EarthLink Joins with FBI and Kids Fighting Chance to Provide Family Safety Advice [23rd October 2003]

ATLANTA, Oct 23, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Today, representatives from EarthLink (ELNK) , one of the nation's leading Internet service providers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Kids Fighting Chance will join together to provide safety advice for families. At the same time, EarthLink will announce its partnership with Kids Fighting Chance, a Chicago- based group that provides education and training to teach, empower and prepare children to avoid attack and escape abduction.

"We want to help protect kids both on- and off-line. By working with law enforcement and supporting groups that help protect children, we can reach out to families and communicate the importance of safety on the Internet as well as in the world around us," said Les Seagraves, EarthLink's chief privacy officer.

"Our children are our nation's most valuable asset and protecting them must be a national priority. Unfortunately, we've seen an increase in Internet crimes against children in recent years. Our programs to protect children against crime is one of the FBI's top initiatives, and we'll continue to work with local law enforcement, as well as with private companies and organizations, to help safeguard our nation's youth," said Dave Webster, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta.

"We want to take a proactive approach to teaching, empowering and preparing children to rescue themselves," said Paul Stanley, co-founder of Kids Fighting Chance. "Coaches don't just tell kids how to play baseball, soccer and piano, they teach and prepare them, and the children practice. Yet, for what could be the most horrifying moments of their lives, children have received only words: 'Don't talk to strangers,' "Don't take candy ... .' Too often, our children are not prepared for a dangerous or life-threatening situation."

Launched late last year, Kids Fighting Chance teaches children ages five and up simple and effective ways to avoid dangerous situations as well as escape an aggressor or abductor.

EarthLink's support will help Kids Fighting Chance take its message of safety and security to children across the nation through a series of free school and mall tours to demonstrate escape techniques and safety tips and to educate children and caregivers. As the organization's Internet partner, EarthLink will provide online safety advice for families, such as sharing email accounts with their child, keeping the computer in a public room and never sharing personal information or photos with strangers they meet online. In addition, consumers will receive access to the Kids Fighting Chance safety tips and self-protection video through EarthLink's Website and Internet access software.

"Partnering with Kids Fighting Chance is a natural next step in EarthLink's mission to help provide families with complete Internet protection. We're proud to support organizations that help prepare kids for the world outside," noted Seagraves.

"Our partnership with EarthLink will help us communicate our message of a proactive approach to safety to more families and will allow us to expand the protection we provide by teaching parents and children how to avoid dangerous situations on the Internet and offline. EarthLink is a perfect partner to further our ability to provide this valuable advice to families via our Website and family programs," said Stanley.

To protect children on the Internet, EarthLink and the FBI recommend
several tips:

Online Safety Tips for Parents:

1. Talk to your child. Communicate openly with your children about the potential dangers of the Internet.

2. Keep the computer in a common room. The best place for a computer is in a common room in the house, not in your child's bedroom. It is easier to make sure the wrong people are not communication with your children if the screen is visible to you.

3. Use parental control tools: Most ISPs provide some form of parental control and blocking software. While these can be great tools, do not rely on them completely to protect your children.

4. Monitor the chat rooms: While electronic chat can be a great place for children to make new friends, it is also prowled by computer-sex offenders. Be sure you're familiar with your children's favorite chat rooms.

5. Have a shared email account. Always maintain access to your child's online account and randomly check his or her email.

6. Teach responsibility: The Internet is a great tool, and as a parent, you should teach your child responsible use of the resources online. There is much more to online experience than chat rooms.

Online Safety Tips for Kids:

1. Do not share personal information: Never share any information such as a home or school address, telephone number, parent's work address/telephone number, or the name and location of school without your parent's permission.

2. Never agree to meet an online friend in person: Never make plans to meet anyone you meet online without first checking with parents. If your parents agree to the meeting, be sure that it is in a public place and bring a friend or adult along.

3. Never send your picture: Don't send a person your picture or anything else without first checking with your parents.

4. Don't respond to mean messages: You shouldn't respond to any messages that are mean or that make you feel uncomfortable in any way.

Safety tips compiled from:

Federal Bureau of Investigation, www.fbi.gov (FBI Publications -- A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety)

About EarthLink

"EarthLink revolves around you(SM)." As a leading national Internet service provider (ISP) headquartered in Atlanta, EarthLink has earned an award winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of online products and services. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM), EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction among high-speed Internet Service Providers. Serving approximately five million subscribers, EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high- quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at http://www.earthlink.net.

About Kids Fighting Chance

Fighting Chance, LLC was started by Paul Stanley and his childhood friend Rick Seid after Stanley's six-year-old child walked away with a stranger during a safety test at a summer park event. Stanley and Seid, an Israeli Fighting Arts instructor, left their careers to form an organization that would focus on providing children with practical, physical techniques for thwarting attack and escaping abduction.

The "Give Your Kids a Fighting Chance" video and education program teaches children ages five to 18 practical, simple, effective methods for avoiding danger, escaping from a predator, avoiding being put into a vehicle and even disabling and escaping from a vehicle. Read more at www.kidsfightingchance.com .

SOURCE EarthLink

Carla Shaw, +1-404-748-7436, or cell, +1-404-849-1140, or
shawcm@corp.earthlink.net, or David Blumenthal, +1-404-748-7316, or cell,
+1-678-362-8314, or blumenthald@corp.earthlink.net, both of EarthLink