Protection of Minors

Interexcel World Connection strives to ensure the protection of children on the Internet. However, the most important part, trust in our child and their trust in us, can only be managed in our own homes.

Although we cannot safeguard minors from harm in the online sphere, we can provide parents and guardians with solutions which can improve security and allow you to control your child's internet environment.

Trusted applications and extensions

Interexcel World Connection advises that parents use the following websites, applications or extensions to safeguard their child online. We will revise this list on a regular basis.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Parents, guardians and educators should always check when last software, websites or applications were updated as outdated information could often be just as harmful as no safeguards at all. Nefarious entities often seek to deliberately infiltrate or bypass the rules of these applications or sites which is quite easy when these platforms use outdated protocols.
• Note that applications and extensions will override many privacy protocols for applications — so be sure you trust the application or extension you use as it will have access to your child's device and information.
• You will need to disable these applications when your child turns 18 as you won't have a legal right to track their information OR allow third parties to track them unless your adult child has agreed to monitoring.
• When you use a url (website) it's easy for your child to navigate to other sites, so it's a better idea to install an application which will guide all their web searches.
• Some apps allow users to subscribe or use their applications from 16 or even 12 years of age. If the application terms and conditions state that children should comply with this and they don't, legal recourse is often difficult, so it is best to discuss net security with your kids before they install or use any platforms.
• Tech savvy teens can easily deactivate some of these applications or simply use other applications.

Safe Search Kids

Safe Search Kids is a search engine powered by Google SafeSearch which allows kids to search safely for information, images and videos. You can find it here:

https://www.safesearchkids.com/google-kids/#.XxVqmygzaUk

Net Nanny

Net Nanny is a premium feature which can be installed on all devices and features parental controls, pornography blocking, family feed, parent dashboard, internet filter, app blocking, website blocking, location tracking and screen time management.

https://www.netnanny.com/

Kidshield

Kidshield is a website which offers a variety of resources for parents around internet security and a range of links which parents can use for safe searching online.

https://www.kidshield.com/

Bark

Bark, unlike other links on this list, monitors social media and chat — something lacking from other applications or extensions. It can check for online activity, bullying or solicitation on more than 30 platforms, including Google, AOL, Facebook, Instagram, text messenger, YouTube, native image libraries, GDrive, gmail, DropBox, Skype, Reddit, Hangouts, Pinterest, TikTok, Spotify, Snapchat and more.

Unfortunately this is not a free service and payment plans are based in USD. It costs between R85 and R240 per month based on current exchange rates (Jul 2020), but is one of the few applications that covers social media.

https://www.bark.us/

Enough is Enough

Enough is Enough is a non-profit organisation focused on providing parents with the latest news and resources around online security and exploitation of children.

https://enough.org/

Kiddle

Kiddle is one of the most used child-friendly search engines worldwide. It is powered by Google Safe Search and allows kids to search the web, Kpedia, images, news and videos safely and securely.

https://www.kiddle.co/

Kidz Search

Kidz Search is a website browser aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 13. The site offers safe searching of pics, facts, music, apps and games.

https://www.kidzsearch.com/

Norton Family Premier

Norton Life Lock is a premium application which is more affordable than other apps or extensions and monitors unlimited devices. Unfortunately it doesn?t have an iOS application and no geofencing safeguards.

https://za.norton.com/

ZAC Browser — special needs

ZAC Browser for Windows is specifically aimed at safe searching for children with autism. Given their special needs, these children will interact with information in unconventional ways and this browser is optimised for protecting them while giving them the information they require.

https://zacbrowser.com/

Tips for staying safe online

Whether your children have just entered the online sphere or are socialising with friends digitally, the following steps are advised to keep them safe online:

• Most cellular networks allow parental controls for all numbers you administer, so consult your provider to institute device safety for your children on numbers administrated by your network.
• Ensure that you as parent or caregiver has access to the email address and/or cell phone number on which your children are registering for online services.
• Ensure that you 'uncheck' marketing or push notifications for applications and websites your child will access.
• Disable your child's camera and/or web camera for most applications. If you want to keep it on for certain reasons, then go through all the apps and disable/enable per application.
• Set the security settings for your child's devices and browsers to "safe search" and whitelist or blacklist sites which are suitable or unsuitable accordingly.
• Research and block known harmful sites and applications from your child's results.
• Install a safe search engine or browser for your child and bookmark safe websites for them to access material.
• Install legitimate antivirus software on all your devices and keep this software updated.
• Check URLs and domains for all sites and email addresses and verify these against legitimate sources online. The URL is the snipped of text, special characters and numbers which appears at the top of the browser. Make sure the link corresponds with the actual site your child needs to access. If content is shared via a shortened link such as bit.ly, then ask the sender to send the full URL.
• Instruct your children on strong passwords and login information. One trick is to recite a rhyme or phrase which is familiar to them and then let them type the rhyme in uppercase, lowercase, special characters and numerals.
• Do not allow children to chat or connect with strangers online unless you have authorised them to do so or such site is monitored and maintained by a legitimate educational institution.
• Instruct children not to click on links or view content unless this content has been vetted by you and from a legitimate platform.
• Teach children not to complete survey information or other forms online, including social media copy-and-paste games which makes them state information used for password hacking such as colours, names, activities, addresses or other personal information.
• When installing free versions of apps or online services which have not been vetted, provide dummy contact and financial information. If an email address is required for such sites, create a free dummy email via Gmail or another mail client and use this email address exclusively for such occasions. If a platform bars you from accessing 'free' information by using such dummy info, it means they are already trying to check and verify your info which is a red flag.
• If possible, create different SSIDs for your home network and set different access details, limits and rules for each user which will limit their internet usage at home.
• Switch off Near Field Communication (NFC) and automatic Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity settings on your child's devices.
• Right-click or inspect all files available for download to verify the file size and type before downloading. If the file size looks odd compared to what is being downloaded, don't allow it.
• Instruct your child on safe words and other signals should they feel threatened and/or unsafe when communicating with others.
• Show your children how to download content from sites for later offline viewing where available and always monitor their downloads.
• Password protect cloud content and frequently check who has access to your shared content.

Report exploitation

If you suspect that an individual or application is exploiting children, please report this to:

• The Internet Service Providers Assocation (ISPA). Their guidelines can be accessed here: http://cybercrime.org.za/docs/Advisory_on_Reporting_Cybercrimes_April_2013.pdf.
• The South African Police Service's child protection agency by mailing childprotect@saps.org.za or phoning 0860 010 111.
• Childline via www.childline.org.za or 0800 055 555.
• Crime Line via www.crimeline.co.za,
• The Film and Publications Board on www.fpbprochild.org.za, and/or
• ECPAT International which fights child exploitation globally: https://www.ecpat.org/.

Should you believe that one of Interexcel World Connection's clients or affiliates are exploiting minors, please inform us of your concerns by contacting us on support@iewc.co.za.

Though we may not break privacy obligations set by ICASA and POPIA, we are also legally and morally committed to keeping all South Africans safe and will inform the relevant authorities of criminal activity shared with us.