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MySpace Safety Tips & Tools
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Listed below are some of the best Internet safety tips and tools to track MySpace
activity and keep your children safe from the dangers of MySpace and other online
activity.
We highly recommend that you track your children's computer activities
using monitoring software such as IAmBigBrother or PC Tattletale,
and let them know that you are doing so.
PC Tattletale and IAmBigBrother are both priced right, easy to setup and use, and provide you with
the tools you need to completely monitor the activities of anyone using your computer without being detected.
See also:
Site blocking alone will not prevent MySpace dangers.
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MySpace Safety Tips |
Keep the Computer in a common area.
 This
is the single best "internet safety for kids" tip you can use! Online predators
just don't have enough time to hook their prey, when the kids know mom and dad are
able to glance over at any time and see what they're doing.
Talk to your kids about the dangers of MySpace. Let them
know what you expect of them and that they shouldn't be surprised if an online predator
tries to contact them. Make sure they
know that they won't get in trouble if they tell you about it.
You and your kids should sign a Computer and Internet Usage Agreement
so that everyone has a clear understanding of how the family computer should be
used. Andy Mann, Instructional Technology Coordinator for the Ottawa Area Intermediate
School District, has an Internet Safety handout which includes
an excellent
Christian Based Agreement. He has also alerted us to a number of age appropriate pledges that are available at Netsmartz Workshop.
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Internet Monitoring Tools - MUST HAVE! |
If can't always keep an eye on your children, and need to track MySpace and other
computer activity 24/7, then you must have monitoring software or hardware. Whether you
let your kids know you're installing the software or not, is up to you. We recommend that you inform them that their computer activity is being monitored.
If you don't, and they find out, it could seriously damage your relationship with
them, and their ability to trust you. Either
way, you'll know exactly where they've been, and what they are doing on the computer.
We particularly like PC Tattletale and IAmBigBrother, because of their ease of use, affordable pricing,
and the thorough job they do. These software packages give you the parental controls
that you need to be effective.
Monitoring
software is the best solution for protecting your children from the dangers of MySpace,
because you can actually see what they are doing on the computer when
you're not around! And yes...PC Tattletale and IAmBigBrother WILL capture logins and passwords to their
MySpace accounts.
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Internet Filtering Software - SHOULD HAVE! |
Filtering software prevents the computer user from viewing Web sites that contain
unwanted content. Most will block pornography, hate speech and sites that promote
violence or permit gambling.
An excellent commercial package is ContentProtect which has a trial version
so you can try it before purchasing the program. Several free packages are
available, which are far better than using nothing at all. Check
out K9 Web Protection and Naomi.
Used in conjunction
with Monitoring Software (see above), you have the means of totally protecting your
kids from MySpace dangers.
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Monitor Your Childs MySpace Profile |
If your child has a MySpace page, you need to monitor it. Ask them to
show you their profile. Be sure to note what their Display Name is (located
just above their picture). You'll need this to locate their profile later.
Far too many kids use the F--- word on their MySpace page, as if nobody were around
to hear them. Many profiles include blogs of how terrible their parents are
and how much they hate them.
When it comes to MySpace and safety for your kids, it's imperative that you know
what is on their profile.
The MySpace Search Page
can be used to find your child's profile, but it has some shortcomings. Fortunately,
there are several approaches you can use. The Search Page allows you to search
by Name, Display Name or Email Address. Try each of these, using whatever
information you have about your child, to find their profile.
If you can't locate your child with a normal search, try searching for one of their
friends! They might be easier to find, and then from their friend's profile
page, you should easily be able to locate your child in their list of friends.
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Spy on your kids? |
Absolutely! Our parents spied on us, and their parents spied on them.
Now, we live in a society where we are supposed to give our children absolute privacy,
and we don't seem to understand why they have so many problems!
Fifty years ago, the problems and challenges that children faced were in many ways
easier than they are now, and yet parents took a very active role in raising them.
Today, the water is much deeper and the sharks have multiplied. They need
your involvement now more than ever. You never have to apologize to your
children for knowing what they are doing 24 hours a day. That's
your job.
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PC Magazine 2007 Editor's Choice Award
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MySpace Worm Attacks via Malicious Quicktime Videos.
MySpace users viewing Quicktime Videos embedded with malicious code are having their links replaced with links to phishing sites. This self replicating security vulnerability modifies the users profile and copies itself into their site.
Get the details at Websense Security Labs.
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What About the IE Content Advisor?
Included with Internet Explorer is the Content Advisor, which for the average situation
is completely worthless. However, in some cases, if it is configured completely
"locked down" it can be of some value.
In case you don't know what it is, with Internet Explorer open, select "Tools",
then "Internet Options." With the Options open, select the "Content" tab.
From there you will see the Content Advisor area. Be aware that the filtering
section is useless, since most sites that you visit don't have a "rating."
For example, with the filter settings at the very minimum protection level, even
places like Nick Jr. won't load, because they
don't have a "rating."
It's only real value comes when it is configured to approve each site visited, one
at a time, or by entering a list of approved sites.
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