(MS) — Today, thousands of entertainment options are available at the push of a button or click of the mouse, making a parent’s job as protector more challenging than ever. According to Internet Filter Review, 12% of all Web sites are pornographic in nature, and as every parent knows, some TV shows are just not appropriate for younger children.

In an effort to improve public information about parental control technologies and ways to positively influence viewing choices by young people, Comcast Cable partnered with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) to bring educational resources and safety campaigns to consumers nationwide.

“Comcast takes an active role in helping parents ensure their children use the Internet and TV in a safe, secure way,” said Mitch Bowling, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast’s High-Speed Internet Services Group. “We provide both tools and public information about parental control technologies to give parents and other caregivers the power to decide what is appropriate for their children to access and watch, even if they are not around.”

To help parents keep children safe, Comcast offers the following comprehensive approach and tips for Internet and TV safety:

1. Get Smart – Comcast and NCTA offer a breadth of information for parents and children, teaching both parties about harassment, cyber-bullying and online predators, as well as details on parental control technology for the Internet and TV.

Comcast’s comprehensive Security Channel is a lead resource for online safety and security, offering materials that teach about safety protections, plus a free download of McAfee Internet Security Suite, a $120 value. One of the most robust, highly-acclaimed Internet security solutions offered by any Internet Service Provider, McAfee’s Internet Security Suite provides a simple, convenient and reliable way for Comcast High Speed Internet customers to protect their families with best-in-class security protection and award-winning software. Parents can also visit www.thetvboss.org, an educational site developed by the NCTA and the Ad Council to educate parents on media management, using the V-chip and utilizing TV Ratings to determine which programming is suitable for their children.

For kids: In partnership with the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, Comcast promotes cyber safety awareness among youth. The iKeepSafe Campaign, www.iKeepSafe.org, equips parents with tools for teaching children and teens to strike a healthy balance in their online and off-line worlds. The Web site also features animated shorts for children, stressing the importance of protecting personal information and avoiding inappropriate places on the Internet.

2. Get Protected – Use what you’ve learned about Internet and TV safety to keep your family safe.

- “Hide” select TV networks, specific shows and/or ON DEMAND content with a PIN code.

- Take advantage of Comcast’s new content locks, allowing you to block programs based on genre, rating or description. In addition to blocking programming rated “TV-MA,” for example, parents can now block programs featuring “graphic violence” or “explicit sexual situations,” all through their user-friendly digital cable guide.

- Install McAfee Internet Security Suite to monitor and filter selected Web sites and content.

3. Get Help – Comcast’s Customer Security Assurance assists Comcast High Speed Internet users who wish to report an online security threat or scam. Resources include:

- If a child is in physical danger, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) through a portal at www.comcast.net/security.

- Report online harassment or cyberbullying to local law enforcement and Comcast through abuse@comcast.net.

- Report child pornography to Comcast and NCMEC through www.cybertipline.com.

Building Internet safety protections and digital cable parental controls has become part of the very fabric of Comcast, and its commitment to creating effective safeguards has led the company to partner with many other leading advocacy organizations to provide tools and resources to protect families, identities and other digital assets. EL086962

(MS) — Today’s generation of children and teenagers has virtually grown up with the Internet and it has become a necessity in the business sector. While it can also be an amazing resource for instant information, and social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster offer ways to make friends around the globe, the Web can be a dangerous place. All the good of the Web can turn bad as more online threats are generated and then discovered — sometimes too late. That’s why Comcast wants to educate consumers about safety precautions for you and your family when going online.

People mistakenly view the Internet as a relatively safe place for exchanging personal information. A large percentage of teens and adolescents use the Internet on a daily basis without worrying about the many ways in which their private information may be compromised. A 2007 survey conducted by the Boys & Girls Club of America found that despite frequent warnings and incidents, one in five children still post personal information on social networking sites or video-sharing sites. And more than half of the youth surveyed say their parents never ask whom they speak to online. Adults also often release personal information online without concern of identity theft.

“As the Internet continues to be more mainstream every day, we are very committed to educating consumers about the increasing number of online threats that make them vulnerable on a number of levels,” said Mitch Bowling, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast High-Speed Internet. “It is critical that people become aware of these threats and know that there are simple, convenient and safe ways for them to help protect their families online.”

Online safety experts and Comcast recommend the following tips:

• Look out for phishing scams: Phishing scams are continuously increasing in frequency and sophistication. Phishing is when Internet scammers imitate legitimate companies in e-mails or Web sites to entice people to share their user names, passwords, account information, or credit card numbers. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, phishing attacks were reported more than 31,000 times in October 2007 alone. A legitimate financial institution will not ask for personal information over the Internet. If there are ever doubts about the validity of an information request, call the company directly to verify.

Many service providers have security updates available to their users. For example, Microsoft has recently created a security update for Internet Explorer that will help people avoid phishing scams. Comcast encourages customers to apply this patch if your computer has Internet Explorer installed. Visit www.microsoft.com for more information. Comcast High-Speed Internet customers can also download a free toolbar at www.comcast.net/security that will help protect against phishing, spyware and pop-ups.

• Establish child safety and parental controls: Parents can use software to block the level of access when their children go online. Filters can prevent access to content based on certain criteria, such as drugs or sex. Blocking allows parents to “lock out” specific Web sites. Restricting allows parents to monitor and restrict the amount of time spent online. All of these options can help safeguard children against predators and prevent them from giving out information they should not. Parents should also talk to their children about what they are doing online and with whom they are chatting. This can help avoid potential incidents and even save a child’s life.

Parents that are Comcast.net customers can access McAfee® Image Analysis or any of the parental control features by clicking the “parental controls” section on the main Security Center Web page at www.comcast.net/security, where they will find many more parental control options.

• Secure wireless networks: Wireless routers enable customers to have the freedom to use their laptops or desktop computers without being bogged down by wires. But just as members of the household can log on to the Internet easily, so can outside individuals who hop onto unsecured wireless connections. Wireless routers that are not secured are prime targets for people looking to access personal information or to download illegal content. Those who live in an apartment complex or in close proximity to others are very vulnerable. Prevent others from stealing your Internet connection by password-protecting the wireless connection. And for those using a wireless signal in a public place (such as a coffee shop or office), don’t use it to relay personal information. Without proper safeguards, anyone within that distance may have access to your network. Consult your hardware’s instruction manual to learn how to enable the security features to secure your network and access point.

• Check security levels: Many people believe their computer and Internet are secure, but then still fall prey to being victimized online, becoming one of the 1 in 10 Americans who have been affected by online identity theft. Stay protected by doing the following.

- Update security software and virus protection programs regularly to thwart hackers.

- Use secure passwords that are a complex blend of letters and numbers (e.g. Gr8WTshrkB8). Thieves will be apt to try addresses, phone numbers, and even the word “password” first as potential passwords.

- Make sure that children never give out personal information, such as last name, birthday, address or social security number online — even if the person on the other end of the Internet connection seems like a trustworthy source.

Visit the Global Security page at http://security.comcast.net and look for more information on how to stay informed about critical security threats.

Protect yourself, your family and your digital assets by taking some simple and easy steps today. In just a few minutes, by implementing these suggested security measures you can secure your personal information and avoid Internet scams. To learn more about the products Comcast offers to bolster Internet security, and other important tips, visit http://www.comcast.net/security. TF086943

(MS) — Though it’s common to feel as if our lives are busier and more hectic than ever, that’s largely because technology has put us all in a position to get more done in much less time.

Thanks to the digital age, the concept of multi-tasking has taken on a whole new meaning. Gone are the days of a phone being just a phone. Nowadays, most people use their phones for checking and sending e-mail, listening to music, surfing the Web, and, of course, making and answering phone calls. Televisions, too, have evolved in the digital age, shifting from tools once largely used purely for entertainment into their current status as valuable educational assets. But these products’ growing versatility isn’t the only way technology has continued to make life easier, as advancements in digital technology have revolutionized the way we do just about everything.

• Do things on your own time. In 1983, the television show “M*A*S*H” made history when 105 million viewers tuned in for the show’s series finale. While television is more popular today than ever before, chances are strong the record set in 1983 will withstand the test of time. That’s largely due to digital technology that has made it easier for viewers to see their favorite shows on their own time. Whereas missing an episode of your favorite show used to mean you’d have to wait till its rerun aired in the summer, such penalties no longer exist for the person too busy to make it home by primetime.

With their wildly successful ON DEMAND programming, Comcast offers a library of shows, movies and time-shifted programming, enabling customers to watch what they want when they want to watch it.
What’s more, with their new “Project Infinity,” Comcast intends to greatly expand their ON DEMAND content and enable consumers to watch any movie, television show, user generated content, or other video that a producer wants to make available. Beginning next year, the ON DEMAND library will include more than 6,000 movies per month, 3,000 of which will be offered in hi-definition. This expansion reflects viewers’ growing preference to watch shows at their leisure, as Comcast customers are now selecting ON DEMAND 100 times per second, with 275 million monthly views.

• See things more clearly. For television afficionados, few technological advancements will ever stack up to hi-definition TV sets and HD programming. With pristine images enhancing the viewing experience to previously unimaginable levels, hi-def technology has revolutionized the way we watch television. Couple the greatly enhanced picture quality with the addition of Dolby Digital Surround Sound, and it’s no wonder so many hi-def customers say watching television in their living rooms is now akin to watching a movie at the local multiplex.

Gone are the days of rabbit ears and fuzzy reception. In are the days of crystal clear images that make it seem like the people on your television screen are sitting right next to you in your living room. And with the popularity of hi-def televisions on the rise, more and more networks and cable channels are broadcasting in hi-def.

• Get in greater touch with your own community. For some, a drawback of the digital age has been the growing disconnect with what’s going on in their local communities. While the prevalence of the Internet and 24 hour news channels has made it easier to understand what’s going on in national news and halfway across the globe, finding local news and events is now akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

Recognizing that problem, Comcast’s Eastern Division offers its “Get Local” menu of programming. Essentially reinventing their ON DEMAND option, Comcast’s Eastern Division offers a host of programs through “Get Local” that are tailored to specific local market areas and niche interests. For example, in fall 2005, the company began offering “Candidates ON DEMAND,” empowering voters with unprecedented access to interviews with certified political candidates in local, state and federal elections. Other such programs available through “Get Local” include “Pet Adoption On DEMAND,” “Dating ON DEMAND,” and “Troop Greetings,” enabling families and friends of local servicemen and women serving overseas the ability to watch holiday greetings from their loved ones.

• A slice of home for on-the-go professionals. One of the biggest benefits of the digital boom is the ability to take viewing content beyond just your television screen and onto your personal computer. For the busy professional who knows the nation’s airports as well as his own neighborhood, Comcast’s recently launched Fancast.com helps customers find, manage and watch television and movie content wherever it is available, be it on Fancast, on television, online, on DVDs, or in movie theaters. Currently, more than 90,000 videos are available anytime on Comcast.net, making it ideal for those people who are seemingly always on the road to stay current on their favorite shows and movies.

To learn more about digital services, visit the Comcast Web site at www.comcast.com. TF085769