"Site spamming" is similar to email spamming but instead of bombarding your child’s email box, these sinister sites use trickery and deception to lure your children and then bombard their monitors with filth. Once a child is in their Web site trap, there appears to be no escape because closing one window only opens another with even more graphic images.
This third type of adult site is the topic of this newsletter.
We hope to answer three of your questions.
This third type of adult site is the topic of this newsletter.
We hope to answer three of your questions.
- How do these "porn predators" operate?
- How do we stop them, when they attempt to use the first amendment as a torture device for our children?
- How to you escape from their porn window trap?
How Porn Predators Operate
Let’s begin with the first question. These sites are after bulk viewership, just like the email spammers. They hope that by getting ten million viewers, one of them will be foolish enough to submit his credit card.
However, in their mad rush to lure eyeballs, they have abandoned all connection to the truth. They want people to think that their site is anything other than a porn site, until it is too late. They use the Internet’s version of the classic "bait and switch" swindle once used by dishonest car dealers.
Back then, unscrupulous auto dealers would advertise a certain car for a ridiculously low price as the "bait", all the time knowing that it was not really available. When the buyer would show up, the dealer would "switch" them into buying another car. So many innocent car buyers were cheated that this evil publicity tactic was outlawed.
Even though this "con-job" is now illegal in selling cars, it’s become the favorite tactic of porn predators to sell porn. SafeSurf was alerted that a child innocently searching for "American Doll Furniture" brought up several of these porn predators.
By misleading the public, the porn predators hurt everyone. The legitimate doll furniture sites loose traffic to liars, people waste time going to sites where they do not want to be, but worst of all, the simple act of searching for Barbie accessories can now put a child at harms door.
Another practice of unscrupulous porn sites is to purchase the domain names of child-oriented Web sites that have gone out of business in an effort to skim the traffic from links that have not been updated. For example, someone puts up a page filled with links of great places for a child to visit. As does sometimes happen, one of the places closes down and loses its domain name. Immediately, a porn predator snatches it up. However, the owner of the page of child links is still unaware that anything has happened. Only after scores of innocent children have been ensnared, by the newly redirected porn link, is the problem discovered.
In either case, the adult site is set up like a spider trap for the unwary. Closing one browser window only causes another browser window to open up. Sometimes, this is designed to continue forever. This results in a state of panic in the child who is aware of no remedy other than shutting off the computer.
How to Stop Porn Predators
Now that we are aware of the problem, how do we deal with porn predators?
First, by realizing that they are liars and con-artists. They are not who the first amendment was created to protect. In fact, their actions have nothing to do with free speech and everything to do with child endangerment.
The first amendment gives someone the right to publish any book, but not the right to smack a child with it.
Secondly, we must take united action. Every time you encounter a link that should lead to a child’s site but leads to a porn site, contact the owner of the search engine or Web page where you saw it.
Here is an example letter that we used to encourage a library to update a bad link.
Dear Webmaster, This email is to warn you that an outdated children’s page is being used to point to pornography (explicit sex) sites. Please remove the page or update it. The page is http://www.nameofsite.ca/tis/main.html The link reads: Fun & Interesting Carols Clipart Collection Looking for clipart to put on your web page, newsletter, poster, etc? Carol provides great clipart that is both free and not copyright protected! It now points to a pornography site. The previous site may have moved or gone out of business. Thank you for taking the time to protect children. SafeSurfing to you, SafeSurf |
Google.com has instituted an excellent feature called SafeSearch Filtering. It can be activated through the preferences link located right next to the Google Search button. Always take the time to turn on "Strict filtering" before letting children search the web. Teach your kids to check that this feature is turned on.
THIS IS YOUR INTERNET!
SafeSurf is here to unite and help you, not do everything for you. We have been at the center of this battle since 1995, but without your active help, families everywhere will lose the right to be secure in their homes. Your individual deeds will make the difference.
Email owners of all the search engines and encourage them to set up a Web page to report deceptive porn sites. Email every site, good or bad, and encourage them to obtain a SafeSurf rating for their site. Email your congressional representatives and tell them that instead of focusing on censorship that they should focus on regulating adult sites that lure people with "bait and switch" tactics and do not rate themselves so that they can be seen by filtering software.
If you do this, you will discover that a well-worded email can have a greater effect than a thousand signature petition.
SafeSurf Tools: The Special Command to Escape the Porn Window Trap
Porn predators depend upon both the apathy of parents and on the fact that most people only know a little about operating their computers. Overcoming apathy is up to you, but SafeSurf’s mission is to provide you with the tools and knowledge to fight back.
With this in mind, here’s an important trick to break the cycle of never ending browser windows on PCs. Whenever you want to close a browser window, get in the habit of pressing the CONTROL key and the W key together. The CONTROL key is the one which reads "CTRL". It is located at the bottom corner of your keyboard.
If you happen into a porn trap, hold down the CTRL key and quickly tap the W key several times. You should be free of the invading windows in a few seconds.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Predators Growing More Cunning
As the result of the original column, SafeSurfers were able to effectively escape the porn window trap. Yet, many predators have now discovered a new way to lock you in. So, you may encounter Web sites that generate windows that won’t close with the CTRL/W command. Worry not, because as the porn predators grow more clever, SafeSurf allows you to keep up.
We now introduce the Super Close Command. This feature can do more than just zap relentless pop-up windows; it can be used to close programs and even shutdown Windows. It is triggered by holding the Alternate key and tapping the Function 4 key. The Alternate key is located near the CTRL key and reads "ALT" and the Function 4 can be found in the group of keys across the top of your keyboard and reads "F4".
This powerful command may activate the Shutdown Windows process. If this happens, just click the CANCEL button on the Shutdown Windows dialog box to continue using Windows. Then, click on the browser window to zap before using the Super Close Command again.
How often u change socks…..passwords are like socks……
General Information:
• Don't delete harmful communications (emails, chat logs, posts etc). These may help provide vital information about the identity of the person behind these.
• Remember that all other internet users are strangers. You do not know who you are chatting with.
• Be extremely careful about how you share personal information about yourself online.
• Be extremely cautious about meeting online acquaintances in person. If you choose to meet, do so in a public place and take along a friend.
• Save all communications for evidence. Do not delete or alter them in any way.
• Be aware of all e-mails and SMS from any stranger luring you with billion dollar lottery prize, jobs in UK and huge wealth.
• Be sure that your WIFI Network secured, use a strong password.
• Never share your passwords with anyone. Change the password frequently using a combination of letters, numerical and special characters.
• Never forget to sign out of your email or any other accounts.
• Never reveal your personal information to any stranger in online chatting.
• Never make online transactions in unsecured sites. Watch for 'https' in the address bar.
• Never follow links to your banking website from another website or e-mail, type it yourself in the address bar.
• Never open spam mails as they contain either virus or spyware. Enable spam filters in your mail boxes.
• Never post sensitive information in social networking and marriage sites.
• Never be greedy for free downloads. They might infect your computers.
• Never let credit cards go out of your sight while paying.
• Never visit sites that contain pornography or terror links.
Suggestions for better security:
• Use strong passwords. Choose passwords that are difficult or impossible to guess. Give different passwords to all other accounts.
• Make regular back-up of critical data. Back-up must be made atleast once in each day. Larger organizations should perform a full back-up weekly and incremental back-up every day. Atleast once in a month the back-up media should be verified.
• Use Antivirus software and update regularly.
• Use a firewall. Firewalls are usually software products. They are essential for those who keep their computers online through the popular Broadband and cable modem connections.
• Do not keep computers online when not in use. Either shut them off or physically disconnect them from Internet connection.
• Do not open e-mail attachments from strangers, regardless of how enticing the subject line or attachment may be. Be suspicious of any unexpected e-mail attachment from someone you do know because it may have been sent without that person’s knowledge from an infected machine.
Regularly download security patches from your software vendors.
Children:
Do not give out identifying information such as Name, Home address, School Name or Telephone Number in a chat room. Do not send your photograph to anyone on the Net without first checking with your parents or guardians. Do not respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent or threatening. Never arrange a face-to-face meeting without telling parents or guardians. Remember that people online may not be who they seem to be.
Parents:
Use content filtering softwares on your PC to protect children from pornography, gambling, hate speech, drugs and alcohol. There is also software to establish time controls for individual users (for example blocking usage after a particular time at night) and log surfing activities allowing parents to see which site the child has visited. Use this software to keep track of the activities of your children.
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