You see it in the news more and more, our children on social networking sites being preyed on by men for illicit encounters or worse. Criminals no longer need to hide in the woods or claim they’ve lost a puppy to ensnare children, they can simply hide behind a fake name on a computer. So how can we keep our kids safe from online predators?

The computer age moves very rapidly, because of this many parents don’t keep up and kids do. This does not mean however that parents cannot keep their children safe online. To help keep your children safe while surfing online here are some tips:

* Don’t set up computers behind closed doors, but put them in public areas. With mom and dad spur-radically walking by and checking on them kids are less likely to visit wrong web sites.

* Talk to kids about the risks of meeting people online and revealing personal information online. And keep the lines of communication with your children open. Ask about the Web sites they visit and who they talk to online. Parents should have the same amount of interest in a child?s online friends as they do for friends kids bring home.

* Children need set rules of where they can visit online and what to do if inappropriate sites are accidently visitted.

* Inappropriate sites can be limitted by installing a filter.

A high speed filter called Clean Internet can keep out unwanted adult content. In order to get around the filter an e-mail or call to technical support is required. Clean Internet is easy to install and doesn’t slow down your internet connection.

The service is compatible with wireless, dial-up, cable and DSL providers as well as both Windows and Mac computers. If a child wants to view content from a blocked site, like a social networking page, he or she must first request permission from parents. Adults simply e-mail technical support and, within minutes, appropriate content can be viewed by the entire family.

No one wants their child to make the headlines in this manner. Don’t let your children go unprotected. Sign up for Clean Internet?s high-speed Internet filtering today.

I am getting really fed up with the policies at work.  Previously, we were able to visit MySpace and Facebook on our breaks at work with no problems.  Lately though, they have changed that policy and we are not allowed to anymore.

But, I think I might have found a way around it.  You see, I found some new Myspace proxy websites that allow you to visit those sites you want without leaving a trace.  Sure, I would expect using a tool like this would allow some abuse, but so can driving a car - we just have to act responsibly.

For those of you in school, you can bypass school filter with a proxy website as well. 

I have often wondered if you are truly safe on a public computer.  I am thinking of those computers that you find on campuses, Internet cafés, and libraries.  Quite often I see people checking their bank balances, paying bills, and visiting other sensitive sites.

But is that information safe?

Well, I have to wonder.  I mean, if I really wanted to find out what the last person did on a public computer I am sure I could.  It would be as simple as finding the browser history and taking a look (chances are they didn’t delete it anyway).

But how can you protect yourself?

Well, you can use a free proxy server to ensure that your sensitive information is never on the public computer that you are using.  The information is only stored on the free proxy site temporarily and then is deleted when you are done.

So next time you are using a public computer, be sure to protect your sensitive information by using a free online proxy server - you will be happy that you did.