How do I protect my children online?
Our children rely on the Internet more than ever for communication, school work, and socialization in general. While the Internet can be a powerful and effective tool for our children, it is important to remember that with any technology comes risk. These risks can range from low to high, varying between online bullying to child exploitation and predation. Interchanges is committed to providing a safe and secure Internet experience and has devised a number of tips and tools to help protect children while online.
- Parental Controls: Comcast has partnered with McAfee to offer powerful parental controls to help filter out inappropriate content and also monitor Internet activity to help prevent identity theft. These controls log where children surf, can monitor chat sessions and provide age-based web access in addition to filtering offensive content. More information can be found here.
- Communication: Talk to your children about their online experience so that they are more likely to share uncomfortable situations.
- Private Information: Children may not understand the significance of sharing their personal information on the Internet. Help your children understand that some information (e.g., their address, phone number, school, etc) is private and should not be shared on the Internet.
- Contract: Avoid confusion and establish clear rules surrounding Internet communication. A family contract is a useful tool to establish rules regarding information that cannot be shared online, the level of permission required before meeting someone in person, and other important information. An example of a family contract can be found here.
- Location: Keep the home computers located in a central area of the house and never in a private location (e.g., the child's room). The public presence of the computer and your close proximity will serve as a continual obstacle to strangers attempting to lure your child.
- Chat Rooms: Advise your child to always remain in public areas of chat rooms. Often times, chat rooms have "private" areas where chat monitors have limited ability to log conversations.
For more tips for online security, visit some of the security websites below:
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What is Port Probing?
Port Probing is the process in which a hacker attempts to gain access or control of a customer's computer(s). Comcast cannot prevent a customer from being probed. Within Comcast's Acceptable Use Policy, it is prohibited for Comcast customers to port probe anyone on the Comcast infrastructure and the Internet. Hacking computer systems has been a part of the Internet from its very beginning and will always be a part of it. Many times hackers start automated programs that systematically search through an ISP's infrastructure looking to gain access to computers that are vulnerable. Once a computer system is compromised, these programs replicate themselves (such as a virus) and begin to search the Internet again. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to prevent the probes from happening, as it is very difficult to distinguish this type of traffic from other types of network traffic.
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How secure is the Internet?
The Internet works by sending information from computer to computer until the information reaches its destination. So when data is sent from point A to point B, every computer in between has an opportunity to look at what's being sent. This can pose a security problem. For example, suppose you see a clothing catalog on the World Wide Web, and you decide to buy a shirt. This requires that you type certain facts, including your credit card number, into an order form. You know the clothing company in question is reputable, so you type your information, and then send the completed form. Your information passes from computer to computer on its way to the clothing company. Unfortunately, one of the computers in between may have been infiltrated by criminals who could watch the data passing through that computer until they see something interesting, such as your credit card number. Another security problem relates to how files and programs are sent and received between Web sites and your computer. With no security protection, you could run or download files and programs from the Internet that can damage your computer and the information stored on it.
Microsoft Internet Explorer helps to protect you and your data by supporting the following security standards:
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 2.0 and 3.0 allow you to send information to secure sites safely and with confidence. Secure sites are equipped to prevent unauthorized people from seeing the data sent to and from those sites. When you are viewing a secure site, Internet Explorer displays a lock icon on the Status Bar. Site certificates verify the identity of a Web site so that you can feel secure that credit card numbers and other information you send over the Internet go to the owner of the certificate and no one else. Security zones let you assign Web sites different levels of security based on your level of confidence. Security alerts warn you before you visit, submit, or download items that have the potential of threatening your security.
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How to protect your PC from worms, viruses and other intruders
To protect your PC, we strongly recommend the use of a firewall. Using a firewall:
- Protects your personal information by placing a barrier between worms, hackers and your hard drive.
- Records potentially hostile Internet traffic and alerts you. This is valuable information to use when reporting security problems.
- Monitors Internet and network activity and controls application access to the Internet.
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How do I use a credit card on the Internet?
As you travel the Internet, you will encounter forms that request information to order products via credit card or that ask for personal information. We recommend that you do not supply any information via a Web site form unless you are certain of the security used. Check for a https:// in the address bar that will insure you that the site you are purchasing from is secure and safe.
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How do I know if my Internet communications are private and secure?
In the past, letters have been stolen, phone conversations recorded, and innocent remarks overheard. In the same way, it is wise to assume high-tech communication will have some privacy challenges. Here are some basic common sense tips you need to know before you communicate online.
- Do not post anything on the Internet or send anything through electronic mail that you don't want the world to see.
- Do not send private email or instant messages at work.
- Be suspicious of any email that requests personal account information, such as solicitations for usernames, passwords, account numbers or any other personal data.
- Do not assume any privacy when posting on a Web Log, also known as a Blog. Learn more
- Do learn how a site will use your personal information when registering online to locate old friends or classmates, by reading the site's privacy statement.
- Do use password protection for your Personal Web Pages.
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