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The Internet is a great resource to do research, make friends or have fun. Unfortunately, there are downsides to the web. If you're not careful, your information could get stolen, or you could even be the target of an Internet predator. Internet safety is important for people of all ages.
- There are hundreds of websites on the Internet asking for your contact information, including your full name, mailing address and even your social security number. In most cases, these websites should be avoided. If a site asks for this information during registration, consider this a red flag. Before releasing the info, look into the legitimacy of the company and consider whether they are well known and if they have contact information. Check the web address to make sure you're at the official site, as some scam artists pretend to be the real deal. If the site looks acceptable, still question whether signing up is worth putting that information out there. Even legitimate companies can have their systems attacked by hackers who steal customer data. Share your information sparingly.
- Once you post something on the Internet, whether a blog post or a picture of your dog, it will be there forever, whether you delete it or not. Before posting personal information, think about the subject of pictures and journals. Ask yourself whether you would mind if your family or employer saw the content. If you think you'd be embarrassed if they saw these pictures, don't post them online.
- While your new online chat friends may seem cool, you really don't know who they are. They could be lying about where they come from, how old they are or whether they are a man or a woman. No matter how much you like them, refrain from sharing personal information with those online. If you want to meet someone from the Internet, plan to meet them in a public location such as a mall. This way, if they turn out to be someone you don't want to know, you can leave in safety.
- Kids are starting to use the Internet at a very young age. While this can help them with doing school projects, there is also a social element to the Internet. You should monitor the sites your children go to when they're on the computer. If they visit a website you aren't familiar with, sign up to see if it's acceptable for your child.
