Parents and Technology Needed for Protecting Children Online

Webroot Research Finding: Parents and Technology Needed for Protecting Children Online

Parents Only Partly Aware of Child Internet Activity; Spending More Time Online Than Doing Homework

Forty-Three Percent of Teens Receive Unwanted Invitations While Nearly 40 Percent of Children Polled Have Received Sexually Explicit E-mail

Webroot Software, Inc., a leading provider of security software for the consumer, enterprise and SMB markets, today announced research that shows a disconnect between parents and their children regarding Internet usage. The Webroot® State of Internet Security Report, which corroborates existing concerns regarding the online activities of children ages 5 to 17, uncovers a number of discrepancies among children’s self-reported online activities versus what parents believe them to be. The report further discusses potential legal implications and security risks parents may face due to their children’s online behavior and best practices for ensuring a safe online experience for children.

“These discrepancies, while not shocking for many parents, are concerning. Without proper parental guidance, children can put themselves at risk, compromise valuable family information, or be the sources of bad behavior like illegally downloading videos or music or bullying,” said Mike Irwin, COO, Webroot Software. “The good news here is that these potential problems can be largely avoided if parents apply the same vigilance to the online world as in the ‘offline’ world. Direct and ongoing conversations with our kids, and establishing guidelines with the help of the right technology, will go a long way in supporting good judgment.”

Internet Disconnect

While more than 70 percent of the children surveyed (ages 11 to 17) said their parents ask them about their online activities, the Webroot State of Internet Security Report unveiled a number of significant differences between child Internet activities compared to parent perception.
Forty-five percent of children surveyed say they spend an average of three or more hours on the Internet daily while, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 61 percent of all 13 year-olds spend one hour or less on homework; 76 percent of parents believe their children spend an average of two hours or less on the Internet.
Forty percent of the children utilize instant messaging and social networking websites, such as MySpace® and Facebook® everyday; only 30 percent of the parents surveyed believe their children use these sites.
More than half of the children said they buy things online; 71 percent of parents said their children never buy over the Internet.

Parents’ Online Concerns

The report also found that parents and guardians, of children ages 5 to 17, are understandably concerned about the risks associated with Internet usage including exposure to online predators and pornography.
Forty-three percent of teens surveyed who use social networking sites reported an invitation via the Internet to meet someone they did not know within the past year.
Nearly 40 percent of children ages 11 to 17 reported they received a sexually explicit email or pop-up advertisement within the past year. Nearly 100 percent of the children surveyed utilize email.

With all of the challenges parents face in protecting their children, they must also remember to protect themselves. The Consumer Reports® “State of the Net Survey” found that in homes where children under 18 used the Internet, there was a 28 percent increase in spyware infections in the preceding six months.

“Not only do parents need to be concerned about teaching their children about online safety, but they need to protect themselves as well as their home computing systems. Parents are leaving themselves open to cyber criminals and putting their personal data at risk if their child unknowingly, or even knowingly, engages in dangerous activity or chat while on social networking sites, malware infected sites, clicking on random links, or opening email from strangers,” added Irwin. “And, it’s just as important that parents realize their responsibility if their child engages in hacking, bullying or trademark or copyright violations committed by their children when illegally downloading music or videos. A little awareness can be very helpful.”

Webroot issues reports on a quarterly basis to provide an in–depth review and analysis of the most pressing computer and data security-related concerns. “The State of Internet Security: Protecting Children Online” includes surveys from more than 600 children and 600 parents within the United States in addition to a variety of industry resources.

The complete State of Internet Security report is available at: http://www.webroot.com/pdf/Webroot_SoIS_Q0207.pdf

ABOUT WEBROOT

Webroot Software, Inc. provides industry leading security software for consumers, enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses worldwide. Globally recognized for its award-winning Spy Sweeper® line of anti-spyware products, Webroot recently incorporated anti-virus protection into two new products for consumers and SMBs, respectively: Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus software and Webroot SME Security software. The company also recently expanded into the parental controls software market with the introduction of Webroot Child Safe® software. The Boulder, Colorado based company is privately held and backed by some of the industry’s leading venture capital firms, including Technology Crossover Ventures, Accel Partners and Mayfield. Webroot’s software consistently receives top review ratings by respected third-party media and has been adopted by millions globally. Available as either branded solutions or on an OEM basis, Webroot products can be found at www.webroot.com and on the shelves of leading retailers worldwide. To find out more about Webroot, visit the website or call 1-800-772-9383.

©2007 Webroot Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Webroot, Spy Sweeper, and Child Safe are registered trademarks or trademarks of Webroot Software, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Contacts

Webroot Software, Inc.
Robert Berger, 303-442-3813, x153
rberger {at} webroot(.)com
or
104 Degrees West Partners
Elaine Schoch, 303-898-1291
elaine.schoch {at} 104degreeswest(.)com