A recent arrest in Sturgeon Bay for attempted sex crimes directed at a child has local law enforcement reminding parents of the dangers presented by predators scanning the internet for potential victims. Sturgeon Bay Police Officer and Digital Forensic Examiner Chad Mielke says parents should talk to their children about the potential dangers they may encounter online. Having access to your child’s device’s passwords and setting down rules of a smartphone or iPad can be utilized are other safety tips. He says putting restrictions on your child’s device can be done along with downloading specific filtering software.
Mielke says many helpful apps can limit the time a mobile device can be online before deactivating it. One app to be concerned about is Omegle, a free online chat room that does not require any login. Miekle warns that child predators are in communities everywhere. He adds that children are online more with virtual learning, so parents should be vigilant in communicating and monitoring their child’s internet activity. The entire conversation with Officer Mielke can be found on the podcast page here.