Now for the good news. Parents have more choices and tools than ever before to help keep their families safe online. By arming your kids with the proper knowledge, inviting discussion, and installing the right security tools, your kids can explore the Internet, taking advantage of the social aspects and the academic resources available.

Social networking Web sites-A place to hang out with friends?

Social networking Web sites, such as My Space and Friendster offer an interactive network of blogs, user profiles, groups, photos, and an internal email system where kids can meet with friends, post their interests, and read about the interests of others. Here are a couple best practices.

Allow your younger, pre-teen kids to use only monitored chat rooms and message boards that are on reputable sites such as Nick.com, Disney.com, or fan sites.
For younger kids, insist on access to their e-mail and instant messaging accounts. You want to make sure they're not talking to strangers.
Kids should also be cautioned about giving out any private information that could help an unscrupulous character or cyber predator determine their actual identity. They should avoid posting personal information such as their school names, class schedules, phone numbers, and provocative photos.

Internet forums and blogs-what's the harm?

An Internet forum is a facility on the World Wide Web for holding discussions. A Web log, or blog, is a Web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles. Here are a few precautions your kids should follow.

The biggest danger to your child's safety is if they get together with someone they meet online. Encourage them to come to you if they are approached or invited to meet in person with someone online.
Tell your kids to never respond to email, chat comments, or other messages that are hostile, belligerent, inappropriate, or in any way make them feel uncomfortable.
When surfing the Web, chatting, or opening their email inbox, kids could be vulnerable to some pretty scary material or people. Insist that they never tell anyone their password, including friends or someone who seems official (except for you, their parents).

Parental control

It's the same on the Internet as in the real world. As parents, you need to take the same precautions as you would if your kids were walking down the street.

Hold discussions with your kids about Internet dangers. Stay open to what they enjoy about the Internet and help them explore cyberspace safely.
Make sure your kids know they can come to you if they feel threatened or encounter any sort of problem online.
Install a good Internet security program like Norton 360, Norton 360 Premier Edition or Norton Internet Security with parental controls that can help block inappropriate Web sites and prevent personal information from being given out without your permission.

Conclusion

You might feel overwhelmed by the idea of trying to protect your kids from something as big, and perhaps unfamiliar, as the Internet. But there are real-and manageable-steps you can take to help your children stay safe. Be sure to visit Club Symantec and Symantec Security Response regularly, to get the latest information, and to make sure all your security components are up to date.