George Heuston

In the "olden days," where my parenting experiences now reside, a rule of thumb for discerning untoward behavior of kids was -- if they're awake and quiet, something's likely amiss. With computers in every house, and also now in the kids' rooms, that old maxim no longer holds. Or does it?

Children indeed can be quiet for long periods of time on the computer, happily engaged in positive kid-type activities. On the other hand, the extended quietude that goes with your child's clicking and keyboarding can also bode ill.

The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team periodically releases "Tips" bulletins covering all things cyber. Most are worth a read; and the following commentary and suggestions addressing online safety for kids, are especially instructive:

Children present unique security risks when they use a computer. By taking some simple steps, you can dramatically reduce the threats.

What unique risks are associated with children?

When a child is using your computer, normal safeguards and security practices may not be sufficient. Children present additional challenges because of their natural characteristics: innocence, curiosity, desire for independence, and fear of punishment. You need to consider these characteristics when determining how to protect your data and the child.

You may think that because the child is only playing a game, or researching a term paper, or typing a homework assignment, he or she can't cause any harm. But what if, when saving her paper, the child deletes a necessary program file? Or what if she unintentionally visits a malicious web page that infects your computer with a virus?

These are just two possible scenarios. Mistakes happen, but the child may not realize what he/she has done or may not tell you what happened because of the fear of getting punished.

Online predators present another significant threat, particularly to children. Because the nature of the internet is so anonymous, it is easy for people to misrepresent themselves and manipulate or trick other usersɠ Adults often fall victim to these ploys, and children, who are usually much more open and trusting, are even easier targets. The threat is even greater if a child has access to email or instant messaging programs and/or visits chat rooms.

What can you do?

Be involved -- Consider activities you can work on together, whether it be playing a game, researching a topic you had been talking about (e.g., family vacation spots, a particular hobby, a historical figure), or putting together a family newsletter. This will allow you to supervise your child's online activities while teaching her good computer habits.

Keep your computer in an open area -- If your computer is in a high-traffic area, you will be able to easily monitor the computer activity. Not only does this accessibility deter a child from doing something she knows she's not allowed to do, it also gives you the opportunity to intervene if you notice a behavior that could have negative consequences.

Set rules and warn about dangers -- Make sure your child knows the boundaries of what she is allowed to do on the computer. These boundaries should be appropriate for the child's age, knowledge, and maturity, but they may include rules about how long he or she is allowed to be on the computer, what sites he/she is allowed to visit, what software programs she can use, and what tasks or activities she is allowed to do. You should also talk to children about the dangers. The goal isn't to scare them; it's to make them more aware. (My aside -- see the Hillsboro Police Department's CARE program, which currently addresses these issues, at www.cyberaware.org).

Monitor computer activity -- Be aware of what your child is doing on the computer, including which web sites she is visiting. If she is using email, instant messaging, or chat rooms, try to get a sense of who she is corresponding with and whether she actually knows them.

Keep lines of communication open -- Let your child know you are approachable with any questions or concerns about behaviors or problems encountered on the computer.

Consider partitioning your computer into separate accounts -- Most operating systems (including Windows XP, Mac OS X, and Linux) give you the option of creating a different user account for each user. If you're worried that your child may accidentally access, modify, and/or delete your files, you can give him or her a separate account and decrease the amount of access and number of privileges. If you don't have separate accounts, you need to be especially careful about your security settings. In addition to limiting functionality within your browser, avoid letting your browser remember passwords and other personal information. Also, keep your virus definitions up to date.

Consider implementing parental controls -- You may be able to set some parental controls within your browser. To find those options, click Tools on your menu bar, select Internet Options..., choose the Content tab, and click the Enable... button under Content Advisor

There are other resources you can use to control and/or monitor your child's online activity. Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer services designed to protect children online. Contact your ISP to see if any of these services are available. There are also special software programs you can install on your computer. The following web sites offer lists of software, as well as other useful information about protecting children online:

GetNetWise - http://kids.getnetwise.org/ - Click Tools for Families to reach a page that allows you to search for software based on characteristics like what the tool does and what operating system you have on your computer.

Yahooligans! Parents' Guide - http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/parents/ - Click Blocking and Filtering under Related Websites on the left sidebar to reach a list of software."

Source: Mindi McDowell, Allen Householder, "Keeping Children Safe Online," Cyber Security Tips, US CERT (http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST05-002.html).

George Heuston, FBI (Ret) is a Project Manager for the Hillsboro Police Department. He can be reached at georgeh@ci.hillsboro.or.us.

Children present unique security risks when they use a computer.

By taking some simple steps, you can dramatically reduce the threats.