“Five members of the same family were arrested in connection with sex crimes against children in a raid on a Missouri farm yesterday….’”

“A British daycare teacher has been busted for suspected involvement in an Internet pedophile ring after photos of naked children were found in her home… 

“Federal agents have arrested 56 child predators and criminal alien sex offenders in raids in New York and New Jersey… 

Articles and news items in the media report almost daily about child predators who commit vile sexual acts upon children, even to the point of murder to cover up the nefarious sexual crime. Today the Internet can be dangerous to young users who think they surf the net with other children of their age. Child sexual exploitation by child predators occurs in every economic, social, ethnic, and religious group. With the explosion of the Internet into a powerful, worldwide medium, the danger to children, whether they are from the USA to European countries has increased dramatically .Pedophiles and other sexual predators can use the Internet, with no precautions, to exchange names and addresses of other pedophiles and of potential child victims.

There is the old adage in the advice a parent can give to child on the way to her school or friends, ‘Never talk, take candy or a ride from a stranger’. In the past it was the parent’s greatest worry was the guy in the trench coat lurking on the edge of the school playground. Now, thanks to the Internet that child predator creep often hangs out with your young son or daughter in their bedroom. 

Child predators come in all shapes and forms of human misery, which could be a too friendly neighbor, the kindly shopkeeper, even the new pastor – cyberspace is their newest playground. 

There are ways and means to protect a child from cyberspace child predators:

1)  Install a reliable filter in your computer that is used by your child.

2)  One of the best defenses against inappropriate content is to block it before your child sees it. It would wise to visit some sites for kids, especially the ones that ask for personal information.

3) Set the computer in a public or secure place in your home.

4) Above all remind your child over and over again the dangers of communicating with strangers on the Net.   

5) Order Internet Safety 101 (www.InternetSafety101), which includes parental control tutorials, cyber security resources, etc….      For a more extensive coverage of Internet safety guidelines for your children as well for the entire family log in http://www.ccmostwanted.com/kids/iguide.htm, Remember the safety of your family and community depends of each individual internet user – that is you and me… 

‘A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety’ a publication issued by the US. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation) would be useful to recognize the dangers of child predators, the steps for prevention and to report violations against children.Note: Tired of obscenity on the web – fight back, complain to the right authorities – you can help by reporting a cyber crime.

“Enough Is Enough (EIE), a non-partisan, 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, emerged in 1994 as the national leader on the front lines to make the Internet safer for children and families. Since then, EIE has pioneered and led the effort to confront online pornography, child pornography, child stalking and sexual predation with innovative initiatives and effective communications.”  http://www.enough.org/.