Child Safe Tips

The frequent use of the Internet in our lives has allowed child molesters to gain access to many more potential victims. Child molesters gain information about their victims through communications with the child or from children’s websites. Children should not have their full name or any information on their site that could help a child molester find them. Some sex offenders will travel long distances to get the chance to molest again. The Internet also allows strangers to send pictures and videos to anyone. These pictures and videos are often pornographic and because of the nature of the material children do not typically tell their parents. Parents should tell their kids, ahead of time, that if any pornographic materials are sent it is ok to tell the parents and that the kids won’t be in trouble.

If your child is sent pornographic material or asked to meet with an adult somewhere you must immediately contact the police. The police can track these people down. The child molester was not successful with your child, but they will keep working until they are caught. Reporting instances like these can save another child from horrible abuse and maybe even death.

Posted by Child Safety at 03:49 PM | Permalink

The Child Pornography Prevention Act expands federal powers over the distribution and possession of child porn. Penalties require a five year prison sentence for each offense. The production of computer-generated child pornography or any visual simulation of a child involved in a sexual act can requires a stiffer sentence, up to thirty years in prison. Child molesters and child pornographers are using a new technique called morphing. This technique allows different bodies and faces to be morphed together. So these molesters/pornographers can use the body of an adult participating in a sexual act and place a child’s head on to it. This is illegal and is considered computer-generated child pornography. Child molesters that are trying to seduce children of the Internet may send them videos. Some of these morphing videos initially show an adult engaged in the sexual act, but the bodies and faces begin to morph into child pornography.

Just having child pornography, of any kind, is a felony. Sending child porn to another child is also a felony. If your child is sent a video or any pictures that pornographic by nature you should contact the police. Do not delete the items off the computer, because the police will need the information.

Posted by Child Safety at 03:42 PM | Permalink

Kids love the Internet and so do we, but the Internet is a great place for a child molester to try and trick your child. There are some things you can do to prevent problems. To start, monitor your child’s computer usage. Check in on them and see what they are doing. When you can get time alone check your child’s computer. You can look use the search feature and type in certain words like JPG or Porn. Child molesters like to send kids porn because it opens up a discussion of sex. This is victimizing a child and it is an arrest-able offense. You can check your child’s email for names you don’t recognize. This is not really snooping. Checking your child’s computer could possibly save your child’s life, because the next steps for a molester are phone calls, sending gifts, and trying to meet the child. Watch for late-night phone calls and Internet usage.

Blogs, message boards, instant messaging, and MySpace are all places where child molesters search for victims. You can check your child’s history and see what sites they are looking at and check out who they are talking to. If your child instant messages, you can download a program called Chat Watch and monitor who they are speaking with. You do have to pay for this program, but it is worth it. It keeps a record of all conversations and you could use that if your child is talking to a possible child molester online. The police can locate people through their user names. Lastly, if your child has a MySpace account, make sure they do not have their last name or any other information a child molester could use to find your child. Your child can make the “Space” private, but tell them you need to get in to monitor the site. You do have a right to be intrusive when it comes to the Internet. Read about child molesters on the internet.

Posted by Child Safety at 02:27 PM | Permalink

Ensure internet safety for your child by using internet monitoring software.

Chat Watch- Chat Watch monitors and records all chats and/or instant messengers your child may use. It logs the date and time, plus both sides of the online conversation. It has an optional stealth mode and your child will never know it is there. A password is needed to access the program and you can have chat logs emailed to you. You can also schedule when chatting is allowed and not allowed to take place; this feature eliminates chats in the middle of the night. You can also block certain or all messengers.

CyberPatrol 7.5- CyberPatrol monitors Internet activity and tells you the surfing habits of the user(s), where they go, what time the go, and for how long. The program can also block harmful sites, news groups, and images. This feature lets you know your child will be OK using the computer even if you are not there. CyberPatrol can also restricts chats and instant messaging and prevents personal information from being revealed. With this program you can limit online time, know how long your children are using certain programs, limit the time your kids can use different programs, stop dangerous downloads, and protect your privacy. Your private information will be filtered out before leaving your computer which keeps everyone in the home safe.

CYBERsitter- CYBERsitter records all instant messaging conversations and tells you who your kids have been talking to. The program also has over 30 categories of filtering where you get to make all the rules. The system blocks unsuitable websites even before you find out about them. You also have the control to block certain sites, specify how long your kids can use the Internet, and you can view a log of all Internet activity. CYBERsitter will also send a daily report to you email address.

BeAware- BeAware combines several programs into one. This program includes Chat Watch (described above), Screen Watch, Mail Watch, User Activity, and Browser Watch. Screen Watch takes a snapshot of all Internet activity. Mail Watch records all the email, the times, dates, and email addresses your child corresponds with. Mail Watch will record their Yahoo, Hotmail, and Outlook Express emails. User Activity creates a list of all the programs used on the computer and lets you know where they are located. You will be given the name of the program, the time it was used, and how to delete the program. Browser Watch records every Internet address your child goes to, plus you will know the time, date, and the amount of time spent on the page.

Read more about internet safety tips.

Posted by Child Safety at 05:34 PM | Permalink

• Talk with your children about the dangers of Internet use; include the potential dangers of sexual exploitation or victimization.
• Tell your children if they are sent an inappropriate picture from anyone to immediately tell you and they will not be in trouble. Pornographic pictures are typically sent by child molesters. If your child receives a picture or video contact your local police department.
• Watch the sites your child frequently goes to. Review the site for safety and potential dangers. Discuss these things with your child.
• If your child has a computer in their own room you should frequently search their computer. If you use the search function and type in the following words you may find potential problems: Porn, JPG (this will give you a long list of pictures; look through them), MPEG (Movies), video, boys, girls, XXX, GIF, and BMP.
• Frequently review your child’s computer history. If the history is deleted your child is trying to hide something. If they are unaware of the history function you should be able to see all the sites your child has seen.
• Make it a rule that you have the password to any email addresses, private message boards, private chat rooms, and sites like MySpace. Sometimes you have to log in to see what is going on with your child and you need the passwords to do this.
• Tell them to NEVER meet anyone off the Internet face-to-face.
• Tell them to never give out identifying information over the Internet. This includes: Full name, home address, phone numbers, where they go to school, and/or any family members names or work places.
• Tell them to never respond to messages that are inappropriate in anyway and to come tell you if something like that happens. If you report your child being approached by someone over the Internet you could stop a child molester in their tracks. Sending inappropriate pictures or materials to a child over the Internet is a felony and is considered child molestation. They will be arrested and charged with the crime.
• Tell them to never upload (post) pictures of themselves onto the Internet or on-line service to people they do not personally know.
• Tell them to never give out identifying information such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number.
• Tell them to never download pictures from an unknown source, as there is a good chance there could be sexually explicit images.
• Tell them to never respond to messages or bulletin board postings that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing.
• Tell them that whatever they are told on-line may or may not be true.

Posted by Child Safety at 05:02 PM | Permalink