In just 45 minutes, an online predator can find your child. But there are ways to outsmart the bad guys. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) Computer Crimes Unit gives seminars to groups around the state, teaching participants how to keep themselves safe on the Internet. As part of this training, a pretend predator tracks a phantom child using her chat room alias. Within minutes, the predator is able to find identifying details about the young girl, and 45 minutes later he has discovered her full name, address, hobbies and interests, names of family members, and schools in her area. The staged scenario shows exactly how easy it is to use a few details posted on the Internet to paint a big picture.

Cyber Crime Fighters
Frightening? It should be. Internet predators are a fact of life, and when your children are online, they run the risk of encountering them. But common sense and vigilance will help keep them safe. “I don’t want the world to think the Internet is a sick, depraved place—it’s not,” says OSBI Deputy Inspector Jon Huntington. “The Internet is a tool.”

According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, children are spending more time than ever online. Not including time spent studying or doing homework, the report found that 22% of 8-18 year olds are online more than an hour every day.

Unfortunately, though the Internet can deliver a wealth of helpful information, we also know that it can be a source of dangerous and harmful information. Sexual predators know children are online, and they know where to find them. While the majority of Internet users are not harmful, dangerous people are out there.

Part of the mission of the Computer Crimes Unit is to offer education on how people can properly use the Internet and, most importantly, keep personal information safe from would-be criminals. “What we’re trying to do is make kids a little smarter,” Huntington says. The anonymity of the Internet is attractive to kids. “There is a tendency for them to think they’re invulnerable.” But kids must remember that anyone could be on the other end of that connection. Online anonymity allows kids the freedom to be themselves and predators the opportunity to pretend they’re anyone but themselves.

In the News
If you’ve seen the television news magazines lately, you’ve seen that “cyber predators” are everywhere, and they’re being “busted” by these programs. The group Perverted-Justice plays a big part in these programs. Perverted-Justice volunteers go online and pose as children. They chat with people who sometimes turn out to be predators requesting a meeting for sexual encounters.

“Not everybody who says something stupid or sexual on the Internet is going to try to knock on your door,” says Huntington. “It’s going to be a low percentage, thank goodness.” Groups like Perverted-Justice bring the problem into the public eye.

Viewer Beware
The increased media coverage has increased interest among people who want to help by going into chat rooms to lure predators into a compromising situation. Huntington says, “We get a lot of people who call and say ‘We’d like to work for you.’ Well, I can’t tell you no, because anyone can do it, but the fact is, there may be already a case going on.”

Predators are criminals, and they can be dangerous. Your computer can put your family in danger. “That IP (Internet Protocol) address is like a telephone number on the Internet, and it can be traced back if they do a little work and put out a little effort,” said Huntington.

Protect Your Family Online
* Keep your computer in a public place—this cannot be stressed enough. If your children don’t have privacy online, their chances of involvement in an inappropriate situation decrease dramatically.
* Use parental monitoring software or something as simple as the “history” feature on your web browser to view web sites that are frequented.
* Don’t forbid use of the technology. Instead, educate your children on responsible usage and potential dangers.
* Educate yourself—spend time on the computer and the Internet (especially if you don’t already) to familiarize yourself with what your children know.
* Watch for changes in your child’s personality and behavior. Always keep the channels of communication open.
* If you sense a problem, talk to someone. Report your concerns to the OSBI Computer Crimes Unit at 848-6724.

Resources for Keeping Kids Safe Online
osbi.state.ok.us: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation home page
FBI.gov: Federal Bureau of Investigation home page
Perverted-Justice.com: home page for the group
MissingKids.com: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Mari Farthing is a freelance writer and the Assistant Editor for MetroFamily Magazine. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and two children.