There are more and more kids getting their own websites these days. Whether it’s for a blog, learning how to design websites or even for budding internet business moguls, it’s getting more and more common.

But if you’re thinking of registering a website for your kids, there are a couple of things you need to consider.

First, when you register a domain (”domain” in www.domain.com) you need to enter the contact information of the person registering it. This includes an address, full name, phone number and email address.

This information is publicly available to anyone who wants to look it up, so it’s important that you either use an office address, a post office box or some kind of privacy protection. Otherwise anyone can look up the full name and address of who owns the site. Whether it’s in your name or your child’s, they can be tracked down with that information if it’s your home address & phone number.

Most domain registrars offer privacy protection that will shield that information from being viewed publicly. Some charge a couple of dollars extra for the service while others include it automatically.

Second, if you’ve already registered a domain with personal information you can change it through your domain registrar. But you need to be aware that the historical information will always be available to anyone willing to pay to get it. It’s not expensive ($15-$30) to get this service, and there’s nothing you can do to block it.

Even if you add privacy protection now, the historical data is already stored.

I came across a website today that was being run by a 12 year old boy. He had put a lot of work into it, and was doing a great job of it. But on one of the pages he specifically said that his parents wouldn’t let him post his last name because of the risks that can come from the internet.

At the same time, the website was registered in his name with his home address, phone number and email address out there for anyone who knows how to find it.

All the effort his parents went to to protect him was out the window from the start.

You always, always need to remember that once information is “out there” on the internet, it’s next to impossible to get it back. Make sure you’re safe in the first place.

One of the crimes getting a great deal of publicity recently is identity theft. In 2007, over 8.4 million adults in the United States were victims of identity theft, with over $49 billion in damages and fraud committed by these identity thieves. Identity theft happens when someone uses another individual’s personal information, such as a social security number, banking information, or a credit card number, without permission to commit fraud. Identity thieves are doing anything from shopping online to opening credit card or cellular phone accounts to renting apartments with information obtained illegally about strangers. There are several steps that individuals can take to prevent themselves to becoming a victim of identity theft.

One of the common misconceptions about identity theft is that most of the problems begin with information that is gathered online. While some identity theft crimes are committed online, according to recent surveys where the source of the stolen personal information is known, nearly 70% of victims reported that their information was stolen without the use of a computer. Methods criminals use to steal valuable information include stealing wallets and purses, stealing mail, and gathering information from victim’s associates. Many of the steps that should be taken to prevent identity theft are common sense, but important nonetheless.

Some available measures to protect your information may include:

1. Be Secure: Many neighborhoods are converting from traditional rows of unlocked mailboxes to mailboxes that require a key to access. Stealing mail is a favorite method of identity thieves. If possible, receive statements and pay bills online to prevent sensitive information from being accessed by criminals digging through your mail.
2. Be Smart: Tricks like looking over your shoulder as you enter a PIN number into an ATM machine work well for identity thieves. Criminals are also willing to look through garbage for the mail you’ve thrown away. For instance, most Americans receive several credit card applications in the mail each week. A shredder can be purchased for less than $20 now and is a great investment when it comes to protecting your identity.
3. Be proactive: Once a criminal has your information in hand, it can take less than 5 minutes for fraud to occur. A stolen purse with a credit card and other personal information inside is a great find for an identity thief. Call your credit card company the minute you think your card may be lost or stolen – the hassle of waiting for a new card to arrive in the mail is nothing compared to the hassle of dealing with the consequences of identity theft, as victims spend an average of 600 hours each dealing with the problems caused by the theft of their identities. Monitor your credit report regularly to ensure nothing suspicious has shown up in your name.

Anyone can be a victim of identity theft, but the above steps can help make sure that it’s difficult if not impossible for criminal to get their hands on your personal information.

One of the chief concerns among Internet users is knowing that their privacy is safe and that the computers and personal information are secure from internet security threats. As more personal business is completed online, including shopping, travel planning, blogging, paying bills, web surfing, and sending E-mail and instant messages, Internet users are more and more likely to send confidential information online. Most Internet users enter their address, telephone number, bank account number, or credit card number as they participate in e-commerce without thinking twice. However, it’s essential to safeguard this information and make sure that confidential information stays out of the wrong hands.

Most Internet users assume that the information they search for online and the personal information they enter is private. There are several factors to be aware of when using the Internet that call internet privacy into question, including:

• Cookies: Cookies are a tool used to track a users web surfing. When a user visits a website, that site’s server receives the request for information, and sends the web content to the user’s computer. The user computer stores cookies on the hard drive without the knowledge or permission of the user. The information stored on cookies can be as simple as the name of a website, and as complex as credit card numbers to help automatically fill out forms later. Cookies have useful functions, such as helping web pages load faster, but it’s important to be aware that messages are sent between user computers and servers without the consent of the Internet user.
• Internet Service Providers: Because the only way to get online is through a provider of Internet service, everything you do online can potentially be logged by your ISP. Your provider should have information on how they protect your privacy.
• Data Logging: Many computers are set up to log all computer activity, which could risk a user’s privacy if the information got into the wrong hands through outside access to your computer.
• Spyware: Spyware enters a user computer without warning or permission to monitor activity and steer advertising and other web content toward the user. Spyware is more than a nuisance that hinders computer performance; it can gather and transmit potentially confidential information to third parties.

There are several reasons why other individuals, companies, or even computer programs would want to violate your Internet privacy. In some cases the goal is to target advertising tailored specifically for your interest. In others, people may be trying to steal your information for their personal gain. In today’s ago of information, information is power.

Protecting your computer and your personal information by changing passwords regularly, using effective anti-virus software, using only websites that have taken precautions to ensure your privacy, and screening your system regularly for potentially harmful activity is the only way to safeguard your Internet Privacy. The Internet is an amazing tool, but it can also be dangerous if users fail to take steps to protect themselves.