Secure Zone Safety - Online Predators

Online Predators

The best way to protect yourself from online predators is to guard the information you or your family members give out online, whether it's on some kind of online shopping site or a child chatting with people who he thinks he knows.

Keeping Online Predators at Bay

When it comes to protecting your kids from online predators, keep a list of Internet safety rules by the computer, and be absolutely sure your kids understand them. In addition, explain all the different ways they can end up giving out personal information. Remind them not to tell anyone when they're going to be somewhere, where they live, their name, their age or anything that could put them at risk. Online predators are skilled at getting this information from kids and using it to find victims.

Speaking of victims, do you know which kids are most at risk? Generally, online predators look for the following:

Kids who are new to the Internet
Kids who are curious
Kids who seek attention
Kids who are naive
Kids who are lonely
Kids who are confused about their sexuality

Here are some more things you can do to protect your family from online predators:

Monitor your child's online activity
Use the parental controls offered by your Internet Service Provider
Don't let kids have a computer in their bedrooms. In fact, keep the family computer in a more "public" part of your house like the kitchen, living room or family room.
Be suspicious of any packages/gifts your kids get in the mail if they are from someone you don't know.
Be suspicious of any adults calling your house and asking for your kids that you don't know.

Some of these rules are just good common sense, but it never hurts to reiterate the information.