Kids need to know free can come with a price

  • Published
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Courtesy of 944th Fighter Wing OPSEC
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  If your kids are like most, they probably spend a lot of time listening to music on their MP3 players and computers, and watching movies and videos. But where did all this content come from?

Chances are good at least some of that content came from peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. This type of networking is a distributed system of file sharing where any PC on the network can see any other PC on the network. Users access each others' hard drives to download files.

Kids navigate to P2P networks because they can share music, videos, and software for free, often without their parents' knowledge or permission.

However, using these networks can be dangerous. P2P networks not only allow the user to share fun contents such as movies and music, but they also allow any file on your computer to be shared. This could potentially mean that inappropriate content could be downloaded from other users, and accidentally share sensitive personal information stored on your computer.

Malicious content, such as viruses and spyware can also be easily spread these types of networks. Cybercriminals often hide viruses and even porn in popular downloads, such as popular songs or games, hoping they can trick users into downloading them.

Even if your child doesn't wind up running into any dangerous content or giving away any personal information, they may still get into trouble if they download copyrighted content that other users have illegally shared. Keep in mind that copyright infringement can result in steep fines, which you may be responsible for paying.

Because of these risks, it's important that you talk with your child about the dangers of P2P sharing and teach them how to download content safely.

For extra protection, consider the following:

· Protect your computer with a strong password so your child cannot log in without your permission and supervision.
· Remove the P2P application altogether. (A quick online search will help you find directions on how to remove various applications.)
· Consider using parental control software which allows you to filter the online content your child has access to and block objectionable content. It also allows you to monitor their activities, such as give them time limits when surfing the web.
· Make sure that your family computer has a safe search tool software, which alerts you with site ratings in your search results.

Whatever you decide to do, starting the conversation is an important first step. After all, you want your kids to enjoy the rich content that the Internet offers, but only if it is safe.