Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Internet Fraud
1. Everything you read online may not be true. Users can be victimized by Internet frauds or scams. Remember if it is too good to be true, it usually is.
2. Never give out your credit card number to anyone unless you trust that person or site. If you are buying an item online or doing Internet banking make sure that you are on an encrypted site and that a lock or key symbol appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
3. Be very cautious when downloading software programs from the Internet. These can contain computer viruses that can damage or cripple the information on your computer system.
2. Never give out your credit card number to anyone unless you trust that person or site. If you are buying an item online or doing Internet banking make sure that you are on an encrypted site and that a lock or key symbol appears in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
3. Be very cautious when downloading software programs from the Internet. These can contain computer viruses that can damage or cripple the information on your computer system.
Internet Safety Tips for Children
NEVER give out any personal information such as address, telephone number, parents place of work or their phone number, the name and location of your school or any other information that may identify you
NEVER agree to get together with someone you ‘meet’ online without checking with your parents first – make sure you meet in a public place and take one of your parents with you
NEVER send anyone your picture – don’t accept any pictures either
NEVER respond to messages that make you feel uncomfortable
NEVER lose your common sense while online – remember you are talking to a stranger! The people you are talking to may not be who they say they are
NEVER send an insulting or rude message to anyone online. ‘Flaming is not good ‘Netiquette’
USE a ‘code name’
REPORT any harassment or inappropriate messages to your online service and to the Police
Set your browser to say NO cookies!
NEVER agree to get together with someone you ‘meet’ online without checking with your parents first – make sure you meet in a public place and take one of your parents with you
NEVER send anyone your picture – don’t accept any pictures either
NEVER respond to messages that make you feel uncomfortable
NEVER lose your common sense while online – remember you are talking to a stranger! The people you are talking to may not be who they say they are
NEVER send an insulting or rude message to anyone online. ‘Flaming is not good ‘Netiquette’
USE a ‘code name’
REPORT any harassment or inappropriate messages to your online service and to the Police
Set your browser to say NO cookies!
Monitor Your Long Distance Telephone Bills For Unknown Telephone Numbers
Once the pedophile has been talking to your child on the Internet, he/she may be successful in getting your home location and/or telephone number. Your child and the Pedophile may then start communicating via telephone.
Maintain open lines of communications with your children
The most important defense in the protection of your child against pedophiles and child pornography on the Internet is effective communication.
Establish rules and guidelines for the use of the computer
Should include number of hours per day
Must include times of the day
If your child is curious about what topics are being discussed on the Internet, ensure that he or she can come to you.
If someone on the Internet is harassing your child, make sure that your child knows to come to you. You would then contact the Internet Service Provider. If the harassment continues, contact your local police service to register a complaint.
If your child is on the Internet, find out who their "cyber-friends" are.
Establish rules and guidelines for the use of the computer
Should include number of hours per day
Must include times of the day
If your child is curious about what topics are being discussed on the Internet, ensure that he or she can come to you.
If someone on the Internet is harassing your child, make sure that your child knows to come to you. You would then contact the Internet Service Provider. If the harassment continues, contact your local police service to register a complaint.
If your child is on the Internet, find out who their "cyber-friends" are.
An individual meet on net
Because of the anonymity of the internet it easy for individuals to pretend to be anyone they wish to be. Chat Rooms are especially risky for children.
A person who presents themselves as a 14 year old girl may in fact be a much older male predator.
A person who presents themselves as a 14 year old girl may in fact be a much older male predator.
General Tips
Never open e-mail from an unknown person or company
Never respond to inflammatory, obscene or insulting e-mails
Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone met on the Internet
Never post pictures of themselves on the Internet
Never give identifying information such as name, home address, school name or telephone number
Never download pictures or text from an unknown source
Whatever information is told on-line may or may not be the truth
Internet Safety for Parents
Locate The Internet Access Computer In A High Traffic Area.
The location of the family computer should be in a high traffic area within the home. This will increase the likelihood that the child will not be alone when using the Internet and therefore have less of an opportunity of being taken advantage of you a sexual predator. Rather than being located in a bedroom or study, place the computer in the living room, family room or kitchen.
Parents Should Take A Course On The Use Of The Internet Or Have Their Children Teach Them. Make It A Family Activity
Many Internet courses are available through schools, colleges and even some computer sales outlets to familiarize new users with this new environment. Children are often quite conversant with the Internet. Make the Internet a family experience so that all may learn together.
Teach Your Child To Stop Immediately If They See Or Read Anything That Upsets Them.
If your child sees something on the Internet that upsets them, show them how to use the STOP button when downloading or use BACK to go to the previous screen.
If e-mail is found to be disturbing, save it and forward a copy to the ISP with a complaint. They should respond to assist you.
Select A Family-Friendly Internet Service Provider.
Some Internet Service Providers make efforts to filter out obscene material.Before subscribing to an Internet Service Provider,
Ask if they have programs in place to block obscene material.
Ask if they maintain a list of recommended Internet sites that are family-friendly.
Ask what actions they take towards individuals who act inappropriately through their service
The location of the family computer should be in a high traffic area within the home. This will increase the likelihood that the child will not be alone when using the Internet and therefore have less of an opportunity of being taken advantage of you a sexual predator. Rather than being located in a bedroom or study, place the computer in the living room, family room or kitchen.
Parents Should Take A Course On The Use Of The Internet Or Have Their Children Teach Them. Make It A Family Activity
Many Internet courses are available through schools, colleges and even some computer sales outlets to familiarize new users with this new environment. Children are often quite conversant with the Internet. Make the Internet a family experience so that all may learn together.
Teach Your Child To Stop Immediately If They See Or Read Anything That Upsets Them.
If your child sees something on the Internet that upsets them, show them how to use the STOP button when downloading or use BACK to go to the previous screen.
If e-mail is found to be disturbing, save it and forward a copy to the ISP with a complaint. They should respond to assist you.
Select A Family-Friendly Internet Service Provider.
Some Internet Service Providers make efforts to filter out obscene material.Before subscribing to an Internet Service Provider,
Ask if they have programs in place to block obscene material.
Ask if they maintain a list of recommended Internet sites that are family-friendly.
Ask what actions they take towards individuals who act inappropriately through their service
Internet Definitions
Internet: A global “network of computers” that is not governed by any entity and hold files of information. Although, the Internet contains information on nearly every topic imaginable, there are no limits or checks on the type of information that is maintained or accessible.
Internet Users: Those individuals who crawl the web. If you search on the Internet to shop, send email, do research or chat, you are a user.
Email: A form of electronic mail that can be transmitted from one computer to another via the Internet. Documents and pictures can be “attached” to an email and sent to the receiving computer/individual where it can be viewed and printed.
Usenet Groups: Also known as News Groups, these are postings on specific topics, where the comments and/or pictures follow one another in a bulletin board style.
Chat Rooms: Also known as Internet Relay Chat (IRC), these areas are where participants can talk to each other in “real time” with their remarks appearing as they enter them. Basically, two or more users are having an online conversation.
Cookies: These are pieces of information generated by a web server and stored in the user’s computer for future access. Without the user’s consent or knowledge, a cookie is created and stored in the user’s computer every time the user book marks a page, personalizes their search engine, or participates in an online web contest. Basically, the cookie is a tagged string of text containing the user’s preferences and is then stored on the user’s computer and browser for future reference.
Internet Users: Those individuals who crawl the web. If you search on the Internet to shop, send email, do research or chat, you are a user.
Email: A form of electronic mail that can be transmitted from one computer to another via the Internet. Documents and pictures can be “attached” to an email and sent to the receiving computer/individual where it can be viewed and printed.
Usenet Groups: Also known as News Groups, these are postings on specific topics, where the comments and/or pictures follow one another in a bulletin board style.
Chat Rooms: Also known as Internet Relay Chat (IRC), these areas are where participants can talk to each other in “real time” with their remarks appearing as they enter them. Basically, two or more users are having an online conversation.
Cookies: These are pieces of information generated by a web server and stored in the user’s computer for future access. Without the user’s consent or knowledge, a cookie is created and stored in the user’s computer every time the user book marks a page, personalizes their search engine, or participates in an online web contest. Basically, the cookie is a tagged string of text containing the user’s preferences and is then stored on the user’s computer and browser for future reference.
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