S.T.A.R. - A nice, simple acronym! Truly, there are four things any parent needs to be doing to help their families enjoy the Internet, computers and all technology with more confidence and more "up time".
S = SOFTWARE
Naturally, I work at a software company so of course I'm going to pitch you on the importance of our product. Actually, from my perspective, as long as you purchase and use a top brand, the main thing is to have internet security suites (not simply antivirus) on every computer in your home. Norton offers two terrific all-in-one products: Norton Internet Security and Norton 360.
You've got to spend at least a little time making sure that your operating system, your browser, your media player and any other program that accesses the internet is the latest version and fully patched with security patches. My tip: if your product uses any form of auto-updating, use it! Then you just need to check each week or so to make sure it's downloading the updates successfully.
T = THE TALK
Today's version of The Talk with your children is about how they use technology and the Internet. You've got to keep this an ongoing and non-confrontational part of your family's regular dialog. Just like you'd ask about the soccer game or last week's math quiz, you should be asking about their favorite websites or if they've heard about cyberbullying at school. We've got tips for getting started. You can ask the older kids to help talk to the younger ones too. It's a great way to reinforce family bonds but also share the responsibility for online safety. It can also be truly wonderful to have your younger children turn to their older siblings for real world advice about the internet but only if you have confidence your big kids know what to say and do.
A = AWARENESS
It's so important to stay informed about the latest online dangers. It might be the Conficker scare of April 1st that reminded us all to keep our operating system in tiptop shape. Or perhaps you've heard about the wave of IRS and tax refund scam emails going around. I just got one this morning from the "Internet Revenue Service"! They aren't all so poorly written so it's best to stay prepared to know what might come your way, whether in an email, a strange Instant Message link or a pop-up ad on a favorite website telling you your antivirus software isn't working. Keep up to date by reading technology stories in your favorite newspaper, online at sites like CNET or PC Magazine or set up a news alert from Google or Yahoo.
R = RULES
Setting rules for everyone in your home doesn't need to be a negative experience. Perhaps you'll call it a contract or an agreement. It's a best practice to discuss how you'll share the family computers, how you'll maintain them and keep security settings high. Whether or not your children are allowed to shop online, join social networks or talk using Skype to friends and family. Or maybe you'll just want to set time limits to make sure the internet is used appropriately and doesn't consumer your child's time to the point where real world relationships and responsibilities are suffering. You can find sample contracts on sites like NetSmartz.org or within the new OnlineFamily.Norton family safety service launching soon.
I know our family of five can get pretty bogged down in managing the daily routine. I wouldn't want us or you to get overwhelmed by the thought of teaching and managing online security in the home. Having a quick guideline to refer to like S.T.A.R. parenting has helped me not get freaked out.
I know our software is the latest and greatest and always updating itself with LiveUpdate and Norton Pulse Updates. We regularly talk about internet activities, trends and fads and what I'm hearing are happening to other kids around the world. It's part of my job to stay aware of the latest internet threats but I still get daily alerts on tech issues to keep me informed. We've set rules in our house but I have to admit, we need to revisit that one in the Merritt home. I think it's time for some reminders about getting regular physical exercise for more than just the computer mouse!