Larry Magid’s presentation at CUE 2012 (Computer Using Educators) Annual Conference, March 17, 2012
Online Safety 3.0: From Fear to Empowerment
Everyone has a story to tell about safe and respectful use of technology, and those who tell it via video could win a ,000 prize from Internet security company Trend Micro.
The What’s Your Story? contest, now in its third year, will award one ,000 grand prize and six other cash category prizes to individuals and schools that submit winning videos.
Videos should be short (30 seconds to 2 minutes) and, as you create your video, you’re encouraged to “keep in mind that these videos will be used to help educate kids and families and promoted by members of the judging panel.” In other words, you’re not just entering a contest, you’re creating a video that could be used by some of the leading non-profit Internet safety organizations and media companies (including Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo) to educate other Internet users all over the world.
Categories for this year’s contest are:
Eligibility
The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada (except Quebec) age 13 or older. Youth are especially encouraged to submit a video and teachers can enter classroom video projects. The deadline is April 3rd, 2012. Contest rules are more details are here.
Judges this year will include representatives from several non-profit organizations and social media companies including ConnectSafely.org where I serve as co-director.
You can view all of last year’s winners here or just scroll down for last year’s grand prize winner.
Talk by Larry Magid, co-director of ConnectSafely.org at Russia’s Safer Internet Day – Moscow, February 6, 2012
It is a great pleasure to be here. Even though I grew up during the cold war, I have always been an admirer of the Russian people and the many accomplishments of this great society. Ironically, the Cold War may have been an important reason why the United States is as prominent as it is in technology. Your successful launch of Sputnik in 1957 was the inspiration behind our own space program which led to many technological achievements in both countries.
Internet a Product of the cold war
Even the Internet was a byproduct of the cold war. Created by an agency of the United States military in the late 1960’s, it was designed as a decentralized network so that it would be invulnerable to a Soviet attack.
That decentralization is one of the reasons we enjoy such diversity and freedom. No one country owns the Internet and while Americans no longer have to worry about a Soviet attack, freedom loving people around the world do have to worry about those who seek to censor the Internet.
Regulation and freedom
I’ve only been in Russia a few days, but already I see some similarities between our two peoples. Even though our histories are very different, we seem to have arrived at a similar place. We are both tech savvy nations that love our freedom and love our gadgets. There are entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts among us both, as well as some who are a bit less exuberant about all the benefits of technology. And, in both the U.S. and Russia there are those who err on the side of caution and those who like to – as we say in America – push the envelope. And though we come from very different traditions, both of our nations have a bit of tension between government and industry.
It’s by no means unusual for elected officials to be concerned about young people’s use of technology and to draft legislation to help protect our youth. But as you consider such legislation, remember that everything has its consequences. Sometimes the best meaning laws can actually do more harm than good. We know that in the United States because we have had a long history of regulation and industry self-regulation including some laws that have been overturned by our Supreme Court because they violated our precious First Amendment that guarantees all Americans freedom of speech.
Internet’s impact
The Internet has an enormous impact on all aspects of life including commerce, journalism and education and no single group has been more adaptive to technology than our youth. They have not just joined the technology revolution – they are leading it.
Young entrepreneurs
Just last week Facebook announced that it would float shares on the public stock market and is expected to raise between and 10 billion to become possibly a 0 billion company. It was founded 8 years ago by Mark Zuckerberg while he was still a teenager. He is now only 27. Soon there may be as many as a thousand new millionaires in my community, bidding up the price of housing. Most of them are under 30.
Both Google and Yahoo were started by Stanford University students and even Apple – which is now the world’s most valuable company — was started by a young Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak when they were in their 20s
Innovation comes from freedom
It’s hard to know what sparks technological revolutions, but it’s no coincidence that they came from a country that values freedom of speech. Silicon Valley – where much of this innovation is taking place – is especially strong when it comes to freedom and tolerance.
Evolution of Internet Safety
I spent most of career as a technology journalist but around 1994, I turned my attention to Internet safety by writing the first popular Internet safety educational booklet on behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). There was no research at the time. I guess I can be forgiven for basing my advice on what I thought to be the situation. Now, thanks to a great deal of research, we can base advice on actual risks and a real understanding of how young people use technology and social media. For the past several years I have been a member of the board of directors of NCMEC which works very closely with industry in the United States to assure compliance with the law requiring them to report child sexual abuse issues and other online sexual crimes against children to the National Center which, in turn, sends the worst cases to law enforcement.
ConnectSafely
In 2006 I joined with Anne Collier, who you will hear from later, to form an NGO called ConnectSafely.org. Our NGO works very closely with the leading youth risk experts in the United States and other countries, including the federally funded Crimes Against Children Research Center and the E.U. Kids Online researchers, who work out of the London School of Economics.
Three have been phases of Internet safety
Education works
We now know that the vast majority of youth are using the Internet safely. The number of problems, relative to the number of users, is quite low. It’s certainly lower than problems associated with life in the physical world. For example we hear a lot of about cyberbullying, but physical bullying in school is actually more common. We hear about predators, but 80% of all sex crimes against children involve adults and children who know each other in the real world. The perpetrators of these crimes could be teachers, clergy, police officers, doctors, child care workers who anyone else including, sadly the child’s parents or friends of their parents. Cases where a child is exploited based on an initial contact via the Internet are rare and almost always involve the child taking an extreme risk. Still, one exploited child is one too many which is why we must develop programs that target at-risk youth.
Despite what some people say, research from the best scholars in the U.S. and Europe have found that predators very rarely find victims online. They find them the old fashioned way – in their local communities.
Child rights
It is popular to quote the U.N Convention on the Rights of the Child when we talk about protecting children, but we must not ignore article 13 which says “The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.”
Child porn is a serious and special problem
It is important not to confuse child pornography or child abuse images with Internet safety. While the distribution of these terrible and illegal images may take place online, the crime always begins offline with an adult who has physical access to a child – often a child they know, and frequently their own children or children of family members.
The creation and distribution of child abuse images is a horrible crime, but it’s very rare for children to actually find these images unless they are being sent these images by someone they know or someone who is grooming them. It is important not to confuse child pornography – which is illegal in most countries including the U.S. and Russia, with adult sexually explicit material which, generally, is not prohibited by law.
Sexual exploitation is at an all-time low
While we talk about protecting children online it is important to know that during the very years that the Internet has grown, from 1992 to 2008, child sexual abuse in United States has decreased by 58%, according the Crimes Against Children Research Center.
Partnership
At this conference we will be discussing partnerships between industry, government and civil society, but there is one very important group that often doesn’t get to go to conferences and that is the hundreds of millions of young people who use the Internet. They MUST have a voice and they must have the freedom to use the Net to express themselves, and move us all forward into what we hope becomes truly the golden century of international cooperation.
There are problems and we are all aware of them: pornography, bullying, adults who would harm children, but we must not let these problems take our attention away from the power and potential of the Internet and we must not exaggerate the problems. As we will show in our workshops, the Internet is a reflection of life and simply amplifies issues that we have been dealing for centuries
Later today, Anne Collier, myself, Daniel Kent and other experts will discuss filtering, laws, digital literacy educational programs and other efforts to help ensure that all of our children are not just safe from bad things but engaged in productive and healthy use of technology.
Thank you very much.
Taking a page from Facebook, Google has now lowered the minimum age required to join Google+ from 18 to 13. They claim that opening Google+ to younger kids will help educate them about social networking. If you’re a regular reader of Yoursphere for Parents or follow any of the work…
Social Networking and Internet Safety Information for Parents
Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have become extremely popular in recent years. They’re a great way to keep family and friends updated on your life and connect with colleagues and communities that share your interests. You can use social networks to build a positive online reputation….
Social Networking and Internet Safety Information for Parents
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that, one, there are safety controls available on gaming consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and two, that there are a number of other safety precautions that both you and your child can take to help protect their safety and privacy…
Social Networking and Internet Safety Information for Parents
When Google launched Google+ in June, 2010, it was for adults only. Now it’s open to anyone 13 or older. The reason Google kept teens off the service at first is not because the social network was ever about what we euphemistically call “adult content,” but because Google wanted to take extra time to get it right before opening the doors to people under 18. After several months of testing, Google thinks it’s reached a good balance. In rolling out the teen welcome mat, Bradley Horowitz, Google’s Product VP for Google+ said, “We want to help teens build meaningful connections online. We also want to provide features that foster safety alongside self-expression. Today we’re doing both, for everyone who’s old enough for a Google Account (13+ in most countries).”
Before opening Google+ for teens, Google consulted with child safety and teen safety experts including ConnectSafely.org, a non-profit Internet safety organization where I serve as co-director along with Anne Collier. And to help parents better understand Google+, Anne Collier and I wrote A Parents Guide to Google Plusand helped Google with its new Google+ Teen Safety Guide.
For the most part, teens’ experience on Google+ will be just like adults, but there are some special safeguards for users under 18. Google didn’t put any major breaks on teens — it’s giving them plenty of freedom to express themselves to their friends or even to the world, but it did make some of the default settings for teens more restrictive than for adults. If teens (or adults) decide to change them, they can, but how a service sets its defaults is very important. It’s a type of recommendation — the company’s way of saying “this is how we think most people should use our service,” and — besides — most people never get around to changing defaults.
Circular logic
Everyone on Google+ is encouraged to create circles where they group their friends and other contacts. You could have a circle of just family members, another circle of schoomates and another circle of people on your soccer team. You can have as many circles as you want and you can call the circles whatever you want to call them. People in your circles are notified, but don’t know the name of the circle(s) you’ve put them in. And it’s asyncronous. You can be one of my circles, but you don’t have to put me in any of yours. In that case, you’d see what I post to circles you’re in but I’d only see what you post to the public, unless you added me to one of your circles.
Circles work the same for teens as they do for adults, but there are some special safeguards consisting of warnings and different default settings.
Safeguards for teens
Teens are temporarily pulled out of a video hangout if someone outside their circles enters
The precautions that Google put into place will help remind teens about safe and appropriate use of Google+ but, as my ConnectSafely co-director Anne Collier pointed out in a blog post, “Just as with most protections and any services on the social Web, these are not about control. Users choose to go with the defaults – or not.” And even services that have strict controls can’t always enforce them. “There’s always a workaround even for the strictest safeguards any parent or site might impose,” said Collier, “including software that disallows social networking sites altogether.”
Disclosure: Larry Magid serves as co-director of ConnectSafely.org which receives financial support from Google, Facebook and other social media companies.
Excuse me for posting about a post. I know it seems strange but I added this FAQ over the weekend and it’s just now getting featured. Because of the way WordPress works it’s down in the stack so a bit harder to find. So, if you haven’t aready done so, please check out our new:
Is my child at risk from online predators?
What are the risks of cyberbullying
What about sexting?
Reputation management
Too much time online
Games
Mobile phones
What special risks are associated with Facebook, Google+ or other social networks.
Guest Post by by Gary Davis
From the hottest new tablet to sleek smartphones and laptops, electronic devices are likely at the top of many consumers’ holiday wish lists this year. Many lucky recipients will immediately load personal data, contact information, photos, and entertainment files onto their new toys, eager to enjoy them right away.
Not so fast! When new devices are completely unprotected, they can be very vulnerable to malware infections or social engineering scams that can steal personal information.
Cybercriminals are widening their nets to target a variety of devices and platforms. McAfee LabsTM is reporting that while Mac and mobile device malware have not hit the mainstream yet, they are increasing, and PC threats continue to escalate significantly.
McAfee encourages consumers to take some simple precautions to keep their digital lives and devices safe through the holidays and into 2012:
1. Protect your data.
In a recent global survey, home Internet users estimated that their digital assets, such as photos, contacts, and entertainment, were worth approximately ,000. In North America, people valued their assets at a higher figure than anywhere else, at nearly ,000.
Consider a product that offers data backup and restore features as well as advanced security that allows you to locate a missing device and remotely lock your device and wipe your data in case of loss or theft.
A Good Housekeeping survey from August 2011 found that 30 percent of people don’t back up their files, and worse, that every three seconds, a hard drive fails.
Don’t take a chance on losing important personal photos, creative works in progress, or financial information.
2. If you have a new Apple computer or device, including an iPad or iPhone, tansfer your PC best practices to your new Apple product.
Unfortunately, the popularity of Apple computers and devices has led to an increase in Mac OS X-targeted threats. According to McAfee Labs, as of late 2010, there were 5,000 pieces of malware targeting the Mac platform and is increasing by 10 percent per month.
As a proactive measure, consider installing security software that’s been developed for the Mac since more threats are being aimed at this platform. Check out Apple’s new iCloud service, which provides tools for syncing, backing up and securing data. Use the native security settings on your new device to require a passcode to access the device.
3. If you have a new PC or netbook, make sure your computer has comprehensive security software – anti-virus software alone is not enough. Be sure to back up regularly.
8,900 new malicious websites are found daily. (McAfee Q2 Threats Report)
Malware cost U.S. consumers .3 billion last year. (Source: Consumer Reports)
Your security software should include at a minimum: real-time anti-virus, a two-way firewall, anti-spyware, anti-phishing and safe search capabilities. Additional levels of protection include anti-spam, parental controls, wireless network protection, and anti-theft protection that encrypts sensitive financial documents.
4. Keep in mind that free security software can leave you unprotected.
Free security software typically provides only basic protection, and is often offered to get you to buy more comprehensive products. A September 2010 USA TODAY survey of 16 anti-virus companies shows that no-cost anti-virus programs generally lack important features such as a firewall, website health checks, and automatic updates.
To ensure the best protection against emerging threats, look for security software that provides real-time protection using data continuously updated in the cloud.
Don’t forget to check whether the security software installed on your new PC is only a trial version. If it is, remember to buy a subscription so that you have continuous protection against newly discovered threats.
5. Search and shop safely.
To help you weed through malicious sites, be sure to use a website safety advisor that can tell you which sites are safe and which are risky. McAfee® SiteAdvisor® software is included in all of the McAfee consumer security suites.
When shopping, look for the McAfee SECURE trustmark, which indicates that the site has passed rigorous daily testing for more than 10,000 known vulnerabilities.
Don’t forget to read the online store’s privacy and security policies before shopping.
6. Be aware of “scareware,” or fake antivirus software.
Scareware tricks users into believing that the computer is infected to get them to “buy” fake anti-virus software and hand over their personal and financial details, usually via pop-ups.
Scareware has grown by more than 600 percent from 2008 to 2010, and is estimated to victimize one million Internet users a day. (McAfee 2010 Report)
In 2011, for the first time ever, fake Mac anti-virus malware has become a tool for cybercriminals. (McAfee Q2 2011 Report)
Don’t buy anti-virus software through pop-up ads. Always purchase your security software from a reputable vendor.
7. Educate your family and pay attention to your children’s online activities.
Keep your computer in a common area and discuss which information is appropriate to share online and which is not, such as addresses, phone numbers, and other private information. Be aware that if your children are surfing the web, they may not be as prudent when clicking on unknown links and sites, potentially increasing the risk of threats.
If you have young kids or tweens, limit their online access and the content they can view. Use a web-filtering tool that protects kids from accessing inappropriate content such as pornography, nudity, online hate groups, school cheating sites, and profanity.
Assume your child knows how to turn off parental controls, so always keep a close eye on their activities.
For more information on keeping your kids safe, visit McAfee’s Family Internet Safety Center at www.mcafee.com/family and check out the 10-Step Internet Safety Plan For Your Family
8. If you or your child has a new gaming or entertainment device (Nintendo Wii or 3DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360), remember that these devices are now Internet-connected and vulnerable to many of the same threats as PCs.
Make reliable back-up copies of games to protect your investment. Take advantage of built-in parental controls that can help shield kids from violent games or limit when the device can be used.
Some multiplayer games allow kids to play with strangers over the Internet, so if you are a parent, consider activity-monitoring tools.
Only connect your device to a secure Wi-Fi network.
Don’t store personal information on your device.
9. If you have a removable storage device, such as a flash drive or portable hard drive, use technologies that will help protect your information.
Consider using a secure, encrypted USB stick, to encrypt your information so it is unreadable if your device is lost or stolen.
Buy security software to protect your portable hard drive, and set a password.
Don’t leave your removable storage device unattended since they are small and easily stolen.
10. If you have a new smartphone or tablet, know that threats aimed at mobile devices are growing.
Mobile malware is on the rise, and Android is now the most targeted platform. According to McAfee, attacks aimed at the Android platform grew 37 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2011.
Malicious applications are a growing threat area, so be careful of third-party applications and only download from a reputable app store. Read other users’ reviews and make sure the app’s access permissions make sense. Make sure you also protect against data loss, by backing up your mobile devices regularly.
To keep personal information, identities, and money protected throughout the New Year, it’s important for consumers to secure their new devices the moment they begin to set them up. The good news is that it’s easier and more cost-effective for families to do so.
Consumers can buy one product to protect all of their devices, and easily manage them from a single dashboard. This should give users the incentive they need to get protection for their new devices from the start—and enjoy worry-free digital lives.
McAfee is the first company to provide protection for all of a consumer’s digital devices—from smartphones and tablets to laptops and PCs — for one price. McAfee All Access costs .99 for individuals and 9.99 for the household version. This represents a substantial cost-savings—as much as 0—when compared to the cost of individual security and data protection for multiple devices. Free lifetime support available 24 hours a day is also included. Check out www.mcafee.com/allaccess to learn more.
Additional Resources:
For the complete list of consumer tips for securing new devices, go to https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/securing-new-devices
Web surfers should visit the McAfee Security Advice Center and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcafee for information on the latest threats, and tips on surfing safely. A New World of Threats and tips on surfing safely.
