Nick Marsit's Question

Nick Marsit's question is as follows: What strategies and tips would you give to a person on how to communicate with people online in order to be able to determine a cyber predator from a normal person?

Nick, this is a great question and very relative! There are unfortunately plenty of ways that a cyber predator can reach out to it's victim. Weather the predator waits for or goes after its targets is really up to the predator. The negative side to this is that a normal, well mannered person could possibly be mistaken as a predator as well just for engaging in casual conversation. However, there are obvious signs of if the person you're talking to is, in fact, a predator or not. It is a well known fact that "Internet offenders manipulate young people into criminal sexual relationships by appealing to young people’s desire to be appreciated, understood, take risks, and find out about sex" (CACRC). This of course is taught all through a child's life, but it is still hard to be able to determine a cyber predator. 

As the quote goes, it is often an obvious sign that the person you or a child is talking to is a predator. There are, however, other ways of finding if it's a predator or not through common conversation. For example, "Internet offenders target teens who are willing to talk online about sex" (CACRC). If a teen is often talking about sex with a random person he or she is probably becoming targeted by a predator. In contrast, a normal person online may just ask you how your day is going or how you're feeling. Innocent, small talk questions like this often tell if a person is a predator or not. You can also tell the different between a cyber predator from a normal person just by how much they freely engage with you via conversation. Generally, the normal person will give you space, engaging you only sometimes. Were as a cyber predator will always try to talk to you and will always be slightly aggressive with what they say to you. In conclusion, if learned well, determining who's a cyber predator and who's not can be easy if you know the tell-tell signs.

Reference

"Internet Safety Education for Teens: Getting It Right." Crimes Against Children Research Center (CACRC). University of New Hampshire, n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. <http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/internet-crimes/safety_ed.html>.

Jocelyn Hernandez's Question

Jocelyn Hernandez's question is as follows: Hi miller! I enjoyed listening to your podcast! With the technology and resources that we have now do you see a way there can be change for online security of a person? Maybe look at how safe a child is online and how the internet can be changed to be safer especially for young children and adults. How can this be done? 

Jocelyn, this is an interesting question! There has, in fact, been a multitude of technological and specifically software developments in the computer field to improve the online security of a user. Places like DeterLab's design and formulate the next generation of cyber security. "DeterLab provides the resources, tools, and infrastructure for researchers to conduct rigorous, repeatable experiments with new security technologies, and test their effectiveness in a realistic environment similar to the public and private networks in which new cyber defenses are needed" (DeterLab). These kind of labs are all over the world working with the big-name companies like Mac and PC. They, along with plenty of other companies and independent workers, just as I specified in my research podcast has developed anti-virus and spy-wear software that is designed specifically to protect children from all online dangers. 

Going more into depth with these developments, this kind of software, often categorized overall as Anti-malwear, can be specially set up by the guardians to prevent kids from going on unknown and risky cites. It can also block users online who are flagged as dangerous and potential cyber-predators. The system can be set up for all, including anyone from young children to adults. For example, companies often use the many Anti-malwear systems with their employees to restrict the access of cites that can compromise the companies system if a virus was to be released. In conclusion, not only just from DeterLab's, but many other programs and systems are being developed in order to protect the online user from any online harm, namely cyber-predators.

Reference

"DeterLab: Accelerating Cyber-Security Advances | Deter." DeterLab: Accelerating Cyber-Security Advances | Deter. DeterLab, n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://deter-project.org/deterlab-cyber-security-science-facility>.