If you came across an instant message conversation your child was having on your computer and discovered the acronym "PAW," would you know what to make of it?

 If not, you aren't alone. With cyber bullying and predators becoming a large presence online, many parents are realizing that the age-old discussion of how to safely cross the street is morphing into a more tech-savvy conversation -; how to stay protected on the Internet.

According to a 2006 study on social networking by CA, Inc. and the National Cyber Security Alliance, 51 percent of parents who are aware that their children use social networking sites do not restrict their children's profiles so that only friends can view them. Further, 36 percent of parents surveyed did not monitor their children on social networking sites.

CA has teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to donate Internet security software to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country and to offer parents and caregivers the following simple tips to help them monitor their children's Internet activity:

* Surf the Web together. Ask your child to tell you about the things they did online. Show genuine curiosity, and make it fun.

* Familiarize yourself. Have them show you their online profile, favorite chat rooms and friends.

* Learn the lingo. Common chat acronyms include "PA" (Parent Alert) and "PAW" (Parents are Watching).

* Inform. Explain why children should never share passwords, even with friends. Tell your child never to click on links or attachments sent by e-mail, unless they know the sender. Even in those cases, use caution.

* Fight cyber-bullying. Watch for signs of cyber-bullying, such as your child becoming agitated after using the PC, and learn how to respond by saving chat logs and contacting the cyber-bully's Internet provider.

* Establish control. Keep your PC in the living room or other common area, and install parental controls with Web filtering and optional time restrictions that you can adjust yourself. Furthermore, give your child a separate sign-on name.

For more information about this initiative, visit www.bgca.org/partners/ca.asp.

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