As parents, we try to protect our children. We tell them to look both ways before crossing the street, never accept rides from strangers and say no to drugs. But two-thirds of American families have invited a virtual stranger into their homes in the form of Internet access. This seemingly innocuous form of communication, education, browsing and entertainment has become a fabric of our lives today. According to a study released by the University of California in Los Angeles, 66.9 percent of Americans use the Internet. And where parents have access, so do their children.

The content available runs the gamut from G-rated material suitable for all ages to information/images for adults only. It's like having thousands of city blocks available at your fingertips, from the friendly neighborhood candy store to the triple-X cinema on the corner. But the most sobering statistic is, at last count, only 4 percent of parents with Internet access use any type of software controls to filter out unwanted material. The vast majority of people in this online community are decent and respectful, but some are obnoxious, exploitative or downright dangerous (just like their "strangers offering rides" counterparts). Parent Mark Brasche experienced a frightening episode a few years ago in the form of spam (unsolicited e-mail) sent to one of his children.

"I thought I had it all under control, much the same as many parents do," says Brasche. "Until the day I received a wake-up call in the form of an unsolicited e-mail sent to the address of my oldest daughter with a direct link to some of the most horrific pornography I have ever seen. That day will live on with me forever. It was, for me, the turning point."

As a Web developer and CEO of New England Webmasters, Brasche felt empowered and obligated to act. He started a crusade to protect children online by writing a book called Child Safety-Net, and starting a companion Web site, Child Safety-Net. His Web site is PICS (Platform for Internet Content Selection) rated, and gives parents (and their children) a search engine to locate quality content published by developers who care enough to rate it. Child Safety-Net is a comprehensive step-by-step guide parents can use to create a safe computing environment. The four most popular Internet filter products are reviewed and all major security considerations are examined.

A Real Threat
Do you think your 8-year-old daughter searching for the latest Barbie doll can't be harmed? Think again. Key in the name "Barbie" in a search engine and you'll find that at least two of the top 20 hits linked are soft-core porn sites. Another check on the word "fashion" will yield even more frightening results. Within the initial top 20 matches, your impressionable young daughter is only a few clicks away from "fashion fetishes" and hard-core pornography.

"Unfortunately, what we're noticing is a downward trend in the first age of exposure to pornography on the Internet from an average of 11 to age 8, says Jack Samad, vice president of Internet safety with the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families. "These cyberpunks clone frequently visited sites because they want to desensitize children to the negative effects of pornography." If a parent walks in on a child and finds an inappropriate site on the screen, they shouldn't jump to conclusions. According to Samad, 80 percent of hits on adult sites by children are accidental.

"We are losing the battle rapidly, especially with the advent of broadband communications," says Samard. "Cybersquatters are sending out spam in the form of 30-second promotion videos of X-rated movies." (He added that parents should be on the lookout for .mpeg or .jpeg attachments.) The NCPCF has recently released an interactive Web site for parents, Filter Review, which reviews about 30 companies and gives parents specific recommendations for certain age groups.

What Parents Can Do
Fortunately, 6- to 9-year-olds are at an impressionable age and are more easily guided in safe online habits than older kids. You should avoid barraging them with a long list of do's and don'ts; just discuss the basics with them. The following is a compilation of recommendations by Brasche, The National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Discuss these rules with your children:

• Stay completely out of chat rooms.
• Do not reply to unknown addresses, or flames (written attacks).
• Do not give out personal information.
• Never share password, even with friends.
• Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone you meet online.
• Don't believe everything you read online.
• Do tell a parent if something online makes you uncomfortable.

Parents can:

• Make use of available controls on their current ISP.
• Make sure computers are out in the open where family members gather.
• Know what sites your children are visiting; stay involved.
• Let children know which sites are appropriate, and which are off-limits.

According to the NCPCF, paying attention to your child's online habits should lower the risk of exposure. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the following red flags (that could indicate a problem).

These signs indicate your child may be at risk:

• Your child spends large amounts of time online, especially at night.
• You find pornography on your child's computer.
• Your child sends and receives calls from unrecognizable numbers.
• Your child receives mail or packages from someone you don't know.
• Your child turns monitor off or changes screen quickly when you walk in the room.
• Your child becomes withdrawn from the family.
• Your child is using someone else's online account.

Other reliable sources of information include searching the Web on phrases like "child safety" and "Internet filters." Parents can also visit their local library and school board to find out what type of Internet safety precautions they have in place. Another good source is the Community Affairs division of your local police department.

Samad admonishes the 96 percent of parents with online access who don't bother with Internet safety controls. "Parents, you wouldn't let your children play in the neighborhood junkyard, so why would you allow them access to the Internet junkyards without protection?"