ChildrenOnline

Devoted to the safety of children and teens online

Protecting Privacy and Computer Safety

The Internet is an ever-changing source of information. Inevitably, some of the links below will stop working. We will do our best to keep links current and remove broken links.

SourceLink Info
Our AdviceStop using Internet Explorer. A safer and more secure web browser is Firefox.
Stop having your web browser save personal information such as name, address and passwords.
Periodically empty/clear out the cached information in your web browser along with cookies, especially after visiting questionable web sites or those with lots of advertisements and pop-ups.
Keep a "throwaway" email account used only for commerce, signing up for services, etc. Safeguard your personal and most trusted email account by not giving it to businesses or online vendors.
Be sure that the firewall built into your computer operating system is turned on and turned up to the highest settings tolerable.
ArticleEFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy [April, 2002] - Though this article is dated, it is still relevant.
ArticleProtecting Kids' Privacy - from the FTC.gov [January, 2009]
ArticleKid's Privacy - from OnGuardOnline.com [January, 2009]
Article10 Tips to Keep Kids Safe Online from Oxford Learning [November, 2009]
ArticleFive ways to protect your privacy online from CNET. [December, 2007]
ArticleCenter for Democracy and Technology's Guide to Privacy Online [2009]
ArticleHow to Protect Your Privacy on Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn [September, 2007] - Though somewhat dated, it is still relevant.
ArticleMcAfee, Inc. Identifies the Most Dangerous -and Safest - Web Searches [May, 2009]
ArticleProtect Your Privacy - from GetSafeOnline.org
ArticleHow Hackers Will Crack Your Password [January, 2009]
Online GameFor Kids: Keeping Personal Information Private
ResourceHow to Delete Remembered Network Passwords in Windows and Why
ResourceSpywareWarrior.com - Though not updated since 2006, this site still contains a lot of useful information. The blogs appear to be active and current. Special Note: Professor Eric Howes at SpywareWarrior.com recommends that PC owners install two different anti-spyware applications because no one program has proven to be 100% effective.
ResourceAll-Internet-Security.com - One stop shopping for all things related to Internet security including access to freeware products.
ResourceFrom Microsoft for Windows PCs:
Improve your family's Web security in 4 steps
Four steps to protect your computer
Software / ReviewKaspersky AntiVirus for Mac / for PC [Review of Kaspersky AntiVirus for Mac]
SoftwareSymantec Protection for Macs (for Macs but Symantec has many PC products as well.)
ResourceHow to use Facebook privacy settings
ResourceFirefox Add-Ons Related to Privacy and Security - many addons to choose from.
ResourceReputation Defender for your child - Though there are several online companies to protect one's online reputation, ReputationDefender.com was one of the first and most well known.
SoftwareMacScan - to protect privacy and security (for Mac OS X only)
SoftwareIntego products for Mac OSX - lest Mac owners feel slighted, Intego.com makes quality products to safeguard Apple comptuers
SoftwareMicrosoft Windows Defender Antispyware software - Free (for PC only)
SoftwareSpybot - Search & Destroy- Free (for PC only)
SoftwareAd-Aware - Free (for PC users)
SoftwareMalwarebyte's Anti-Malware - Free (for PC only) Read a September, 2008 review at Download.com.
SoftwarePrivoxy - Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy, modifying web page content, managing cookies, controlling access, and removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. (for both Macs and PCs; requires some computer knowledge to install/configure)