PC Security Step 12 - Keeping Your Children Safe Online
Keep your children safe from PC and online security threats
Children, like adults, are susceptible to computer and Internet security risks. Thus, it is important to keep children safe and have your data protected.
The following are simple yet effective steps to reduce security threats that children may be particularly vulnerable to.
Implement parental PC control
It is always best to implement a kind of parental control when kids are using the computer. Many ISPs provide parental control tools and many browsers also provide tools and options for restricting access to certain websites or categories of sites. Add-on software programs can be purchased as well.
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Recommended Resources: Cybersitter
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These tools are helpful, but keep in mind that there is no substitute for real supervision provided by a parent.
Partition it now, partition it right.
It is advisable to partition your personal computer into separate accounts for each user. Many operating systems (these include the Mac, Windows XP, Linux) provide option to create different and various user accounts.
Giving your child an account that is separate restricts children’s access and limits administrative priveleges to reduce the risk of your children reading, modifying, or deleting your own files.
Use anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, and a firewall
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Recommended Resources:
Firetrust
AVG Internet Security
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Anti-virus software protects computers from any viruses that could destroy data, cause slow performance, or complete crashes.
An effective anti-virus program should have constant and routine updates as well as antidotes for any latest bugs that are currently in the Internet.
Firewalls have the ability to keep any hackers away from your computer thereby preventing them from accessing any of your personal files.
Basically, a firewall is a guard that watches any outside access attempts. It also blocks communications to and from unauthorized sources. As much as possible, always turn on your firewall and regularly update it.
Anti-spyware programs meanwhile protect your personal computers from any malicious forms of spyware. Spyware monitors all your online activities and collects your personal info while you innocently do your surfing on the web.
Anti-spyware programs scan your computer periodically to check if it has any spyware software and programs installed. If spyware is found it gives you the opportunity to immediately remove it.
Password protect your pc
Using strong passwords and authentication technology helps protect your personal info.
As much as possible, keep all your passwords in a secure and safe place. Do not share your passwords over the Internet, phone or e-mail. Remember that your ISP should not ask your password.
To make it difficult for hackers to guess passwords use passwords that contain at least eight character, including ssymbols and numerals; avoid common words; avoid using personal info such as a street name or pet’s name; and regularly change your passwords (at least every three months).
One way to create a password is to come up with a memorable phrase and then use the first letter of each word as the password of your choice. Some letters can be convert to numbers that look like letters.
Do not forget to back up files that are important
The fact of the matter is that there is no such system that is one hundred percent secure. Backup your important and irreplaceable files and store them in a secure place.
You could also consider software encryption. It is also best if the start-up disks in the original software you bought are readily available just in case your computer system crashes.
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Recommended Resources: Encrypt
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Adequate parental supervision, parental control tools, and general computer security go a long way towards your children’s safety online.
Stay secure!
Look for the next step in a few days:
“Attacks on Your Computer”
The information provided in this series is copyrighted material
and cannot be reprinted without the authors’ permission