US-CERT Cyber = Security Tip ST05-002 -- Keeping Children Safe Online

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National Cyber Alert System

Cyber Security Tip ST05-002

Keeping Children Safe Online

Children = present unique=20 security risks when they use a = computer=E2=80=94not only do you=20 have to keep them safe, you have to protect the = data on=20 your computer. By taking some simple steps, you = can=20 dramatically reduce the threats.=20

What unique risks are associated with = children?

When a child is using your computer, normal = safeguards and=20 security practices may not be sufficient. Children = present=20 additional challenges because of their natural=20 characteristics: innocence, curiosity, desire for=20 independence, and fear of punishment. You need to = consider=20 these characteristics when determining how to protect = your=20 data and the child.

You may think that because the child is only = playing a=20 game, or researching a term paper, or typing a = homework=20 assignment, he or she can't cause any harm. But what = if, when=20 saving her paper, the child deletes a necessary = program file?=20 Or what if she unintentionally visits a malicious web = page=20 that infects your computer with a virus? These are = just two=20 possible scenarios. Mistakes happen, but the child may = not=20 realize what she's done or may not tell you what = happened=20 because she's afraid of getting punished.

Online predators present another significant = threat,=20 particularly to children. Because the nature of the = internet=20 is so anonymous, it is easy for people to misrepresent = themselves and manipulate or trick other users (see Avoiding=20 Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for some=20 examples). Adults often fall victim to these ploys, = and=20 children, who are usually much more open and trusting, = are=20 even easier targets. The threat is even greater if a = child has=20 access to email or instant messaging programs, visits = chat=20 rooms, and/or uses social networking sites (see Using=20 Instant Messaging and Chat Rooms Safely and Staying=20 Safe on Social Network Sites for more = information).

What can you do?

Be involved - Consider activities you can = work on=20 together, whether it be playing a game, researching = a topic=20 you had been talking about (e.g., family vacation = spots, a=20 particular hobby, a historical figure), or putting = together=20 a family newsletter. This will allow you to = supervise your=20 child's online activities while teaching her good = computer=20 habits.

Keep your computer in an open area - If = your=20 computer is in a high-traffic area, you will be able = to=20 easily monitor the computer activity. Not only does = this=20 accessibility deter a child from doing something she = knows=20 she's not allowed to do, it also gives you the = opportunity=20 to intervene if you notice a behavior that could = have=20 negative consequences.

Set rules and warn about dangers - Make = sure your=20 child knows the boundaries of what she is allowed to = do on=20 the computer. These boundaries should be appropriate = for the=20 child's age, knowledge, and maturity, but they may = include=20 rules about how long she is allowed to be on the = computer,=20 what sites she is allowed to visit, what software = programs=20 she can use, and what tasks or activities she is = allowed to=20 do. You should also talk to children about the = dangers of=20 the internet so that they recognize suspicious = behavior or=20 activity. The goal isn't to scare them, it's to make = them=20 more aware.

Monitor computer activity - Be aware of = what your=20 child is doing on the computer, including which web = sites=20 she is visiting. If she is using email, instant = messaging,=20 or chat rooms, try to get a sense of who she is=20 corresponding with and whether she actually knows = them.=20

Keep lines of communication open - Let = your child=20 know that she can approach you with any questions or = concerns about behaviors or problems she may have=20 encountered on the computer.

Consider partitioning your computer into = separate=20 accounts - Most operating systems (including = Windows XP,=20 Mac OS X, and Linux) give you the option of creating = a=20 different user account for each user. If you're = worried that=20 your child may accidentally access, modify, and/or = delete=20 your files, you can give her a separate account and = decrease=20 the amount of access and number of privileges she = has.

If you don't have separate accounts, you need to = be=20 especially careful about your security settings. In = addition=20 to limiting functionality within your browser (see = Evaluating=20 Your Web Browser's Security Settings for more=20 information), avoid letting your browser remember = passwords=20 and other personal information (see Browsing=20 Safely: Understanding Active Content and = Cookies). Also,=20 it is always important to keep your virus = definitions up to=20 date (see Understanding=20 Anti-Virus Software).

Consider implementing parental controls - = You may=20 be able to set some parental controls within your = browser.=20 For example, Internet Explorer allows you to = restrict or=20 allow certain web sites to be viewed on your = computer, and=20 you can protect these settings with a password. To = find=20 those options, click Tools on your menu bar, = select=20 Internet Options..., choose the = Content tab,=20 and click the Enable... button under = Content=20 Advisor.

There are other resources you can use to control = and/or=20 monitor your child's online activity. Some ISPs = offer=20 services designed to protect children online. = Contact your=20 ISP to see if any of these services are available. = There are=20 also special software programs you can install on = your=20 computer. Different programs offer different = features and=20 capabilities, so you can find one that best suits = your=20 needs. The following web sites offer lists of = software, as=20 well as other useful information about protecting = children=20 online:=20
- GetNetWise - http://kids.getnetwise.org/=20 - Click Tools for Families to reach a page = that=20 allows you to search for software based on = characteristics=20 like what the tool does and what operating system = you have=20 on your computer.
- Yahooligans! Parents' Guide - http://yahooligans.yahoo.c= om/parents/=20 - Click Blocking and Filtering under = Related=20 Websites on the left sidebar to reach a list = of=20 software.

Authors: Mindi McDowell, Allen Householder=20

Last updated January = 17, 2008=20