topic Re: ‘How to be safe on line’ in Discussions & Feedback

‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 06:42:22 GMT

Dear All,

I wonder what everyone would think about starting a conversation/an educational thread on ‘how to be safe on line’? (I browsed the forum and it’s not a topic I have came across yet, hence my suggestion to you all).

This is of interest for me and my reasoning is from a parent point of view, as we cannot stop our children from accessing the evolving technology, (e.g. smartphones, Facebook, BBM, etc.), yet, we (the parents) should keep up with the technology in order to have a better understanding of it and do our best to ensure that our kids are safe/protected on line and enjoying the benefits of it...

However, for less tech minded people like me, but willing to learn, I would benefit from a simple 'user friendly' guide and support, where you can ask any basic questions without being uncomfortable for been so simple...

Just a thought.... please let us know yours.

Kind regards... D

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

adamtemp64 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 07:51:54 GMT

have a look here http://www.o2.co.uk/thinkbig/people/childprotection and http://www.o2.co.uk/parents

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Toby — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:54:48 GMT

I really like this idea. Nicely done New2Smartphones

It would be great if anyone has a any more tips or other articles that could potentially be added to the pages linked above (thanks Adam)

It's a shame that it is such a prevalent issue these days. Do you think it is over or under played?

It would be interesting to see if the crime figures elicited from online communication reflect the increase in awareness.

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:11:40 GMT

Interesting idea:)

Unfortunately children seem to be much more tech savy than the older generations. So a topic like this could go a long way to helping create a more secure environment for parents letting their children online.

I'd be willing to participate:)

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:15:24 GMT

@Liquid wrote:
Interesting idea:)

Unfortunately children seem to be much more tech savy than the older generations. So a topic like this could go a long way to helping create a more secure environment for parents letting their children online.

I'd be willing to participate:)

I remember when I was in school and it was easy to do what you wanted on the computer and cover your tracks from your parents!

The only real edge parents have with their children's contracts is that they have access to see the bill!

But yeah, this thread seems like a good idea. Concerned parents could ask for advice on specific issues that could be worrying them.

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:20:41 GMT

Haha yes I used to love how unsecured school computers were:) they would try everything possible to lock us out of websites. However my school stupidly didn't prevent us from downloading alternative browsers which were not locked by filtering software:D.

Also not locking dos prompt was an abysmal fail haha. Spent more time in ICT lessons working out how to get around things and still walked out with an A:)

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

jonsie — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:20:52 GMT

Any responsible parent would rightly be worried about this and anything that helps to ensure our youngsters are safe would be very worthwhile. There are so many hidden dangers so protection is of paramount importance. There are also many of the older generation still coming to terms with the internet and many of them should also be aware of the safeguards needed to protect themselves.

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:18:32 GMT

Start this off with a selection of free easy to use parental control software.

K9 parental guardian

my favourite one incredibally simple interface available for both;

mac;

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/12/k9-web-protection-40296/2451/

and windows;

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/12/k9-web-protection-40296/2450/

OpenDNS

this one is great so simple to use and very difficult to bypass;

https://store.opendns.com/get/home-free

Easily the best choice you can select specific addresses to block different levels of filtering. Best of all because it works at the base level it works for any device connected to your home network.

Norton

Or if you only trust the big name brands then norton has its own version.

i find it not as easy to use and does come with pop ups asking you to upgrade to their full Internet security suit.

https://account.norton.com/sso/register?

detectAgent=1&noemail=1&service=https://onlinefamily.norton.com/familysafety/casRegister.fs&locale=en&parent=https%3A//onlinefamily.norton.com/familysafety/basicpremium.fs&mobile=1

these two program's provide a good basis for blocking specific content access. It will stop a fair amount of children in their tracks in the course for unsavoury content.

theres much more that can be done but it all depends on technical levels.

main one I can think of is giving your child their own username with limited privileges. While password protecting both yours and the administrator accounts.

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 06:49:53 GMT

Thank you, great links indeed; there is a lot to take on board...
best regards

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:03:20 GMT

Thank you Toby; I don't think 'it's over or under played issue'; from what I heard cyber bullying is on the increase and it's becoming an overwhelming issue to deal with in many schools for example. If us, the parents would proactively get involved in preventing this, there is less likelihood risk of offending related behaviours, I believe.
Best regards, D

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:45:39 GMT

What sort of parts would we like to cover?

I completely agree about the "cyber bulling" I think its a horrible point in your life where you can't feel safe at home especially for a child.

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:50:58 GMT

@Liquid wrote:
What sort of parts would we like to cover?

I completely agree about the "cyber bulling" I think its a horrible point in your life where you can't feel safe at home especially for a child.

I learnt today from a teenager that BBM is not 'en vogue' anymore - it's 'munching' now...

I pretended I knew, of course, but what IS it munching, anyway? from conversation sounded like 'print screen' command on the computer; is it similar?

Also is it true that BBM is not traceable if necessary? How would I check, or can it be checked, which numbers were used to BBM?

Please do advise, many thanks.... D

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:00:12 GMT

Indeed "munching" is screen prints. It's actually the term given to the process of using the app "screen muncher" which blackberry apparently bought and installed it as a integrated package(Had to google it myself:()

BBM as far as I know is untraceable. Obviously its all sent through a central blackberry server so in theory it can be obtained via a court order.

Sorry what do you mean by checking of the numbers used to BBM? Do you mean whom your children are in contact with via the service?

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:08:40 GMT

@Liquid wrote:
Indeed "munching" is screen prints. It's actually the term given to the process of using the app "screen muncher" which blackberry apparently bought and installed it as a integrated package(Had to google it myself:()

BBM as far as I know is untraceable. Obviously its all sent through a central blackberry server so in theory it can be obtained via a court order.

Sorry what do you mean by checking of the numbers used to BBM? Do you mean whom your children are in contact with via the service?

that's correct; I'm given them 'space', because no trust broken to date, however I would like to be prepared, as in preventing issues from happening, if make sense...

Thank you...

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:20:03 GMT

Ok that makes sense no worries:)

As far as I know the BBM contacts are encrypted which won't allow you to access them without direct access to the phone.

There is another way of recovering data from backups if they back up their mobiles? However as to the legality of this I'm not sure. I imagine as a parent you'll be safe to use it. I have certainly used it illegally I'm the past so I can vouch for its ability.

It is however rather technical so I'd need to know a few things about the computer used to back up if you'd like a guide on how to proceed?

Sometimes knowing less is better if you get my meaning. Encouraging them to talk to you about problems especially bullying would be a huge step(not saying you don't sorry) just from what I've experienced you somtimes learn things you wish you hadn't. Also once the trust is broken its highly unlikely to return.

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:32:27 GMT

@Liquid wrote:
Ok that makes sense no worries:)

As far as I know the BBM contacts are encrypted which won't allow you to access them without direct access to the phone.

There is another way of recovering data from backups if they back up their mobiles? However as to the legality of this I'm not sure. I imagine as a parent you'll be safe to use it. I have certainly used it illegally I'm the past so I can vouch for its ability.

It is however rather technical so I'd need to know a few things about the computer used to back up if you'd like a guide on how to proceed?

Sometimes knowing less is better if you get my meaning. Encouraging them to talk to you about problems especially bullying would be a huge step(not saying you don't sorry) just from what I've experienced you sometimes learn things you wish you hadn't. Also once the trust is broken its highly unlikely to return.

You are very Kind, - I have a BB myself and use the backup data on my notebook; however, I've noticed with my phone that it is not backing up my BBM data....

Also what I found frustrating, is that kids always seems to know when I'm on Facebook from my BB or download a new app, etc. (which I am not hiding it); hence I wonder, is there any other way round? as in, can I not know on my phone what they are up too?

At the moment is for my own tech development only

Thanks again

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Liquid — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:43:36 GMT

When you log into Facebook from your phone it will tag your chats or status updates with "sent by my blackberry phone" or something to similar effect. Which would allow them to know your using your phone to be online.

However the app bit confuses me slightly. Ill do some digging.

So whenever you download a new app your kids know about it without you mentioning?
[EDIT: by any chance are the apps connected to Facebook? Eg they ask you to login to Facebooa or allow them access to your account?]

I believe you have to tick a box to back up your BBM data as well. I can find the details for you if you'd like?

Unfortunately I'm not a blackberry user but I have learnt a lot from the forums and google can tell me the rest:)

(Unless O2 send me a new phone ey?:))

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Toby — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:28:47 GMT

(Unless O2 send me a new phone ey?:))

Haha

I'll collate all of the thoughts on this in the top post soon, as there have been so many great points made. I'll then take them to the my colleagues and see if we can add anything to main page from this great discussion.

We could perhaps add a part about purchasing stuff online too? It's not related in terms of bullying, but definitely catches a lot of people out.

Have you ever had a bad experience online? How did you handle it? Success stories are so helpful as it provides a step-by-step account

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

perksie — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:20:20 GMT

A browser add on that I use is Trusteer Rapport which is offered by most UK banks free to all their customers.

It will check that you are only signing into a legitimate version of a web site (not just your bank), and I feel everybody should use it.

Here is the Google page with them listed:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=free+trusteer+download&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

Re: ‘How to be safe on line’

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 07:31:00 GMT

@Liquid wrote:
When you log into Facebook from your phone it will tag your chats or status updates with "sent by my blackberry phone" or something to similar effect. Which would allow them to know your using your phone to be online.

However the app bit confuses me slightly. Ill do some digging.

So whenever you download a new app your kids know about it without you mentioning?
[EDIT: by any chance are the apps connected to Facebook? Eg they ask you to login to Facebook or allow them access to your account?]

I believe you have to tick a box to back up your BBM data as well. I can find the details for you if you'd like?

Unfortunately I'm not a blackberry user but I have learnt a lot from the forums and google can tell me the rest:)

(Unless O2 send me a new phone ey?:))

Hi and many thanks,:smileyhappy: and my quick update:

I have 'employed' my teenagers as my personal 'Gurus' - using one of the best technique in my opinion: honesty/openness - I ask them to enlighten their mother about 'how come they know directly when I'm installing new apps, or on Facebook, etc.?... the answer has in phone's settings - there is a tick/untick box which you can chose if you what, or not, to share with Facebook and/or BBM what updates have made to your phone, (including backing up BBM messages)...

How obvious was that?!... for some users you might say, however, I had a lovely time spending 1:1 quality/learning time with my 'Gurus'.... I would recommended to all parents....

My best regards.... D