Learn the 14 ways in which you can help make the Internet a safer place for you and your family. You teach your children to look both ways before crossing the street. You tell them not to talk to strangers. But do you really know how to teach them to safely use the Internet? In this book, Linda Criddle, a leading child safety expert, offers a practical education about what is safe, what is not, and how taking a few precautions can help your children avoid putting themselves at risk. Discover what the risks are today and common ways in which people inadvertently expose themselves and accidentally reveal information. Learn how to be alert, avoid instant messaging and e-mail dangers, blog and play games safely, and avoid harassment and bullying. Look Both Ways is written by Linda Criddle, the child safety product manager for MSN and former investigative reporter, this book provides the practical information you need to protect yourself and your children from dangers on the Web.
Buy a newspaper today, and odds are you'll find a story about online abuses: a public figure arrested for soliciting a child online ... a teenager assaulted by somebody he met in a chat room ... identity theft made possible by poor safety procedures in a large company ... e-mail fraud being perpetrated on the public in staggering numbers ... or a new destructive computer virus.
The Internet has quickly become an integral part of society. Businesses, schools, media, and communication with others all are highly dependent on opportunities the Internet has created. Unfortunately, it is not only "good" people and businesses that are leveraging these new technologies.
The rash of criminal misuses of the Internet reported in the news leaves many feeling like they should prevent their children from using the Web at all, quit banking or shopping online, and regard e-mail messages as potentially threatening. You're left with a general feeling of vulnerability and helplessness. When you can't even see online criminals coming, how can you protect yourself from them?
Avoiding the Internet isn't a very practical solution. While there are legitimate reasons for concern, there is much you can do to become more empowered and start using the Internet on your terms. That's what this book is all about.