Pandora’s Blog

There’s been news that The US National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) has called on state leaders to work with schools and colleges to ensure that cyber-security, online safety and ethics lessons are integrated into every classroom. While the idea has been rumored, this is a positive call to action and could lead to a huge step forward. You can read the full story here: US curriculum to include online safety.

The NCSA has made this call along with several software companies (we are trying to join that group) and educational organizations such as the Consortium for School Networking and the State Education Technology Directors Association.

There is still no formal education on the subject of staying safe, secure and ethical online… and remember, a recent University of Michigan national poll on children’s health issues found that adults ranked ‘Internet safety’ as the seventh most important issue affecting children today! (MY BLOG ON IT).

The NCSA is proposing cyber-awareness programs that must incorporate the ‘C3 principles’ of cyber-ethics, safety and security. These include:
· Cyber Ethics Lessons – Hacking into someone’s computer and taking information is just as wrong as breaking into someone else’s home
· Cyber Bullying – Just as wrong as bullying someone on the playground
· Cyber Safety Lessons – Social behavior tips to protect children from online dangers, such as cyber-predators, harassment, unwanted communications and cyber-bullies
· Cyber Security Lessons – Information on how to secure computers, identities and financial information

This would be a great step forward for schools to take… And they’re going to need help! That is where PC Pandora’s SAFE SCHOOLS program comes into play. Schools can get FREE PC Pandora software just by asking. The software will aid in the monitoring of student-used/accessed computers to help protect students from online predators and from taking part in cyberbullying or illegal file sharing (which schools can be held accountable for).

Seiously, if you are a school administrator or educator — or even know one personally — Check out our offer and equip your schools’ computers with PC Pandora for the 07-08 school year and beyond!

I came across this story on ABC News that is a feature on the parents of a victim of an online predator. You can read the story here: Victim’s Parents Want Action Against Online Predators. Basically, a 14-year old met an older guy online, who traveled from TX to CA to have sex with her. The girl fell for the guy and hanged herself. The guy is spending 9 years in prison. I encourage all to read the story and the comments that follow. Very interesting – and tragic.

Here are my thoughts: So many comments, and the story in general, are just more proof that parents MUST monitor everything their child does online. This is a very very sad story and one that could have potentially been prevented, had the parents and schools been better equipped (note our SAFE SCHOOLS program).

Kids can be given some freedom on the net, just as we were given freedom to go play in playgrounds; but if you give them total freedom, bad things happen. They are just kids and don’t know any better. That is the honest truth. Oh sure they may know more about computers than you do – but they are not old enough to see how cruel and terrible parts of our world can be – namely the scumbags who go online and prey on young kids and solicit them for sex.

The anonymity of the net is a powerful and very enticing thing. It’s not MySpace’s fault that kids are falling victim to predators. Those who commented on the article and noted that most of the predators are not registered/formerly convicted are correct. True some are, yes… but overall, the creeps are just regular guys who have never been caught in the past. It is impossible to find them.

So, parents, PLEASE protect your kids and your PCs. Use our PC Pandora software. It’s cheap and will last forever (no annual fee or anything). It’s a great tool to use that will monitor and record EVERYTHING on your PC.

Parents, remember that you are the first and last line of defense for your kids against online predators. Educate yourselves, talk to your kids and protect your family.

Surf Safely…

Well, anyone could have guessed it wouldn’t take long before the sexual predators and pedos found a new playground.

Facebook has been growing in popularity thanks to its rival (and inspiration), MySpace. Apparently the sickos are using their real names too. There are about 33 million members on Facebook.

The site acknowledged they have “detected sexual predators and other abusive practices,” but the instances are small.

Websites like Facebook and MySpace are trying to develop technology that will better screen potential predators, but it seems they need some bad press to really light the fire of encouragement.

Let’s hope this article just threw gas on the spark: Conn. AG: Sexual Predators Lurk on Facebook (from Reuters)

The case is crystal clear. There is no hiding that fact that parents need to really watch the places their kids go online. Parents wouldn’t let

The case is crystal clear. There is no hiding that fact that parents need to really watch the places their kids go online. Parents wouldn’t let their kids go to clubs without knowing… but yes, it does happen anyway. We encourage parents to really get involved with their child’s online social life. Educate yourself about the places they are going and who they are talking to. An absolutely, get some monitoring software, like our PC Pandora, that will add that extra layer of security on your PC, so you can see everything your child does!