Linda's Blog

Protecting Children From Online Sexual Predators

2008-11-18T00:44:00Z

I recently asked “how can parents help protect their children from sexual predators online?”. The answer is, the same way you help keep them away from predators everywhere else. Protect children when young, arm them with the skills they need to value themselves, and help them feel empowered to say no . Give them the love and support they need, and pray that they will be among the majority of kids and teens that will go through childhood without being victims of sexual exploitation. Then, you give...(read more)

Cellphones Help Connect Families

2008-10-22T03:59:00Z

N ew research confirms what many families already knew – cellphones help them stay closer. While most news articles focus on the negative aspects of new technologies and Internet services, the benefits we reap as a society, as couples, as families, and as individuals, far outweigh the risks – when some basic safety precautions are in place. According to a new report published by the Pew Internet and American Life Project (PEW), technology has become a central feature of families’ day-to-day lives....(read more)

LOOKBOTHWAYS and CyberPatrol Launch Internet Safety Video Series

2008-10-09T05:09:00Z

October 6, 2008 In recognition of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, LOOK BOTH WAYS and CyberPatrol have created four family-oriented Internet safety videos that give parents, educators and others, quick and accessible advice on how to protect children online. See the Video: Discussing Internet Safety Guidelines in a Positive and Collaborative Way Watch for these three additional videos during the month of October: • Exposing Private Information-Things You Can Do To Be Safer • Careful Where...(read more)

Crime in the Cyber’hood – Teens and Trouble

2008-09-19T21:01:00Z

Parents so frequently say “my kid wouldn’t even know how to commit a _(fill in the blank_) crime” that it’s time once again to help educate adults on the Internet-and-crime-connection. It used to be that the best training ground and recruitment site for young criminals was a stint in juvenile detention. Now criminal recruiting, knowledge transfer and training are learned wherever Internet access is available. Most of the focus on Internet crime relates to crimes occurring online like ID theft, cyber-harassment,...(read more)

Senate Bill 1738: Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2008

2008-09-15T04:38:00Z

The Combating Child Exploitation Act of 2008 is coming to a vote in the senate. This bill needs to be approved. Law enforcement agencies are valiantly struggling against the tide of online criminal activities with antiquated laws and severe underfunding. The goal of this bill is to begin correct those deficits by applying stronger financial support for increased manpower and training, as well as laws that cover crimes enabled by emerging technology. This bill will : Establish a Special Counsel for...(read more)

Back-To-School with Internet Safety

2008-09-02T20:05:00Z

Aug 28 th 2008 The phrase back-to-school conjures up thoughts of trying on clothes to see what fits and what doesn’t, and purchasing the notebooks, pens, and other paraphernalia your student needs for the year ahead. However, new to most parents is the realization that an Internet safety checkup also falls into this seasonal rhythm. The beginning of school is an excellent time to review your current Internet safety guidelines and see if they are still a good fit for your family and your child. It...(read more)

New Scam Type – The ‘News Alert Scam’

2008-09-02T19:53:00Z

If you receive news alerts for various news topics, you may have seen this latest form of spam that grabs pieces from current news stories, and then mixes them with common search terms to return fraudulent results among your legitimate news feed search results. The goal, like any scam of this nature, is to get you to click on the link giving malicious code the opportunity to infect your computer. A quick scan of the opening paragraph of this type of scam is generally enough to clue you in – it’s...(read more)

Online Medical Fraud: New Tools for Old Scams

2008-08-16T04:34:00Z

One of the most loathsome forms of online fraud is perpetrated against people struggling with serious illnesses who are eager for a cure from any quarter, no matter how unlikely. Internet health fraud is a growing problem. The FDA describes health fraud as offering “articles of unproven effectiveness that are promoted to improve health, well being, or appearance.” Scammer’s products run the gamut - from miracle drugs to medical devices, foods, even cosmetics. Whether offered in the form of a fruit...(read more)

Human Trafficking

2008-08-09T18:55:00Z

On this page Understanding human trafficking Follow the money: the Internet's role in sex trafficking Take action More information about human trafficking Human Trafficking and the Internet Slavery isn't a relic of history; it is the third most lucrative activity of organized criminal groups worldwide, after the trafficking of arms and drugs. According to the U.S. State Department , the trafficking and enslavement of men, women, and children around the world devastates the lives of possibly as many...(read more)

Free trials may have big hidden costs

2008-07-29T23:39:00Z

The first time you discover you’re being charged for a free trial service is often when your review your credit card statement. Many companies practice this nasty tactic, and it often takes calling the company directly to find out that free may not really be free. Take a look at how three companies treat “free” trial consumers differently. Authentium uses the free trial as an automatic subscription Authentium uses a bright green button to offer to let you try SafeCentral and protect you from identity...(read more)

The financial and emotional impact of identity theft

2008-06-20T21:08:00Z

The theft of your Identity can have an impact on your financial security, your medical history, and your basic sense of security. It also leaves you vulnerable to new attacks in the future. Identity thieves still steal most information using old fashioned methods like dumpster diving , stealing a wallet or purse, collecting information when robbing a home, or stealing mail from your physical mail box. But identity theft increasingly occurs online with more than 100 million personal data records compromised...(read more)

Wedding Registries – What you need to know before you begin

2008-05-21T06:05:00Z

We’re fast approaching wedding season, and wedding registry sites are humming with action. These wedding sites have advanced far past the simple registry of gifts of old; they now typically include blogs where brides, grooms, families and friends can share in the excitement and plans. Online registries provide a wonderful avenue for celebrating, but for a safer experience think through and apply a few key safety principles before posting. Understand that it won’t just be friends and family that view...(read more)

When did you last compare browsers?

2008-05-20T20:45:00Z

I am frequently asked for advice about which browser is safest, so I finally put my biases aside (13 years at Microsoft) and compared Internet Explorer (IE) 7 to Firefox 2 . I found that in spite of my familiarity with IE, I’ve come to agree CNET’s review that found Firefox 2 to be the better (and safer) choice. (I also reviewed Opera , but Opera’s low adoption rate and reports that it may require more tweaking than average users are comfortable with, swayed me against recommending...(read more)

How friends can expose you online

2008-05-20T00:31:00Z

There is a great deal of discussion about how users – and the focus is usually on teens – out themselves at risk online by sharing too much information. Less discussed, but of equal concern, is the inadvertent leak of information by friends Here's an example: These are comments left by a young woman's friends on her blog. Blog comments are read from the bottom up – oldest to newest. The Web site belongs to a young woman who did all the right things to limit personal information...(read more)

Keep spyware off your computer for free

2008-05-20T00:19:00Z

If you don’t have an antispyware program on your computer, get one NOW. Spyware is so prevalent today that it will contaminate every Internet connected computer that is not protected from it. It will slow your computer, corrupt your hard drive, compromise your safety, steal personal information including passwords, expose you to identity theft, and leave the door open for viruses and hackers. And, if your computer is infected with spyware, it can be passed to others with whom you interact online....(read more)