Adult Internet Safety
The Internet provides valuable opportunities for adults to participate in entertainment, conduct business and establish relationships. However, adults, like children, open themselves up to hidden dangers whenever they connect to the World Wide Web. This does not mean that adults have to stop using the Internet. It just means that adults need to be aware of the hazards the Internet presents and that they need to take some precautions in order to prevent problems.
Other People Are Reading
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Personal Data
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Protecting your personal data is the number one key to Internet safety. According to the USAA Educational Foundation and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, personal data includes information such as your name, address, age, social security number, your workplace, phone numbers and the names of friends and family. Skilled individuals can use this information to commit acts of fraud against you, steal your identity or even locate you to do you physical harm.
System Protection
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Even if you take precautions with your personal data, you still may place yourself at risk by not properly securing your computer. Companies use your Internet history to not only monitor the kind of websites you visit (useful for marketing purposes), but also to retrieve data such as passwords. If your system isn't secure, a crook can take over your computer completely, getting every unsecured file you have on your drive.
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Internet Safety in the Workplace
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As of 2010, computers drastically have changed the way companies do business. For example, employees can e-mail a spreadsheet to someone in a different department. Considering that 2007 data from the Computer Forensic Recruiter showed that as much as 90 percent of businesses reported an Internet security issue in a 12-month period, this is a huge area of risk. Adult Internet safety in the workplace involves making sure that company networks also are secure and that the company discloses exactly how it will use the data that applicants or employees provide to them.
Common Problems for Adults
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Adults face Internet problems that also are common for young children and teens, such as sexual predation and cyberstalking. However, they are at particular risk for financial fraud, according to Computer Forensics Recruiter.
Tips
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Data from USAA Educational Foundation and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General suggests that adults may stay safe by:
Always logging off and shutting down their computer when it is not in use;
Installing and setting up firewalls and antivirus/anti-spyware programs;
Setting up strong encryption within router settings;
Using complex passwords that are significant in length;
Making sure to clear cookies and temporary files;
Becoming familiar with the language and appearance of phishing emails (spam emails that often ask for financial or account information); and
Avoiding downloading attachments from unknown people.
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References
- Photo Credit internet image by Jean-Michel POUGET from Fotolia.com
