Internet Guardian

Archive for March, 2010

Dating advice article: It is time that you knew the facts that emotions can cause great pain to others if not checked. It can cause depression or aggression to the worst levels. The world is controlled mainly by emotional decisions. Most of do not know what to do and suppress our emotions that later causes an adverse reaction. You may deny yourself the possibility to come to terms with your loss. But only causes the pain to be more deep rooted.

Consult an expert who will have sessions to help you understand what you are going through. Time is of the essence as emotional triggers can bring out the worst in you, even if you not plan to. We are not in control of this side of our brain; this is why you need to seek help but finding a service to guide you.

Romance is interwoven in our physiological cells, so you can never delete it from your mind. Do not ignore your feeling of rejection; you must start searching in a directory or ezine online to locate a site dealing in relationship advice. Someone once told me how she had been so upset by the break up of her relationship, that she went completely berserk! She slashed the tyres of her ex boyfriends motorbike. Admittedly, she had no intention of doing so.

Internet dating article; Safety is another issue partners who tend to be the losers in a broken down relationship have to deal with. Generally, no one deliberately wants to dump their new partners. This can happen to anyone, even when the conditions are perfect. Whether it money lack of finance which leads to insecurity in another, cheating and having no time to spend with each other can separate couples and all the other numerous reasons that develop over time.

The tip is to acknowledge you are not superman or superwoman (he had emotional problems when he lost his power), so you have to face the fact you need to find the necessary site will service your needs. To bring you back to equilibrium, being an easier and mentally balanced person. Directory, ezine online to help you solve your problems without having to spend a fortune on counselors.

Any Christian will automatically pay a visit to the church to discuss the relationship issue with the priest. But, I believe most will talk to someone close to them. It can help control the situation but loosing partner who takes a more physical route to settle differences. Advice given is one thing, but to decide if the information will help solve the problem? Why get to this point in your relationship, when you can pop into to help solve problem before it gets to the low point?

Lots of kids and families are preparing to head back to school right now for the start of a new school year at least “up here” where we live in the US, Canada and Europe. For those of you who aren’t going back to school right now, or those of you that Homeschool, these tips can still keep your child safer today than yesterday.

Back To School families typically focus on new clothes, shoes, book bags and school supplies. That’s great. We want to add in a “Back To School Safer” awareness to their list of things to remember.

There are three immediate things parents can do, things you can teach your child, right away, today. It’s simply about education, knowledge and awareness, not paranoia. So, when teaching these things to your child, keep a light-hearted approach and atmosphere. We’re endorsing a better awareness for kids and families, not fear.

The fact is, your child is going to be around new teachers, students, coaches, counselors and acquaintances when YOU Mom and Dad, are not around. Your child needs an ability to keep themselves safe when they are out and about in today’s world. There are a few things parents and kids can do together at home to make sure they are safer this year than ever before.

First, teach your child to project confidence. Confident kids are naturally less of a target for predators. This means bullies at school, too. A confident child is a child that stands tall, shoulders back, head high and with eyes alert to their environment. This type of posture subconsciously projects a struggle, a notion of, “I’m not going to be that easy to pick on,” to anyone looking for a victim.

Sad kids, those that look like they are unhappy, those with stooped shoulders and a shuffling gate, look like they are in need of a friend. We know many child predators like to befriend a child first, offer presents and kind words, and take their time patiently to lure a child into a friendship before they abuse or molest them.

A big part of building confidence in your child is doing daily what we call, “Catch Them Being Good.” It’s easy for us as parents to notice the things our kids do wrong. But a short moment, noticing your child doing something right, and a “Hey, Sally, that was great!” goes much further in teaching your child to feel good about themselves in only seconds a day. This is a big first step in solid confidence building and something you can easily do.

Second, teach your child to keep a safe distance from a stranger. We call it a “Circle Of Safety” and it’s about 15 feet. Your child can still talk to them at this distance but have time to react in case it’s a bad stranger. Your child can turn and run and get safely away at this 15′ distance.

For the most part, this is when your child is outdoors and finds themselves alone, like on a playground, on a sidewalk or in the yard, being approached by someone they don’t know. In school, when there are lots of other students and adults around, it’s just something they should know.

Third, teach your child to listen to their “Belly Brain.” This is the “gut reaction” we as adults have, that instinctively tells us something is not right. Your child has it too. We simply have to teach them they have it and then, to listen to it. And, teach your child that their “Belly Brain” is never wrong.

Today, this is a critical skill for your child to have, especially for those kids surfing the Internet. When your child reaches a website they shouldn’t be on or stumbles upon one inadvertently, their “Belly Brain” is going to go off. They need to know to get off that site when their stomach feels funny and signals them.

If your child ever finds themselves alone in a situation with an inappropriate adult or teenager, their “Belly Brain” is again going to go off. It is going to give them that “funny feeling” and when it happens, they need to know it is “OK” to feel that way and to leave the room or place they are immediately. They need to know it is “OK” for them to find a trusted adult, you, and tell you about it. And, this includes surfing the Web.

We study the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) information to stay one step in front of child predators and they have some great Online Safety Tips. Online predators troll for kids behind the anonymity of a user name and keyboard. The Belly Brain can give your child an advantage in being able to take appropriate action if ever in a situation where any danger from predators threatens them.

These three Quick Tips are really just the tip of the personal child safety iceberg, but they are very effective. They are also simple and easy and you can introduce and teach you child them in just minutes a day for a lifetime of results.

The internet has changed the world of dating both good and bad. Finding romance is now easier than ever. That’s the good news. The bad news, of course, is that with ease also comes an increase in falling prey to dangerous situations. However, the dangers can be lessened or avoided by following some basic safety tips. Here are 10 such safety tips which can help make your online dating experience fun, positive and, above all, safe.

1) Stick with reputable online dating services. Don’t go with a service you’ve never heard of just because it’s free or cheap. Check to see how well they screen their potential members. A dating service which screens their members is often safer than those which don’t.

2) Set up an email account that you use only for dating services or chatting online such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or Gmail. Never use your personal or work email for online dating.

3) Until you really get to know the person, never divulge personal information that will make it possible for someone to locate you.

4) You should immediately cease communication with people who seem obsessed with acquiring personal information about you.

5) Be aware when talking to any potential date of the following danger signs: getting angry for no apparent reason; possessiveness; elusiveness in answering direct questions; inconsistencies in information about themselves; disrespectful remarks; request for any financial information from you. These could all be potential red flags.

6) Take it slow before you agree to meet the other person. Have several conversations on the phone with the potential date so you can detect any of the above warning signs before you agree to meet face to face. If the other person tries to push you into a meeting too quickly, you might consider moving on.

7) Don’t give your home phone number at first. When calling the person either call from a pay phone away from your neighborhood or block your number when calling.

When agreeing to meet for the first time, agree to meet in a public place with plenty of people around. Never invite a stranger into your home or to pick you up from your home. Always tell a friend or family member of your first meeting plans. You may also ask someone to call you while you’re on your first meeting/date to check up on you.

9) Limit the amount of alcohol you have on your first face-to-face meeting. Alcohol can lower your inhibitions and alter your judgment. In addition, no matter what you’re drinking, don’t ever leave your drink unattended during the date.

10) Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right about the person or situation, end the communication or date immediately. You owe no one an explanation when it concerns your safety.

You may think all the above precautions take all the fun out of online dating. However, there’s nothing fun about getting tangled up with a dangerous person. Following basic safety precautions just helps insure that the wonderful person you’re seeking is the wonderful person you end up with.

While the internet can certainly be an incredible tool and resource, the unfortunate reality is that it can also be an extremely dangerous and destructive place for children, adults, and families. Not only can we easily find the violence, dangers, scams, temptations, and immorality – but individuals and companies everywhere are actively seeking us out.

What is more disturbing is the reality that individuals, parents, governments, and entire societies everywhere have so slowly become conditioned to and somewhat accepting of this selfish and immoral culture the internet daily preaches. Thus, while the moral values of our culture continue to degenerate, we must resolve today and ensure that our families (and us as individuals) will not fall victim to this ever-destructive force – a force that is masked by the wrongfully assumed ‘popularity’ of the masses, and the result is often the disintegration of marriages and families. Commitments and responsibilities are discarded, money is lost, information is stolen, time is wasted, guilt is felt, lives are ruined, and families are destroyed – all while a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit.

There are many things we can do online to be safe – things ranging from: not giving out personal or financial information to strangers, not clicking on unknown links, not opening emails from people we don’t know, realizing that much of the information we read (or people we meet online) are not totally accurate (or real), to not copyright or plagiarize, etc. However, what I am referring to is much more important and potentially much more dangerous than any of the previously mentioned online safety tips. For our own sakes, and especially for the happiness and well-being of our families, we each need to make a commitment that in our homes we will implement these necessary online rules:

1) Don’t Be Alone: The family computer must be in a public place – with the monitor facing out! Most of the trouble, temptation, scams, wasted time, and immorality happens when a child (or adult) is allowed to ‘use the computer’ on their own in a private place.

2) Parental Involvement: Parents must be more involved with their child’s online activity. I am not talking about looking over the shoulder or being with them all the time – everyone of course still needs their privacy, agency, and freedom. However, do you know who your children are emailing, texting, chatting with, or talking to? Do you know what websites, chat rooms, pictures, and emails your child has sent, looked at, and visited? If you are involved and communicate with your children often about their online activity (in a constructive, not intrusive and disciplinary way) – you can guarantee that when that temptation comes, question or curiosity arises, or when they get asked to meet that online ‘special’ person (who is a complete stranger) – they will feel comfortable coming to you first because you were involved, informed, and cared.

3) Don’t Be Ignorant, Don’t Assume, Trust Less, Be Involved More: Familiarize yourself with online Teen Lingo. Do you even realize that there literally is an online language of incredibly complex acronyms your children use to talk with their friends? Why do they use such lingo? Of course, to hide and disclose from YOU what it is they are talking about. Educate yourself and do not be ignorant. Trust your children, but love them enough to be involved, active, and discipline if necessary.

4) Dangers of Evening Hours: No computer after 9pm. That is a rule in our house, and it may need to be different in your home. But, why such a rule? Obviously, it is the evening hours that we become idle, lazy, susceptible, bored, curious, etc. Others who are online know this reality as well – and those ‘others’ include individuals (known or not known), companies, advertisers, pop-up ads, websites, etc.

5) Turn-Away Immediately: Establish the rule and self-discipline that if ever an image (pop-up, advertisement, picture, website, etc) appears that is inappropriate, you will ‘Turn-Away Immediately.’ No matter how shocking the image, curious you are, weak you feel, alone you may be, or how strong you think you are – just look away immediately.

6) Establish Rules: Establish your own family online rules. Sit down together and establish these rules, and ensure that everyone is aware of and committed to them. Have the rules placed near the computer – and commit to following them always. Use this meeting as a time to educate your children about online safety, tips, traps, etc.

7) Be the example: The six previously mentioned rules are absolutely necessary for your children and family’s sake; however, how can we expect our children to follow these rules if we ourselves are not adhering to them. Most often, children not only do what their parents allow them, but they do what they see their parents doing. Be the example in ensuring that the internet is used for positive, constructive, educational, and wholesome activities in your home!

Why are these rules so absolutely important? There are a number or reasons why, including financial safety and protection online, personal safety, etc. However, more important than anything else, this is about ensuring that we as adults and parents, and especially our children, do not become involved with our modern day slavery – that of pornography!

I wish it weren’t true, but unfortunately for us all – sex, immorality, and immodesty sells. As a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit from this sleazy material, the realistic and sad result is that – thoughts are corrupted, commitments and responsibilities are discarded, selfishness and temporary gratification become more important than self control, sins and crimes are committed, addictions are developed, families are torn apart, and slowly our society’s very foundational values have disintegrated.

Keeping thoughts clean, turning away from temptation, or altogether avoiding pornography is becoming increasingly more difficult considering the fact that – the vast majority of movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, advertisements, and websites are immoral, immodest, sexual, and pornographic in nature. We are daily bombarded … and thus daily fighting a battle. It is a battle to keep our thoughts, actions, habits, and character clean and pure and chaste.

Thus, establishing personal and family online rules is absolutely essential – essential for us personally to ensure that we do not fall victim to this modern slavery, and to ensure that our marriage, children, and families do not fall apart. The moment that pornography is allowed and justified, and these rules are discarded, is the first detrimental step to ensuring that our marriages and families will experience the pain, shame, embarrassment, anger, loss, separation, and failure that pornography’s effects inevitable bring. For yours and your family’s sake – do not look, do not get involved, and ensure these rules are implemented and exemplified.

Internet is a good medium of learning and researching for kids but they might develop interest in other stuff. The parents should take some precautionary measures. Following precautions can be taken to avoid misuse of internet by the children.

1- Put the computer in a communal area of the house so the kids dont have a chance to open unnecassary stuff.

2- Try to choose the safe internet provider.

3- Allow kids to use internet only when the parents are at home.

4- Any good software can also be used to prevent opening unethical sites.

5- Always check the browser history so you know the which websites are being open in your computer browser.

6- Tell children about the dangers of unethical sites.

7- Try to partition the users so you know the activities separately.

8- Ask the kids what they are surfing online, to whom they normally contact through email and chats.

According to recent numbers, 40 million Americans have jumped into the online dating pool. The amount of usage and particular dating agencies varies per individual of course but even with taking these things into account, online dating is becoming more comfortable and accessible to the general population. For instance, Online Dating Magazine estimates there are over 120,000 marriages per year that are a direct result of internet dating. These numbers are only going to grow as the online dating becomes more interactive

Unfortunately there is a flip side. Many of us have heard or seen the stories about online hookups that have gone tragically wrong. While these incidents remain in the definite minority, they do exist.

Many free online dating services have yet to implement a screening process. The result is you really do not have any guarantees about the other person you are trying to meet. But let us face it; even if they prescreen applicants thoroughly, people have been known to lie. This means the responsibility of online dating safety falls squarely on to your shoulders. Use the following tips as guidelines and then later on add more of your own.

1. Good Judgment

None of us is perfect so you can never be right one hundred percent of the time but trusting someone online that you just met with the most intimate details of your life is not a good idea. In fact, it is downright dangerous. Trust has to be earned offline so the same should go double on the internet. If you sense the person on the other end is lying, then there is a strong likelihood they probably are.

It is not only the lack of telling the truth that should set off bells and whistles. Maybe they seem a little too aggressive in their answers or way too anxious to meet you immediately. Whatever the case, keep your thinking logical and your common sense on high alert.

2. Go Slow on Sharing Personal Information

You have probably seen those online dating profiles where the person volunteers every bit of their personal information including the exact hour they were born. Eventually you are going to share things like your phone number and home address but do not rush it. Also make sure your signature file is turned off or at the very least, it does not have any identifying information. Do a little bit more chatting and investigating.

3. One Phone Call Away

Okay so you both agree that it is time to hear each other’s voices. Now you are still in the investigation phase so do yourself a favor and call from a public phone (no need to give your cell phone or home number just yet). You should be able to get a better feel for the other person by having a phone conversation. Do you sense something in their tone or words that make you uneasy? Are the answers a little too perfect for your taste (i.e. telling you what they think you want to hear?). After you hang up do some serious analyzing. If you have to talk it over with someone close to you, than by all means do so.

Online dating is the new wave and it can be a lot of fun but to get the most out of it, you must include safety as one of your top priorities. There are other steps that you should follow but start by going slow with sharing your personal information, the phone conversation and above all exercise good judgment. Keep in mind that it is better to be unhurried and overly cautious, than to let your emotions rush you into a bad situation.

Internet safety is of prime importance to all online users as their identity is at stake; and of course, the money transactions that go with it. Since online shopping is now a part of everyone’s life, it is better to be cautious at every step.

Here are some tips to shop smart and safe for all those ardent online shopping fans.

1. Shopping questions – Internet is abound with online malls and sites that serve every kind of customer with all kinds of goods. But answers to simple questions like what to buy, where to buy and how much to buy for a discount or offer are often elusive. So, getting your shopping questions answered should be the first step before making an online purchase. Checkout personalized shopping sites that feature user reviews and shopping answers to customer questions. In fact some of them monetarily reward users who provide best answers, thereby enabling online shoppers with some handy and useful information about the product.

2. Shopping sites – Remember that it is important to shop at reliable and reputable shopping sites to ensure that money transactions are safe and secure. While using the drag-drop option into the shopping cart and while billing, ensure that the requested quantity and items are only billed.

3. Secure Transactions – Ensure that the site is VeriSign certified to make your transactions secure and to protect your identity. Remember to get all details related to shipping, probable date of delivery and even the courier name. It is also advisable to cross-check your online bank balances whether the right amount has been debited. Also, always retain proof of online transactions like transaction id, shipping dates, tracking numbers etc. for future use.

4. Be intuitive – There’s nothing wrong with being a little extra careful while shopping online. If your intuition is preventing you from proceeding with a particular sales deal, because you are not satisfied with the way the sales order was handled or with the customer response you have received, there is nothing wrong in canceling the order. There is always the option of another shopping site to shop for your favorite product.

Always remember that security is more important than convenience. At the same time, make wise use of the online shopping options to shop economically and comfortably.

Have a Happy n Safe Shopping!

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These days, it is common for a household to own more than one computer, gaming consoles or laptops thus having a broadband router have become a basic necessity.

Owning a broadband router will allow more than one device within a household to share files and an Internet connection. The one time price they have to pay for it is worth it because it can save them a lot of money from separate Internet services that they will avail.

Routers employ a Network Address Translation (NAT), that lets all the computers in one household to share the Internet connection. By installing one broadband router, you can surf the Internet using your personal computer while your brother send an email using his laptop. Aside from that, your broadband router can create another firewall because NAT can also act as an extra protection while you’re online. A firewall hides your device’s unique IP address, simply put this is an additional safety method to protect you from hackers, people who wants to exploit your system or other online threats.

A broadband router is an investment, it’s cost will depend on its features, specifications and brand. A basic and simple broadband router can get the job done for a connection in your household. The two types are ADSL Modem Routers for ADSL broadband subscribers and Cable Routers for Cable broadband subscribers but both person the same function they only . You have to consider getting a router with the additional features if your house is more than one storey since some don’t work between floors. Some routers are wireless and some needs wire connection. Before deciding to purchase one, evaluate your computer usage and house structure. You can also ask the sales associates opinion so that you can get the proper router that will provide you just that.

These routers are available on local electronic shops and online. It’s practical to check out the products online so that you can research for their features, specifications, reviews and even testimonials from people who have bought the same product. Online or offline, sales associates can help you choose the best broadband router but be wise enough to spot if he’s giving an expert opinion or up-sale you. Being resourceful pays because you can find the broadband router that fits your needs and your budget.

As the internet becomes more of a social medium it brings with it some of the social problems of society. Problems such a bullying and predatory adults who seek out weak and venerable people such as children and exploit them. Child safety online is an issue every parent/guardian faces and is one that must be addressed immediately upon your child having online access.

Here are areas parents MUST show diligence in to protect their children online.

1. Talk to your child about the potential dangers of the Internet and how to protect themselves. Let your child know how serious an issue this is and that you will be monitoring their usage and checking their sites in order to keep them safe.

- Tell your child the following.

- Not to put any personal information online anywhere.

- If your older children are using a chatroom be sure they know to immediately exit if they
   feel  uncomfortable in any way.

- Never agree to meet in person, or send personal photographs to anyone they meet online.

- Never respond to messages containing offensive or threatening language.

- Always check with mom or dad before going into an online area that has fees or charges.

2. Parents need to adhere to the following and manage these on a regular basis.

- Block sites that could harm or violate privacy. It is suggested to block sites like Facebook and MySpace. However if your older children are using these sites then parents need monitor their friends list and photographs.

- Be sure there are no inappropriate comments in their profile and check uploaded videos from YouTube.

- Monitor their use of email programs such as MSN and Yahoo.

- If your child chats, monitor who they chat with and when.

- Get your school age child’s user ID and password to their social networking page. Check it often, and note down anything that you think threatens their safety.

- Be aware of the amount of time your child spends online. Monitor them closely to make sure they’re using the Internet safely.

- Keep the computer somewhere that you can monitor the screen easily from time to time. A placewhere you can casually glance at it and check the screen.

- Take advantage of your Internet service providers parental controls. These controls can block access to certain Web sites, chat rooms, newsgroups and other things on the Internet that are not suitable for children.

 - Your child’s school should have an acceptable use policy for Internet access. Be sure this is in effectat the school and that student Internet use is monitored by teachers.

 - Discuss online safety with friends’ parents and find out if the children are monitored online.

 - Keep your ears open for comments from your child with regards to their friends and their interactiononline. Don’t assume all parents have every angle covered. Remember there is no full proof system for their safety.

 - It is important to maintain an open line of communication with your child so transparency is important. Let your child know you will be monitoring his online activity and that you will be checking his sites, emails, and chatrooms.

 Ensure that your children dont get caught up in the social problems of society, unfortunately these get into your home via the internet so keep them and yourselves safe from predators online.

There are many reasons kids are not safe online know what they are and how other kids not being safe online can spread from your child’s school to your home. child safety online.