998Thursday March 25, 2010
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Is Your
Family
Safe?
Are your children protected from online
predators and Internet dangers? If not,
try communicating with them, and use
the latest anti-virus technology
teenagers think of them-
selves as savvy users of the
Internet. Yet, many of them
fall victim to the numerous
threats in cyberspace.
Their impressionable
minds, coupled with their
pride, make them easy
pickings for predators and
cyber-bullies.
Mr Michael Sentonas of
McAfee, chief technology of-
ficer, Asia Pacific, said: “Un-
suspecting youngsters are
unaware of online threats
such as cyberbullies, online
predators, identity thieves
TODAY
and malware. In fact, 52 per
cent of teens have given
their personal information
online to someone they
don’t know offline, and 25
per cent have shared per-
sonal photos or physical de-
scriptions of themselves!
“That information could
be used by cyberbullies to
post hurtful information
or embarrassing pictures,
spread rumours, publicise
communications or send
anonymous emails!”
This is alarming be-
cause more youths will have
access to the Internet in the
future.
In 2008, the Infocomm
Development Authority found
that 96 per cent of youths
aged 7 to 14 and 98 per cent
of youths aged 15 to 24 have
used the Internet at least once
in that year.
So how can you safeguard
your child from the riffraff off
the Internet?
• SET GROUND RULES
AND GET INVOLVED •
A stern “No!” and locking up
the computer won’t work. In
fact, it’s likely to alienate your
child and statistics suggest that
children are likely to keep mum
about being cyberbullied as
“10 per cent of kids who were
bullied did not tell their par-
ents.”
Mr Sentonas suggested
999Thursday March 25, 2010
‘‘
that parents “should proactively
communicate with your children,
and get involved in their cyber
52% of teens world.”
have given their Use the following tactics: Place
the computer in a high traffic fam-
personal ily area and make sure that the
screen is visible to passers-by. Set
information online to appropriate behaviours and dis-
someone they don’t cussions, and teach them not to
divulge personal information (such
know offline ... as passwords, addresses or phone
TODAY
numbers) that identifies them and it is your last line of defence when
creates the possibility of iden- you unwittingly click on links that
tity theft. They should never meet
strangers, whom they encounter
lead you to phishing websites or
computer viruses. SingNet Security
online, face-to-face. The amount Suite is continuously updated with
of time spent online should also
be limited.
the latest virus definitions, and as
it uses McAfee’s Artemis technol-
aRE you aware?
Social networks are popular ogy, which offers protection against
“among teens from 12 to 17 years
old; 65 per cent have profiles on
new malware just seconds from the
time of first detection. 25%
14
online social networks.” Yet it is
of teens have
• 24-seven Protection • sh
personal photo ared
where cyberbullying is most com-
physical desc s or
to
mon, with “20 per cent of teens You want to monitor your children’s
having engaged in some sort of Internet activities round the clock, riptio
of themselve ns
cyberbullying.” but you know that it isn’t possi- s.
Create your own online identity
and get invited to your kids’ social
ble.
For convenience and peace of 23%
networks. Learn if the discussions
are appropriate for your child. Re-
mind, install all-in-one security pro-
grammes on your family’s comput- 6
tee ns
5hav
%
e a profile
may fall
victim to
view your children’s friends list in ers such as SingNet Security Suite. of
social networking sites and only let The “install and forget” anti-virus on an online social sexual
them befriend people whom they software protects up to three com- network. solicitation.
know offline. puters in your household. And it’s
powered by McAfee, the world’s
• What to do when largest dedicated security technol-
things go wrong • ogy company.
We know that the Internet can be a Mr Collin Lee, director (Product SingNet Security Suite by McAfee
dangerous place for kids. But are Marketing), Consumer Group, Sing-
your children equipped to deal with Tel said: “The Security Suite has the Anti-Virus Anti-Spam
cyberbullies or phishing websites? three core protection features: Anti- Blocks, cleans and Blocks junk emails.
It is likely not. Virus, Anti-Spyware and Firewall, removes viruses and
Mr Sentonas noted that “28 per and it’s augmented by Anti-Spam other malware.
cent of teens do not know what to and safe search features. Most im-
do if they were harassed or bullied portantly for families, it comes with Parental Controls Anti-Spyware
online.” In addition, it was reported a Parental Controls feature that Filters child’s access Detects, blocks and
that Internet crime went up 22.3 per schedules Internet usage timings to certain types removes spyware,
cent in 2009. and blocks inappropriate keywords, of content on the adware and tracking
Kids should learn that they websites, and images.” Internet. cookies for privacy
protection.
have to inform you if they notice
anything unusual, such as mes-
But remember that you’ll still
need to talk to your kids about In- Website Safety Anti-Phishing
sages from friends that are out of ternet dangers, set ground rules, Ratings
Rates websites for
Identifies websites
character or photos that your chil- and safeguard them with a com- designed to steal
dren did not post.Tell them to trust prehensive anti-virus technology
safe surfing. your personal
information.
their suspicions and come to you if
they feel threatened.
— and when you have done that,
then you’ll know that your family’s Firewall
Install an anti-virus software; safe online. Blocks hackers.