Parents Taking Greater Shared Interest in Teaching Kids The “Birds and the Beeps” of Internet Safety
Author: marianmerritt27 Employee Posted: 08-Oct-2013 | 11:20AM · Edited: 05-Mar-2020 | 10:04AM · 1 Comment
As part of my role, I travel the world briefing media and international colleagues on safer internet use, news and trends. Earlier this year I visited the UK and we discussed our observations that more often than not, parents are either sharing the teaching of internet safety to the kids or moms are taking the primary role. It used to be, in the old days, that anything to do with technology was the purview of the fathers, but apparently that is changing.
Do you think you have what it takes to be in the red-hot cybersecurity industry? Our 16 NPower students have been enrolled in the Symantec Cyber Career Connection (SC3) program since September and come from all over New York City. They are now going through final preparations for the last stage of our program where they embark on hands-on internships at leading corporations like Bank of America, CBS, Citi, KPMG, Marathon Consulting, Morgan Stanley, and TD Ameritrade. That also means prepping for some additional certifications and exams like the CompTIA Security+ 401. 
I am Tamara Ritch, a cybersecurity student at Year Up Baltimore through the Symantec Cyber Career Connection (SC3) program. My first semester in the cybersecurity program has been very enjoyable, exciting, and a little scary as well. I’ve had the chance to learn a lot of new information. For example, I’ve learned the various ways to protect myself from suspicious activity, how to catch errors on the system network, and how to combat cybercrime.
Year Up Bay Area’s pilot Symantec Cyber Career Connection (SC3) cybersecurity class is working tirelessly to learn the ins and outs of cybersecurity. Only 11 more weeks to go before these budding cybersecurity professionals start their internships! Local Bay Area employers should contact Year Up Bay Area to learn more. 
Since I last wrote on the topic of child identity theft legislation in April, a few states have made progress on the topic, following the lead of Maryland where the concept was introduced:
Take a moment to think where you were ten years ago and what your computer and internet experience was like. If you can, you’ll remember the work you had cleaning up your email from the deluge of spam messages and the frequency of big virus outbreaks like “ILoveYou”; “Anna Kournikova” and “Code Red”. And when things went wrong, it always felt like your responsibility alone to clean the computer, remove the threat and fix the damage. You weren’t the only one who thought things had to change.
Anytime the venerable EU Kids Online team comes out with new research, it’s an opportunity to print it out (on two sided paper, of course), get a cup of the good coffee and settle in for a read. You are guaranteed to read thoughtful, considerate paragraphs about some aspect of children’s use of technology that you’ve been thinking about and wished someone would investigate.
Some are calling it the online “eraser button”. A new law signed yesterday by California governor Jerry Brown will allow under age youth to remove posts and photos they regret putting on their social media accounts. It requires the websites to allow anyone under 18 to remove their own material and to provide instructions on how to do so.
Getting infected with malware is always a painful experience but new variants of old threats are using new techniques both to spread and cause harm. One such malware is a botnet that infects computers, creating a hidden file storage area for its files and opening a port for ongoing peer to peer communication. This means the infected computer can get updates from the malware author, either to cause more harm or to for the malware to be redesigned to avoid detection.
Usually any heroic Norton Online Family story is about how using it can help parents see patterns in their children’s online behavior or reinforce their trust in their children’s good choices. Today we have a story of how Norton Online Family stopped a team of crooks in their tracks. You’re probably as surprised as I was.
Imagine you are in Africa on a photo safari. You’re in your 4WD vehicle, upwind of the animals who are gathering at a pool of clear water. Zebras and water buffalo herds claim their section of the shoreline, while in the distant tall grass, a pride of lions waits. The vulnerability of the animals drinking at the watering hole is something well understood and the reason tourists are often brought nearby to await the inevitable “circle of life” drama.
Whether the issue is cyberbullying, plagiarism or simply a shared desire to teach our children the best way to use technology, most schools are incorporating some form of “digital literacy” in their curriculum. But what is the best way to do this? Which programs have a lasting impact on the children, helping them gain new skills and understanding that translates into safe, kinder, more effective online behaviors?
It’s remarkable how quickly we’ve become dependent on our mobile devices to handle most if not all of our computing needs. Most of us now realize how critical it is to secure your device (physically) and the important data and apps as well. Set a screen lock password; put your other telephone number on the back; and install mobile security software that includes an anti-theft feature.
Back when I was in high school, I used to wear a gold “Superman” logo on a necklace. I told people it was because my last name began with an “S”, but the real reason was that I thought Superman was cool. I loved (and still do) the idea that hidden among all of us “regular folks” is a superhero with the potential to keep us safe from our enemies; who rescues innocents from everyday harm and rocks his everyday job as a journalist.
June is a funny month for most moms and dads of school-aged kids. You are so happy to be getting near the end of a school-year’s homework assignments, classroom activities, field trip permission slips, and carpool arrangements. OK, maybe that’s just me. There’s also the slight sense of panic most of us feel as we try to line up a healthy assortment of summer activities – enough to keep the kids busy but still enjoying the break from formal education.
It’s been a few years since I attended a destination music festival, but going to the second US festival in 1983 was one of the highlights of my college years. I remember it was very hot, we saw an incredible array of stellar performances, toured some exhibits with cutting edge personal computers and other technology and had a simply wonderful time.
How did you decide where to live? You probably wanted a good neighborhood close to your work or local shops, maybe in a top school district. I’ll bet you gave it a lot of thought and did your research. But, even if you are lucky enough to live in a safe area with low crime rates, you probably still lock your house when you go out and check the door before you open it to a stranger. We take certain precautions to ensure our safety.
Small businesses are the economic backbone of this country. Yet, in the aftermath of manmade or natural disasters, an astounding 40% of small businesses never reopen. It doesn’t have to be this way; with preparation, organization and practice, owners and employees of small businesses can secure their future, despite what may come their way. In this 50th year of National Small Business Week, it’s the right time to put your plan together and into practice.
Imagine you are graduating high school and you’ve just celebrated your 18th birthday. In anticipation of starting college in the fall, you begin applying for student loans. The first loan application is returned as “denied” because apparently you have too much debt already. You think it must be a mistake and with your parent’s guidance, you order your very first credit report to see what is going on.
In this hyper-connected world, even if you were thousands of miles from Boston, you were impacted by the blast of vicious bombs at this week’s Boston Marathon attack. Many of us were riveted by television coverage or online reporting of the terrible tragedy.
I can feel it, can’t you? Spring is coming! We’ve reset our clocks, had the official first day of spring and I’ve even seen a few tulips blooming in the front yard. For some of you lucky folks, that might also mean you have some family travel coming up for Spring Break. Whether you’re headed for beach fun, snow slopes or a city break – and whether you’re going with friends, family or on your own – a little research and some preparation can make traveling with your technology a breeze. 
A few weeks ago, I traveled to meet with cyber bullying experts and media in three Asian cities: Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing. I also had several conversations with parents in each market that furthered my knowledge of just how similar the online safety issues are around the world.
I know I’m blessed and lucky to have been born in the United States. Our country, though far from perfect, offers so many wonderful opportunities for women. I’ve certainly benefitted from these freedoms: I attended public schools through high school; had thousands of colleges and universities to consider for my higher education and was able to move into a new career as my interests evolved. And I’m indebted to the women who preceded me who fought for the vote and for equal rights in the workplace.
If you were to think of software like you would a houseplant, maybe it would be more natural to keep it patched and up-to-date. To take care of your plant, you’re supposed to water it, turn it in the sun for it to grow evenly and occasionally mist the plant’s leaves or add fertilizer. And when I say “software,” I don’t just mean security software, which most users understand will only keep you safe when it has the latest protection files. No, all software is, by its very nature, imperfect.
For every parent who has ever felt frustrated at understanding technology, there's a teen who looks on in amusement. Or does that version of the digital divide feel foreign to you? In any event, a study from 
In its 10
Every year on January 28th, we celebrate 
No doubt you’ve seen news reports or a post on your social network alerting you to concerns about something called “Java” that could cause trouble on your computer. If you aren’t sure what’s happening or need a straight forward explanation for a friend or loved one, here’s an overview to help you sort this out:
Among the end of year holiday tasks like taking down the tree, recycling the wrapping paper and boxes and planning your New Year's fun, you probably are thinking about Resolutions. We don't all cotton to the idea of once a year making ourselves promises we don't intend to keep but there is something wonderful about starting the New Year with a clean slate and banishing bad habits. In the world of computer and mobile phones, there are steps you can take to do things better, smarter and safer.
Have you seen this in your Facebook “News Feed”? “In response to the new Facebook guidelines, I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times!”