McGruff Safeguard
McGruff takes aim at Internet predators with powerful new technology.
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) recently launched McGruff SafeGuard, a simple, free service designed to help parents manage their kids’ increasingly dangerous online activity. McGruff SafeGuard is available free at www.gomcgruff.com.
McGruff SafeGuard monitors dangerous chat and instant messaging, including: MySpace, Facebook, AOL, MSN, and Yahoo. The service allows parents to conveniently review their kids’ activities using a secure website, or to be notified of potentially dangerous situations via cell phone and email alerts.
McGruff SafeGuard is also the first service to electronically connect parents with law enforcement in their common battle against sexual predators using the Internet. If a parent discovers an Internet predator, McGruff SafeGuard reports the suspected predator to law enforcement via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). At the same time, the software blocks that alleged predator from communicating with the child again or with any children protected by the McGruff SafeGuard service. Also, if the suspected predator is detected on MySpace, the service alerts MySpace’s Policy Enforcement Team so it can take immediate action.
The service also alerts parents to other types of dangerous behavior, such as sexual abuse, drug use, or criminal activity, and provides helpful advice to parents on how to deal with other issues.
McGruff SafeGuard is made possible through a partnership between NCPC and ParentsOnPatrol. A portion of the proceeds helps fund NCPC programs across the country.
