PTA Technology Corner

At our house, we’ve been knee-deep in a Fall cleaning.  Perhaps now is the time to do a quick check up on our technology as well.  It’s become all too easy for viruses and spyware to infect our computers and some are feeling a sense of getting behind in the constant change in technology.  Here are a few suggestions to protect your data and your family online and stay ahead of change:

Encrypt Your Wireless Network - I’m always surprised how many people in Haddonfield leave their wireless routers unprotected.  That’s an easy way for a neighbor, or worse a stranger driving down the street, to get into your home’s computers.  Get out your router manual and setup WEP or WPA encryption.

Update Your Operating System - Whether it’s a Windows or a Macintosh, always keep the system up to date.  Change the settings to alert you when a new update is available and do it as soon as possible.  Many of these updates include security fixes to plug holes in the system from outsiders.

Check in on the Kids - Do you know what they are doing online?  As a parent, it’s your responsibility to protect them - we can all agree on that.  How you do it is up to you and your values.  Are they downloading music illegally?  Are they posting pictures they probably shouldn’t be?  Are they giving out personal information?

Get a New Email Address - A lot of people are switching Internet providers between Comcast and Verizon Fios. One thing you should avoid is using the email address they give you - that locks you in to their system and presents problems should you decide to switch.  Get a free email account from Google, Yahoo or AOL instead.

Learn Something New - Before you know it you’re young child will be IM’ing and on Facebook. While the kids are now back to school, you should learn something new too.  Get a Facebook account (and request to be my friend).  Download a podcast on iTunes (check out Jumping Monkeys or your favorite NPR show).  Start to IM with friends.

As always, if you have any questions just let me know - I’m happy to help.  And if you have a suggestion for additional tips, add a comment below.

Just today two parents asked me for my opinion about what they should allow their children to do. I’ve always told folks that I can give you my opinion, but that’s not necessarily what you should do.  You first have to determine what your own values are and what is important to you in raising your own child.  So, here I’ll give you my own opinion on these two questions, but you have to decide for yourself:

The first parent, a mom in my town, just purchased computers for the house specifically for the kids.  The older one - 13 year old - wants to get on Facebook after attending a camp over the summer where all their new friends were on Facebook. Many parents in our town are completely against letting their children have access to Facebook (I suspect in reaction to a MySpace incident in town a couple of years ago).

My suggestion - let them, but require them to let you be a friend so you can track what they are doing to protect them. This also gives you a chance to better understand what Facebook is and what kids today like to share.  Many times I find parents against such social networking tools have never used them either.

The other parent question came as an email from a dad in California who seems to be having a problem at home where, from what I can tell, his child would like to have a cellphone.  He didn’t mention the age of his child but did mention that their school embraces a “if I don’t see the cellphone, then there isn’t a problem.”

My suggest - I think it’s unrealistic to think that kids won’t bring phones to school and many parents like the idea of having access to their children right after school.  But the school has the right to require them to be stored in a locker, for example, while they are on school property and should enforce such a policy strongly.

What do you think?  Post a comment below with your thoughts.

The school year has officially started for our kids and it’s time to get back in the swing of things with technology and parenting.  I’m looking for topics that interest you - from computers to music to the Internet.  You name it.  I’ll share with you products that are commonly available, podcasts we listen to and answer questions you may have.

Speaking of which, please email me questions or topics you have that you’d like me to cover here this year.  I look forward to hearing what you’ve got in mind!