Internet Security- Online Safety for Your Children

Every parent wants to keep their child safe. Protecting your children when they are on the Internet
is no exception to this. While you don't want to think about people harassing your child or trying to bring harm to them, there are still those out there who might try. The following is an article that contains tips on how you can provide online safety for your children.

You can purchase online tools for added internet security. These contain features that allow you to control your child's access to adult material. Some ISPs also contain parent-control options that block some types of material. In addition, you can purchase programs that block access to sites that is based on a list that your ISP makes.

You can also purchase filtering programs that restrict personal information from being sent online. This is particularly helpful in protecting your financial and personal information.

Install a program that lets you set a time limit on how long your child can stay online. This way, you can ensure that they are not spending a large amount of time on the internet. However, they will still be able to use office programs for school.

If your child has a Myspace of Facebook account, get one as well and befriend them in order to monitor their use. Only intervene if there is a safety concern in order to give them more privacy.

Don't let your child participate in chat rooms. Some ISPs offer programs that block chat rooms. Sometimes people enter chat rooms designed for children and teens and pretend to be one themselves.

If you're aware of any child pornography contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. If your child receives pornography, contact your local law enforcement office.

Talk to your child about their screen name creation. A screen name should be neutral and should not reveal any of the child's personal information such as their name or age.

Talk to your child about posting personal information like their address, age, and full name on social utility sites. When they create an account, have them make it private to ensure that only people they know can access it.

Continuously monitor your credit cards and banking account in order to be aware of any unusual activity. Talk to your child if you become aware of something different on the account. Then, talk to your credit card company or bank.

Internet Security- Online Safety for Your Children