Pandora’s Blog

Last week, Metro police in Vegas busted two sexual predators. An uplifting note to these busts is that citizens helped turn them in. The story is pasted below – Please click the link for mugshots of the dirtbags and the video component to the story (which is very well produced).

Police Warn Parents of Online Sexual Predators
By Melissa Duran, Reporter KLAS-TV

Metro police are crediting alert citizens with the arrest of two sexual predators. Both were arrested in the past week as part of Metro’s “It’s Never OK” Campaign.

Metro police arrested 53-year-old Gary Walter Laatz after someone reported finding a computer with child porn on it in his possession.

And earlier this week, police arrested Pedro Pablo Mancilla Sanchez for having pornographic pictures on his computer of children ages 2 to 16.

The place your child spends a lot of his time is the same place sexual predators are waiting. It starts with a simple conversation on the computer, but can turn into something much more dangerous.

Now police are urging parents to help catch these types of predators before your child becomes their next victim.

Jennifer Glenn keeps a constant eye on her 16-year-old daughter not because she’s a troublemaker but because she’s a loyal MySpacer. And Jennifer knows behind the computer screen could lie trouble.

“If they ask you to meet them, if they ask you for personal information, if they ask you for anything — not to give anything out, no passwords — nothing,” said Jennifer.

But there has been a close call. Several years ago after logging onto her daughter’s account, she found a 30-year-old man trying to talk with her daughter.

“Told him if he ever contacted her again, I’d report him,” she said.

But some kids aren’t so lucky and are giving in to predators who are searching online for their next victim. Metro says more and more predators are figuring out this is where your child is hanging out.

“The children misinterpret a lengthy chat with an actual relationship. When you are communicating with someone on a computer, you’re not really communicating with that person. You don’t know who that person is,” said Sgt. Troy Barrett.

Barrett is with Internet Crimes Against Children and says parents need to report anything suspicious they see online — whether it’s child pornography or even dangerous conversations your child is having with strangers.

“We’d rather get more information than no information,” he said.

Tips can be reported to the cyber tip line through the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children. Any tip from Nevada is reported back to local officials so they can start investigating.

Also, make sure the family computer is in clear sight, and you have access to everything your child is doing. It’s a step Jennifer Glenn is already taking.

“She can’t do anything until she gets her own job and pays for her own Internet and pays for her own place,” she said.

It’s tough love that may keep your child a click away from becoming a victim.

Metro says its a partnership with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children and has been ramping up prosecution of these crimes lately because of tips from citizens.

No matter what capacity, the practice of monitoring Internet activity of your kids is essential. For parents that need that extra help (and more often then not, they do) monitoring software like PC Pandora will help you attain the knowledge you need to be an effective and smart 21st century parent. Knowledge is power… you can’t be a good parent if you don’t know. PC Pandora can help!

The news of the day is this – the year’s 2nd “most useless” idea for online safety. The first, of course, being the MySpace agreement.

Now, my own state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo – along with Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver – has proposed legislation that would require sex offenders to provide their Internet identities to the state, which would then share the information with social networking sites like MySpace to protect users from online predators.

It’s called the “Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act,” or e-STOP. Sex offenders would have to report their online information to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. That includes all e-mail addresses, chat and instant messaging names and online social networking identities. Now, state corrections law already requires offenders to provide Internet screen names, but the new legislation would clarify and expand the information they must supply and permit sharing it with social networking sites and other online services. If offenders don’t report changes in their online identities within 10 days, they can be charged with a felony.

You can read the AP story here: NY Bill Regulates Sex Offenders’ Web Use.

Anyone see the ridiculousness of this. It’s yet another publicity stunt by politicians to make people a) think they are really doing something here b) have a false sense of security c) be persuaded to vote for them. In reality, this will only prevent the small percentage of sex offenders that will be playing by the rules. And remember, the percentage of people arrested for this are not registered sex offenders. There’s a first time for everything…

Oh and it’s only for sex offenders registered in New York.

It’s not that it’s not a good idea. No no, don’t get me wrong – I am glad to see people taking the issue seriously. But let’s all hold our applause till the end, OK folks? There really isn’t a point to praising something that will most likely end up having little or no effect.

Instead, how about we put more money towards mandatory education in schools? How about the government grants small companies like ours to distribute PC Pandora to families so parents can regain control of their little user’s online activity?

Parents, don’t be fooled by these new agreements you are hearing about. It’s a long time before they take effect, and even longer until the work (like, never). You are responsible for what your child does online and whom they are talking to. If you need help, invest in the technology that is available. With monitoring software like PC Pandora you will know everything and be able to do something about it.

We sent out a release today that is basically our offical response to the MySpace agreement. It’s just extra food for thought. Have a fun and safe weekend…

PC Pandora Urges Parents to Increase Online Safety in the Home

In the wake of the recently announced MySpace-Attorneys General agreement, PC Pandora reminds parents that the best protection is at home and not at a website. Parents can take small steps, as simple as monitoring Internet activity, that will go a long way in keeping their young users safe online. Hear from company co-founder, James Leasure.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 18, 2008 — Earlier this week, the popular social networking site MySpace signed an agreement with 49 state Attorneys General to take proactive steps in strengthening the protection offered to younger users, specifically against unidentified sexual predators using the site. But while many applaud and recognize the effort as a giant step forward, one company wants to remind parents that this is only one step down a long road.

“It’s definitely a great step to take,” says Pandora Corp. co-founder, James Leasure, “But for now it’s just an idea.”

Included in that “idea” are plans to develop stronger age-verification software, create a “high school” area for members under 18, and respond faster to complaints from members about other users. It will also allow parents to get involved by submitting the child’s email address to help prevent fake accounts being set up in their real child’s name.

“The fact is that unless you are verifying age by a social security number, which would be ridiculous for a social network site, anyone - from feared predators to the actual teens we are trying to protect - can still lie about their age,” claims Leasure.

“Age verification and protection start in the home,” says Leasure.

Pandora Corp. makes and sells leading monitoring software called PC Pandora. Working like a DVR for your PC, it records all content via screen capture.

“It allows parents to see everything their child does and gives them the chance to talk to them about it and correct the behavior,” explains Leasure. “If your child is visiting sites that you feel they are not ready for, or are simply inappropriate, you will know about it and be able to do something.”

In addition to monitoring capabilities, the program records instant messenger conversations, emails and keystrokes. It also contains a website filter system and has the ability to block programs from launching.

“We’ve also implemented a system that allows you to receive email updates on your child’s activity when you are not at home,” Leasure continues. “This is extremely valuable for every working parent who can’t be there when their child gets home from school - which is universally when kids spend most of their time online.”

The problem of sexual predators on MySpace and other popular social networking sites has been well documented. But experts agree the websites did not create the threats, rather they opened doors.

Sexual predators and MySpace, however, are not the only thing on the Internet that should concern parents.

“The reality is that parents should be concerned with everything their child does online. Whether it is MySpace or instant messenger, simple browsing or exchanging information with even their friends, parents need to be involved. There is no excuse for not knowing what your child is doing - where they are going and whom they are talking to online. Technology and software like ours can play a vital role in obtaining that knowledge.”

Long gone are the days when the local teens would hang out at the soda shoppe or outside the convenience store. Today, socializing online is the preferred way of connecting with friends. But the Internet has not only increased the ease of staying in touch, Leasure says it has also thrust many young users into a world they may not yet understand.

“Kids don’t realize the power of the Internet and how deep it really goes. Not everyone they meet is who they say they are. It’s up to parents to be there to explain,” says Leasure. “The first and last line of defense is and always will be at home, not at a website.”

PC Pandora is gearing up to release its latest edition, version 5.0, in the first quarter of ‘08. At pcpandora.com, parents can find 18 Tips for Safe Surfing and a blog dedicated to online safety news and discussion.

About PC Pandora: Pandora Corporation was formed with one goal - to help our customers monitor, control and protect their families and themselves online. First released in mid 2005, PC Pandora has been constantly upgraded to industry-leading specifications and has received accolades from users, reviewers and even school districts and law enforcement agencies, who use the program to help in the day-to-day supervision of the children and citizens they are charged with protecting. The company website devotes space to helping parents with 18 Tips to Safe Surfing and Pandora’s Blog, where current news in the world of online safety is discussed regularly. PC Pandora has vaulted into a leadership position by boasting a combination of features that unparalleled in the monitoring industry. In December 2007, Version 5.0 was released, again widening the spectrum of coverage and protection offered by the program. In addition, through the company’s Safe Schools program, schools and school districts can receive up to $100,000 worth of software to aid in protecting their students and their PCs. PC Pandora is also now available through the Pandora Corp. store at Amazon.com.

Reporters and Producers: Looking to cover online safety? We are your technology solution component. Software is available to journalists for review and use in family testing. Staff members are always available for interviews. Let us help you show your audience how easy it can be to keep their kids safe.

Ok… that’s misleading… there is only one Turkey in here - the other one is commendable. Here are two stories worth checking out:

STORY #1

From last week… Melissa Clark at NBC 10 News (KTVE) in West Monroe, LA, did a great piece about the undercover officers at work in the Louisiana-Arkansas-Mississippi tri-state area, specifically in Ouachita Parish. There is no video, but the story is a good read: Ark-La-Miss Internet Predator Sting.

STORY #2

Now, here’s a story about a great bill with a MAJOR flaw - that apparently passed the House. While the bill (H.R. 4134, proposed by California Democrat Linda Sanchez and passed by voice vote last week) has a great intent, it has an outrageous flaw: it aims to channel $25 million over five years to ONE provider of online safety materials – the Carlsbad, Calif.-based i-Safe.

Critics and myself say that the measure is unfair to other child safety organizations and could impede competition and promote mediocrity in the field, such as our PC Pandora-based initiatives. Givng this one company that much power and control is dangerous – not to mention this is incredibly similar to a Haliburton situation. Everyone deserves a slice of the pie, espeically ones (like us) that have so much to offer. This bill, the way it is set up, is a slap in the face to other companies (like ours) and is a bad move between poliotics and business, rieking of backdoor payments.

You can read the cNet newsblog by Stefanie Olsen here: Controversy brews over online kids safety bill.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving everyone — and know where your kids are goig Friday night!