Summary:
The
spread of many intrusive software and damaging virus' & spyware
originate from web sites engaged in illegal activities. Ways to protect
yourself and you family are discussed and a directory of helpful
resources.
Purpose:
To
provide some insight into the size and contributing factors to
the provision of illicit material and the spread
of computer virus' and spyware on the internet that can harm your family and friends..
Methods:
Search
engines, P2P connections and torrents assist in identifying un family-like
materials such as pictures, videos and stories. Major internet service
providers, software developers and telecom companies are the conduit in
delivering the content to your front door. Web site hosting companies,
instant messages and content providers provide the methods
to enter your home with minimal restrictions.
Gone
are the good old days of "...the little search engine that could." that
turned into a $700 million a year- profit machine with
no quality control or sense of responsibility to the
Public. All
are guilty for taking a buck to try fill our screens with garbage,
advertising and spam. Send you favorite search engine an email & ask
them "How many Staff do they employ to assure the viewing Public
that they exercise some form of quality control & comply with
the laws concerning pornography?". Worst of all is child
porno- which in reality is criminal involves child abuse and cruelty. Every
time these misery spreaders gets caught, we applaud law enforcement
and you for your efforts.
We suggest you report offensive sites to your local, state, provincial
or federal law enforcement. Most have a reporting system and the
power to shut down offensive
sites,
for example www.cybertips.ca (Canada).
Not only will you will helpful to protect your own family
but
the
people
that
are being exploited by the webmasters also.
Software
services provide better forms of protection to your family, such as NetNanny.
Please note, any fees or commissions received from this software provider by the Asystematics during 2011 will be donated to help children's outdoor recreation programs. Keep your computer(s) in centralized location, monitor the total time spent on-line and discuss your feeling about the proper use of a valuable learning and entertainment resource.
John O'Reily, General Manager
What you are all up against?
Contrary to popular belief, most of the worst offenders are operators located
in North America using large domestic hosting services.
The only rule porn sites seem to be wary of is: "18
U.S.C. 2257 Record- Keeping Requirements Compliance Statement." which
is close to useless without adequate enforcement. And stupid notices that you must confirm you are over 18 years of age that stop you from accessing their site until you click on your mouse once more. Of course, there is no way the site can confirm your age on the Internet.
Let's try to understand
that we are dealing with. An extremely large underground industry that has
been active
since the mid-90's. For example, one US- based porn distributor
boasts over 6,000 affiliate web
sites. The police in the Province of Ontario- Canada with a population of around
5 million estimate there are over 15,000 people & sites distributing child
porn illegally (Feb. 2008). One of the largest conventions
in the US is held in Los Vegas just for porn site operators- every year. So
how bad is it? Real Bad! If you follow the money, you will find the
creeps.
Payment processors handle thousands of credit card and check transactions & of
course, deposited in US, European and Canadian banks. We would like to see
the bank managers, telecom presidents, web hosting owners and credit credit
execs that accept deposits from these site owners to be exposed
at their next PTA/ Service Club meeting or on local TV being marched
out to a waiting squad car. We can only wonder what their kids would think
of their parents when they find out.
For more Family Resource sites:
Children's Internet Protection
Act (CIPA)- USA- Lots of work to do here!
Child
Online Protection Act- (COPA)- USA.
Organizations
National Center for Exploited Children- USA & International
Family Online Safety site .. Quick advice For Kids For Parents Family online contract..
© Family Online Safety Institute. All Rights Reserved. "FOSI" and the FOSI logo are registered as trademarks in the UK and USA.
At least two States, Utah & Michigan have
child legislation. Enforcement takes manpower,
which there is a chronic storage of. We do not buy the excuse that the bad
guys have
become more sophisticatedly and resourceful.
We feel the technology is alright in place to counteract these sites- though
it is not being deployed enough.
It
appears to be just
too
profitable
for
the
suppliers,
credit card processors- banks, service providers and telecoms to resist. Forget
about them policing themselves. Until there is a concerted effort by government
to publicly expose them and their
management, the situation will continue to get worse. A recent report by Google
and MSN stated " only one percent of their search results produced pornographic
materials." Quite frankly, one percent is one percent too much- for shame.
So what can you do? Do not patronize them! The bigger they are- the harder
they fall.
Recent Personal comments:
"As a concerned parent, I find it hard to contemplate spying on my Children's Internet activity. Curiously is at the heart of this problem. Educating and setting an example, are a great start." JP Boise, ID
"I would rather help go after the perpetrators by alerting law enforcement to their presence and encouraging our politicians to stiffens penalties." James, NY, NY
