According to the latest Kids on the Web security survey, published by Panda, one in three teenagers has contacted strangers across social networks.
Jeremy Matthews, head of Panda's sub-Saharan operations, warns: “This is something that criminal minds are no doubt aware of and will exploit to contact children”.
Matthews adds: “Interestingly, when you visit the profiles and pages created to spread code 9 and you look at the followers and friends, there aren't many young people. In fact it's quite the opposite, which gives us an indication as to the sort of people who are interested in distributing this type of information.”
Matthews explains that code 9 informs children and teenagers how to hide their conversations in chat rooms and messaging services.
All they need to do is write the number '9' whenever their parents or guardians are close by; the other person will then rapidly change the topic or delete any information exchanged.
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