AhnLab unveiled its Top 10 Security Threats in the first half of 2011: Malware paths in social networking sites; an increased threat to Mac OS users; growing menaces to online banking; and more sophisticated online game hacking are among these highlighted threats.

“Threats to mobile and online security are constantly becoming more sophisticated,” said Mr. HongSun Kim, CEO of AhnLab. “Therefore, it is essential to remain alert and aware of growing online trends and threats. AhnLab provides insight into the latest online threats so that all stakeholders can take measures for protection.” Social Network Services as Malware Path… Read more

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

© 2006 – 2011 Online Security Authority

OSA Technorati Tags: Ahnlab, Banking Online, Business Owners, Ceo, Computer network security, Game Hacking, Good Advice, Insight, Mac Os Users, malware, Measures, mobile security, Nbsp, online banking, Online Game, Online Security, parents, Path, Security Threats, Social networking sites, Stakeholders, Technology/Internet

Many parents will tell me that they don’t allow their precious little Johnny to watch TV or spend too much time on the Internet. They have a similar bone to pick with the juggernaut that is the media, but their approach is a short-sighted, sheltered one. Protecting our kids from media by limiting or restricting exposure will only work for so long. We don’t, unfortunately, live under a rock, and if your kids aren’t watching TV or surfing the Net at home, they’ll eventually find a way to do so. No one can hide from advertisements, violent or hyper-sexualized images, etc.  If children learn from an early age to understand and interpret how the media works, then they’re well on their way to being well-adjusted 21st century adults who can think for themselves.

In order to get your kids to understand the media, be sure to watch TV and surf the Internet with them. Discuss things like niche or target marketing, and explain to them that some advertisements are created for the express purpose of getting someone who is in their age group, gender, and income level to buy their product.

For girls, its especially important for them to understand that the uber-skinny bodies of models in magazines and in Hollywood movies are extremes, and many times, with the use of PhotoShop, they aren’t even real.  Don’t do all the talking, either. Ask your children questions about what they’ve watched, and get them to form their own opinions based on the tools of interpretation you’ve shown them.

News outlets, whether they’re online, televised, or in print, are something else that we should get our kids to think about carefully. Instill in them the importance of getting their news from several different sources, and inform them that many news channels make mountains out of molehills in order to attract more viewers. Explain things like shock value as well.

If you aren’t yet convinced about the importance of educating children about mass media, especially in a world in which we are always connected to, thanks to the Web 2.0, then consider this: If we don’t teach our kids how to read the media, then we will again have to contend with mass hysteria in generations to come. For more information on the media and how it effects our lives check out Mediated: How the Media Shapes Our World and How We Live in It.

Author Bio:

Nancy Farrell is a freelance writer and blogger. She regularly contributes to the criminal justice degrees, which discusses about child abuse, human rights, divorce, and crime related articles. Questions or comments can be sent to: nancy.farrell13@gmail.com.

We would like to thank our guest writers on the Online Security Authority Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in this Online World, we all live in… help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

© 2006 – 2011 Online Security Authority

OSA Technorati Tags: Adults, Advertisements, Age Group, Bikes, Express, Girls, Images, Internet News, Juggernaut, Media Literacy, Neighborhood, Niche, Parenting Strategy, parents, Personal Opinion, Risk, sexual predators, Target Marketing, Teaching Literacy, Watching Tv

In part 3 of the Dangerous Drugs and Their Availability on the Web, we will review some of the previously mentioned techniques on how to help your kids stay away from drugs as well as introduce a few other suggestions as to how you can help your kids avoid buying and learning about drugs online.

The Top 7 Ways to Keep Your Kids Drug-Free Online

1. The best thing you can do is to talk to your kids. When they know what you expect of them they are much more likely to avoid buying drugs on the Internet. Kids need to have your trust and respect, and when they do they are less likely to get involved in drugs. Make sure you explain to them why getting drugs online is twice as worse as buying drugs locally, due to the fact that they come from foreign places.
2. Monitor their online activity. Keep in mind that kids know how to make sure their parents don’t find out what they are doing online if they are up to something so it may be difficult but it is possible. Also, check their browsing history on their cellphones too. Many computers offer parental controls that are already built in so you can easily track what they are doing and who they are talking with.
3. Computer usage and location. Keep the computers in public locations. If possible, make the home computer a desktop computer and not a laptop so your kids can’t take it with them and access the internet in their bedrooms. Giving your children a set time allowance will make them be more productive and will prevent them from spending hours on end surfing the web. Some computers come with parental controls that let you limit the time your child is on the computer but others may require special software.
4. Monitor your credit card and prescription drug inventory. Make sure you know where every purchase is from, this will easily let you tell if your child is using your credit card to buy drugs online. If you child has his or her own credit card, make sure their account is linked to yours so you too can monitor their purchases online. Another important thing is to keep an inventory if the prescription drugs you have in the home. These usually are where kids start getting their drugs, then when the supply runs out they go to online pharmacies which can be much more dangerous. Keeping a detailed inventory of your medicine may be time consuming and seem not worthwhile but it could mean life or death for your children.
5. Install filters on the computer. Filters can prevent certain websites and content. So if your child searches for online prescription drugs, they are blocked from viewing the results and they can go no further. These can be a headache as they sometimes block normal websites so you may have to grant permission occasionally to websites that are safe for viewing. Filters can however be an effective tool in keeping your kids drug-free online.
6. Help your kids to be active. When your child sits at home all day the chances of them finding or searching for material online about drugs goes up. Help your teen get a job or sign them up for a summer camp. When your child is involved they are much less likely to spend their free time messing around with drugs. Limiting the amount of time on the computer will make them seek out other forms of entertainment.
7. Watch for suspicious packages with no labels, also watch for capsules that contain clumpy white powder. Many will be made in China or Thailand, look for any foreignness. Make sure you are the one to pick up the mail and packages, if your kid is waiting for something have them open it up with you.

There are many techniques for you to keep your kids off drugs and away from websites where they can learn more about and buy them. They won’t be easy to implement but they are definitely worth the time and effort. The ease and availability of getting drugs has gone way up because of the internet, and so parents also have to step up their awareness and monitoring of their children’s activities. Good luck, and happy parenting!

About the Author: Parker Boyack is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them search for online degrees that can help them reach their goals.

We would like to thank our guest writers on the Online Security Authority Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in this Online World, we all live in… help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

© 2006 – 2011 Online Security Authority

OSA Technorati Tags: Access Internet, Bedrooms, Buy Drugs Online, Cellphones, Computer Laptop, Computer Usage, computers, Credit Card, Dangerous Drugs, Desktop Computer, Home Computer, Internet Kids, Kids Learning, Online pharmacy, parental controls, parents, Pharmacology, Prescription Drug, Seven, Special Software, Surfing The Web, Time Allowance

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University released a surgery a few years back about the likelihood of your teens getting access to prescription drugs and where they usually find them. The first and biggest find was that for the first time ever, teens said it was easier to get prescription drugs than it was to get alcohol.

Sadly, most teens said they got these drugs from home, and others got them from friends who also got their drugs from home. The fact is many parents are somewhat careless as to the storage and tracking of the drugs they have in the home. Parents need to be more cautious and need to keep prescription drugs in a safe location, as well as an inventory to make sure they know where the pills are going.

This survey was done a few years back, and since then the purchases of prescription drugs online has increased. One teenager shared his experience with online drugs. “I was always searching [the Internet] for new ways to get high,” said Sean, a 17 year old being treated at Pathway Family Center in Indianapolis. “My friends and I ordered ‘legal marijuana,’ which was terrible. I found out how to grow marijuana, how to make it more potent, how to crush pills. I linked my IM [instant messenger] to my favorite drug sites so that my friends could find them, too. When my parents wanted to drug test me, I found out online how to detox so I could get around the tests and show up clean.” Parents need to realize that there are many websites out there that teach your children bad things. The Internet is a great resource when used correctly and therefore banning it completely is a mistake, but parents would also be making a mistake thinking teens won’t find websites that encourage and promote drug use.

Youtube contains many instructional how-to videos, and some teach your children how to get high off common household products. John P. Walters, Director of the National Drug Control Policy said, “The Internet can teach teens how to buy or make drugs, how to use different drugs and other products to get high, and how to beat drug tests.” It can be pretty easy for any teenager looking to get high or experiment with his friends.

Again, there is no need to block Youtube and Google, but keeping track of the browsing history will let you see what your child is up to. Many kids know how to delete the browsing history so if you notice your kid has been on the computer all day but there is no history, obviously they are up to something. Kids also can use their cellphones to surf the internet and find drugs, so make sure you know their browsing history and contacts on their phone as well.

Another study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found 365 websites selling prescription drugs online. Of those 365 websites, 85% of them did not require a prescription. Sometimes teens don’t even need to put in fake information. One 13 year old girl was able to go on a website and buy Ritalin using her real information. There is a lot out there when it comes to learning about or purchasing drugs. Parents can only do so much, but it really comes down to the decisions your children make. Parents can however make the situation much more tempting when they leave prescription drugs in easily accessible places, and also when they give their children unlimited access to a computer in a hidden area. Make sure to keep the computer in a popular area like the kitchen or the family room. This way your kids won’t be tempted to visit any drug related sites if they know their Dad could come around the corner any second. Also, many computers especially Macs let parents control the time usage of their kids.

When given only an hour each day, kids will spend more time on important things when they know their time is limited. When they have a computer in their room to surf whenever they like kids are much more likely to search for things like drugs, pornography and other topics. Make sure you stay on top of where your kids go on the internet and what they are doing. Keep in mind that whether we want to admit it or not, they are much smarter than us when it comes to technology so we have to be careful about what they tell us and the reality of the situation.

About the Author: Parker Boyack is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them search for online degrees that can help them reach their goals.

We would like to thank our guest writers on the Online Security Authority Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in this Online World, we all live in… help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

© 2006 – 2011 Online Security Authority

OSA Technorati Tags: Addiction And Substance Abuse, Center On Addiction And Substance Abuse, Columbia University, Dangerous Drugs, Drug Use, Drugs Online, Home Parents, Household Products, How To Grow Marijuana, Indianapolis, Instant Messenger, Legal Marijuana, Likelihood, Most Teens, National Center On Addiction And Substance Abuse, New Ways, Online Drugs, Pills, Prescription Drugs, Searching The Internet, YouTube

Only until a few years ago, teens who were curious about experimenting with drugs had to wait until someone offered them drugs. It was almost impossible for you to go out searching for drugs, yet with the Internet that has now become a reality. The fact is, almost any type of drug can be purchased online, from Cocaine to Viagra. Parents need to realize that teens have easy access to drugs. Parents need to talk to their children to alert them of the increased dangers of drugs purchased online.

A simple google search for “buy marijuana online” comes up with a plethora of websites selling potto anyone with a credit card. Every single website that sells online drugs will claim to be 100% legal and safe, but then again who in their right mind would trust an online (and illegal) drug dealer? Online dealers will say what their customers want to hear so they can justify their purchases. Teens must be aware of this, as they can be somewhat gullible especially when they are experimenting with drugs for the first time.

Some drugs sold online are actually legal, including a new popular drug amongst teens called Salvia as well as an herbal form of Ecstasy that produces the same results with a legal herbal mixture. Also, many online drug dealers are from foreign countries, so they don’t have to pay attention to U.S. laws. This can make teens believe that they are doing nothing wrong, however they are putting themselves in more danger by experimenting with new drugs that come from foreign places. Most foreign countries, especially China and Thailand, produce designer drugs which are modified forms of drugs that are legal simply because the legislation process is too slow and cannot keep up with all the new drug compounds.

It is far too easy nowadays for any teen looking to spice up a party to go online and buy some pills for his friends. Make sure your kids know the increased dangers of taking these pills purchased from foreign drug dealers. They should already know the risks associated with local drug dealers and gateway drugs, but it is also important for them to recognize the increased dangers with the new designer drugs.

Some warning signs for parents who might have a child struggling with drugs can be:

• Your child has changed their group of friends and hasn’t told you about them, nor will they allow you to meet them. You might also notice a change in appearance and/or attitude.
• Your child steals money from you, including your credit card to make purchases online. (Make sure you keep close track of your money to see if any unexplained charges come up.)
• Your teenager has become more secretive and they want more privacy.
• Your child loses interest in their old hobbies and activities and their grades drop

There are many other signs to watch out for, but the best tool is constant communication. Make sure you are available to talk with your child and make sure they know you care about them and their life. If they trust you they are much more willing to tell you about something they may have done or have been offered.

It is very hard for parents to control their children’s lives, especially their online activities. Therefore, constant but not pervasive monitoring of your children’s social activities is a must. If necessary, download a software that tracks the internet usage of your teen so you can check to see what websites they are visiting. No matter what you do however, there is a possibility that your child might encounter these online drugs. The best way to prevent any future problems is to make sure they are educated about the dangers. If they respect and trust you you can be confident that they won’t cause or create any problems.

About the Author: Parker Boyack is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com.
My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them search for online degrees that can help them reach their goals.

We would like to thank our guest writers on the Online Security Authority Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in this Online World, we all live in… help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

Some Related Info | CyberParenting | Dangerous-Drugs | Dangerous Behaviors |

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

© 2006 – 2011 Online Security Authority

OSA Technorati Tags: Buy Marijuana, Cocaine, Dangerous Drugs, Dangers Of Drugs, Designer Drugs, Drug Compounds, Drugs Online, Easy Access, Ecstasy, Foreign Countries, Forms Of Drugs, google, Google Search, Herbal Mixture, Illegal Drug, Legislation Process, New Drugs, Online Drugs, Online Pills, Plethora