Can Minors Remove Content Online?

It’s nearly impossible to impress on children the permanence of things they share online through social media, emails or via text. Once they click “send,” that text message, photo or video is out there, available for sharing, forwarding and re-posting by anyone who gets ahold of it. A recent law passed last month in California is aimed at giving kids a chance to delete their digital mistakes, but there are some pretty big loop holes.

In September 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 568 which, among other things, requires that operators of any website or online service remove content posted by a minor (18 and younger) if the minor requests it be removed. Postings that fall under the requirements must be removed from public access but can be maintained on the website’s server. The law will apply to websites housed outside of the state, provided that the minor is a California resident. The law will take effect as of January 1, 2015.

While this sounds promising, SB-568 offers little protection in reality. The web site operator must only remove content posted by the minor themselves, a pivotal distinction. If your child wants to remove something that was posted by someone else, for example a photo their friend (or enemy) snaps of them doing something questionable and then posts online, they’re out of luck. Since many websites already include provisions that allow anyone to delete accounts or content that they themselves have posted, critics question what this law really offers other than legal enforcement to pre-existing privacy practices.


This is another step in California lawmakers’ work to protect minors from the long term repercussions of childhood Internet indiscretions. Last year, California lawmakers passed SB-1349, a law that prevents both public and private post-secondary schools in California from demanding social media usernames or passwords as a condition of enrollment, or from threatening or taking pecuniary actions against students or student organizations that refuse to comply with a request for login information.

However, schools can continue to search out any publicly available data linked to a minor. A school district in Glendale, California recently hired a 3^rd party firm, Geo Listening, to monitor student’s public posts on social media. While the disclosed intention is to identify at-risk students, those who may be contemplating suicide or violence toward others, the overlap between data posted to social media and intervention by school officials leaves some to question the extent to which the information gathered may affect their child’s academic future. Other parents welcome the “second pair of eyes” monitoring their children’s online activities.

While it is promising that lawmakers are aware of the ongoing challenges faced by minors with access to the Internet and taking actions to try to offer them some legal protections, the protections are still minimal. While some children are certainly posting questionable things about themselves, the vast majority of things that they would want to remove from the Internet are more likely going to have been posted or shared by others. Once something is made available online, if it’s truly shocking, funny or compromising it’s likely to get shared and re-posted almost instantly, and not always by friends kind enough to listen when little Johnny wizens up and asks them to take it down.

This law offers no protection from cyber bullies who post nasty comments, images or videos about others intentionally, though to be fair that isn’t the intention of the law. The bill’s author, California Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg says it’s intended to help kids “who often act impetuously with postings of ill-advised pictures or messages before they think through the consequences. They deserve the right to remove this material that could haunt them for years to come,” (http://sd06.senate.ca.gov/news/2013-09-23-governor-signs-steinberg-bill-protecting-minors-privacy-internet).

[pullquote]the world of technology continues to evolve faster than lawmakers can keep up[/pullquote]

Unfortunately, the world of technology continues to evolve faster than lawmakers can keep up. With a generation of kids that learn that anything worth doing should be posting online, and many of whom judge their worth by how may “likes” or “views” their postings generate, what’s a parent to do? I’m glad that California lawmakers are making an effort to help minors reduce the long term ramification of their own childhood indiscretions, but I know that it’s ultimately up to me to teach my children about the consequences and permanence of things posted online.

How to Remove a Virus

How to Remove a Virus: The Best Anti-Virus Software

Do you remember back when your computer was shiny and new, it likely came with pre-installed Norton or McAfee antivirus software. It would periodically pop up little notices that it had downloaded the latest updates, and you felt snug and secure when you surfed online.

Then that trial membership expired. You may not have even noticed the lapse in coverage, assuming that the icon in your toolbar was a sign that all was well -- or, like many, you may have been wary to spend your hard-earned cash to subscribe. This story is so common that it's one reason why Panda Security reported in January that approximately 50 percent of the world's computers are compromised by some form of malware.

While I fondly remember the days when viruses were primarily built to annoy their victims, today's viruses are far more dangerous. Infected computers attack other computers. Hackers use these vast networks of infected computers or "botnets" to send spam, break websites and infiltrate corporate networks to steal credit-card data and customer information. Before you decide to unplug your computer, rest assured that there are some easy ways to protect yourself.

The 4 Best Anti Virus Programs for removing a virus

#1 McAfee Anti-Virus:

If you're already running an anti-virus program and making sure that it is up to date, kudos! If you elected to shell out the dough to keep your Norton or McAfee running after the trial ended, keep in mind that these two programs dominate the consumer security space. This makes them the biggest targets for hackers and virus writers who study their code to find vulnerabilities. While I am not suggesting that you look for an unknown, untested antivirus for your computer's safety, there may be good reason to consider switching to one of the great free anti-virus options available.

McAfee Anti-Virus For Mac:

McAfee also has an antivirus solution for Mac Computers. I know people say that you can't get a virus on Macs and to a degree that is true. So far, Mac computers are not vulnerable to traditional viruses, however they can be targets of  malware, phishing scams, identity thieves and hackers. Anti virus software for Macs will help secure your data and keep malware off your computer. Another solution worth mentioning is Avira.  Avira anti-virus has a Mac virus protection program called MacKeeper.

#2 Microsoft Security Essentials:

One of my favorite anti-virus programs for the basic user is Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free, easy to use, updated frequently and provides great protection from most Internet-born parasites. The fact that it's made by Microsoft, the company that makes Windows, is a great benefit. Who is better equipped to know which Windows vulnerabilities hackers are targeting? Programers can then integrate the fix seamlessly into Windows.

#3 Avast!:

If you just can't get past the idea of trusting Microsoft to protect your Windows PC, or if you are running an alternate operating system, consider Avast! free antivirus. Avast is one of the highest-rated antivirus programs, according to AV Comparatives, an independent antivirus program reviewer. Avast offers both a free and a paid version, and boasts one of the fastest virus scans on the market. It also uses fewer system resources when scanning, so you can continue to use your computer normally while the scan runs in the background. Anyone who has been held hostage by a seemingly endless scan that makes everything else on your system slow to a useless crawl can appreciate this benefit. Fun side note: You can select different voices to proclaim, "Ding! Avast's virus definitions have been updated." I am quite partial to Pirate.

#4 Sandboxie:

Finally, if compromised or lost data would devastate your productivity, check out Sandboxie. Sandboxie is an applications that allows you to run certain programs "virtually," like putting them in quarantine. Essentially, you open your web browser or email in a "sandbox," so an infected website or virus-laced email attachment won't compromise the rest of your system. When you close the program, you destroy the sandbox's contents, including any infections. However, cookies and temp files go, too, so if you like to auto-login to websites you frequent, this solution will likely annoy you.

Don't surf naked -- get some protection. If you're already suffering from and nned help to remove a virus or for more ways to be safe on the scary wide web, visit www.callnerds.com/andrea. 

[transcript]
Hi, everybody. I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call. Today we're going to be talking about how to remove a virus from your PC. Back in the day, when you first got your computer, it probably came pre-installed with something like Norton or McAfee. Those are great protection, but usually they expire after about a year. Then what do you do?

One of my favorite anti-virus is Microsoft Security Incentive. Just go to Microsoft.com and search for Microsoft Security Essentials, it's free, it's easy to use, it's frequently updated, and it's really fast. If you don't want to use the Microsoft product, you can always use a program called Avast, it's also a free anti-virus software. And one of the coolest parts of it is, when it's all done scanning your system, it will say "Hey, ding, we're all done looking for viruses." And you can change that voice to anything you want. So my favorite is "Pirate" It will go "Argh, no viruses found." Thanks for watching. I'm Ryan, from Nerds on Call.
[/transcript]

4 Secrets Online Job Hunting

How To: Online Job Hunting

If you're one of the millions of Americans looking for work, the Internet can be a key resource, albeit a daunting one. Spend time searching through Monster.com online job listings, and you may even argue that the Internet is counter-productive to your job hunt. However, a discussion paper written in September 2011 for The Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn, Germany, found that Internet job searching "reduces individual workers' unemployment durations by about 25 percent."

Here's how to use the Web to connect with the right people for your job hunt.  Ironically, the best time to prepare for looking for a job online is before you're unemployed. If you've established a connection with others in your field, or those in the field or company you wish you worked for, you won't be scrambling to find them when you need them. But don't despair -- it's never too late to (social) network your way to the connection that might hook you up with your next job.

BE Positive

First, regardless of the circumstances, never post negative comments about your past or present employer or co-workers. Words typed online stay there forever. You don't want to appear negative, catty or hard to work with to someone who may hold the key to your dream job.

BE Careful

Second, don't broadcast your newly unemployed status. It's much harder to get someone to connect with you when the only thing driving the connection is your desire for help. If you send out Facebook friend requests, be sure to include a personal message with why you'd like to connect -- something other than your hope that the person will help you find employment. If the cat is already out of the bag, try to present your situation in a positive light, such as highlighting the time you've been able to dedicate to perfecting a skill you feel makes you a great fit for their company.

BE Social

Determine those professional colleagues with whom you've bonded and add them to your social network through Facebook, Google Plus or Twitter. Touch base with these contacts frequently through "liking" their posts or commenting on them. If you stay on their radar, they're more likely to know who you are and think of you in a positive light when the time comes to ask for a recommendation.

While existing social networks are a good place to start, consider LinkedIn, a professional networking resource that allows you to stay connected with colleagues (past and present), others in your industry and personal contacts that may know helpful people in your field. It's free to establish a profile, but a monthly fee applies for some services, such as getting in touch with hiring managers through their network and access to professionals who provide advice related to your online job search.

LinkedIn allows you to create a resume-like profile listing your work experience and maintain a collection of personal recommendations. Take advantage of this. Offer to write recommendations for friends and colleagues, and ask them to reciprocate before you fall out of touch. Search your network for links to a company or industry to find out if, for example, your college roommate is connected to the head of sales at your dream company. This mutual contact may be your "foot in the door."

BE Specific

Finally, use the Internet to your advantage. Instead of sending a resume "to whom it may concern," search a company's website for a specific contact in the appropriate department. Try to connect with them personally in a friendly, non-aggressive manner. If the company has a RSS feed or a LinkedIn page, subscribe to it. This may let you see when people retire or change positions, giving you an inside link to possible online job openings.

Photo used by permission: Robert S. Donovan

3 Easy Ways To Keep Kids Safe Online

As the days get longer and warmer, they herald the coming of summer vacation. Who doesn't remember the joy of lazy days spent roaming the neighborhood with your buddies, swimming in the pool or lake, or inventing games to play in the backyard?

Yet these days our kids are more likely to spend the summer roaming the Internet, swimming in a sea of media, and inventing stories for their Facebook page. How do you get your kids to unplug and see the sun? When they are online, how do you keep your kids safe when they're home free and you're not? Nerd Chicks have scoured the Internet for the best tips and tools to bring the relaxation back to summer vacation.

Most parents struggle with limiting screen time for their kids. From TV and video games, to computers and cell phones, our kids are constantly "plugged in." How can you ensure your kids don't spend all summer glued to the tube? Check out the Mikko Que, a time management system for all of your home media devices. Connect the Mikko box to your TV, gaming unit and Internet connection, then set limits for each of your kids. Everyone gets their own USB thumb drive that stores the time they're allowed. If Sally wants to watch TV, she plugs her thumb drive into the Mikko box, which activates input to the TV for however much time she has remaining in her allotment. If she reaches the end of her allowed time or the time of day that you've decided TV is not allowed (for example, bedtime), the box will warn her that her time is ending, then cut the video and audio feed to the TV, disabling the device. You can set personalized limits for Internet usage, video game play, TV and computer use. Access to the cables is locked in the box, so even your more techno savvy teens would have to break the box to get to the cables. Now if only it could be programmed to remind them to pick up their room!

Limiting the time your kids spend with technology is only the first step. The Internet is a scary place, where your kids will see and learn things you probably don't want them exposed to. They can also unintentionally expose themselves to danger by posting personal information about themselves to public sites such as Facebook and Twitter. While the safest answer is to limit online time to when you are home or with your kids, sometimes that's not realistic. Net Nanny is a great resource to limit the things your children find online, post to the Internet, even install on the computer. More than a list of blocked websites, Net Nanny uses a unique filter that reviews the content of the website before displaying it. Net Nanny uses the site's content to categorize it, and you can allow or block categories for each of your users individually. If you want to allow your older child to see content related to drugs or alcohol, but not your second-grader, you can customize access for everyone in your house. Net Nanny allows you to block image upload, even block your child's ability to post to online forums or blogs. You can set it up to capture where your kids are going online, view a log of IM chat sessions, even review their Facebook profiles so you can see their friends, wall posts and what they are sharing with the world. You can block the installation of games based on their ESRB rating, and set limits to amount and time of day that you want to allow your kids to be on the computer.

Now that so many of our children have cell phones, it seems that they are never without unfiltered access to technology. The safest route is to get in touch with your service provider to disable web access on your child's phone and handheld devices, and limit their texting. Limiting access on a portable device is otherwise quite challenging. While there are some mobile applications (Net Nanny has a mobile application for Android phones), it's harder to keep your child from disabling a third-party application than it is to use parental control features provided by your cell carrier. Call your provider to see what ways they offer to control your child's usage.

Finally, a word of advice: talk to your kids about the limits you're setting and why. If you impose restrictions without a constructive conversation, your techno-savvy kids are likely to spend the summer finding ways around the things you implement to keep them safe. Still stumped about how to keep your kids cyber-safe this summer?

 

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