Computer Security for the
Teens in the House
The information age just like any another,
comes with its own risks which is technology
dependence and one of the tools which we have
taken for granted is the computer or PC at
home. Gone are the days when research on a
topic involved a drive or a walk to a library.
Nowadays it is mostly done sitting in front of
a computer at home. For this reason, your
home computer security measures should be
discussed and documented.
The 24x7 access to information which we have
today comes with a in-built risk – the security
of your business or home and the security of
personal information. Every online form comes
with requests for personal details like names,
addresses or bank account numbers. Purchasing
on the Internet is inevitable and
simultaneously brings an information hazard to
us making the purchases.
As a parent you have great concern regarding
the kind of information your child would have
access to. Currently there are many devices and
software that enable you to regulate the
content your child can view. A lot of content
on the Internet should be blocked and judicious
use of technology can help you decide specific
sites which are not appropriate for your
children. This could result in some websites
being tagged as prohibited and would have to be
negotiated with your children, but would go a
long way in preventing any misuse.
A simple and very effective way would be to
place the computer in an area that is openly
accessible by all and prevents any private
access, like from their bedrooms. Teens
are far more computer savvy when it comes
to computer technology but they do need
constant guidance on the do’s and
don’ts.
Good parenting includes an honest and open
discussion with your children, specially
teenagers. Guidelines and safety measures
should be agreed upon and implemented. Chat
rooms, online discussions blogs etc. definitely
provide information you may not want your
children to access. Your children need to
be aware of the computer security safety issue
and why there is concern. It is important
to alert them on the risks of accidentally
revealing personal information while chatting
or conversing using the internet.
Your teen should understand the importance
of computer security and personal secrecy while
on the Internet. Details of their names,
schools they are in, groups they are associated
with should not be revealed. This could expose
them to identification and could put them at
risk. Photographs or pictures in an
identifiable uniform or setting could be used
to identify their location. The Internet has
produced stalkers who could misuse this
information and you need to make sure your
children understand that.
Protecting your teen involves educating him
or her on the risks as well as using certain
technology to restrict access. The security of
the home involves both personal as well as
external security.
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