Click Clever, Click Safe, Click CEOP

Today, 9 February, is Safer Internet Day, and in the UK, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) is promoting several ways to make the web more secure for children:

· An animated film, aimed at children around 5-7 years old, shows ways in which children can safety browse and use the Internet. Apparently 8 of 10 children this age are regular web users.

· Microsoft and CEOP have teamed up to produce a special ‘flavour’ of Windows Internet Explorer 8, building on the browser’s already advanced safety features. The CEOP version allows users to add specific features, including a ‘Click CEOP’ button, which links to advice for children, teenagers and parents.

As a company, we (Microsoft) put a great deal of faith in our technology, however, we are also aware that the tools we provide have to be used responsibly. Safety education is one of the most effective means of helping to protect children online.

If you are a parent or have some friends and family that have children active online, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/uk/citizenship/safeandsecure/parentadvice/default.mspx

You can download the CEOP version of Internet Explorer 8 here: https://www.ceop.gov.uk/ie8/

And a story on the BBC website today Government advice: Browse safely with Microsoft is well worth reading too.