Accidently accessed illegal websites

[anniebabe]

My younger cousin (16 years old) has told me he was searching the internet when a window opened with distressing images of children. This was totally accidental (although i think he may have been looking for adult websites which, at his age, i expect is not unusual). He is so worried that he will get into trouble with the police if he has to have his PC fixed and i thought there may be a website or phone number he can report this to. Does anyone have any ideas? It would be greatly appreciated.

[Oor Wullie]

I was led to believe that you have to pay to enter these kind of sites, and that is how you are traced. He may have accidentally come across an advert or pop up for one of these sites so he should have nothing to worry about. Then again I may be wrong! Will

[Neatheyc]

Will is correct. The police trace people through credit card details. What your son did see was infact a pop up advert. You will need to clear your Temporary Internet files which you can do in Internet Explorer (Tools, Internet Options, 'Delete Files'). This will clear any pictures that the browser downloaded.

[Oneeyedvic]

This is not true. Gary Glitter was not traced through his bank details but when he went into PC World to have his computer repaired. To be sure, back up all your documents and then reformat the harddrive. There was another case I heard about that involved 3 pictures that were on his harddrive and they could prove that 2 of them had not been opened. It seems they got there in a virus or in a similar way to what your cousin did. Unfortunately, in this sort of case most people are guilty unless proven innocent as opinion is so (and quite rightly)against paedophiles. You could report it to the police, but it may involve them taking your pc off you and a full investigation, and again word would spread about this. I would reformat the harddrive if you were worried.

[scatman]

Bearing in mind that those images would be illegal I have doubts that they would appear in a pop up. They'll be hidden away and probably cost a fair chunk to access.

[tomd]

Clear history as well, depending on how far it's set to go back. Click Tools > Internet Options > Delete Files. I would have thought Gary Glitter would be able to afford home callout.