Software Superstore - Keeping Kids Safe With P2P Software

Monitor your children's use of the Internet . Put the computer in a high-traffic family area and limit nighttime use.
Fortify your computer with strong security software and make sure to keep it up to date - one that guarantees protection from viruses, hackers, and spyware. It filters offensive content, pictures, and web sites. The anti-virus software will also protect your computer from viruses and spyware by automatically scanning email attachments.
Make sure kids understand basic rules for using social networking sites such as MySpace TM and blogs. They should guard their passwords, and never post personally identifying information or inappropriate photos. Blogs and social networking sites offer privacy tools that can be turned on to restrict potentially dangerous users. The sites automatically provide these protective tools to kids under 15. Kids should share information only with people they know from the real world.
It's imperative that your kids let you know if they arrange in-person meetings with people they meet online. Before any such meeting, you should confirm the person's identity, and you should accompany your child to the meeting in a public place.
When using P2P file-sharing programs, Monitoring Software should be installed. They could be downloading infected files, pictures, games, and music that are inappropriate, or media files protected by copyright law. Kids should not allow users to upload their music files unless they're certain that they have permission to share them. You can disable the upload feature so that your kids don't inadvertently share files without permission.
Don't allow kids to fill out online forms or surveys. If there is a legitimate site where they want to register, such as Nickelodeon TM or Disney©, have them come to you first so you can check the site's privacy policy and rules of conduct.
Only allow your children to use monitored chat rooms and have them use a screen name that doesn't hint at their true identity. As with blogs and MySpace TM , kids should never reveal personal information or share photos. Make sure they understand that people can lie about who they are and that online friends are still strangers.
Teach your kids to ignore emails and instant messages from people they don't know. They should never open attachments they are not expecting nor click on links in messages. As with blogs and MySpace TM , they should not send out personal information. Configure your child's instant messaging application correctly to make sure it does not open automatically when they fire up their computer. Have them turn off the computer and disconnect the DSL or modem line when they're not using it.
Use browsers for kids and kid-oriented search engines. Children's browsers such as Kid Browser 1.1 do not display inappropriate words or images. It comes pre-loaded with kid-safe web sites and pre-set word filters. You only need to make sure you approve, and review the default web sites and words. Kid-oriented search engines including Ask for Kids and Yahooligans perform limited searches and screen search results. There is a great list of engines at Search Engine Watch. The site also tells you how to turn on parental controls in regular search engines including Google TM, HotBot ®, and MSN Search TM.
Let your kids find appropriate and helpful web sites using lists put together by experts in the field. The American Library Association has a very good list, The ALA Great Web Sites for Kids. First Gov for Kids has government-related children sites and also lists groups of kid-friendly sites. Fact Monster is an excellent reference site, packed with information and homework help

keeping kids safe with p2p software