeguards to make it more difficult for registered sex offenders to use their social network. They also are taking steps to make it more difficult for older people to search for younger members. In total there are 40 new safeguards implemented. I think its great that they have done so but parents to need to remember that nothing works better than your involvement in your kids online lives to keep them safe. Have the discussions with them on what is appropriate and what is not. You and they are the last line of defense, not the technology. Technology can be defeated and bypassed.

Teens and Cell Phones. Cyberbullying. Parents need to monitor

2008-05-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

Teens with camera equipped cell phones are taking risks in taking and sending nude or sexual images of themselves to their friends. Two teens were arrested in Hudson, WI accused of creating a collage of nude pictures of a teen female and sharing with other students in the school. The subject of the photos had used her cell phone to take pictures of herself and had sent them to her boyfriends. The teens collected them and created the collage because they were upset with her over some other allegations.

This is an interesting set of facts as the subject had sent the images of herself to quite a few other teens which of itself is problematic. Then the two gathered the images from those she sent it to as a form or retaliation. A good example of Cyberbullying. Everyone in this situation has issues that we should all be concerned about.

Its another example of why parents need to get involved in their teens online world. Granted the images were sent via cell phones so the correct terminology that parents need to get involved in their teens electronic communication world. The Internet and cell phone technology do pose a risk to our teens. Its up to the adults in their lives to talk to them of the dangers.

To see the complete article, Click Here

From the UK. A Good practice guidance for the providers of social networking and other user interactive services 2008

2008-04-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

A guide for social networks was issued in the UK, its a good read on what social networks and parents can do to have a safe online experience. You can read or download the report from the website.

2007 Internet Crimes Report

2008-04-08T05:14:00.000-07:00

The FBI released their report on Internet crimes for 2007. The numbers indicate a 20% increase in reported Internet crime. The report is based on complaints to their Internet Fraud Complaint Center so involve fraud, identity theft, credit card theft, and scams. The report has some great tips on how to protect yourself against these types of crimes, including cyberstalking. To download a complete copy of the report click here. 2007 Internet Crime Report

Has the FBI gone to far?

2008-03-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

The FBI has recently adopted a novel investigative technique: posting hyperlinks that purport to be illegal videos of minors having sex, and then raiding the homes of anyone willing to click on them. The courts have approved the tactic.

Have they gone to far? I think so, as a former law enforcement officer I usually am all for new ways to catch the criminals, but this tactic concerns me. If someone is seeking child pornography I have a big problem with it. They should be investigated and charged if they have it in their possession, disseminating it, or creating it. The problem I see with the tactic that the FBI is using is that I can send you a link in an email or put a link on a web page that could lead you to believe that you are going to a particular site. The link could actually take you to the FBI's site and you suddenly have them knocking at your door. Granted, one would need to know what that link is to create the misdirection, but things like that do get out and it can happen. The other issue I have is that there are people who may stumble on the link posted by the FBI, click on it out of curiosity or by mistake and are then targeted by a search warrant.

Is it an investigative tool or just taking the easy way out? As someone who has worked these crimes in the past and continues to work with officers that are actively working these types of cases I think they are taking a shortcut that they don't need to take.

Babes in the Woods

2008-03-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

It interesting to see the youth of yesterday coming of age. As parents and as they enter the working world. Now that they have young children they are showing up at events geared for parents and their families online activities. Others are working to make sure others are aware of what is going on while online. Recently the article title Babes in the Woods, by Caitlin Flanagan published in the The Atlantic Online July/August 2007, was forwarded onto me by a colleague and is a very good story that is told by someone who who experienced growing up online. Take a few minutes and click on the title link to read the article.

Parents Guide to Social Networks

2008-02-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

By Emmet Ryan info@enn.ie Electric News - Monday, February 18 03:42 pm

The parents' guide to social networking websites was produced by the Internet Advisory Board (IAB). The guide explains what social networking websites are and how they operate, all in a user-friendly format.

"Parents should get to grips with the new technology their children are using, so that they can learn with them and be aware of what their children are doing online," said Minister Lenihan. "It is good and responsible parenthood, not prying, for parents to know what websites their children have visited, and if they are suitable or not."

The booklet will be available free of charge through libraries, community information centres and credit unions. Parents can also request a copy of the booklet directly from the Office for Internet Safety through a freefone number 1800 24 25 95, and on the websites of the IAB (www.iab.ie) the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (www.justice.ie) and the makeITsecure website (www.makeitsecure.org).

In addition the Minister also welcomed the fact that mobile phone operators O2, Vodafone and Three Ireland will make the booklet available in their retail outlets.

The launch of the booklet comes just days before a seminar for parents on social networking takes place in Dublin. The seminar, which is being held as part of the makeITsecure campaign, takes place in the Conrad Hotel on Friday. The free seminar will run from 8:30am until 10am and will feature John Carr, an expert on social networking and advisor to the UK government, Dr Rachel O'Connell, Chief Safety Officer, Bebo and Cormac Callanan, ex General Secretary of Inhope and online child safety expert.

Social networking was not the only matter on the agenda on Monday as Minister Lenihan also announced the appointment of John Laffan as the new director of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS).

"The challenge for the director will be to move quickly to develop programmes and policies designed to make the internet a safer place. The director will engage with all stakeholders -- private sector and public authorities -- with the simple message that our young people deserve the best possible protection against the risk of internet exploitation and crime," said the minister.

"The OIS will build on the very successful cooperative relationship with the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland, pioneered by the IAB, which champions the model of self-regulation through adherence to a strong code of practice and ethics."

Minister Lenihan's two announcements come during the Government's makeITsecure campaign which aims to promote safer use of technology. The campaign runs until 22 February and more information on events taking place, including the social networking seminar, can be found at www.makeitsecure.org.

MySpace and Attorney Generals Agree on Key Principles

2008-01-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

MySpace and 43 state Attorney Generals have agreed on key principles relating to Social Network sites and the effects on families and the youth of today. The major points are listed below and as you will see when you read this they are taking major steps towards raising the bar for social network sites when it comes to taking steps to keep our kids safe online. This doesn't relieve parents from being a part of their children's online life it just makes it easier to perform the tasks.

Providing Safety Tools For All Members
1. All users may set profile to private.
2. All users can pre-approve all comments before being posted.
3. Users can block another user from contacting them.
4. Users can conceal their “online now” status.
5. Users can prevent forwarding of their images to other sites.
6. MySpace adds “Report Abuse” button to Email, Video, and Forums.
7. Users over 18 can block under 18 users from contacting them or viewing their
profiles.
8. All users can allow only those users whom they have proactively added to their
Contact List to see when they are on IM and to contact them.
9. “Safety Tips” Available on every page of MySpace.
10. “Safety Tips” Appear on registration page for anyone under 18.
11. Users under 18 must affirmatively consent that user has reviewed the Safety Tips
prior to registration. MySpace will require under 18 members to scroll through
the complete Safety Tips upon registration. MySpace will also require under 18
members to review the Safety Tips on an annual basis.
12. Additional warning posted to users under 18 regarding disclosure of personal
information upon registration.
13. Safety Tips are posted in the “mail” area of all existing users under 18.
14. Safety Tips contain resources for Internet Safety including FTC Tips.
15. Phishing warning added to Safety Tips.
16. Safety Tips for Parents provides links to free blocking software.
17. Parent able to remove child's profile through the ParentCare Hotline and
ParentCare Email.
18. MySpace will have “Tom” become a messenger to deliver Safety Tips to minors
on MySpace.
19. All users under 18 receive security warnings before posting content.

Preventing Underage Users
1. Browse function - limit to 68 years and below.
2. MySpace will implement “age locking” for existing profiles such that members
will be allowed to change their ages only once above or below the 18 year old
threshold. Once changed across this threshold, under 18 members will be locked
into the age they provided while 18 and older members will be able to make
changes to their age as long as they remain above the 18 threshold. MySpace will
implement “age locking” for new profiles such that under 18 members will be
locked into the age they provide at sign-up while 18 and older members will be
able to make changes to their age as long as they remain above the 18 threshold.

Protecting Younger Users from Inappropriate Contact
1. Users able to restrict friend requests to only those who know their email address
or last name.
2. “Friend only” group invite mandatory for 14 and 15 year olds.
3. “Friend only” group invite by default for 16 and 17 years olds.
4. Users under 18 can block all users over 18 from contacting them or viewing their
profile.
5. Users over 18 will be limited to search in the school section only for high school
students graduating in the current or upcoming year.
6. Users over 18 may designate their profiles as private to users under 18, and users
under 18 may designate their profiles as private to users over 18.
7. Limit search engine ability to crawl all private profiles.
8. Users under 18 cannot designate themselves as swingers.
9. Users under 16 are automatically assigned a private profile.
10. Users over 18 cannot browse for users under 18.
11. A user cannot browse for users under 16.
12. Users over 18 cannot add users under 16 as friends unless they know the under 16
user's last name or email address.
13. Personally identifiable information removed upon discovery.
14. Users under 18 cannot browse for swingers.
15. MySpace will not allow unregistered visitors to the site to view any search results
related to mature areas of the site, profiles that are private to under 18s, or other
groups and forums geared toward sexual activity and mature content.
16. MySpace will change the default for under 18 members to require approval for all
profile comments.
17. MySpace will remove the ability for under 18 members to browse the following
categories: relationship status, “here for”, body type, height, smoke, drink,
orientation and income.
18. If users under 16 override their privacy settings, they are still only viewable by
other users under 18.
19. When user posts images, they will receive a note including IP address of the
computer that uploaded the image.
20. Add sender URL in mail for private messages.
21. Locate underage users (searching specific keywords, reviewing groups and
forums, and browsing certain age ranges).
22. Profiles of Registered Sex Offenders identified through Sentinel SAFE
technology are reviewed and, once confirmed, are removed from the site. The
associated data are preserved for law enforcement.

Protecting Younger Users from Inappropriate Content
1. Implementation of image policy for hosted images that employs hashing
technology to prevent inappropriate image uploads.
2. Expand flag spam/abuse to allow categorization of flagged message.
3. Expand “Report Image” functionality to include a drop down menu that provides
members with greater specificity on why they are reporting image. Categories to
include Pornography, Cyberbullying, and Unauthorized Use.
4. Under 18s/under 21s cannot access tobacco/alcohol advertisements.
5. MySpace and Attorneys General commit to discuss with Google the need to cease
directing age inappropriate linked advertisements to minors.
6. Events may be designated for all ages, for 18 + or for 21+.
7. MySpace will notify users whose profiles are deleted for Terms of Service
Violations.
8. Groups reviewed for incest, hate speech or youth sex subjects with violators
removed from site.
9. Members determined to be under 18 to be removed from mature Groups.
10. Posts determined to be made to mature Groups by under 18 members to be
removed.
11. Any mature Groups determined to be created by under 18 members will be
removed entirely and the user accounts may be deleted for violating the Terms of
Service.
12. Users under 18 to be denied access to Romance & Relationships Forum and
Groups.
13. Users under 18 will not have access to inappropriate parts of Classifieds (dating,
casting calls).
14. Members may request to label Groups they create as mature.
15. Flagged Groups are reviewed and categorized by MySpace staff.
16. Members under 18 and non-registered users may not enter or view a Group page
that has been designated as mature.
17. MySpace hired a Safety Product Manager.
18. Smoking/Drinking preferences blocked for under 18s/under 21s.
19. User accounts promptly deleted for uploading child pornographic images and/or
videos and referred to NCMEC.
20. MySpace does not tolerate pornography on its site, and users determined to have
uploaded pornographic images and/or videos flagrantly and/or repeatedly will
have their accounts deleted.

DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY INITIATIVES
MySpace will continue to research and develop online safety tools. Based on
recommendations MySpace received from the Attorneys General and online safety
advocates, and as a result of the work of its internal safety and engineering teams,
MySpace’s current plans include the following initiatives:
Limiting MySpace Membership to Users 14 and Over
1. Engage a third-party to build and host a registry of email addresses for children
under 18. Parents would register their children if they did not want them to have
access to MySpace or any other social networking site that uses the registry. A
child whose information matches the registry would not be able to register for
MySpace membership.
2. Strengthen the algorithm that identifies underage users.

Protecting Minors from Unwanted Contacts by Adults
1. Change the default setting for 16-17 year olds’ profiles from “public” to
“private.”
2. Create a closed high school section for users under 18. The “private” profile of a
16/17 year old will be viewable only by his/her “friends” and other students from
that high school who have been vouched for by another such student. Students
attending the same high school will be able to “Browse” for each other.
Protecting Minors from Exposure to Inappropriate Content
1. MySpace will review models for a common abuse reporting icon. If MySpace determines
that a common icon is workable and will improve user safety, it may substitute
the common icon for the current report abuse icon MySpace places on each
member profile.
2. Obtain a list of adult (porn) Web sites on an ongoing basis and sever all links to
those sites from MySpace.
3. Demand that adult entertainment industry performers set their profiles to block
access to all under 18 users.
4. Remove all under 18 users from profiles of identified adult entertainment industry
performers.
5. Retain image review vendor(s) that can effectively and efficiently identify
inappropriate content so it can be removed from the site more expeditiously.

This is a major step in the right direction and as mentioned before it doesn't take the place of the parent being just that. The parent.

PBS Frontline Alert

2008-01-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

January 22 at 8pm CST (check local listings).
PBS FRONTLINE is starting a new project called "Growing
Up Online", which will explore the teen cyber-world of You Tube, MySpace and other social networking sites. Self-expression takes on a whole new meaning with the youth of today when it comes to the Internet. Information on what teens are confronted with from cyber-bullying to Internet predators. This is a chance for parents to get insight into a teen world that parents know exist but aren't sure on how to handle it.

Think Before You Post

2008-01-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

The news media in the Twin Cities is reporting today about numerous suspensions in the Eden Prairie School District relating to images posted on Facebook showing students involved with alcohol. This issue of underage drinking will be left for another discussion. What I found interesting was a students comment that they felt it was an invasion of privacy for the district to look at their Facebook pages.

Lets look at that. The Internet has been described as the Information Super Highway. Posting anything online that isn't password protected or somehow for private viewing only, is like putting a billboard on the side of the highway for everyone to see. If anyone is posting information or pictures on the Internet is there for everyone surfing to see.

Parents and Kids need to realize that what they post online is there for everyone to see unless its protected. Employers and college administrators do check out social networking sites to see what kind of person they may hire or admit to their institution.

Parents need to be a part of their children's on line life. They need to know what they are posting and everyone needs to think about their actions, think about the consequences, and to think about the message they are sending others about themselves when they post.

Click for some predictions for 2008

2007-12-28T14:04:00.000-08:00

The link takes you to Dr Frank Kardanz's blog. He is with the Arizona ICAC Task Force. His "predictions" for 2008 are true, sad, and include what you can do to make a difference.

Checking on kids activities leads to arrest

2007-09-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Parents taking and active role in their children's lives is important both off and on the Internet. Here is a story of a Mom who did just that.

Man charged with rape of girl, 12, he met on the Internet
BY EMILY GURNON
Pioneer Press
TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated:09/13/2007 12:36:22 PM CDT
She was "a woman" and could have sex with whomever she wanted.
That's what a St. Paul man allegedly told the 12-year-old girl he solicited over the Internet, according to a criminal complaint filed in
Hennepin County District Court.
Justin Richard Stein, 30, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to the complaint. He had sex with the
unidentified girl several times between July and September, at both of their homes, the document said.
The complaint gives these details:
Stein sent suggestive communications to the girl, who told police that Stein gave her a sex toy so that she could "prepare her body
..."
The defendant told police that he knew the girl was 12, but that he loved her. He said he bought the sex toy for his 20-year-old
girlfriend, but that the victim "must have taken it for herself."
The girl's mother, who was monitoring her computer use, discovered the alleged abuse.

End of Article

For information on how your family can be safe on the Internet check out this site:

www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

School is back in session

2007-09-04T04:17:00.000-07:00

School is back in session for most students this week. A reminder to everyone about the need to talk with your kids and young adults about their online life. An article was in the St Paul Pioneer Press today and brings home the story about the need to talk about Internet safety. Check out this link for information on Internet safety.

Facebook Pages and College Bound Students

2007-08-08T13:35:00.001-07:00

ABC news is reporting the colleges and universities are reporting that parents of college bound students are checking Facebook for their son or daughters roommates and requesting changes if they don't like what they see.

Is this a problem that we should be concerned about? I say no, its part of the reality that our teens need to face, their actions on then Internet can cause issues for them and they need to think about that when they post information on the various social networks sites. As Bill Weir said several times throughout the new ABC show I Caught on its premier episode. "The Internet doesn't forget"

Parents and teens need to think about what they are posting online just as they would think about what they would say or show pictures of to strangers.

For more information see www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Summer Free Time

2007-06-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

Now that the kids will be out of school for the summer, many will find they have a great deal of unsupervised free time. Hopefully they will find things to do outside, or with established friends and family. Many will kill time on the Internet. Take the time to talk with your kids about their online activities and keep tabs on what they are doing. There are various ways to do so. Be the parent and ask what if...

June is National Internet Safety Month

2007-06-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

Last year the U.S. Senate designated June as National Internet Safety Month. Take a few minutes and talk to your family about Internet safety. Talk about what is acceptable online behavior, and what leads to problems. Put a plan together about what to do if someone approaches them for sexual purposes. Check out my web page for further information on Internet safety. www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Parents who are involved do make a difference

2007-06-01T09:41:00.001-07:00

I got a call from a woman who had seen my Internet safety presentation a month or so ago. She took the message home and got involved in her teen daughter's Internet activity and found that her 13 yr old daughter was chatting with a 20 yr old male. The conversations were sexual in nature but they hadn't met yet. She reported the situation to law enforcement who are now investigating the person.

Parents who are involved in their child's online activities do make a difference.

For Further Information

2007-05-24T09:16:00.001-07:00

To learn more about Internet Safety Consulting please check out www.internetsafetyconsulting.net

Internet Safety Consulting, LLC

2007-05-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Now more than ever, families and educators are confronted with concerns about the Internet. MySpace, Facebook, Stickah, and other social networking sites that the youth of today are using to communicate with each other. These sites provide them with many opportunities to keep in touch, meet, socialize, and learn about others.

The Internet has also changed how Sexual predators gain access the youth of today.

Give your students and community the tools to prevent your teens from becoming a victim by providing information on Internet Safety through a dynamic, live presentation on the dangers of the Internet and what families can do to protect themselves. Problematic compulsive Internet behavior by teens and cyberbullying are also covered.

Law enforcement is faced with many new challenges regarding the proper investigation, archiving, networking with law enforcement across the county, and examining digital data

Internet Safety Consulting, LLC., has developed a variety of presentations for high school age students, parents, PTA’s, educators, law enforcement, and social workers on these subjects.

Studies show that teens are being exposed to on line porngraphy more than ever before. The growth in social networking sites leads to many problems that the youth of today don't foresee or understand.

Posting of personal information on line that allows others to easily locate your phone number and address.
Cyberbullying on web pages, blogs, and false profiles.
Photos posted on the Internet can be downloaded and changed or "morphed" using common photo editing software.
Information most teens post in their profiles and blogs give on line predators the information they can use to get to know and groom them for a meeting.
Many teens think of their on line contacts as friends and think nothing about meeting them only knowing what they have learned on line about them.

Teens need to understand the difference between an on line friend and someone they have met in person or an "eyeball' friend.