How to Protect Your Child from Internet Predators

Expert Advice for Parents from Lightlogger Keylogger

Graphic pornography, sexual predators, cyber bullies, sexting, addictive online gaming all—make the internet a dangerous place for children. No safeguard stands between the internet and your child except your involved, informed parenting. This article from Lightlogger keylogger presents effective, practical steps you can take to protect your child from one of those threats, online sexual predators.

Internet sexual predators establish virtual relationships with children with the intention of luring them into real meetings where the predator can sexually exploit the child. Statistics show that most instances of sexual predation begin in internet chat rooms. Later, the predator uses a child’s postings on social networking sites to discover his or her likes and dislikes, information about his or her home and school, and where he or she will be at specific times. Typically, the predator patiently instills in the child a sense of trust before introducing explicit conversations about sex and arranging an actual meeting.

To protect your child from online predators, first implement a comprehensive internet protection plan. Use the free resources offered online at Internet Safety 101, including the written rules, software tools, youth pledge, and appropriate age-based guidelines for your child. Experts on internet safety recommend parents of children 18 and under both establish clear, written rules for their kids’ online behavior and use software tools to filter and monitor their kids’ activity. Both should be appropriate to your child’s age. When installing software, include an activity monitor like Lightlogger keylogger, a website filter, and a child-safe browser for younger children.

Now take these additional steps to protect your child:

·        Keep your child’s internet-connected computer in an open area out of your child’s bedroom.

·        Explain to your child that bad people sometimes contact children on the internet. Have your child promise to tell you about any uncomfortable or threatening experiences he or she has online.

·        Require that your child gets your permission before meeting in person anyone he or she meets or befriends online.

·        Require that your child gets your permission before entering any online chat room.

·        Require that your child gets your permission before telling anyone online where and when he or she will be at any time.

·        Require that your child gets your permission before sending his or her picture or a family member’s picture to others online or using a cell phone.

·        Require that you know all your child’s internet IDs, passwords, chat names, gamer tags, and social networking profile names.

·        Spot check your child’s online activity occasionally with your monitoring software. Lightlogger keylogger, an inexpensive, easy-to-use monitoring tool, is ideal for this purpose, since it records many types of activity, including images taken periodically of your monitor’s content.

Remember that being actively involved and interested in your child’s online life is the most important tool you have.