Is there already a thread about the Sparklebox website news story?

[Caz10]

Apologies if so, I did search but couldn't find one.

So, what's this all about then??

Caz10 you aren't paying the companies who are receiving information about your internet activities are paying... free to you but the site owner makes lots of money

I haven't installed a toolbar I don't think.I just click on what I want and print it off ???

Pantomime - I too find your attitude shockingly naive

Every time you click on any site with advertising the owner gets some money. So every time you click on sparklebox this peadophile gets some money.
For the advertisers to agree a contract with any website the website needs to have enough 'hits'

So if people stop clicking on his site/any site, the advertisers wont want to advertise on the site anymore......

I bet I havent explained that properly! But to assume that because you arent giving him money yourself makes it ok is a very naive attitude

He set up this website purely to enable him to be in contact with children. So by using his site you are in fact condoning sexual abuse of children.

i SEE now!! So even if I don't click on a click through ad, the site gets revenue from the advertiser because I have been exposed?

What a VERY bizarre route for a paedophile to go down. I can't see how he gets access to children through this, but I think that is me being thick again. I certainly won't be using it again however.

I think the worrying thing about it is that most of the people who used his resources seem to have no idea of what it's possible to do on the internet these days and therefore don't take adequate precautions.

Take this toolbar. Anyone with any knowledge of safe IT practice knows that you never, ever download software, particularly toolbars, from a 3rd party unless you are absolutely sure of the source. It isn't just the dodgy software that could be downloaded alongside it. The toolbar is definately picking up marketing information. That's been confirmed by Daniel/Samuel Kinge himself and the IT support technicians who are responsible for maintaining the internet in schools have highlighted that their anti-Spyware is picking up problems with it (take a look at the Edugeek site). What information is being picked up by the toolbar and who's receiving it?
This man is a paedophile. Does your school keep children's names and addresses online?

At the very least, Daniel/Samuel Kinge and/or his associates now know where there are children and pretty IT-clueless adults gathered together, some of whom have been happily letting the kids have access to Sparklebox because they naively trusted that he was who he said he was. Why was he was producing these resources in the first place? It smacks to me of the man with the sweeties inticing the kiddies.

As for using the resources, I'm sorry but I couldn't have them in my house knowing what he's done. It would make me feel ill every time I looked at them. I feel there's a moral issue here. Is it right for a children's classroom to be promoting a paedophile? Seems to me like playing Gary Glitter LPs to them: nothing wrong with the music (even if, like me, you hate it!), but like a slap in the face to children.

"But its not money coming from me ,its coming from advertisers so its up to them to decide whether they want to be associated with this company."

But indirectly the money is coming from you. Because every time you click on the site you are essentially deciding that the companies who advertise there will give him money. If you don't click on the site, then the advertisers won't pay him the money. so deciding to use the site you are saying that it's ok to fund a paedophile.

No I am saying it is in the children's and my interest to have access to good quality free resources.I' don't check out any other businessses ethical standpoint.
Why cut off your nose to spite your face !

Pantomimecow, i think using sparklebox goes beyond unethical.The other posters have made it clear how this site generates the income and gives access to children. Your view strikes me as being rather selfish. There are other sites out there, why do you have a problem boycotting this one? What message are you sending to parents and collegues?

I am shocked by this...
I used it as a teacher and now as a parent. I've introduced friends to it and also ds's school

I've always used the internet for teaching resources if I needed a pictures, research ect and I've never tried to find out who owns the site.

Thanks for the info on the toolbar, I've never downloaded it but it will make me think in the futre if I thought about a toolbar from another website.

I won;t use it again as it is giving an income to a paedophile which, for me would like buying GG's albums.

So how does his website give him access to children ?

I am assuming that it has something to do with the toolbar that give him remote access to your computer and anything on it??

Sorry if I misunderstood and earlier post just off to find it...

By Tanith Mon 18-Jan-10 11:28:51

I think the worrying thing about it is that most of the people who used his resources seem to have no idea of what it's possible to do on the internet these days and therefore don't take adequate precautions.

Take this toolbar. Anyone with any knowledge of safe IT practice knows that you never, ever download software, particularly toolbars, from a 3rd party unless you are absolutely sure of the source. It isn't just the dodgy software that could be downloaded alongside it. The toolbar is definately picking up marketing information. That's been confirmed by Daniel/Samuel Kinge himself and the IT support technicians who are responsible for maintaining the internet in schools have highlighted that their anti-Spyware is picking up problems with it (take a look at the Edugeek site). What information is being picked up by the toolbar and who's receiving it?
This man is a paedophile. Does your school keep children's names and addresses online?

At the very least, Daniel/Samuel Kinge and/or his associates now know where there are children and pretty IT-clueless adults gathered together, some of whom have been happily letting the kids have access to Sparklebox because they naively trusted that he was who he said he was. Why was he was producing these resources in the first place? It smacks to me of the man with the sweeties inticing the kiddies.

By mrz Sun 17-Jan-10 09:32:04

for anyone who downloaded the toolbar you may want/need mikemcsharry.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/completely-remove-sparklebox-toolbar.pdf

information from another site (I can't confirm if this is true as my IT knowledge is basic)

"The toolbar COULD be used to access information on your computer. It COULD act as a Trojan or worm - a type of virus that logs information you enter or access, for example, the keystrokes you enter when you access online banking, to allow the provider to commit fraud by accessing your bank account.

It COULD also access the internet via your bandwidth e.g. to download porn via your internet connection making it traceable to you, not him.

Basically software such as the toolbar may change your internet security settings allowing the provider to piggy back your internet connection or log the information you enter online. "

but then I wouldn't want to risk it being correct ...

I suppose what they're saying is that it is a little like taking your (stored on your computer) photo album to him and saying 'here have a look and take all the copies you want..'

Theoretically of course...

Ugh

I have printed stuff off Sparklebox, I had no idea about this.

Sick sick sick.

Sorry Pantomime but if having read all this you still think it is okay to use a site run and promoted by a peadophile (who lets face it is bound to know others who he may have shared pictures/infomation with) I think you are cutting off your nose to spite your face

How is promoting the interests of a paedophile good for anyone except the paedophile.

The BBC news coverage says the site was becoming more and more interactive. Maybe there was a slow stealthy move to all sorts of inter-active things that would give access to children.

And as for the issue of shareholders or co-directors, I can't imagine wanting them to profit either - anyone who pro-actively helped on a site fo schools and choldren run by a known paedophile must be warped. Foe example, I wouldn't be part of a senior management or board of a schools and children's resource company owned and run by a known and convicted paedophile because I would assume that then everyone would think I must be in on it too.....

To be convicted of child pornography offences and be barred from working with children and schools and then set up this business dealiung directly with schools smacks of the worst kind of "f** You" cynicism and arrogance: "watch me now - making money form my dealings with schools!"

So am I right in thinking that if you have just downloaded stuff and NOT the tool bar your computer is protected?

Eeeks it is horrible to think about this sort of person running a site like this.

Of the the teachers on MN, what other sites would you reccomend for primary?

Blu teachers and parents were apparently encouraged to send in pictures of their class/children

www.communication4all.co.uk
www.primaryclassroomresources.co.uk/
www.teachershelp-teachingresources.co.uk/
www.primary-teaching-resources.co.uk/
www.teachitprimary.co.uk/index.asp?home=1
www.mychalkface.com/
www.phonicsinternational.com/
www.primaryplan.co.uk/

Thanks for the info, had no idea am very shocked and I certainly won't be using that site again.

pantomimecow I am usually a well rounded understanding sort of a person but quite frankly I can't get why you would think it ok to continue using this site. IMO it's financing a very sick b**tard to continue to abuse children I am very about your reasoning.

Have been driven spare as head of ICT for the past few years by teachers (esp NQTs)printing endless sparklebox resources for their classrooms.

Result?

1. A bunch of very boring, identical (and IMHO fairly tacky) looking classrooms
2. F-all money in the ICT budget for anything but sodding printer ink...

and now it seems...

1. One very rich paedo.

Hope they shut the whole thing down!
Feel free to shoot me down sparklebox lovers

Thanks Mrz - brilliant.