Internet Safety…

November 19th, 2008  Tagged , , ,

http://www.staysafe.org is an internet safety site designed for teenagers to help them build their online networks safely. It gives information and tips that guide the user how to also protect themselves and their privacy when online. The top 5 tips for staying safe online that I gained from this site are:

 

  1. Be picture perfect. Photos and videos are part of online fun; just keep in mind that pictures can tell someone as much about you as your words. Make sure any images you post don’t reveal too much personal information about you, your friends, or your family. Remember to check the background in the image for revealing details that you wouldn’t notice at first glance. A picture of you in front of the Eiffel Tower is fine; a picture in front of your school reader board shouldn’t be publicly posted.
  2. Don’t get personal. Create your own alias-without personal information-to use on your blog or in online communities. Your alias gives you a chance to create whatever identity you want to display, along with helping to keep your personal data guarded. Never include your real last name, address, birth year, school name, or other personal information in blogs or Web pages. Be thoughtful about posting your cell phone number, e-mail address, or IM contact information, since this information can lead to spam and other annoying contacts.
  3.  Remember, Web sites are forever. It’s easy to think of your online activities like a day at the beach: just footprints in the sand that disappear and are soon forgotten. But posting on the Internet is more like walking through wet cement: the impressions you make today could last a lifetime. Don’t forget that anything you publish on the Web can be viewed, e-mailed, printed or archived by almost anyone.
  4. Stay cool. When you’re posting or chatting online, keep in mind that there are other people on the other side of the screen-don’t write anything you aren’t ready to say in person, in front of your family and friends. If someone attacks you, stay cool and report their behavior to the Web site where the incident occurred. If the bullying or abuse gets bad, get your parents involved. If someone makes physical threats, call the police.
  5. Surf safe. Use sites that are serious about protecting your privacy. Before signing up, make sure the site offers password protection, a feature that allows you to control who can see your blog or Web page, and an option for blocking anonymous comments. Reading a site’s privacy policy and user code of conduct may seem boring, but it’s a small price to pay to make sure you are using a site you can trust. http://www.staysafe.org/teens/protect_yourself/be_smart_online/mobile_computing.html

 

 

  • Be mobile phone smart
  • Keep your passwords to yourself. Just in case that public wireless network is not what it seems to be, it’s best to avoid visiting Web sites where you need to type in your password. You can still get things done and have fun, just play it safe.
  • Don’t forget to log off, completely. Using a public computer at a library or hotel? Not remembering to logoff is like leaving a car running with the keys in it. The next computer user could take your password and run with it.
  • Avoid financial transactions. There’s no way to know how secure a public wireless connection is. So no matter how tempting it might be to buy that music download while you’re sitting in a hotspot, wait until you get back to a network you can trust.
  • Keep an eye on your wireless connection. When you’re in wireless territory but you don’t need e-mail or the Net, disable your wireless connection. No reason to leave the door wide open.
  • Know your provider. The wireless connector in your laptop likes to make friends wherever it goes, so it’s best to be vigilant. If you’re at a hotspot and your laptop detects a wireless connection, don’t assume it’s safe. Check with a staff person before allowing the connection, because some hackers fake wireless networks to gain access to your e-mail address and other personal info.
  • For optimal security, encryption is key. It’s easy for hackers (who often look like ordinary citizens, but with more equipment) to acquire software that can detect the information that passes between your laptop and the hotspot’s wireless router. And this can happen even in hotspots you trust. This is no big deal if you’re just watching a video, but your passwords aren’t safe (even if they’re preprogrammed into your e-mail or Web browser) and neither are your parents’ credit card numbers. Encryption scrambles your information so hackers can’t use it. http://www.staysafe.org/teens/protect_yourself/be_smart_online/mobile_computing.html

 

Overall, I would rate the site being reviewed (http://www.staysafe.org) a 3/5 stars.

 

The complete URL for this site is:

http://www.staysafe.org/teens/protect_yourself/be_smart_online/building_your_network.html

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