Merlin's Computer Usage and Policy Guidelines	Acceptable and Safe Internet Use at Home
			Feel free to print this page for future reference.
	The Internet is a huge and vast resource; but includes some traps for unwary people, especially for children and those who are readily offended.

The Internet can be considered to be an extremely large information resource, or library. It can be a very useful source of information for people at home, including students of all ages. It provides access to a large variety of information including: sports, hobbies, genealogy, personal health, pets, cooking, and many different pursuits. Perhaps unfortunately, the Internet does contain a lot of material that many people would consider offensive, rude or vulgar.

With a little care and preparation, the Internet can be a reasonably safe environment to venture into, and can be used effectively from the home. This document aims to help you minimise the costs and potential harm or offensiveness.

The Internet's Dangers

• If you connect to the Internet via a cable modem (especially home or small business), then you probably have a permanent IP address, and it is possible for hackers to locate your computer system on the network and hack into it. You can minimise this risk with a software firewall.
• There is undesirable, objectionable and obscene material (rude words and pornographic pictures) on the Internet, and some Web sites are active in trying to attract your attention. Obscene words can be shown to you by some search engines. Some links can take you to undesirable Web sites.
• The Internet has facilities such as Chat Rooms, whereby people can exchange text messages (and Voice Chat Rooms where spoken conversations can be conducted, utilising a headset or microphone and speakers on the PC). There are some people who have evil intentions, and try to engage in on-line discussions about undesirable or unseemly topics, or who try to arrange for a face-to-face meeting. Some paedophiles operate this way.

Suggested Guidelines/Rules

1. If you use a cable modem for Internet access, then make sure that a software firewall is installed and properly configured.
2. Access to the Internet is provided to family members and friends for the purposes of: research, enjoyment and leisure.
3. A feature of Internet access methods is that a record, or history, of Internet usage may be stored on the local computer, and the local proxy server or firewall, and the ISP's web server, and the Web server of the hosted Web pages that are viewed. These records may also be copied to backup media for archival and/or recovery purposes.
4. Internet traffic (ie. the Web pages that are viewed) may be monitored by special software for the presence of various computer viruses and other malicious computer programs. Viewed Web pages may also be monitored to ensure that the content conforms to these acceptable usage guidelines.
5. The accessing, viewing, storage or transmission of suspect, pornographic or otherwise objectionable material is not permitted. Any such material is to be removed immediately.
6. Know how to close the Active Window, so that if objectionable material is inadvertently displayed you can quickly close the Window. (For details, see: Tips - Closing the Active Window .)
7. When using a search engine, be on the look out for objectionable words, and think carefully before clicking on a link to another Web site.
8. If using a chat room, and someone else in the room uses undesirable language or vulgarities, then exit the chat room promptly. You don't have to tolerate such behaviour.
9. At times it can be very tempting to give out your name and address details (when entering competitions, or chatting with others). Great care should be taken in divulging such information.
10. Be careful when subscribing to e-mail distribution lists to receive special offers, newsletters, etc. Some Web sites will on-sell your details to other organisations and the resulting e-mail messages might not be wanted or suitable.

Guarding children against the Internet's dangers

There are a number of precautions that can be taken to help guard children from being exposed to objectionable materials. However, they cannot be said to be totally effective. Some of the possibilities follow.

1. Use an ISP that utilises a closed-environment to lock out many Web sites (eg. AOL - http://www.aol.com.au or http://www.aol.com ).
2. Use an ISP that utilises a special Web browser that provides parental controls over Internet access (eg. AOL).
3. Encourage young users to utilise the available children-specific Web sites.
4. Utilise special blocking or filtering software that helps to filter or block out: access to specific Web sites, Web pages with pictures containing a predominance of flesh colours, Web pages that contain specific objectionable words (eg. Net Nanny, CYBERsitter, Cyber Patrol, SurfWatch, SmartFilter, etc.). A list of such products available in Australia is included on the IIA web page under the heading "Scheduled Filters". But be careful because there are ways to circumvent this software.
5. Explain the dangers of the Internet to the young-age users.
6. Actively monitor and supervise children's Internet usage.

However, be aware that these precautions may not provide complete and total protection, and that they might restrict access to quite legitimate Web sites and legitimate material.

Other useful information

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) in Australia has prepared a code of practice and guidelines for Internet usage. See the following links: assistance with supervising and controlling children's Internet access.

© Copyright 1999-2003, Colonial Pioneer Publishing (ABN: 52 791 744 975).
http://www.hotkey.net.au/~brain
Last revised: 20 May, 2003.