E-Safety for Children

e-safety for Schools

E-safety for children.

 There is a ticking bomb that is going to go off and I suspect in the next 12 months there will be a whistle blower from a school IT Department who spills the beans on how hard it is to protect children from adult online content. It will send shockwaves throughout the country and will shock parents who will believe that there children are safely browsing the Internet at school. But E-Safety Policies should not lose sight of the fact that the Internet is a wonderful tool that will always be a part of the lives of the people who pass through the schools.

Am I taking a cheap shot at under funded School IT Departments – No, absolutely not as they are doing their best with the tools they have available to them. There are very effective tools and collaborations in place that in many cases are making best efforts to help. But here is the cruncher!

What do you think would happen if a forensic analysis was done across a school network that would report back independently to a governing body. The report would detail all web surfing trends and demonstrate all of the holes in the system. A report that showed all web activity of Teachers, Support Staff and Students.

Based on the E-Safety Experience so far of http://www.mcware.co.uk and http://www.hdforensics.co.uk the country will be shocked to the core. Can it be prevented with a strong E-Safety policy? No What is the best scenario? More and better education of Students, Support Staff and Teachers with a manned helpline for parents and teachers. Use a forensic company who understands the current trends in cybercrime and how unscrupulous companies deliver content. Talk to the private sector who spend much more than the education sector can afford E-Safety outsourced to an independent company who will not hide results and will be subject to independent regular and thorough audits. The battle being waged in Education is similar to Anti Virus companies fighting with hackers.

E-Safety Cat and Mouse – but by putting the right tools in place on the network you will have a much better chance of stemming the tide.

Jonathan

While I’m at it here is another Nostradamus prediction. The whole media world will be incredibly disappointed after Tony Blair gives evidence at the Iraq Inquiry on Friday. There is no way he is going to give anything away other that what has already been said by those before him. It will be like Alistair Campbell with a big smile. This inquiry has no teeth and resembles a parish council meeting to discuss refuge collection.

OK I agree that last sentence is not quite right, anyone who has ever been to a parish council meeting will know that Dog Fouling is always point one on the agenda.