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Parents Are Clueless About Their Kids' Online Safety This Summer

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 June 2009, 10:00 CDT

With more kids staying at home this summer, parents may want to reconsider how they plan on monitoring their kids' online behavior.

CUPERTINO, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents, do you know how safe your kids will be online this summer while you're away at work? You probably don't, according to a Trend Micro survey of families across the nation.

Parents may have a misperception of their kids' online safety -- over 65 percent of parents surveyed believe their kids are safe while using the Internet and 60 percent are not concerned about kids coming into contact with cyber threats such as spam and viruses, or inappropriate content such as nudity and gambling through Internet-related devices like game consoles aside from the computer.

While the parental control feature in a security software program is a tool parents can use to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate Web site content - especially since 63 percent of parents surveyed said they will not be sending their kids to daycare or summer camps (and will likely be home alone) this year due to tighter family budgets -- 45 percent of them said they either don't have it, or they don't know if they do. In addition, 30 percent of parents think their kids are protected from inappropriate Web site content.

Perception Versus Reality

Despite such parental confidence in Internet safety, this generation of tech-savvy kids who grew up in front of computers are faced with more online dangers than ever before. According to statistics published by Pediatrics magazine last year, 40 percent of kids between the ages of 10-17 have seen Internet pornography in the past year; two thirds of those exposures were unwanted.

According to the Internet Security Task Force, over 30 percent of teenagers state that visiting social networking sites is one of the top two activities they do while online. But social networking can pose dangers - phishing, a scam that sends a user to a fake Web site designed to steal personal data and information, is on the rise.

Parents should also be aware, not just of the dangers coming through the Internet into their homes, but the types of information their kids are sending out into cyberspace. Close to 75 percent of teens have created content for the Internet(1). They often share personal, confidential information that strangers can access through Web pages, blogs, and social networking profiles.

While technology can't replace awareness and common sense, features such as parental controls can aid parents in keeping abreast of their children's Internet activities and guiding them away from inappropriate content.

Parental Controls are included in Trend Micro(TM) Internet Security and Trend Micro(TM) Internet Security Pro. The feature is also available in Home Network Defender, which received the Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA Media Inc.) Seal of Approval.

Designed by Trend Micro for select Linksys by Cisco routers, Home Network Defender offers Web threat protection and parental controls with enhanced management of the type, age-appropriateness, and time availability of content accessible by devices or PCs on the home network. This allows for focused tracking and management of all network activity coming from both within and outside the home, resulting in greater awareness of user activities and protection for the home and family.

"As a busy, working parent of two 'cyber kids,' I can't always be around to monitor every second of their surfing habits," said Carol Carpenter, vice president of consumer marketing for Trend Micro. "I encourage parents to install a security software program with parental control features that allow them to monitor their kids' online activities even while they're at work or on a business trip. I'm proud to represent a company that delivers smart and effective Internet protection for the home so that families can enjoy online activities to the fullest."

About Trend Micro:

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in Internet content security, focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. A pioneer and industry vanguard, Trend Micro is advancing integrated threat management technology to protect operational continuity, personal information, and property from malware, spam, data leaks and the newest Web threats. Visit TrendWatch at www.trendmicro.com/go/trendwatch to learn more about the latest threats. Trend Micro's flexible solutions, available in multiple form factors, are supported 24/7 by threat intelligence experts around the globe. Many of these solutions are powered by the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network, a next generation cloud-client content security infrastructure designed to protect customers from Web threats. A transnational company, with headquarters in Tokyo, Trend Micro's trusted security solutions are sold through its business partners worldwide. Please visit www.trendmicro.com.

(1) PEW Internet and American Life Project, 2009

SOURCE Trend Micro

Source: PR Newswire

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