The Digital Sheepdog | Personal Protection Systems Inc.

I've Been Watching You

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 12:16:22 -0800

For several years now, I have been speaking to the issue that computer based web cams can be covertly hacked remotely, and anything captured by the cam can be recorded and used for a crime like extortion or identity theft. I have had parents, students, teachers, law enforcement and even some on-line safety experts say "this can't be be done". Really !!!!! Here's a great video news link that supports my point.

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50572646#50572646

So how to Protect yourself:

1) ensure that you close your laptop when not in use, or place a piece of tape across the lens

2) It you have an external cam, turn it towards a blank wall when not in use or cover it with a piece of tape when not in use

3) Ensure that you don't click on links, emails or messages from people that you do not recognize, as often they may contain a remote access trojan (RAT) that can be covertly download to your computer's operating system that will allow external access to your web cam.

4) Ensure that your malware protection and security settings are up to date

How A Comedic App Can Be Used As A Weapon:

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:23:35 -0800

Just recently a student at a school that I presented at brought to my attention an App called “Nudifier”. Originally designed as an entertainment/comedic App, it is now being used by “some” on-line peer aggressors as a weapon to “Shame” a specific target on-line.

The original design and intent of Nudfier, was to create a “pixilated” picture of a person’s groin or breast area that is covered by clothing, and turn it into a picture that we often see as pixilated to hide one’s private parts, thus making us believe it is in fact a naked (sexted) picture when it is not. The app is able to morph clothing so that it appears as skin color behind the pixilation, no matter what the color of the clothing.

The student brought to my attention that the app allows any picture taken with an iPhone to be “Nudified” , so when a peer aggressor takes a picture of their target, they will “nudify” it and then post it on-line not as a joke, but rather for the purpose and intent of “shaming” a target.

As with any App, something designed to be funny can also be used as a digital weapon in he wrong hands, and it appears that peer aggressors are now using Nudifier for evil rather than fun. Nudifer is but one of a class of App’s that allows a user to pixilate a normal picture. As always, parents should be aware of the Apps that their children are downloading and how they are being used.

Parental Abdication and The Digital Driver's Key

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:08:51 -0800

In the past two years, I have presented to over eighty-eight thousand students on the topic of Internet/Social Media Safety and Digital Citizenship. Our presentation has become very popular and although youth education is important, so too is parental education specific to this topic area.

You would think that given the importance of this topic our parent presentations would be jammed packed, but sadly they are not. Anecdotally, on average, it is not uncommon to see less than 10% of parents, of a school’s total student population, attend our parent’s presentation. Ask any principal or PAC president; getting parents to attend education nights, no mater what the topic, and no matter how well advertised, is always a challenge. I have heard all the reasons “why” parents are not attending, which have included:

· I know the information already

· I have other commitments that night

· I have been working all day and I was just too tired

· There was a playoff game that night on T.V. that “my team” was playing in that I couldn’t miss

Digital Devices For X-mas

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 03:37:32 -0800

If you are purchasing a new digital device for your child this Christmas, such as an iPhone, iPad, iPod, WiiU or an XBox head over to our "Internet Resource Page" where we have a number of links that will show you how to set up parental and security/safety settings

The Ugly of Ask.fm

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:20:06 -0800

Ask.fm is an anonymous question and answer platform that is presently trending with our youth, and is fully integrated with Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. Much like Formspring and Spillit, Ask.fm allows a user to anonymously ask and answer any question on-line, no matter how ugly or controversial. Given that Ask.fm is totally integrated with the most popular Social Networks presently being used by our youth, a user can invite friends and followers to ask a question, or post a comment to their Timeline, Tumblr page or Twitter feed by using an Ask.fm App.

Having viewed Ask.fm, and given its “guaranteed” promise of anonymity, it was not surprising to me to see how many posts contained abusive and peer aggression content, as well as highly sexualized and very nasty comments that are posted un-vetted. Again, this did not surprise me given the anonymity of the site, which is only compounded by what psychologists call the disinhibition effect that on-line communication provides. In other words, youth will say things on-line that they would not normally say face-to-face, especially if they are guaranteed anonymity, thus preventing accountability and consequences to inappropriate actions.

The Changing Functionality of Apps: Parents Be Aware

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:50:47 -0700

Many parents, who refuse to purchase a cellphone for their child, will often purchase a digital device such as an iPod or iPad instead, believing that they are safer. What these same parents do not understand, there are several Apps on the market that give these same devices the ability to make phone calls via their built-in WiFi functionality. “Some” of these Apps include:

· Textme

· Pinger

· Skype

· Fring

· iCall

· Google Voice

· Line2

Don’t fool yourself in believing that your kids don’t know about these Apps, because trust me…….. THEY DO, and share such information with their peers !!!!! The teaching point for parents; Apps can often change the functionality of your child’s digital device. As a parent, you need to know about the Apps that your kids have on their digital devices and what they can do !!!!

The Digital Sheepdog

Darren

What Social Networks and App's Are Trending With B.C. Youth

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:11:01 -0700

What Social Networks and Apps Are Trending With Our Kids:

This week, I had the opportunity to poll 602 youth between grades 6-12 throughout British Columbia, and I asked them what Social Networks and communication Apps they were using to stay in touch with friends and here’s what they reported back:

SOCIAL NETWORKS:

· Facebook: 45% using

· Skype: 16% using

· Twitter: 15% using

· Tumblr: 9% using

· Instagram: 9% using

· Youtube: 2% using

· Pintrest: 2% using

· deviantART: 1% using

· YouNow: .3% using

· Myspace: .3% using

· Google+: 0% using

Communication APPS:

· MMS Text messaging: 87% using

· Text +: 6% using

· KIK: 3% using

· GifBoom: 2% using

· Keek: 1% using

· TinyChat: 1% using

Some other interesting comments and findings:

· We already knew that our kids were using multiple Social Networks, but we learned that it was not unusual for them to be using 3-4.

· Now that the purchase of Instagram by Facebook is complete, we are starting to see more integration of Instagram into a youths Facebook platform.

How To Set Parental Controls For Cellphones/Smartphones

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:28:11 -0700

Given the popularity of Mobile Media here are some links that all parents should be aware of that will help you to secure and protect your child’s cell phone:

Blackberry Phones:

http://helpblog.blackberry.com/2012/05/parental-controls/

iPhone, iPads, iTouch:

iPhone and iPad: Settings > General > Restrictions > Switch “On/Off” down the list for content, games, web browsing and everything else you want to restrict.

http://www.personalprotectionsystems.ca/the-digital-sheepdog/iphone-itouch-and-ipad.html

Android Phones:

Android: Google Play Store > Menu > Settings > User Controls > Content Filtering. Tick any of the boxes next to the ratings listed above that you think are appropriate.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vlobe.smartappcloud.android.parentalcontrol&hl=en

Windows Phone:

Windows: Start (or Windows) button > Control Panel > User Accounts > Family Safety > Parental Controls. You can create new accounts for each teen, set time limits and control games and content.

Stop Chasing The App/SN Wolf: How Parents Can Mitigate The Risk Of Their Child Becoming Involved in Sexually Inapproprate On-line Behaviour

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:43:27 -0700

Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Instagram, Pintrest, Skype, Omegle, Chatroulette , NBHNC, Skout, Blendr, Kik, Keek, Snapchat, Text+ so what do all these things have in common, the answer may surprise you; they are all digital places, or Apps, that “some” (and I emphasize some) youth will utilize for on-line sexually inappropriate behavior. This on-line sexually inappropriate behavior has many names, depending upon the Social Network or App, which include; sexting, sextcasting, instasex, wheeling, Kiking plus many many more.

Given how quickly Social Networks and communication Apps are created and sent to market, it is no wonder that parents, and even Social Media safety advocates such as myself, can not keep up with the newest trends in how these digital media tools are being utilized for sexually inappropriate or even criminal behavior. The other reality, what is digitally popular with our youth today, may not necessarily be digitally popular tomorrow.

When you combine a youth’s natural sexual curiosity with the pornification of our youth in today’s pop culture, and then mix in the psychological disinhibition effect that the Internet possesses with the current research on teenage brain development and function, it shouldn’t surprise us that some youth will sexually do things on-line that they really shouldn’t be doing.

Media Literacy Week In Canada

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 19:30:53 -0700

Media Literacy Week in Canada is from November 5^th to 9^th 2012, and this year’s theme will be dedicated to on-line privacy and safety. In our Internet and Social Media Safety presentation for schools, we spend a significant amount of time discussing on-line privacy and how one’s “digital dossier” can be a positive or negative when it comes to a student’s future. In the past 18 months we have presented to over 70,000 students throughout British Columbia. We have already booked 18 new Jr and Sr high schools for presentations this fall, and would love to add more schools to this growing list. To read why teachers, parents, students and law enforcement believe that our program is the “must have” Internet and Social Media safety program for schools in British Columbia, please have a look at our presentation outline located at:

http://www.personalprotectionsystems.ca/programs/internet-safety/internet-safety-schools.html

If your school is interested in this program, or any of our other Internet and Social media safety presentation, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email.

Social Network Habituation And Why We Need To Listen; It Could Save A Life

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 18:09:51 -0700

In an earlier post I spoke about becoming a digital “White Hatter” http://www.personalprotectionsystems.ca/the-digital-sheepdog/a-by-product-of-reality.html and how important it is for all of us who use Social Media to act as “gatekeepers” or “digital first responders” when we see a friend, students or even a stranger who is digitally reaching out for help. Very recently a blog posting was brought to my attention, which can be located at:

http://gunnarspeaks.com/2012/08/20/listening-to-social-media-why-we-must-improve/

Like my “White Hatter” article, this posting speaks to the issue of how we need to listen, believe and then reach out to those young people on-line who are digitally crying out for help. Given that today’s youth are the first generation to be fully digitally integrated, is it any wonder that they are now using digital media, in all its forms, to message their need for help? Like Commissioner Gordon’s use of the “Bat Signal” as a techno tool for Gotham City to call Batman for help, a youth’s tweet, text or other Social Media message, much like the Bat Signal, could also be a call for help. A youth’s digital cry for help is their way of hoping that someone out there in the cyber world will pay attention, listen, and in some cases assist them in getting the help that they are seeking on-line, because doing so off-line is seen to be too difficult.

cellphone/smartphone

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:05:27 -0700

Everything A Parent Needs To Know About Cellphones And Smartphones

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:03:42 -0700

Here's an updated chapter from my book that discusses everything that parents need to know about cell phones/smartphones safety and security. This should be a must read for all parents. Click Here

Darren

The Digital Sheepdog

Who's Watching The Watchers

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 11:41:31 -0700

I have written about privacy challenges specific to the Internet before, BUT I need to express my concerns once again. Our privacy is under direct attack, why ?, because it is a multi-billion dollar a year industry. The digital mining , tracking and harvesting of what we do on-line has created an industry like no other, as this info graph can attest to:

The primary objective of these third party data collection companies; to gather on-line behavioural "likes" and "dislikes" of a user, or what I like to call a digital dossier, so that they can sell that information (your digital dossier) to vendors who want to sell you things. If a vendor knows your likes, then it is easier for them to target you with their specific product.

Recently I became aware of a free Firefox Add-On called “Collusion” , which maps in real time who is watching, tracking and harvesting a specific user's on-line activities (digital dossier), so I decided to download this Add-On. After visiting only six of my favorite web sites, here’s what Collusion was able to capture:

Thank God Facebook Now Allows You To Delete Pictures Forever Or So They Say

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 10:46:48 -0700

We have always taught that once you hit the send button and post a picture on the Internet it is there forever. One of the challenges of Facebook was if you deleted a picture from your page, even though you and others could not see it, the picture could still be located via its URL. Well, this month Facebook has upgraded their servers so that when you hit the delete button, both the picture and its URL are deleted, or so they say. For those of you who have not cleaned your Facebook account of pictures that maybe you should not have posted, now is the time to do so. Ultimately remember however, before you post a picture and hit the send button consider that the picture will be public, permanent and very serachable by all no matter what your privacy settings.

http://mashable.com/2012/08/17/facebook-permanently-delete-pictures/

Darren

The Digital Sheepdog

Disabling In-App Purchases on Apple iOS and Android Devices

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:00:29 -0700

Here's a great "how to" article for parents on how to disable in-app purchases on their childs iPads, iTouchs, iPhones and Android devices. Thanks goes to "Yourshere" for publishing this article.

http://internet-safety.yoursphere.com/2012/08/disabling-in-app-purchases-on-ios-and-android-devices/

Darren

The DIgital Sheepdog

SMS iPad, iPhone, MacBook Scam

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:09:07 -0700

I have discussed SMS scams in earlier posts, but here's a link to a specific SMS scam that is targetting people with the lure of winning a new iPad, iPhone or MacBook

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/08/08/free-apple-products-text-scam/

Darren

THe DIgital Sheepdog

New 2012 Research On Sexting

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:15:00 -0700

An excellent 2012 research paper on Sexting done by Bridgewater State University in the USA.

http://webhost.bridgew.edu/marc/SEXTING%20AND%20COERCION%20report.pdf

Darren

The Digital Sheepdog

Another GREAT Reason To Get Technology Out Of Kids Bedrooms

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:38:53 -0700

Here's a great article by Dr Sklar here in Canada that explains from a health and wellness standpoint, and not just a safety standpoint, why we as parents should be ensuring that we take all digital technology out of our children's bedrooms when they head off to bed.

http://www.risk-within-reason.com/2011/06/27/why-your-teen-is-so-sleepy-and-what-to-do-about-it/

Darren

Why Our Kids Are Posting TMI

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:25:37 -0700

Here's a great blog posting that provides some "scientific" answers to why our kids are posting too much private information on-line. Although this issue is mutifactoral in nature, it's great to see that there is some "peer reviewed" research taking place on this often asked question.

http://www.risk-within-reason.com/2012/05/25/facebook-post-pleasure-psychology/

Darren