The New York Times called it the newest "digital plague." "Known as Conficker or Downadup, it is spread by a recently discovered Microsoft Windows vulnerability, by guessing network passwords and by hand-carried consumer gadgets like USB keys," according to the Times, adding that experts are calling it the worst worm since the Slammer of 2003. Microsoft says there's no single solution to the … [Read more...] about New PC worm infecting millions
Risk & Safety
Restricting teen access: Unintended consequences
Age verification has been the potential online-safety solution of choice for state attorneys general. I know I've written about this plenty, but I have to add something that really struck me in reading all the technology submissions to the Internet Safety Technical Task Force: that the only way any of these technologies would really work for children is if their parents chose to use them. Only … [Read more...] about Restricting teen access: Unintended consequences
Tech parenting going forward
Just a heads-up on something that might be useful to parents: bNetS@vvy, a project of the National Educational Association Health Information Network, asked me to write "Net Savvy Parenting in the New Year: Five Things You Need to Know" for its Web site and newsletter. Here are two more things we can look forward to: More and more virtual worlds. There are more than 150 kids' and teens' virtual … [Read more...] about Tech parenting going forward
AG says ISTTF ‘creates false sense of security’
Attorney General Henry McMaster "has withdrawn from a group studying the problem of Internet predators on social-networking sites after a report downplayed threats that children face online," CarolinaLive.com reports. It says McMaster withdrew, presumably from the group of attorneys general that formed the Internet Safety Technical Task Force, because the ISTTF report's findings "create a 'false … [Read more...] about AG says ISTTF ‘creates false sense of security’
Key crossroads for Net safety: ISTTF report released
Online safety has reached a major crossroads, here in the US. The Internet Safety Technical Task Force's report is being released tonight, and to me (a Task Force member), it represents a stark choice all stakeholders have going forward: continue down the road of fear-based online-safety messaging or together match the messaging to what the research says. Choose to be fear-based or … [Read more...] about Key crossroads for Net safety: ISTTF report released