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Parents Concerned But Not Too Concerned About Online Safety
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2009-03-17
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Though most parents worry about online strangers, predators, pornography, and violence, only a third of them actually use parental controls to help ensure their children's safety when using the Internet.
 | | Parents Concerned But Not Too Concerned About Online Safety |  |
According to a nationwide survey conducted by Panda Security, 71 percent of parents said they speak with their children about online safety. Most of them though, apparently leave it at that. Only 35 percent install parental controls on the computers their kids have access to, and only 32 percent were aware of such tools.
The survey was conducted in conjunction with the Protect Our Kids on the Web campaign, which offers free online resources, games and videos to increase awareness about online safety. In all, 2,372 participants were queried.
Over half (53%) ranked inappropriate contact with strangers or child predators, as well as pornographic and violent content as the biggest online threats to children. Twenty-seven percent worried most that their kids would give out personal information and 17 percent cited viruses, worms and other malware as the biggest threat.
Over a third said they actively monitor their children's online activity; another third monitor sometimes, and one quarter never monitor them. Only 58 percent were aware if their kids chatted online, and of that group, only half (52%) knew their kids' usernames. Only 14 percent said they do not know whom their child is talking to.
Only seven percent said either they or their child have been the victim of an online attack.
Panda Security COO Penny Sherstobitoff says online monitoring tools are useful but only part of an overall solution for protecting kids online.
"What's most important is that parents maintain an open dialogue with their children about the Internet and how they use it, whether for entertainment, social networking or learning," she said. "The Protect Our Kids on the Web program is designed to grow a community of concerned caregivers that want to help improve the online environment for our children."
About the Author:
SecurityProNews is a daily online and email publication focusing on internet security issues.
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