Keeping kids safe on the web
(PhysOrg.com) -- A pioneering new programme designed to help parents keep their children safe on the internet is being launched today by Newcastle University.
A pioneering new programme designed to help parents keep their children safe on the internet is being launched today by Newcastle University.
Responding to the rise in child-targeted cybercrime such as internet grooming and cyber bullying, the university’s Centre for Cybercrime and Computer Security has developed a nationwide training programme that will teach parents and carers how to help children use the internet safely.
The use of a ‘Checkstick’ which can download a trace of every website visited by your child, ‘time-out’ settings which prevent children using the web late at night and a guide to the dangers of using social networking sites are just some of the topics being covered by the course.
The team has joined forces with the North East Fraud Forum, Microsoft and the Northern Grid for Learning to develop a programme that will be rolled out to schools, learning centres and organisations across the UK.
Heading up the initiative is Newcastle University’s Phil Butler, a former DCI with Northumbria Police and founding member of the North East Fraud Forum.
“What came out of our discussions with parents is that not only are many of them frightened of the internet and the dangers it poses to their children but they also have a real sense of helplessness,” Mr Butler explained.
“They feel they are unable to protect their children because they aren’t equipped with the technical know-how. Our aim is to not only raise awareness of the dangers of unsupervised use but also to empower parents to be able to help their child use the internet safely so they can enjoy all the benefits it has to offer without being put at risk.”
The programme will be launched under the Hadrian Project which brings together experts from Newcastle University, the North East Fraud Forum, other regional academic institutions, local and national government, North East businesses and lawyers to tackle a wide range of issues relating to internet safety and security.
Topics covered in the course include:
• To highlight the differences in the way adults and young people use the internet
• To address key concerns such as cyber bullying and internet grooming
• To look at what parents can do to make the internet safer for their children
Programmes have already been set up to cover the North West, South West, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Cleveland, Yorkshire and Humberside, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Thames Valley, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Professor Aad van Moorsel, Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Computer Security, added: "This is a great first step for the Centre - drawing on the university's internationally-renowned expertise in system security and dependability to tackle some of the challenges facing today's society.
“It is our hope that through this programme, parents can be supported and guided to help their children use the internet safely.”
Provided by Newcastle University
