Safe Browsing for Everyone!
I know not everyone will agree with me, because the UK as a whole is becoming like the US and demand that someone else(the government) does something about it (and in some cases this isn't even possible), instead of doing something about it ourselves.
Here is what I think.
Ok, after the suicide of
Someone's created a petition asking the government to
"to step in and insist that Ask.fm and similar sites help us protect our young people"However this will only be asking the site to develop a better moderation system on posts. but moderation won't stop the problem of people posting horrible comments, it will just increase the chance of these comments being removed quicker. if they remove anonymous posting and require you to sign up it will only ban the user until they create a new username under another email.
Others are calling for the site to be shut down, this again isn't possible for the UK government as its not hosted in the UK, even if it was the owners could just move to other hosts in a different country.
The best thing the government can do is ask ISP's to block access to these sites, again this then stops everyone in the UK accessing these sites, that mostly have good information and content its just a small handful of users that ruin that for everyone else.
Blocking the sites also goes against what the internet was built for. Freedom of information, the idea that anyone can create content and share it with the world. Just like what I am doing with this blog post and what you do when you express your opinions and comments on Facebook etc..
And there is always a way around ISP blocks using proxies via a server in a country where the site isn't blocked.
So my first solution is for all parents allowing their children to access the internet.
- Get Chrome.
Chrome has Google's Safe Browsing built in that prevents sites trying to steal usernames and passwords etc. . this isn't blacklisting the web sites from kids but it is a extra layer of protection just in case your kids stumbles upon a phishing site.
www.google.co.uk/chrome - Download Some Extensions
Metacert has a great extension for chrome that enables White-listing /blacklisting of websites for children to view or be blocked.
https://metacert.com/
Use along side AdBlock+ that will prevent adverts showing up.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/adblock-plus/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb
Look through the Chrome Webstore for similar products you might even find something thats useful.
Maybe a Logger that tells you where your kids have been online then you can review the sites and add them to the blacklist if you disapprove. - On Tablets and Phones
Again Metacert has a great range of browsers for tablets and phones https://metacert.com/
Most mobile phone companies have an adult web content block enabled by default, this will prevent kids from accessing some of these sites. check that this is enabled on your kids sim.
Eg. Orange and T-Mobile's filter blocks community forums which I wouldn't class as harmful. however they do. - Advanced Blocking
There is software available to block sites, and most of us have all kinds of security programs that can do it for you Antivirus software and Firewalls that have these settings but no one uses them.
Since Windows Vista there has been a firewall built into windows that can block sites.
Most Wireless Routers also have firewalls, White and Black lists that block sites before it even reached your kids device. Look out your instruction manual's or search the make and model of your router to find out how to set this up.
These will PREVENT your kids from accessing sites that may be harmful,
HOWEVER this is not a full proof solution.
My second and the only full proof way of keeping your kids safe online is. Sitting with them while they are online, then this way you will know that they are safe.
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