Knocking down the pop-ups

You sign onto the internet, open up your favorite browser, and begin to surf the web. Your computer is progressing smoothly, but after visiting several sites, you run into one that opens up a small pop-up window on the page advertising a product or service. Thinking nothing of it, you close the window only to find that another one appears a few minutes later, this time even larger than the one before it. With the second window closed, he finds that he is being blasted by ad after ad flying onto his screen faster than he can close them down. The predictable next thing happens, he gets so sick of it that he goes offline and gets frustrated. Anyone who surfs the web knows how annoying pop-ups can be. They always seem to rear their ugly heads right when you?re in the middle of an important task, bombarding the screen and often displaying inappropriate material. In a worst case scenario, these intrusive advertisements will go on a rampage even when you are not using the internet, an occurrence that usually means something much worse is plaguing your system. Aside from being an overbearing annoyance, pop-ups can also be a severe threat to your computer. There is more than meets the eye.Legal companies use pop-ups as another source of advertisement, however, criminals also use them in order to try and scam people out of their hard earned money, or even give viruses to any unprotected computer.Some pop-ups act as portals for harmful programs, such as viruses, Trojans and spyware. Once installed, spyware has the ability to monitor your computing activities and collect all types of data. It may log all the websites you visit and keep records of your login details, contact information and possibly your credit card numbers. Further advanced programs can let the programer record your every key stroke to allow him steal your identity as well as your assets. Pop -ups carry with them many possible dangersthat can result in very serious loss to you or someone you know. If you could do something to stop them would you?No more pop-upsYou can enjoy pop-up free surfing online, many now can due to the fact that there are many internet filters available that allow this. With a filter you can determine what you what blocked while letting useful pop-ups appear without the danger of destroying your computer. You can also block out pornographic material as well any other malicious content by using a more advanced filter. Pop-ups will continue to remain part of the internet because they are useful to many companies around the world. Just because you cannot control the entire web doesn't mean you are able to defend your own home by getting the internet filter that is right for you

Protect kids online with these tips

These ideas can help parents deal with cyber-bullying, predators and porn.

Last week, the Supreme Court quietly let die a federal law dubbed the Child Online Protection Act, which made it a crime in the United States to post sexually explicit material on the Web for commercial gain without making provisions to block kids from gaining access.
A lower court in Philadelphia had struck down the law, arguing that parents could already shield their children from such material by installing Internet filters. Bush administration lawyers had appealed, countering that less than half of parents use such filters, leaving children in need of the laws protection. It was an argument the justices declined to take up, dismissing the case.
The legal wrangling underscored a long-standing truth about kids and the Internet: No matter how ill-equipped they may be, parents are their childrens last line of defense against smut, cruelty, adult predators and the poor judgment of youth online.
Installing Internet filters can be an effective block against pornographic images. But for many parents, they are daunting technology that can limit adults — and kids — legitimate searches as well, including those for information on sexual health.
They also are a poor defense against cyber-bullying and sexual solicitation on social networking sites.
Smart moves
Following are tips from the National Assn. of School Psychologists on protecting your kids online, even if your own online skills lag behind theirs.
Keep computers in easily viewable places, such as the family room or kitchen.
Talk regularly with your children about the online activities in which they are involved and Internet etiquette in general. Children should know the rule that many adults have learned from painful experience: Do not say online what you would not say in person.
Encourage children to be self-protective. Remind them that anything they say on the Internet or in phone text messages can be shared with others and misused. Ask them to consider if they want what they are saying and doing broadly disseminated. If not, they probably should not say or post it.
Be specific about the risks of cyber-bullying and their need to tell you if something that bothers them occurs.
Respect for adolescents privacy is important. But tell children that you may review their online communications if you have reason for concern.
Set clear expectations for responsible online behavior and phone use and consequences for violating those expectations.
Consider establishing a parent-child Internet use contract.
Consider installing parental-control filtering software or tracking programs but do not rely solely on these tools.
Be aware of warning signs that might indicate your son or daughter is being bullied, such as reluctance to use the computer, a change in the childs behavior and mood, or reluctance to go to school.
Document the bullying.
Be equally alert to the possibility that your child could be bullying others online, even if unintentionally.
Understand current local laws and your school policies. Work with your school to develop policies if they dont exist.
If you have concerns, contact your childs school to enlist the help of the school psychologist, school counselor, principal or resource officer.
File a complaint with the website, Internet service provider or cellphone company if you learn of problematic behavior.
Contact police if the cyber-bullying includes threats.

Internet Security

It doesn’t matter how many precautions you take to protect your home, you are still in danger of a home invasion. You could have the best trained guard dog. You could have armed security on the premises.You could purchase an anti-intruder security system more sophisticated than the one that protects the C. I. A. headquarters in Langley, Virginia and you would still be in danger of a home invasion.
The home invasion I am talking about will not be perpetrated by a burglar while you are at work or on vacation. I am not referring to someone who forces his way into your house, ties you up, and takes your property while you are watching. As traumatic as these events would be, I am talking about something that could have even farther reaching consequences and that could wreck havoc on you, your family, and everyone you care about for years to come.
In some cases, the consequences could reverberate for a lifetime. I am talking about a home invasion through the Internet. The only truly effective way to protect your home from Internet invasion is through a multi-level Internet filtering system