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The Internet is a global network of
interconnected computers. It has approximately 10 million host
computers and more than 45 million people are currently using
the Internet. More than 5 million children in the United States
have access to the Internet. Many of the children accessing
"cyberspace" are far more computer-savvy than their
parents; therefore, it is difficult for parents to protect their
children. Two of the largest problems facing parents is how to
control access to violent or pornographic material and how to
protect personal family information.
Direct parental supervision is the most
effective means of addressing the problems presented by children
using the Internet. Unfortunately, parents cannot always
supervise their children's Internet use; however, they can
benefit from parental control software. This software can help
parents:
- Allow Internet access only to predetermined
sites or to sites with predetermined characteristics;
- Help keep children from sending out
personal information online;
- Provide a report of places your children
visit online; and
- Allow Internet access only at certain times
of the day.
In addition, few parents realize how many
companies track every Internet site a user visits. This data is
often stored on your hard drive in file commonly referred to as
a "cookie". This information is then used to create a
profile of your interests. In order to get more detailed
information, children are asked personal questions about their
families and interests. Often sensitive information such as
parent's maiden names and occupations are given out by
unsuspecting children.
There are Internet sites that can search the
contents of your computer's hard drive. These sites search for
social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account
numbers as well as other private information.
If you use the Netscape Navigator 3.0 or
Internet Explorer 3.0 Web browser, you can delete your cookie
file. Search the hard drive for a file name containing the word
"cookie" and verify that it contains the word
"double-click" before deleting it. If you do this you
may lose some settings, such as web site passwords. To prevent
the cookie file from being recreated, choose the menu option in
your browser that asks your permission every time someone tries
to modify your cookie file.
Some elect to install software that protects
your "cookie" file. Mac OS users can
download a free version of Cookie Cutter at http://www.shareware.com.
Windows users should check http://www.pgp.comfor
the status of PGPcookiecutter.com.
For more information on parent control
software, parents can contact these companies:
There are many other programs out there
similar to these that will help you keep violent and
pornographic images from your children while they are using the
Internet. These are just some examples that our office found in
our research and are not necessarily considered any better than
other available programs.
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