It may allow other people to capture personal information about you and your family. It may cause your computer to slow down or even crash.

Kids who spend a lot of time on the Internet may unknowingly download files that are infected with spyware. If they play a lot of games online, or if they share files with other people, they may be exposed to spyware.

In this age of identity theft, you want to do all you can to keep spyware off your computer. Here are ways to keep your child from downloading spyware:

• Talk with her. Have her ask before she downloads anything. Or set up a list of websites from which she may download without asking.

• Keep track of what your child does online. Keep the computer in a place where you can see what’s going on.

• Set up parental controls. Most Internet services provide them.

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