Back to School? McAfee has your Family’s Back
September 2010 by McAfee
McAfee’s Chief Cyber Security Mom Tracy Mooney, a mother of three from a Chicago, Illinois suburb, is a regular Mom with the same concerns and worries that you have. She blogs about family Internet safety issues—issues that keep parents awake at night—and shares her experiences and expertise to help you stay safe online.
Parents Should be Mindful of the Following Back to School Online Safety Tips:
1) Don’t Talk to Strangers -Teach your kids to ignore emails and instant messages from people they don’t know.
2) Don’t Make Play Dates – Make sure your kid knows never to have an in-person meeting with anyone they met online
3) Hall Monitors are Needed - Monitor your children’s use of the Internet. With McAfee Family Protection, adults can say “yes” to children’s online interests knowing exactly where they learn and explore even if an adult isn’t in the room
4) Start a Conversation – Encourage children to talk about bad experiences they are having and if something makes them feel uncomfortable
5) Pick on Something their Own Size - Use browsers for kids and kid-oriented search engines. McAfee’s SiteAdvisor is a great free tool that can prevent your children from visiting malicious sites
6) Encourage Show and Tell – Educate your children about online dangers to help prevent risky situations. For tips on keeping your computer and kids safe, please visit www.mcafee.com/advice
7) Nothing is “Free” - Remind children to avoid free downloads like screensavers, surveys and online club registrations as these “freebies” can include hidden spyware and adware programs
8) Teamwork is the Key – Work with your child to discuss boundaries of what is appropriate and what isn’t. Sign a pledge together to ensure ultimate protection
9) Monitor their Free Time – Set strict time limits to online surfing and ban late-night use
10) Protect Your Families’ Personal Info - McAfee® Internet Security offers trusted eight-in-one protection from identity thieves, spammers, and predators, ensuring a worry-free experience for you and your kids. It filters offensive content and pictures that a predator may send, and blocks inappropriate web sites