Internet Predators

The recent rash of arrests by online police detectives searching for Internet predators is causing some adults to experience a false sense of security. Assertions like "they must be stupid" to prey on children are becoming more commonplace, insinuating that Internet predators are easier to catch than they are.

Here's what they know that most adults don't: there are way too many of them for Internet security forces to catch them all.

Did you know: 1 in 5 kids will be approached by a sexual predator?

According to the FBI, there are 50,000 Internet predators cruising the Internet for children at any given time. That's 50,000 predators waiting for your child to log-on.

And sadly, there's nowhere near that many online safety experts or Internet security officials out there protecting your kids. This is why the ones we do have are so busy – they're trying to keep up.

There are also 30 million kids accessing the Internet in America today, and 1 in 5 will be approached by a sexual predator. That's 6 million children that will be approached by an Internet predator. As you can see, the numbers are just staggering.

And these predators aren't dumb by any means – they can take months to lull a child into a false sense of security. This is why children who are naturally caring, easily tricked, or seeking affection are most often victimized. They're the kind of targets that respond to the attention that a predator is willing to give them.

Internet security experts recommend that you treat your child's online habits like you would a Saturday night date: ask where they're going, who they talk to, what was said. It's also important to keep the computer in a family area, limit its use, and watch your child for changes in his or her behavior.

And never, ever, underestimate an Internet predator.

Most online safety experts also suggest that you get some quality computer monitoring software. This is why WebWatcher was created. It's easy to use, and completely invisible while it's running. It records every chat, email, and website that your child sees on the Internet.

If you're a vigilant parent, it's the only way to even the odds.