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Millions of families around the world use the Internet every day to surf, search and shop, as well as to bank, share photos, play games, download movies and music, connect with friends, meet new people, and engage in a host of other activities. We’re just scratching the surface of this amazing tool, and there’s no telling what will come next.

Cyberspace isn’t without its risks, however, and hackers, identity thieves, email con artists, predators other shady characters are working harder than ever to find new ways to take advantage of you—and your family—when you are online. Did you know that:

• Seventy-one percent of kids between 13 and 17 have received messages online from someone they don’t know?
• Your chances of becoming a victim of cybercrime are now one in four?
• Hackers attempt to attack your PC more than once every minute you are online

Cybercriminals are the dark side of the online world, so to protect your loved ones you need to follow some basic safety rules and exercise some real-world common sense.

Here are the highlights:

Step #1: Put the computer in an open area
In a home with children, where you place the family computer is one of the most important decisions you can make. We recommend that you put it in a high-traffic family area and limit the number of hours your children spend on it.

Step #2: Set boundaries
You and your family should decide exactly what is okay and what is not okay with regard to:

• The kinds of web sites that are appropriate to visit
• The chat rooms and forums that are appropriate to participate in
• What your children can discuss online, as well as language that is inappropriate

Step #3: Agree upon family rules for Internet use
We recommend the following:

• Never log in with user names that reveal your true identity or that are provocative
• Never reveal your passwords
• Never reveal phone numbers or addresses
• Never post information that reveals your identity
• Never post inappropriate photos or ones that may reveal your identity (e.g. city or school names on shirts)
• Never share any information with strangers met online
• Never meet face-to-face with strangers met online
• Never open attachments from strangers

Once you have established the rules, put them on a poster next to the computer.

Step #4: Have your family members sign an Internet safety pledge
Write up an agreement, so that there is a clear understanding among all family members on appropriate computer use and online behavior. Have your kids’ teachers sign it as well.

Step #5: Install security software
Choose software that can protect your computer against viruses, hackers and spyware. It should also filter offensive content, pictures and web sites. The software should be updated frequently and automatically, as new threats are emerging daily.

Step #6: Use parental controls
While nothing can take the place of attentive and responsive parents who monitor their children, parental controls can filter and block inappropriate material. All the major security software providers offer these controls, so if yours doesn’t, you should seriously consider getting new software. It’s worth it.

Step #7: Remind family members that people they meet online are strangers
The unfortunate reality is that it is easy for people to lie and pretend they are someone else online. So if your kids are on social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, check out their pages to make sure inappropriate conversations aren’t happening. And keep an eye on their instant messaging conversations to make sure they aren’t being pursued by online predators.

Step #8: Create strong passwords
To create passwords that are difficult to crack, start by using at least eight characters, and then use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Change them periodically to reduce the likelihood of their being compromised over time.

Step # 9: Check your computer’s security software
Assuming you follow step #5, make sure your software provides anti-virus, anti-spyware, and a firewall. Parental controls, anti-spam, anti-phishing, identity-theft prevention and safe search/safety ratings are important too.

Step #10: Stay informed
The more you know, the safer you will be. Check out McAfee’s Security Advice Center for easy-to-read computer and Internet security educational material at www.mcafee.com/advice.

This article is courtesy of McAfee Anti-Virus.

Big Dot Media uses and recommends McAfee Anti-Virus products.