Privacy, Security & Virus Information

Keeping Children Safe From Harm Online

Having technologically-aware children is nothing short of a challenge. Their thirst for information can be quenched through the Internet, but their inability to differentiate between safe and unsafe websites can compromise a computer’s safety. What’s more, it can run the risk of their innocence being lost through accidentally seeing explicit material unsuitable for their age range.

So: what can be done to protect your children properly?

• Invest in anti-virus software and, crucially, keep it up to date. New threats arise all the time, and if your child uses online social media or gaming platforms, the chances of them falling victim to a virus or a phished page can increase as they search for the sites they want to visit.
  
  As such, this essential maintenance should be done on a regular basis, in addition to conducting regular scans of your computer and monitoring browsing history to see if there are any unsafe pages that have been visited recently.
  
  
• Restrict the time spent on the computer with monitoring software. Not only can you set certain periods for when user accounts on your PC can access the Internet with specialist ‘nanny’ packages, but you can also block social media, adult websites, gambling communities and other unsuitable pages with an ever-growing database of blacklisted sites.
  
  Not only will this allow your child to only see appropriate material in a vast Internet world, but it also ensures focus on homework and studying when it matters most, with leisure sites blocked at certain times of day if you wish.
  
  
• Educate them about the dangers of the Internet, and how to use the computer properly. Through explaining the warning signs of viruses in a way that’s accessible for their age group, they will be able to take their own precautionary measures and browse the Internet with confidence.
  
  Finally, don’t forget to regularly supervise your children at intermittent periods. It’s important to monitor their activity, especially with the danger of anonymous chat rooms and explicit content lurking around every corner. Your vigilance, along with powerful anti-virus software, will offer the best way to keep your kids safe from harm on the Internet.
  

 

Article by Connor Sephton, 3rd August 2011

 

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