You should always be careful when posting to blogs, message boards or “online communities.”
Scam artists have been known to use personal information from your profile on a social networking or forum site to pose as a friend, in hopes that you will give them more personal information, such as your credit card or cell phone numbers. Never give out ANY personal information online. See the question “Is there anything I shouldn’t tell someone on the Internet?” below for a list of specific information you should never give out.
Be careful about posting information that could be used to identify you or locate you at home or school. This could include the name of your school, sports team, clubs, and where you work, live, or hang out.
Avoiding viruses and spyware
Is it okay to share my password with my best friend?
No. You should not share your password with any of your friends, even your best friend. The only people who should know your Internet or e-mail password are your parents/guardians and you! If you let someone else know what your password is, then they can read anything that you may want to keep private. Another person could use bad language or go to sites you shouldn’t be visiting under your name.
Is there anything that I shouldn’t tell someone on the Internet?
Yes! Just like you wouldn’t walk up to a stranger and give out your phone number or share your name, where you live, or where you go to school, you shouldn’t share this kind of information online either. It is very important that you don’t e-mail or IM anyone that you don’t know or share any information that can identify you.
Remember:
1. Don’t post your photo on the internet
2. Never send or share your photo with someone you don’t know in the real world.
2. Don’t email or share personal information, including:
Links and contact details
Name: Home Office – Staying Safe Online Pages
Web: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/how-you-can-prevent-crime/staying-safe-online/
Email:
Tel:
Info: Lots of helpful advice on staying safe online. Lots of info also on avoiding identify theft.
Name: ThinkYouKnow
Web: www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Email:
Tel:
Info: Website developed by by the team at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. Lots of info on staying safe online.
Name: Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) – Report an issue
Web: http://www.ceop.gov.uk/reportabuse/index.asp
Email:
Tel:
Info: Info on reporting something that you are concerned about online.
Name: DirectGov – Staying Safe Online pages
Web: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/CrimeAndJustice/KeepingSafe/DG_10027670
Email:
Tel:
Info: DirectGov is a government developed website. It offers loads of info and contact details on a wide range of issues.
Name: Cardiff University – Stay Safe Online Pages
Web: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/insrv/it/help/safe/index.html
Email:
Tel:
Info: Cardiff University – Stay Safe Online Pages – loads of info on staying safe on the web.
Name: Home Office – Staying Safe Online Pages
Web: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/how-you-can-prevent-crime/staying-safe-online/
Email:
Tel:
Info: Lots of helpful advice on staying safe online. Lots of info also on avoiding identify theft.
Name: AVG Anti-Virus
Web: http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition
Email:
Tel:
Info: Popular free anti-virus software. you can download the software from the link above. AVG also offers paid for anti-virus packages – see the website for a list of the differences between the free product and the paid for product.
Name: ZoneAlarm
Web: http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/compare-anti-virus-spyware-software.htm
Email:
Tel:
Info: Free Firewall downloads.
Name: Windows Defender
Web: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
Email:
Tel:
Info: Free anti-spyware program from Microsoft.
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