Top Five Dangers of Using the Internet

The internet has become so widespread that if even for one hour it stops working, it will cost billions of money. The internet has made our life easier and comfortable. It has become the core of our everyday work as we send emails and messages over the internet, buy and sell things online and watch videos, movies, listen to music, pictures etc. Educational and research material is also available on the internet making it easier to collect information.

People should always be aware of the dangers of the internet and employ certain measure so that you or somebody you care for doesn’t get taken advantage or harassed while using the internet. Children are especially vulnerable to the dangers of the internet and can face threats like cyberbullying, online predators, inappropriate content etc. Approximately 35 percent of teens in the US have admitted that they have witnessed cyberbullying and online predators that it has become a dire situation.

1) Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the most common threat that you may face while using the internet, especially on Social Networking sites. On these sites spreading false rumors about someone is relatively very easy. Also, people can post anonymous posts about someone on various sites without revealing their own identity. Cyberbullies send insulting and hateful messages to their target, spread lies about them and posts nasty comments on social networks making the bullied unable to face the society. 

2) Online Predators

Apart from cyberbullying, the threat of cyber or online predators is very immanent on social network or gaming sites. Sexual harassment or abuse is very common where people stalk kids and take advantage of their innocence and make them indulge in illicit and dangerous behavior on and offline.

3) Theft of personal information

Everything that you post on social networks is permanent and unlike a letter it can’t be torn or burned. Today’s youth don’t understand the damage a random picture or post they uploaded on social networks can affect their life in future. Also if your social account is hacked, the hacker can know all your personal information and harass you. If your bank or credit card details get leaked, you can suffer extensive damage.

4) Pornography and other inappropriate content

Internet is filled with adult and inappropriate content that can steal the innocence and morality of your children. You can find links to adult websites on social media and other sites that your children may like to visit. An accidental click on these links can take them on a trip to the filthy and grotesque world of pornography.

5) Phishing

Tricking people into clicking malicious and dangerous links are called Phishing. Cybercriminals can use this technique to gather personal information about a person and later blackmailing them into doing something illegal or demand money from them.

How to protect kids from the dangers of the internet

Protecting kids from the dangers of the internet is the responsibility of parents even if they have a busy lifestyle. Here are some guidelines by which you can keep your children safe from internet threats-

1) Keep the computer in the living room

By keeping the computer in open in the living room will take away the privacy and their minds won’t wander to exploring inappropriate content where they can be caught.

2) Keep your device's password protected

To avoid children accessing internet without your permission, you should enable password login on the computer, laptop or another device. So every time they want to access the internet, they will have to ask your permission.

3) Block websites

So that your children can’t access inappropriate websites in your absence, you can block websites and adult content from the settings of browsers. Enable only the sites that are safe from sexual or violent content including gaming and social networks.

4) Use PC monitoring or Parental Control Apps

The best way to keep an eye on your kid’s online activities is to install a PC monitoring or mobile monitoring app on the particular device. Many monitoring software is available on the internet both free and premium which will not only block inappropriate content, like pornography, malicious emails, and messages but also give you a report about their online activities.

Top parental software to help avoid dangers of the internet

1) For Windows PC - Qustodio

Qustodio is the best third party parental control app that is available for free as well as premium versions. It is available for a range of operating systems like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android etc. it is the best free PC monitoring tool for Windows and is very easy to use. Qustodio has 26 filters with which you can allow or restrict access to various sites for your children and monitor their online activities.

Features:-

• It allows tracking of online activities of a person.
• You can block indecent content like pornography on your PC.
• Set time limit on usage of internet.
• Control games and apps that your kids can run.
• It provides live notification to parents if kids access indecent content.

Price: - Available in free as well as premium versions. The cost of premium version is $40 per year.

2) For Mac - Content Barrier

Content Barrier is one of the best parental control software for Mac that enables you to block access to inappropriate sites, set time limits and monitor logs of your child’s online activity. It is very easy to use.

Features:-

• It helps you block specified websites like- adult or pornography sites.
• Blocks email, chats or applications for preventing from cyberbullying and online predators.
• Set limits on the internet usage time for your kids.
• It sends a detailed report of online activities of your child.

Price: - $49.99

3) For Mobile - Spyzie

Spyzie is the best monitoring and spying tool for parents to monitor the activities of their kids. It is available for all mobile devices using Android or iOS. It helps parents protect their children from online threats like cyberbullying, pornography and other threats.

Features:-

• It helps in tracking real-time Location of the device that your kid carries.
• Records voice call logs, messages logs and monitor online activities of our child.
• It sends reports on a timely basis.
• Sends browser history

Price: One month - $29.99