Keeping Safe Online (e-Safety)

Ofcom provides information on how to use the internet safely through guides published on its website.

Ofcom has produced four guides for parents and carers on:

Information is provided on this page about:

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Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre's Advice to Parents

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre's Youth Advisory Panel were asked what they would advise parents to do to help keep their children safe online. Below are the top bits of advice...

Parents should talk to their children about the dangers they may face online

  • If parents talk to their children, they may be more likely to understand any potential dangers they may face. It may be a bit embarrassing at first but children would rather this than not being allowed to use the computer at all.
  • Trust is vital - especially over the summer holidays - as some parents will be going to work, leaving their children at home. Having an open and honest conversation about using the internet at the beginning of the holidays may be helpful.

Go online with your child and ask them to show you what they are doing

  • Parents should ask their children to show them what they are doing online - if they don't understand what social networking sites are or chat rooms, their children can help them to set up a profile or an account. That way parents will get a better understanding of new technology and how much fun it can be.

Parents should monitor what their children are doing online

  • There are lots of filtering software products available that can be used and some parental locks can also be used on certain websites, so access would be blocked if their child tried to view the page.
  • If parents are going to use filtering software, it's important to tell children about it as some may feel like they are being spied on.

More information is available on www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents

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CEOP - Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

The internet is integral to the lives of children of all ages. It opens up new opportunities and is now an essential part of their every day world whether they are using it for homework, to talk and share materials with their friends or for a multitude of other uses that are legitimate and beneficial in so many ways.

But where children go then child sex offenders will follow - whether in the real or virtual world.

The Thurrock Safeguarding Children Board is interested in keeping Thurrock children and young people safe when they are using the internet, and it therefore endorses the work of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) in their efforts to make the online world a safe place to be.

The CEOP website, which has advice for young people, parents and carers, and professionals.

CEOP provide information about reporting concerns if you have seen something suspicious online and wish to report it.

Enjoy the internet, but don't allow abusers to take away that enjoyment.

'CEOP Report' button

Link to CEOP's Advice and Help.

You may be aware that CEOP has an online reporting function that allows children, young people and adults (on their children's behalf) to report any instances of inappropriate online sexual behaviour. In the last year alone, CEOP has received thousands of public reports via this function. CEOP is encouraging schools and youth organisations to embed a button and links to the reporting pages on the CEOP website. Visit www.ceop.police.uk/digitallibrary where you will be able to register to download the button.

CEOP advice homepage - Think U Know

On this site you can find the latest information on the sites you like to visit, mobiles and new technology. Find out what's good, what's not and what you can do about it.

Link to CEOP's Think You Know website.

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Spimming - Unsolicited messages sent through Instant Messenger

Most of us are aware of SPAM – the junk messages that we get sent to our email inbox or to our mobile phones. Some people are now using popular chat facilities and Instant Messenger applications to send something called 'SPIM' to others.

The term 'Spimming' is used to describe unsolicited messages which are being sent through Instant Messenger (such as Windows LiveMessenger, Yahoo Chat etc), usually from automated accounts. The messages can be harmless links to adverts, or in more serious cases can link to adult sites or websites with abusive content. The confusing thing about these messages is that they often seem to be from a real person (when they are not) and will take the form of a conversation.

How does SPIM work?

A 'bot' (short for an internet robot) is a piece of software that runs automated, structurally repetitive tasks over the internet. These bots are being deployed into IM applications and will take the appearance of another chat user. An automated message will then ask that they are added to the user's online buddy list. When accepted onto the buddy list, the automated messages begin. No matter what response the user gives, the messages from the 'bot' stays the same.

In our experience these automated messages can often be inappropriate and sexualised from the outset. They have included references to live web-cam shows and sexual activity. In some cases, if the automated conversation is allowed to continue, a link is given to the user and if clicked, will take them automatically, to a site with sexual content. A variety of different names and email addresses are given by the 'bot' to make people think they are actually speaking to another human, when in fact they are communicating with an internet robot. Numerous reports have been received by the CEOP Centre and we have in turn made the Internet Watch Foundation aware.

What are the risks?

  • Children and young people are unknowingly adding internet 'bots' to their online contact list, believing them to be 'real people'. By adding people they do not know to their contact list anyway, they are putting themselves at risk to strangers and potentially adults with a sexual interest in children, who use online environments to meet people.
  • Once the 'bot' has been added to the contact list and the conversation ensues, there is the option to click on a link which will take users to a site that houses inappropriate sexual content. The link or url may not be advertised as leading to explicitly sexual material. Children and young people should be aware that clicking on a link not known to them may result in them accessing inappropriate images or may result in a virus or images being downloaded to their machine, or may allow a hacker access to their computer.

What can be done?

  • Children and young people should be encouraged NOT to add, or accept people to their online contact list if they do not know who they are.
  • If a stranger tries to be added as a friend to a users online contact list, they should be blocked or deleted straight away.
  • If a 'bot' is added to a contact list and a conversation ensues, children and young people need to know that they should not click on the link provided to them. They should delete the contact and report what has happened using the 'Report Abuse' button on the Child Exploitation Online Protection website.
  • Visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk for advice and guidance on how to stay safe online. There is also a specific area on the site for parents.

Find out more about spimming...