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The Internet is how most of us keep in touch with friends,
find homework support, research a cool place to visit,
or find out the latest news. But just as there are
millions of places to visit and things to do, there
are also lots of place to waste time - and even get
into trouble. And, just like the rest of the world,
there are some people who can take advantage of you
- financially or physically.
You've probably heard stories about people who get
into trouble in chat rooms. Because users can easily
remain anonymous, chat rooms often attract people who
are interested in more than just chatting. These people
will sometimes ask visitors for information about themselves,
their families, or where they live - information that
shouldn't be given away.
Usually, the people who request personal information
like home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses
use this information to fill mailboxes and answering
machines with advertisements. In some cases, though,
predators may use this information to begin illegal
or indecent relationships or to harm a person's or
family's well-being. It's rare, but it does happen.
Of course, the Internet is home to millions of places
you can and should visit. Like a library, the Web can
take you to the ends of the earth with the information
it contains.
You can use it as an encyclopedia to do research for
school. If you're interested in going to college, you
can save gas and money by checking out university websites
in advance. And finding employment or volunteer opportunities
is easier online, too. Instead of being limited to
one local newspaper or word of mouth, you can find
out what's available all over your city, state, or
country with a click of the mouse.
The key is to protect yourself while you surf.
Smart Surfing
First rule of smart surfing? Remain as anonymous as
possible. That means keeping all private information
private. Here are some examples of private information
that you should never give out on the Internet:
- Full name
- Home address
- Phone number
- Social Security numbers
- Passwords
- Names of family members
- Credit card numbers
Most credible people and companies will never ask
for this type of information online. So if someone
does, it's a red flag that they may be up to no
good.
Think carefully before you create an email address
or screen name. Web experts recommend that you use
a combination of letters and numbers in both - and
that you don't identify whether you're male or female.
In chat rooms, use a nickname that's different from
your screen name. That way, if you ever find yourself
in a conversation that makes you uncomfortable, you
can exit without having to worry that someone knows
your screen name and can track you down via email.
Some people who hang out with their friends online
set up private chat rooms where only they and the
people they invite can enter to chat. Check to see
if your service provider (such as AOL, MSN, or Earthlink)
offers this option.
Experts recommend that people keep online friendships
in the virtual world. Meeting online friends face
to face carries more risks than other types of friendships
because it's so easy for people to pretend to be
something they're not when you can't see them or
talk in person.
If you ever get involved in a chat room conversation
that makes you feel uncomfortable or in danger for
any reason, exit and tell a parent or other adult
right away so they can report the incident. You can
also report it to the website of the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com - they have a form for reporting this type of incident
called CyberTipline. They will then see that the
info is forwarded to law enforcement officials for
investigation.
Online Annoyances
Although email is relatively private, hackers can
still access it. If you find that your mailbox is
getting clogged with spam - emails you didn't ask
for like advertisements or harassing or offensive
notes - contact your service provider to let them
know there's a problem and to find out about options
that allow you to block certain senders and topics.
Many service providers will help you block out or
screen inappropriate emails if your parents agree
to set up age-appropriate parental controls.
If you don't recognize the sender of a document or
file that needs to be downloaded, delete it without
opening it to avoid getting a virus on your machine.
Virus protection software is a must for every computer.
And you can also buy software that helps rid your
computer of unwanted spyware programs that report
what your computer is doing. There's even software
out there to help block spam. Some service providers
make software available to protect you from these
online annoyances - such as blockers for those in-your-face
pop-up ads.
If you do invest in protective software, you'll need
to keep updating it to be sure it continues to do
its job as new technologies evolve.
With all the problems you can face online, is it
worth it? For most people, the answer is definitely
yes. You just need to know where the pitfalls are,
use some common sense and caution, and you'll be
in control
Back to Safe
Surfing Overview
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