What a wonderful book! Our children's safety should be one of our major concerns in our lives. With all of the ways a predator can get to our children, a book like this helps us stop one way they can harm our kids. It is also a good reference/source in suggestions on which software is available, how to find it and how to use it, as well as web sites to visit. Many times I have wanted a software but wasn't sure which one was the right one for me. This book helps eliminate those types of questions. I do wonder just how many parents don't know about the helpful software available or that come with the computers of today since parents are so tied to computers through work. I am 55, I have a child that is 40 and that child has a 4 year old. All three generations know and use the ways Mr. Johnson has described in this book. For those who are not computer-wise, this is a MUST HAVE book even if you don't have children.

Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet talks of VOIP and IRC. These are two programs that I was aware of but have never explored. With this book as a guide, I would be willing to try them out. The book also talks about being careful with what information you or your child provides at Internet sites. A generation or two ago, we used a Public Library to ferret out the information. With anything and everything being so easily found on the web, the only difference between the library and the Internet is the quickness with which the information can be obtained. The same goes for cyber-bullying. I grew up with a bully bothering me and the kids of today get it on the web. Both these problems have always been with us, it is just easier with the net and something that children as well as adults need to not have in their homes.

Mr. Johnson has provided two things I will be using in the future. The first is how to view headers in Outlook. I had always been able to do it in Outlook Express but when I switched to Outlook, I was lost. He also talked about www.cybertipline.com. This site has information on Child Sexual Exploitation and how to report it. There you can also read about Amber Alerts, Megan's Law and ways you can get involved.

Windows Messenger Service not to be confused with MSN Messenger, Internet properties, pop-up blocker, five pages of Internet Chat Room Acronyms, and content advisor are a part of the short list of topics Mr. Johnson has included in this book. And the last chapters of the book talk of various types of software and how to use them such as filtering, email junk, firewalls, antivirus, malicious and windows update. For these chapters alone, "Keep Your Kids Safe.." is worth the price of $19.99 US. And don't forget to visit http://www.keepyourkidssafe.com/index.htm to read about the author and his very important reason for writing such a highly useful book.

KEP YOUR KIDS SAFE ON THE INTERNET
By Simon Johnson
Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Osborne
© 2004
ISBN: 0-07-225741 - 5


A Book Review by Frank Dobrowolski
For the Hobbyists Unlimited Computer Club Jan. 2005

AND KEEP YOURSELF SAFE TOO!

While this book is aimed at the parents of young children, most of the Internet dangers and protective measures that it discusses are pertinent for all users of whatever age. In fact, the author even has implemented similar procedures for business and governmental agencies. The book has received a host of favorable reviews from publications and people worldwide.

The scope of the book is indicated by the Chapter titles:

1. What Is The Internet.?
2. What Are You Threats To Your Children And How Serious On Day.
3. How To Avoid And Reduce The Risks To Your Kids.
4. Content-Filtering Software.
5. Using Filtering Software To Keep Out The Junk Mail.
6. Internet Firewall Software.
7. Antivirus Software.
8. Malicious Software Detection.
9. Putting Your Defense Into Place.
Appendix - info on various Spyware & Adware programs

The book points out that malicious Internet efforts targeted at children are frighteningly common, with its web site, www.KeepYourKidsSafe.com, offering the following data:

* 1 in 5 children (5.7 million children) have received unwanted sexual solicitation in the past year.
* 20% (1-1.5 million children) were "very or extremely upset" about receiving such solicitations.
* 25% (5.4 - 6.4 million children) received "unwanted exposure to pictorial images of naked people or of people having sex".
* 71% of "unwanted exposures" occurred while the children were searching or surfing the Internet.
* 67% of the unwanted exposures happened at home.
* 80% of children between ages 7 and 18 in the USA receive inappropriate spam each day

Obviously anyone who has youngsters [including visiting grandkids] using their computer should be aware of the dangers and the protective steps available. But we all need to protect ourselves from the various intrusions and dangers of the Internet.

Some of the recommended protective steps are:

1. Avoid presenting personal information unless the site has a legitimate use for it.
2. Don't assume anyone on the Internet is truthfully identifying themselves - it is too easy to adopt an alias identity and personality
3. Don't give your password to anyone.
4. Do not respond to unsolicited e-mail (SPAM), including not activating an "Unsubscribe" option. This is used to identify valid e-mail addresses.
5. Use a nickname or alias for a screen name
6. In Chat rooms, on Message Boards and elsewhere your postings can be read by anyone who can access the site.
7. Discuss with children the dangers of the Internet
8. Don't post personal pictures on the Internet
9. The Internet is global and is *not* governed by any entity. This means that there are no limitations or checks on the information posted and accessible to Internet users.

The book has an extensive discussion on Malware - software that invades the user's privacy or attacks the computer. The variety of ways used to obtain information from our computers is almost staggering. One cannot read this book without resolving to maintain Anti-Virus, Firewall and Spyware Protection programs

There is a good presentation on ways to filter the content reaching our computers, including browser and e-mails filters - make sure to implement these protections. The book presents an extensive detailing and comparison of protection software products and filtering options inlcuding Firewall programs, Anti-Virus programs and Malicious Software protection programs. The last chapter discusses how to put these various defenses into place and keep them effective.

The Appendix includes a description of many malware programs. This a good reference when using the protection programs which usually list suspicious programs and allow the user to select whether or not to delete them.

Another interesting site covering much of this material is Are Your Children Safe from Spyware? at http://www.pcpitstop.com/spycheck/kids.asp. That site also lists Anti-spyware resources on www.pcpitsop.com .

Free eTrust EZ Antivirus Software for one year is offered with Purchase of the Book--a $29.95 USD value. However, it appears one only needs to go to the Computer Associates website, www.ca.com/freeav, to get the free download

This book is available through the Bergen County Library system, www.bccls.org.
It also is available at Ridgewood's Bookends at the List Price of $19.99 and
at Amazon.com for $ 13.59 plus S/H - waived for orders over $25.

The title indicates that the book is for parents, and the book certainly answers questions people will have about protecting their children on the internet. But the book is an excellent guide for all. I have been using the net for 8 years now, and try to keep myself informed, but I have learnt stuff from this book.

This well-written book is essential reading for every net user.

Simon Johnson has done a very good job at giving an overall view of the danger that children (and adults too) face using the Internet. Thankfully he does not only show the dangers, but he gives a lot of ideas on what as a parent you should do to protect children. Simon reviews a lot of software, shows the flaws and benefits of the many items out there that we may want to use and or avoid.

Simon keeps the writing simple and basic. It's not so high tech that he talks over your head, and he still gets his point across.

I certainly would say this is a good book for getting ideas on protecting your children on the net.

With this book, Simon has continued the good work he has done on his own web site at http://keepyourkidssafe.com/. I recognize his name as one of the good influences of the Internet.

Simon Johnson picked an opportune time to launch his book. The arrests of the paedophiles and Current Affairs Programs segments on chat rooms predators underline the dangers that can exist on the Internet. The book or rather guide certainly covers the risks to our Kids and pulls no punches. It is an excellent resource for any parent concerned with their child's assess to the Internet. It has all the helpful hints on protecting children from the risks.