Tackling Dangers of Internet

By Rabbi Hanoch Hecht

While having a friendly conversation with a colleague of mine, the subject of internet and internet security came up. Being that he has four children under the age of twelve, I thought “Surely this guy has internet security on his computers at home.” He did not.

Here are some of the issues regarding the web:

A computer with internet access is a window into the world, exposing both the good and the bad. It is our job to protect ourselves and our families from the negative aspects of the World Wide Web.

There are countless dangers the internet brings; some more harmful than others, some more lethal than others, but they are all dangers we can protect ourselves from. Studies show that one in five children are solicited on the web.

Another danger is addiction; school, work, parenting and other responsibilities suffer because people can’t pull themselves away from the computer. In Japan they have recently built a new hospital solely dedicated to curing people who are addicted to the Web.

Independence poses another threat: in this day and age many kids and teens have their own laptops and IPods with internet access. Give it a few minutes of thought and research, and you will find thousands of things on the internet that you do not approve of, but that can easily be obtained by you or your family members.

I’m sure everyone reading this has at one point or another used the internet to procrastinate, to escape reality instead of getting their work done and facing life head-on.

Some solutions:

The web has many positive and educative features. However, we cannot rely solely on education, trust and willpower. While I encourage every parent to educate their child on the dangers of the internet, I can’t help but feel that is just not enough anymore. We must protect ourselves, our families and the future of our communities.

Many people don’t even know such a thing as internet security exists, let alone the fact that it is literally at our fingertips; Internet security can be downloaded for FREE and many of them have customizable options to suit every person’s needs.

Personally I have a program called “K9” on all my computers. It is a free program that can be installed in mere minutes. You can personalize the settings for time spent online, blockage and limitations of certain sites etc. It is simple to use, and can make a vast difference in your home.

I recommend and encourage that every home take this important step toward protecting our families and our future leaders.

May G-D bless us with strength to make the right decisions.

-Rabbi Hanoch Hecht is the Spiritual leader of the Rhinebeck Jewish Center and director of Chabad dutchess.