In an effort to increase Internet safety education across Kansas, I announced last week the creation of the new NetSafeKansas website. It is a website created by my Cyber Crime Unit designed to educate Kansas kids, parents and consumers about the threats they face online.
In late February, I announced plans to expand my office's Cyber Crime Unit. I asked lawmakers to join me in the fight against Internet crime and provide additional resources to help prevent crime and protect our children.
The money was to help the Cyber Crime Unit increase education, investigation and prosecution of cyber crime. Unfortunately, the legislature did not appropriate funding for our program.
Even without additional resources, I decided we would do whatever possible to protect our kids within existing resources. My office may not have received additional help, but that didn't change my commitment to protect our families from crime online.
We know education is the key to preventing crime and keeping our kids safe. We know from experiences in our state-as well as across the country-that the more we raise awareness about online threats the greater the chance we can prevent them.
That's why I asked my Cyber Crime Unit to create the NetSafeKansas website.
NetSafeKansas contains information for kids and teens that focuses on the new threats of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and social networking websites. This new resource will help teach kids how to protect themselves and how to report improper or illegal activity on the Internet.
NetSafeKansas also gives parents the tools to better protect their children online. As a parent of four young kids, I know how important it is for parents to learn how to protect their children from predators on the Internet. This website provides simple safety tips that anyone can follow.
These days, most kids know more than their parents about the Internet, social networking websites and instant messaging. Our goal was to give parents tools to educate themselves and their children.
In addition to the dangerous criminal using the Internet to prey on kids, there are criminals trying to steal identities and personal information from Kansans who use the Internet for commerce.
Consumers can use the Internet to shop, bank, pay bills, and much more. With more transactions taking place online, the opportunities for fraud, scams, and identity theft are growing.
NetSafeKansas has a complete section devoted to issues and threats consumers encounter on the Internet. From online auctions to identity theft to online lotteries and phishing scams, this new website teaches consumers how to spot scams and protect themselves.
As new threats grow, NetSafeKansas will change and expand to protect our families. We will provide Cyber Alerts when new scams or crimes are identified.
Education is the best way to keep our children safe, give parents the tools they need and help consumers stay away from scams. I will continue to fight next year for legislative funding for my Cyber Crime Unit. I pledge to do my part to make a difference in the safety of Kansans online.
Please, visit our new website: NETSAFEKANSAS.COM to learn more about Internet crime.