121 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
121 lines
5.6 KiB
Plaintext
Area: ASKACOP
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Msg#: 584 Rec'd Date: 10/29/93 22:41
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From: Bob Eden Read: Yes Replied: No
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To: All Mark:
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Subj: Info To Parents #3
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....continued from previous message:
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I have a teenage daughter who is an avid modemmer and can offer the
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following suggestions to moniter your child, keeping in mind that the
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parent does not want to necessarily deprive the child of this medium,
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and in fact, does want to encourage the child to become computer
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literate:
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1) As a parent, you should become knowledgeable in the software used by
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the child, to facilitate the modem. My child uses Telemate, of which
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I am thoroughly aware.
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2) Monitor the modem program to ensure that the numbers listed are in
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the local exchange, so you won't encounter large phone bills.
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3) Insist that the child has the password recorded (Telemate has that
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function installed). Simply use the left arrow key, at the dialing
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menu, until the password becomes visible.
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4) If you become suspicious that your child is contacting dangerous BBS
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you can further control the child's activities. You can insist that
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they engage the "log session" capability of the program, so that you
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can review their activities. You can also contact the BBS yourself,
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using your child's passowrd, to scan the contents of the suspicious
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BBS. The danger here is that you can discourage the child and
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alienate him/her. However, if you decide to employ these tactics, you
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likely feel desparate and desparate measures are warranted.
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5) In the options pull-down menu area, you can check the download path
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and review the programs and text files downloaded, by your child.
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Look for files on floppies also.
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I am sure that there are other things, which may be considered, in
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becoming aware of your child's activities. I would be interested in
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hearing about your thoughts and experiences.
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I would like to further emphasize that you use tact, in dealing with
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your child regarding BBS activities. I showed my daughter a letter
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written by the parent of a child, who became a victim of sexual abuse,
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because of his activities on the bulletin boards. My daughter was
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somewhat indignant, saying she was too smart to let this happen to her.
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However, my daughter, being interested in Tarot Card reading, actually
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attended a social gathering of a local White Witchcraft BBS group. We
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allowed her to attend, based on the advice of a local policeman, who is
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an expert in witchcraft, and the meeting was in a local public place.
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We stipulated that an adult cousin was to chaperone. Unbeknownst to me,
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the cousin did not attend and my daughter went alone, with a teenage
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friend. As it turned out this VERY SMART TEENAGER, returned to the Adult
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Sysop's house, to view their computer equipment. Fortunately for my
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daughter, nothing happened.
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However, this incident demonstrates that even with all of the
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precautions taken, children are at risk, because they are for the most
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part, very naive and trusting.
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In the same way that we teach small children never to talk to strangers,
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we have to teach our computer literate children that the people they are
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talking to on the computer are also strangers - and they should take the
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same precautions.
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The following are further suggestions offered by the Warwick County
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Police:
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*****WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN****
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TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT THEIR USE OF THE COMPUTER
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KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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IF POSSIBLE, KEEP THE COMPUTER IN A "COMMON" AREA OF YOUR HOME, SUCH AS
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A FAMILY ROOM OR DEN. Comment - I conducted an investigation, in which a
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16 year old boy, (from Delta, BC) who caused the destruction of a
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Bulletin Board and a users home computer, by introducting a destructive
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"batch file". When I visited his home with a search warrant, I found
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that he had the computer and modem in his bedroom. Remember what was
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said about "appearance". Well the condition of his room, his computer
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and discs, was appalling. He had the privacy to do what he wanted.
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This situation has now changed. His parents, who are upstanding, caring
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parents, have now removed his modem and the computer is in a common
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area.
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YOU DECIDE IF YOUR CHILD HAS A LEGITIMATE NEED FOR A MODEM
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IF A MODEM IS BEING USED, CONTROL THE ACTIVITY MONITOR TIMES AND NUMBERS
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DIALED.
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CLOSELY MONITOR YOUR LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE BILL.
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IF THE COMPUTER IS LEFT RUNNING UNATTENDED CHECK THE SCREEN.
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IF IT IS SHOWING A SERIES OF SIXTEEN-DIGIT NUMBERS THE COMPUTER IS
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TRYING TO VALIDATE CREDIT CARD NUMBERS.
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IF YOU ARE NOT COMPUTER LITERATE LEARN ABOUT COMPUTERS TAKE A COURSE
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OR HAVE YOUR CHILD TEACH YOU.
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***********************************************************************
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I realize that the above material is written by a police officer in the
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United States, but I have to say that the situation in Canada mirrors
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that of the U.S. It is a growing concern in the Lower Mainland. I am
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personally aware of at least 100 Pirate Bulletin Boards and a number of
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Porn and Occult boards in this area. I am personally aware of over 700
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teenagers who use Pirate Boards. Are their parents aware of their
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children's activities?
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Detective Dennis Tiessen
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Vancouver Police Department
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Fraud Squad
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312 Main Street,
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Vancouver, BC
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V6A 2T2
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Please feel free to write me with your comments, advice, tips, or
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whatever concerns you about Bulletin Boards.
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