Important Safety practices  on the Internet for Children/Parents

• Rules from “real” life apply: courtesy, kindness, modesty, dignity, respect for the law and for others, etc.

• Don’t talk to strangers

• Keep your private information private

• Never agree to meet an online friend without your parents

• There are no guarantees that what you say or post on the Internet is private
• Information (including photos, videos, etc.) posted on the Internet can last forever

• Tell your parents if you encounter something uncomfortable

• Don’t reply to unknown screen names on IM

• Never open e-mail from strangers or click on any attachments

• Find the “good” online – good friends, good Web sites, good games – and enjoy

• Discuss and agree upon precautions
  • People may not be who they say they are online
  • Encourage the use of pen names
  • Remove address and contact details from emails
  • Never respond to obscene or suggestive messages
  • Don’t send personal photos over the internet

• Install and keep up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall
  • Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en
  • CCleaner (Free) http://www.ccleaner.com/download/
  • Anti-Spyware – A-Squared (free) http://download5.emsisoft.com/a2FreeSetup.exe
  • AVG Free   http://free.grisoft.com/
• Use Commercial Web Filtering Software
  • Free – http://www.k9webprotection.com/
  • Net Nanny (2007 best) http://www.netnanny.com/
• Check internet cache
  • @winspy (free)  http://www.acesoft.net/winspy
• Spector Pro to track everything done on a PC http://www.spectorsoft.com/products/SpectorPro_Windows
• Monitoring Software

• Spectorsoft.com or 1-888-598-2788

• Safety-net.info or 1-800-513-1916

• Software4Parents.com or 1-866-345-8371

• PCmagazine.com (search “parental monitoring”)

• Look at the online handout on how to check computer history files to find what has been surfed.  Also check the settings and documents in My documents to see what is on their account.
• Undelete files with Restoration or PC Inspector File recovery to find out what your child has deleted.  Look for files in the recycle bin and ones that have been deleted.

Have a safe Surfing!