Cut the Crap and Pay Attention!
What about those mean spirited cold hearted creators of the lethal computer viruses and worms that steal and destroy information? Do you have protection against those? If not, you should. Check out Panda Software, Symantec / Norton and McAfee Security Corp.
Lately I've heard a number of parents make the statement "I trust my kid". Well so do I. I've been preaching my WWW rules for years. You can look back through my articles and get an idea for how long I've been teaching my kids and preaching the rules. My kids probably get really sick of hearing the general rundown of rules. I'm the mother who constantly reminds them that I have the authority to yank computer privileges at any given second and wouldn't think twice about it. They know that because I've done it.
Still though I can preach and teach while my kids follow the rules and it may not make a difference. As long as smut peddlers are allowed to continue offering 'previews', stealing URL's and throwing up disgusting pop-up ads that can cause even the stoutest computer to freeze up parents can do everything and still not fully protect their kids.
Until ISP's take some responsibility about what 'free' information should be thrown out to our neighborhood, we're all at risk. Until companies require that sites offering up information that might make your hair go gray or turn your stomach put up some type of blocker we can all sit and watch the clock and know that it's only a matter of time before it affects our precious children.
I know I've said this before and as long as I'm writing this column, I'll continue to say it, Parents!! Pay ATTENTION! Check your computer history, check your cache, install virus protection, install nanny software if you can, set up your child's own profile with fairly tight restrictions. However, the one most vital incredibly important thing that you should do is SO simple; WATCH YOUR KIDS ON THE COMPUTER!
You don't have to sit right there looking over their shoulder. You should keep the computer in sight in a main room in your house. Casually walk by or blatantly walk over and look at the screen. Let your child know, beyond a doubt, that you care enough to keep a close eye on things.
How many kids will go missing this year because
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