Internet Safety Facts (continued)

Sometimes protective software can be disabled. Be sure that it isn't switched off.
Check that security systems and additional internet accounts have not been added to your computer and that previously installed software hasn't been blocked or diverted.

Cyberbullying

A middle-school girl was on vacation and a rumor circulated via text messaging, that she had contracted SARS while on a trip to Toronto. When she returned no one at school would talk to her.

And for an overweight Japanese boy who was changing clothes in the school locker room, his pictures had been emailed to all his friends.

These rumors, threats, gossip and humiliation - are nothing new ... but today bullies are starting to move beyond slam books and whisper campaigns to e-mail, websites, chat rooms, and text messaging.

Websites and screen names allow bullies anonymity if they want it, and it can be difficult to trace.

Now bullies can extend their harassment into their victims' homes and schools.

• Kids should not put up with it. They should tell someone they trust ... their parents or teacher -- someone who can find a way to stop it.
• If kids get upsetting or scary messages, they should document everything by dates, times received and save the emails. This can be reported to the police.
• As careful as kids should be with giving out their mobile phone numbers ...they should be equally careful giving out their email.

Spam

Spam is unsolicited email. It can be annoying and sometimes offensive. Parents should discuss with their kids who they are sending and receiving emails from.

One of the best ways to deal with spam is to not open it and delete it.

Check out merchants privacy policies when purchasing something over the web. When in chat rooms, your child should not allow their personal profile to be published and should not give out their email address ... nor should they ever allow email addresses to be posted on any web site. They should remain as anonymous as possible.

If you have younger children, set up a list of people they can send and receive emails from and block the rest. Ask your Internet Service Provider how to do this.

Firewall and anti-spam software programs are other ways to keep out unwanted emails and spam. You can also set up a spam email address in addition to your regular email address. Give those close to you your private email address and all others the spam email address.