Computer Associates Joins McGraw-Hill in Urging Parents to 'Keep Your Kids Safe On The Internet'
ISLANDIA, N.Y., Dec. 21 -- Computer Associates International, Inc.
(NYSE: CA) has partnered with McGraw-Hill Professional to offer
free consumer security software with the publisher's newly released
book, "Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet." To address the growing risk
that accompanies increased Internet use, the book offers important advice
to concerned parents looking to protect their children online. According
to a study by the Crimes Against Children Research Center, of children
who used the Internet regularly during a one-year period, one in four
was exposed to unwanted pictures depicting nudity or sexual acts and
one in five received a sexual solicitation or approach.
Written by Internet security expert Simon Johnson, the book includes an
offer for a free copy of CA's eTrust EZ Antivirus 2005 security software,
one of the products reviewed in the book. The award-winning product
provides protection, detection and elimination of thousands of computer
viruses, worms and Trojan Horse programs. With the antivirus product
retailing at $29.95 per copy, CA's software commitment is valued at $1.05
million for the first print run alone and is expected to increase over the
life of the book.
"Advances in technology have resulted in many positive changes in our
society," said Lina Liberti, vice president of product marketing at CA. "At
the same time, I am keenly aware that the introduction of technology into
our homes via the Internet has been problematic. Parents everywhere are
looking for guidance and the necessary tools to help them safeguard their
children in the online world with the same effectiveness as they do in the
real world."
"'Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet' contains important information
for parents," said Philip Ruppel, vice president and group publisher of
McGraw-Hill Professional. "By including an offer for CA's eTrust EZ
Antivirus, we are offering our readers greater value by enabling them
to act immediately on Simon Johnson's urgent advice that parents install
and update antivirus software."
"Parents should take an active interest in what their children are doing
on the Internet," said Johnson. "By putting the computer in the family room
and going on the Internet together, parents can guide their children toward
safe activities." In his book, Johnson offers advice on a variety of
Internet-related topics including this list of points for parents to discuss
with their children:
1. Just as you need to be careful around strangers in the real world,
you shouldn't talk to strangers on the Internet.
2. You should avoid anyone who says rude things to you, asks you for
your real name, wants you to send them a photo, wants to speak
with you on the phone, or asks to meet you in person.
3. Never give anyone, or any website, personal information such as
your name, address, phone number, or the name of your school.
4. With the exception of your parents, never give anyone your password.
5. Never have a face-to-face meeting with a person you have talked
to on the Internet.
6. Never send or post photos of yourself or anyone else on the
Internet.
7. Never turn on your camera or microphone and chat with a person
who you do not know.
8. Never run or save any files or games from a person you do not know.
These could really be computer viruses or software programs that
could damage the computer.
9. Don't respond to message boards, chat requests, or websites that
contain rude language.
10. Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.
"Please don't skip any of these points in discussions with your
children," said Johnson. "And don't presume that they already
understand the risks."
To help drive home these messages, CA is donating copies of "Keep Your
Kids Safe on the Internet" to the parents of the 20,000 children attending
CA's Digital Schoolhouse (DSH) classrooms this year in Islandia, N.Y.,
Herndon, VA, Lisle, IL and Ditton Park, UK. An initiative of the non-profit
Computer Associates Digital Schoolhouse Foundation, the DSH is a technology-
based learning environment that uses the Internet to foster education and
career-awareness for elementary school students. McGraw-Hill Professional
and the author are also supporting this initiative.
About McGraw-Hill Professional
McGraw-Hill Professional is a leading global provider of general interest,
business, multimedia and computer titles, and reference works that include
materials for the scientific, technical and medical communities. It is a unit
of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
(NYSE: MHP), a global information services provider meeting worldwide
needs in the financial services, education and business information markets
through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek.
Founded in 1888, the Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries.
Sales in 2003 were $4.8 billion. Additional information is available at
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com .
About CA
Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE: CA), the world's largest
management software company, delivers software and services across
operations, security, storage, life cycle and service management to
optimize the performance, reliability and efficiency of enterprise IT
environments. Founded in 1976, CA is headquartered in Islandia, N.Y. and
serves customers in more than 140 countries. For more information,
please visit http://ca.com.
All trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herein
belong to their respective companies.