Computer Wizard

Child Safety on the Net

Minimize risk of child becoming a victim
Targeted Children
Gaming
Internet House Rules
Spam
Offensive Material
Internet Gambling
Chat Room Safety
Instant Messaging Safety, Privacy
Online Safety Tips for Kids
User Accounts

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Online predators:
What to do to minimize the risk.
Using Internet communication tools such as chat rooms, e-mail, and instant messaging can put children at potential risk of encountering online predators. The anonymity of the Internet means that trust and intimacy can develop quickly online. Predators take advantage of this anonymity to build online relationships with inexperienced young people. Parents can help protect their kids by becoming aware of the risks related to online communication and being involved in their kids' Internet activities. Continue reading to get answers to your questions about how online predators work, who is at risk of being victimized by online predators, how you can help to reduce the risk of your child becoming a target, and more.

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How online predators work
Predators establish contact with kids through conversations in chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail, or discussion boards. Many teens use peer support online forums to deal with their problems. Predators often go to these online areas to look for vulnerable victims. Online predators try to gradually seduce their targets through attention, affection, kindness, and even gifts, and often devote considerable time, money, and energy to this effort. They're aware of the latest music and hobbies likely to interest kids. They listen to and sympathize with kids' problems. They also try to ease young people's inhibitions by gradually introducing sexual content into their conversations or by showing them sexually explicit material. Some predators work faster than others, engaging in sexually explicit conversations immediately. This more direct approach may include harassment or stalking. Predators may also evaluate the kids they meet online for future face-to-face contact.

Which young people are at risk?
Young adolescents are the most vulnerable age group and are at high risk of being approached by online predators. Young adolescents are exploring their sexuality, moving away from parental control, and looking for new relationships outside the family. Under the guise of anonymity, they are more likely to take risks online without fully understanding the possible implications. Young people who are most vulnerable to online predators tend to be:
(1)New to online activity and unfamiliar with netiquette
(2)Aggressive computer users
(3)The type to try new, edgy activities in life
(4)Actively seeking attention or affection
(5)Rebellious
(6)Isolated or lonely
(7)Curious
(8)Confused regarding sexual identity
(9)Easily tricked by adults
(10)Attracted by subcultures apart from their parents' world
(11)Kids feel they are aware of the dangers of predators, but in reality, (12)they are quite naive about online relationships

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How can parents minimize the risk of a child becoming a victim?
Talk to your kids about sexual predators and potential online dangers.
Young children should not use chat rooms, the dangers are too great. As children get older, direct them towards well-monitored kids' chat rooms. Encourage even your teens to use monitored chat rooms.
If your children take part in chat rooms, make sure you know which ones they visit and with whom they talk. Monitor the chat areas yourself to see what kind of conversations take place.
Instruct your children to never leave the chat room's public area. Many chat rooms offer private areas where users can have one-on-one chats with other users, chat monitors can't read these conversations. These are often referred to as "whisper" areas.
Keep the Internet connected computer in a common area of the house, never in a child's bedroom. It is much more difficult for a predator to establish a relationship with your child if the computer screen is easily visible. Even when the computer is in a public area of your home, sit with your child when they are online.
When your children are young, they should share the family e-mail address rather than have their own e-mail accounts. As they get older, you can ask your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to set up a separate e-mail address, but your children's mail can still reside in your account.
Tell your children to never respond to instant messaging or e-mails from strangers. If your children use computers in places outside your supervision such as public library, school, or friends' homes, find out what computer safeguards are used.
If all precautions fail and your kids do meet an online predator, don't blame them. The offender always bears full responsibility. Take decisive action to stop your child from any further contact with this person.

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Can your kids reduce the risk of being victimized
There are a number of precautions that kids can take, including:
Never downloading images from an unknown source, they could be sexually explicit.
Using email filters.
Telling an adult immediately if anything that happens online makes them feel uncomfortable or frightened.
Choosing a gender-neutral screen name that doesn't contain sexually suggestive words or reveal personal information.
Never revealing personal information about themselves (including age and gender) or information about their family to anyone online and not filling out online personal profiles.
Stopping any e-mail communication, instant messaging conversations, or chats if anyone starts to ask questions that are too personal or sexually suggestive.
Posting the family online agreement near the computer to remind them to protect their privacy on the Internet.

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How can you tell if your child is being targeted?
It is possible that your child is the target of an online predator if:
Your child or teen spends a great deal of time online. Most children who are victims of online predators spend a lot of time online, particularly in chat rooms, and may close the doors to their rooms and be secretive about what they do when they go work on their computer.
You find pornography on the family computer. Predators often use pornography to sexually victimize children, supplying things such as Web sites, photos, and sexual e-mail messages as a way to open sexual discussions with potential victims. Predators may use photos of child pornography to convince a child that it is normal for adults to have sex with children. You should be aware that your child may hide pornographic files on disks, especially if other family members use the computer.
Your child or teen receives phone calls from people you don't know, or makes calls (sometimes long distance) to numbers you don't recognize. After establishing contact with your child online, some online predators may try to contact young people to engage in phone sex, or to try to set up a real-world, face-to-face meeting. If children hesitate at giving out their home phone number, online sex offenders will provide theirs. Some even have toll-free 1-800 numbers, so potential victims can call them without their parents' knowledge. Others will tell children to call collect, and then, with Caller ID or Call Display, the predators can easily determine the child's phone number. Do not allow your child to meet a stranger they have met online, in person, without your supervision. Your child or teen receives mail, gifts, or packages from someone you don't know. It's common for offenders to send letters, photographs, and gifts to potential victims. Online sex offenders even send airline tickets to entice a child or teen to meet them in person.
Your child or teen withdraws from family and friends, or quickly turns the computer monitor off or changes the screen if an adult enters the room. Online predators work hard to drive wedges between kids and their families, often exaggerating minor problems at home. Sexually victimized children tend to become withdrawn and depressed. Your child is using someone else's online account. Even kids who don't have access to the Internet at home may meet an offender while online at a friend's house or at another public place, even the library. Predators sometimes provide victims with a computer account so they can communicate.

What to do if your child is being targeted
If your child receives sexually explicit photos from an online correspondent, or if she or he is solicited sexually in e-mail, instant messaging, or some other way online, contact your local police. Save any documentation including e-mail addresses, Web site addresses, and chat logs to share with the police.
Check your computer for pornographic files or any type of sexual communication, these are often warning signs.
Monitor your child's access to all live electronic communications, such as chat rooms, instant messaging, and e-mail. Online predators usually meet potential victims in chat rooms at first, and then continue communicating with them through e-mail or instant messaging.

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Gaming cyber bullies and griefers
Known as griefers, snerts, cheese players, twinks, or just plain cyber bullies, chances are that a kid near you has been bothered by one of these ne'er-do-wells at least once while playing online multiplayer video games such as Halo 2, EverQuest, The Sims Online, SOCOM, and Star Wars Galaxies. Griefers are the Internet equivalent of playground bullies, who find fun in embarrassing and pushing around others.
What griefers do:
Typical griefer behavior includes: taunting others, especially beginners (also known as newbies); thwarting fellow teammates in the game; using inappropriate language; cheating; forming roving gangs with other griefers; blocking entryways; luring monsters toward unsuspecting players; or otherwise using the game merely to annoy a convenient target or to harass a particular player who has reacted to their ill will. Although they are only a small percentage of the video-gaming community, griefers have some gaming companies concerned about losing subscribers. As a result, many game sites and providers are becoming less tolerant of griefers and are employing new methods to police for them and otherwise limit their impact. The best way to deal with griefers is to educate yourself and prepare your kids on how to deal with them on their own terms. Here are tips to help you handle griefers:
(1 ) Ignore them. If your child doesn't react to them, most griefers will eventually get bored and go away.
(2) Change game options. Have your kids play games with changeable rules or options that prevent certain griefer tactics, such as eliminating teammates.
(3) Create a private game. Most newer, multiplayer video games and related sites allow players to form their own exclusive games that permit only their friends to play.
(4) Play on sites with strict rules. Play on game sites with enforceable codes of conduct or terms of service and live game administrators who can ban serial griefers.
(5) Do something else. If a griefer won't stop bothering your child, have them try a different game, or take a break and come back later.
(6) Report game glitches. Work with your child to identify exploitable glitches in the game or new methods of cheating. Report these to the game site administrator.
(7) Play games that limit griefers. Suggest playing newer games that provide specific resources for dealing with griefers, such as reporting offenders to game administrators, message blocking or muting, and being able to vote griefers off.
(8) Don't fight fire with fire. Make sure your child isn't using griefers' own tactics against them, as this will likely encourage more bad behavior, or worse, label your child as a griefer.
(9) Avoid using provocative names. Preempt any problems by having your child avoid screen names or nicknames (often referred to as gamer tags) that could encourage griefer behavior.
(10) Don't give out personal information. Griefers (or anyone else) can use real names, phone numbers, and home or e-mail addresses, to further harass your child or cause other problems.

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Internet House Rules
Using family contracts to help protect your kids online. Before your children start exploring the new frontiers of the Internet, it's a good idea to make sure everyone understands what they should and shouldn't be doing online. One idea is to sit down together and draw up a family code of conduct for all to agree on. You can create a different contract for each child in your family with Internet usage rules set appropriately by age. Everyone signs his or her contract to show that they understand the rules you've set, and they agree to follow them when they go online.

Suggested house rules; save, edit, print, get signed, post by computers.

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Online Code-of-Conduct Contract
I will: Talk with my parents to learn the rules for using the Internet, including where I can go,
what I can do, when I can go online, and how long I can be online ( ___ minutes or ___ hours).
Never give out personal information such as my home address, telephone number, my parents' work
address or telephone number, credit card numbers, or the name and location of my school
without my parents' permission. Always tell my parents immediately if I see or receive
anything on the Internet that makes me feel uncomfortable or threatened, including e-mail
messages, Web sites, or even anything in the regular mail from Internet friends. Never
agree to meet anyone in person that I have met online, without my parent's permission.
Never send pictures of myself or other family members to other people through the Internet
or regular mail without first checking with my parents. Never give out my Internet passwords
to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents. Be good while online and not do
anything that could hurt or anger other people or that is against the law. Never download,
install, or copy anything from disks or the Internet without proper permission. Never do
anything on the Internet that costs money without first asking permission from my parents.
Let my parents know my Internet logon and chat names, listed below:
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________


Signature __________________

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Spam
Despite your best efforts, you no doubt have received e-mail and instant messages you didn't ask for. Here's what you can do about all that junk. Ignore spam. Delete junk e-mail messages without opening them. Sometimes even opening spam can alert spammers. Don't reply to spam unless you're certain that the message comes from a legitimate source. This includes not responding to such messages that offer an option to "Remove me from your list." Don't give personal information in an e-mail or instant message. It could be a trick. Most legitimate companies won't ask for personal information by e-mail. If a company you trust, such as your credit card company or bank, appears to ask for personal information, check into it further. Call the company using a number you retrieve yourself from the back of your credit card, a bill, phone book, or the like, not a number from the email message. If it's a legitimate request, the company's customer service department should be able to help you. Think twice before opening attachments or clicking links in e-mail or instant messages, even if you know the sender. If you cannot confirm with the sender that an attachment or link is safe, delete the message. (If you must open an attachment that you're less than sure about, save it to your hard disk first so that your antivirus software can check it before you open it.)

Don't buy anything or give to any charity promoted through spam. Spammers often swap or sell the e-mail addresses of those who have bought from them, so buying something through spam may result in even more spam. Plus, spammers can make their living (and a lucrative one, too) on people's purchases of their offerings. Resist the temptation to buy products through spam, and help to put spammers out of business. Criminals use spam to prey on people's desire to help others. If you receive an e-mail request from a charity you'd like to support, avoid donation scams by calling the organization directly to find out how to contribute.) Don't forward chain e-mail messages. Not only do you lose control over who sees your e-mail address, but you also may be furthering a hoax or aiding in the delivery of a virus. Plus, there are reports that spammers start chain letters expressly to gather e-mail addresses. If you don't know whether a message is a hoax or not, a site like Hoax busters can help you separate fact from fiction. Note: It can be troubling to receive spam from what appears to be your own account. Your first suspicion may be that someone has hacked into your account to send you mail, or worse, send others email that is allegedly from you. The truth is these fears are not likely to be real. More likely, a spammer has forged the headers (which include your email address) to lend authenticity to their junk email, and also potentially help the message bypass some email filters.


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Offensive material
There are many forms of hate on the Internet, ranging from extreme racist sites to the cruel satire found on many popular kids' Web sites. Sites such as "uglypeople.com" may seem harmless, but they contribute to a kids' online culture where cruelty to others is considered acceptable. It is not difficult to understand how some impressionable kids move from sites where people are mocked for their personal appearance to sites where minorities and homosexuals are attacked. White supremacist and hate groups are increasingly turning to the Internet to target young people for recruitment. Hate promoters look for vulnerable youth who can be brought into their community through private chat rooms and e-mail, far away from the public eye. These groups also use hateful music to entice young people to their cause. When kids surf the Net for music, they can easily come across sites that sell hate music or even make it available for free. Some hate sites have areas specifically designed for young children that give the appearance of being legitimate by offering harmless activities, crafts, and links to respected kids' sites. The purpose of a hate site isn't always readily apparent. For example, at first glance, "martinlutherking.org" appears to be a tribute to the American civil rights leader. In fact, it is a hate site created by a white supremacist organization.

Parents must protect young children from hateful content on the Internet. They must also teach older kids how to think critically about online content and what to look for when identifying if a Web site might be a hate Web site. Here are some things you can do to help your kids avoid hateful content online: Tip: For more specific information about how to protect your kids online at certain stages, see a parent's guide to online safety: Ages and stages. Learn everything you can about the Internet and what your kids are doing online. Ask your kids to show you where they go online and what they like. Keep the lines of communication open so your kids feel comfortable coming to you for help if they encounter anything disturbing. Create an online agreement with input from your kids. The agreement should have clear guidelines for where they can go on the Internet and what they can do. Monitor and supervise your children's Internet use. Generally, children under 10 do not have the critical-thinking skills to surf the Net alone. It's a good practice to keep connected computers in a highly visible area, not in your child's room. Educate your kids about online hate. Young people will better be able to recognize and avoid hateful content if they are taught the strategies hate promoters use and the history of racism. Help them to identify hateful content and symbols on Web sites, for example, swastikas, derogatory references to race or sexual orientation, and cartoon depictions of various ethnic and racial groups. Investigate filtering software. While filters can help block some violent and hateful content, these technologies are not the complete answer. Online hate often crops up in subtle forms that are not always identified by filters.

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Internet gambling and your kids How to help your children avoid gambling online Many kids enjoy using the Web to find entertaining activities like online games. Sometimes when searching for a new game site they may also find gaming and gambling sites. While most games and activities are legal for minors, gambling is not. See below for tips about how to help your kids avoid online gambling. What's the difference between the sites? The main differences between the types of sites are as follows: Game sites usually feature card, board, word, arcade, or puzzle game types with automatic tracking and scoring. No money, real or artificial, is exchanged. Gaming sites may include scenarios where people win or lose some artificial currency Gambling sites usually involve winning or losing actual money

Help your kids avoid online gambling
Parents should decide what types of games or game sites are appropriate for their children. For example, your criteria could be by type of game (card and board only, or strategy and fantasy only), by whether the game is played interactively with others online, by the site offering the game, or on a case-by-case basis. Some other things you can do are:
(1)Know where your kids are going online and what they're doing.
(2)Establish clear rules about what online games your children can play and keep Internet-connected computers in an open area, not in your children's bedrooms.
(3)Remind your kids that it is illegal for them to gamble online. Many countries prohibit gambling by minors, so check your local laws.)
(4) Help your kids understand how gambling works. Online gambling operations are in business to make a profit. They take in more money than they pay out.
(5)Make sure your kids always ask permission before they use your credit card number online. Online gambling generally requires the use of a credit card. If kids accrue debts online, they could ruin your credit rating and impact their own credit rating down the road.
(6)Explain that online gambling can be addictive. People can gamble uninterrupted and undetected for hours at a time. Gambling in isolation and using credit may lead to addictive gambling patterns.

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Chat Room Safety
You've probably heard of Internet chat rooms where people meet online to exchange messages on a certain topic. You may have even participated in a few chats yourself. Chat rooms, where chats are held, are virtual places on the Internet where people can type messages that will appear on other people's computers almost immediately. Chats are usually anonymous since the participants use nicknames to identify themselves. Many people refer to instant message (IM) conversations as "chatting," but there is a slight difference between IM and chat. IM usually refers to a conversation between two people, whereas chat is a conversation with a group. If you want to protect yourself when you're using IM, read Instant Messenger Safety and Privacy Tips. For information about chat rooms, read on. Microsoft has two main avenues for chatting:
Get or offer help on technical issues with Microsoft's technical chats Microsoft regularly holds technical chats where you can get help with your computer or learn about new products. These chats are open to people of all skill levels. There is no registration, Microsoft does not ask for any personal information, and when you sign in you choose an anonymous nickname. You can find more information on the Community Resources page. Participate in informal chats on almost any subject with MSN Chat With MSN Chat, you can participate in chats of a technical or non-technical nature. To protect you from spam, unwanted conversations, and advertisements, MSN Chat is now a subscription service. If you subscribe to any MSN service, you will be eligible for MSN Chat. To find out more, visit the MSN Chat page. There are other technical and non-technical chats on the Web that can be a great place to discuss a certain topic with people all over the world. However, there are a few common sense approaches to follow when you participate in chats.

Safety tips for chat rooms:
(1) Never give out your personal information in a chat room.
(2) Never agree to meet a stranger in person whom you met in a chat room.
(3) When you're asked to enter or sign up for a chat nickname, choose a name that doesn't give away your personal information. For example, you might use SassySue instead of DetroitSue.
(4) Be wary of other chatters who ask you to meet in private chat rooms.
(5) Check the terms and conditions, code of conduct, and privacy statement at the chat site before you begin chatting.

Chat rooms are a popular form of communication for kids. Unfortunately, predators know this. Therefore, chatting poses a particular threat for kids and teenagers. The five rules above apply to children and adults, but here are five additional tips specifically for parents of kids who want to participate in chat rooms. For more information, read Tips for Keeping Kids Safer Online.

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Instant messaging safety and privacy tips
Whether you've been using an instant messaging program for a while, or if you've just decided to take the instant messaging plunge, there a few things you should know to help keep yourself safe and your information private. Instant messaging, commonly referred to as IM, is a method of online communication, like e-mail. The main difference, as the name suggests, is that IM is instantaneous. IM requires a special software program like Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, or others. Using the program you can type what you want to say in a box and a friend can see it almost immediately. Your friend types and you can see it right away. Communicating with an IM program has some of the same security and privacy risks as e-mail, but there are a few unique dangers that are worth mentioning. Many people refer to instant message conversations as chatting, but there is a slight difference between IM and chat. IM usually refers to a conversation between two people, whereas chat is often a conversation with a group.  <br>

Tips for safer instant messaging
(1) Never give out sensitive personal information, such as your credit card number, social security number, or passwords, in an IM conversation.
(2) Only communicate with people on your Contact List or Buddy List.
(3) Never agree to meet a stranger in person whom you've met on IM.
(4)Never accept files or downloads from people you don't know. Never accept files that you weren't expecting from people you do know.
(5) Each IM program assigns you a name, not unlike an e-mail address. This name is usually called a screen name. Choose a name that doesn't give away your personal information. For example, use SassySue instead of DetroitSue. <br>
(6) Monitor and limit your children's use of IM.  Just like an e-mail address, don't post your screen name online. People might find it and use it to send you unsolicited IM messages.
(7) Don't send personal or private instant messages at work. Your boss may have a right to view those messages.
(8) Most instant message programs allow you to automatically logon when you startup your computer so that you don't have to enter your password every time you want to use the program. If you use a public computer, make sure not to configure your IM program for automatic logon.
(9) Be careful how you reveal when you're online or not. IM programs allow people on your contact list to see if you're available. However, using this feature may offer people more information about you than you feel comfortable giving. Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger both allow you to control how you appear to people on your contact list. Read Control Your Online Status Using Windows Messenger and Set Your Online Status.

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Online safety tips for kids
According to a 2003 study on children's Internet use, pre-schoolers are now the fastest-growing segment of Internet users. While children at this age have a limited attention span for online activities, Internet images and sounds can stimulate their imagination and add to their experiences. What pre-schoolers can do online. Parents and older siblings can go online with pre-schoolers to visit kid-friendly Web sites and play online games. At this age, adults have an important role to play in teaching safe Internet use and closely supervising their children's reactions to online material.

Online safety tips for kids ages 2 to 4
Always sit with your kids at this age when they're online.
Create a personalized online environment for your kids by adding acceptable sites to your Favorites list.
Use kid-friendly search engines (such as MSN Kids Search) (http://sea.search.msn.com/kids/default.aspx?FORM=YCHM ) or search engines with parental controls.
Investigate Internet-filtering tools (such as MSN Premium's Parental Controls) as a complement, not a replacement for, parental supervision.
Help protect your children from offensive pop-up windows by using pop-up blocking software. There's a pop-up blocker built in to the most updated version of Windows XP and the MSN Toolbar (http://toolbar.msn.com/ ).
Start teaching your children about privacy. If a site encourages kids to submit their names to personalize the Web content, help your kids create an online nickname that gives away no personal information.
All family members should act as role models for young children who are just starting to use the Internet.

Online safety tips for kids ages 5 to 6
Children who are 5-6 years old generally have a positive outlook and an accepting nature. They take pride in their new reading and counting skills, and they love to converse and share ideas. Not only are they eager to behave well, but they also are trusting and rarely question authority.
What 5-6 year olds can do online. Kids at this age may be very capable at following commands on the computer, using the mouse, and playing computer games. They are, however, highly dependent on adults or older siblings to help them find Web sites, interpret online information, or send e-mail.
Safety tips
Here are some safety tips to consider when you go online with your 5-6 year old:
Create a personalized online environment for your kids by adding acceptable sites to your Favorites list.
Use kid-friendly search engines or search engines with parental controls.
Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area where you can easily supervise your kids' activities.
Investigate Internet-filtering tools as a complement, not a replacement, for parental supervision.
Help protect your children from offensive pop-up windows by using pop-up blocking software. This software comes with the most updated version of Windows XP and the MSN Toolbar.
Start teaching your children about privacy. Tell them never to give out information about themselves or their family when online.
Don't let your kids use instant messaging (IM), e-mail, chat rooms, or message boards at this age.
Encourage your children to tell you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and remind your kids they are not in trouble for bringing something to your attention. Praise their behavior and encourage them to come to you again if the same thing happens. Read more about how to deal with online predators and cyber bullies.

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Online safety tips for kids ages 7 to 8
Seven and eight-year-old kids have a strong sense of family. They are just starting to develop a sense of their own moral and gender identity, and they are usually interested in the activities of the older kids in their lives. Kids who are 7-8 years old tend to be trusting, and they generally do not question authority. What 7-8 year olds do online. Surfing for fun and playing interactive games are favorite online pastimes at this age. These kids are probably using e-mail and may also experiment with Web sites and chat rooms that parents have not given them permission to visit. Safety tips Here are some safety tips to consider when you go online with your 7 or 8 year old: Create a list of Internet house rules with input from your kids. Encourage your kids to visit only sites that you have approved. Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area where you can easily supervise their use. Investigate Internet-filtering tools (such as MSN Premium's Parental Controls) as a complement, not a replacement for, parental supervision. Use kid friendly search engines (such as MSN Kids Search) or search engines with parental controls. Establish a shared family email account with your Internet Service Provider rather than letting your kids have their own accounts. Teach your kids to always come to you before giving out information through e-mail, chat rooms, message boards, registration forms, and personal profiles. Teach your kids not to download software, music, or files without your permission. Use e-mail filters to block messages from particular people, or those that contain specific words or phrases. Don't allow your children to use instant messaging (IM) at this age. Allow your kids to use only monitored chat rooms and message boards on reputable kids' sites. Talk to your kids about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other activities in the real world where they will start to meet new people. Talk to your children about healthy sexuality, because kids can easily come across adult content or pornography online. Encourage your children to tell you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and remind your kids they are not in trouble for bringing something to your attention. Praise their behavior and encourage them to come to you again if the same thing happens. Read more about how to deal with online predators and cyber bullies.

Online safety tips for kids ages 9 to 12
The preteen years are a time of rapid change in kids' lives. Although at this age kids are still quite dependent on their families, they want more independence. Kids who are 9-12 years old also start to take an interest in the world around them, and relationships with friends become more important. What 9-12 year olds do online. Kids in this age group use the Internet to research school projects. They also download music, use e-mail, play online games, and vote for their favorite celebrities on fan sites. Their preferred way to communicate with friends is by instant messaging (IM). Safety tips Here are some safety tips to consider as you guide your 9-12 year olds online: Create a list of Internet house rules with input from your kids. Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area and out of your kids' bedrooms. Investigate Internet-filtering tools (such as MSN Premium's Parental Controls) as a complement, not a replacement for, parental supervision. Talk with your kids about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other activities. Insist that your kids never agree to meet an online friend. Allow your kids to use only monitored chat rooms on reputable kids' sites. Teach your kids to never give out personal information when using e-mail, chat rooms, or instant messaging, filling out registration forms and personal profiles, and entering online contests. Teach your kids not to download programs without your permission, they might unknowingly download spyware or a computer virus. Also teach your kids that file sharing and taking text, images, or artwork from the Web may infringe on copyright laws. Consider giving your child a limited user account to help keep them from participating in activities without your knowledge. Encourage your kids to tell you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and remind your kids they are not in trouble for bringing something to your attention. Praise their behavior and encourage them to come to you again if the same thing happens. Read more about how to deal with online predators and cyber bullies. Talk to your kids about online pornography and direct them to good sites about health and sexuality. Insist on access to your kids' e-mail and instant messaging accounts to make sure they're not talking to strangers. Talk to your kids about responsible, ethical, online behavior. They should not be using the Internet to spread gossip, bully, or make threats against others.

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Online safety tips for kids ages 13 to 17
It's common for younger teens to experience periods of low self esteem, seek the approval of their friends, and be less willing to accommodate their parents' expectations. Older teenagers need both group identity and independence, and tend to reconcile their family and peer values. In late adolescence, kids also mature and are ready to interact with the world on an intellectual level. Generally, teens are open to new ideas but lack the life experience to judge their validity. It is important for parents to continue to play an active role in guiding their older children's use of the Internet. What teens do online Teens download music, use instant messaging (IM), e-mail, and play online games. They also actively use search engines to find information on the Internet. Most teens have visited chat rooms, and many have participated in adult or private chats. Boys in this age group are more likely to push the boundaries by looking for gross humor, gore, gambling, or explicit adult sites. Girls may be more likely to chat online and therefore may be more susceptible to being sexually solicited online. Safety tips Here are some safety tips to consider as you guide your teens online: <br>
Create a list of Internet house rules with your teens. You should include the kinds of sites that are off limits, Internet hours, and guidelines for communicating with others online, including in chat rooms. <br>
Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area and out of your teens' bedrooms. Talk to your kids about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other friends and activities. This includes talking to your teens about their instant messaging list, and making sure they're not talking to strangers. Investigate Internet filtering tools as a complement, not a replacement for, parental supervision. <br>
Know which chat rooms or message boards your teens visit, and whom they talk to. <br>

Encourage them to use monitored chat rooms, and insist they stay in public chat room areas. Insist that they never agree to meet an online friend. Teach your teens never to give out personal information without your permission when using e-mail, chat rooms, or instant messaging, filling out registration forms and personal profiles, and entering online contests. <br>
Teach your kids not to download programs, music, or files without your permission. File-sharing and taking text, images, or artwork from the Web may infringe on copyright laws and can be illegal. <br>
Encourage your teens to tell you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and remind your kids they are not in trouble for bringing something to your attention. (It is important that your teen does not think that their computer privileges could be taken away.) <br>
Talk to your teenagers about online adult content and pornography, and direct them to positive sites about health and sexuality. Help protect them from spam. Tell your teens not to give out their e-mail address online, not to respond to junk mail, and to use e-mail filters. Be aware of the Web sites that your teens frequent. Make sure your kids are not visiting sites with offensive content, or posting personal information or photos of themselves. <br>
Teach your kids responsible, ethical, online behavior. They should not be using the Internet to spread gossip, bully, or threaten others. <br>
Make sure your teens check with you before making financial transactions online, including ordering, buying, or selling items. Discuss online gambling and its potential risks with your teens. Remind them that it is illegal for them to gamble online.

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User Accounts
If you get a new Windows computer and bring it home and start it up, it will ask you if you want to use a password. Whether you give a password or not the account you are using is a Supervisory Account with full access to the complete Windows system. The other type of account is a Limited Account. The operating systems is designed for multiple users and it is the user accounts that keep everything separated. Each individual account has its own settings for the desktop, start menu, My Documents, Email, Favorites, Internet cache, History and cookies, and Control panel settings. If a limited user downloads a virus it will not affect the system or the other users.   <br>
Setting passwords.  <br>
An administrator sets the initial user passwords. If the administrator later changes this password it will remove all subordinate passwords that the user has established on websites, passwords for shared folders, and disks on the network. A user changing their own password has no such effect.

The Windows Content Advisor Windows has long had its own Parental Controls that it has called the Content Advisor. If you open Internet Explorer and select the Tools tab and then the Internet Options item, the Content Advisor is found under the Content tab. The advisor covers four categories with five levels of access defined for each: Language 0 Inoffensive Slang 1 Mild Expletives 2 Moderate Expletives 3 Obscene Gestures 4 Explicit and Crude Language Nudity 0 None 1 Revealing Attire 2 Partial Nudity 3 Frontal Nudity 4 Provocative Frontal Nudity Sexuality 0 None 1 Passionate Kissing 2 Clothed Sexual Touching 3 Non-explicit Sexual Touching 4 Explicit Sexual Activity Violence 0 None 1 Fighting 2 Killing 3 Killing with Blood and Gore 4 Wanton and Gratuitous Violence Approved Sites allows you to specifically list approved sites. Supervisor password allows changes to the Content Advisor. Toggle User can see sites that have no rating Toggle Supervisor can type password to allow user access to restricted site Advanced Rating bureau, using this option may slow system down.

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