Consumer's Guide to Computer Privacy and Security
The internet offers many ways to connect with friends, research places to visit, and find out the latest news. Aside from the millions of websites and things to do, the internet can become a pitfall for common users looking to occupy their time. Not only can it be a total waste of time, it can lead its users to the wrong areas where predators or criminals lurk. The dangers of the internet have grown since its inception, placing children and adults at a great risk. This means that parents and teachers need to educate children about ways to recognize and prevent themselves from becoming a target of criminal activity. It also means that you need to remain vigilant of common ploys found on the Internet, such as fraud, social media scams, spam, phishing, cyberbullying, and sexual predators.
For more information on some of the latest online crimes that are circulating, please review the following information. Please feel free to share the informatino with family, friends and others that can benefit from the information:
Internet and Computer Fraud
- Kids Health: Smart Surfing: A webpage that offers suggestions on keeping personal information safe from computer fraud.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Identify Theft: The FTC defines identify theft, and offers tips for target prevention.
- OnGuard: Computer Security: A government-sponsored website that teaches kids and teens how to secure their computers from scammers, hackers, and identity thieves.
- SafeKids: Child Safety on the Information Highway 2013: An online safety guide for kids and teenagers, including ways to safeguard personal information.
- The United States Department of Justice: Reporting Computer, Internet-Related, or Intellectual Property Crime: The USDOJ provides a list of contact numbers for reporting computer, internet-related, and intellectual property crime.
Social Media Safety
- Cyberbullying Statistics: A detailed list of statistics related to a recent phenomenon known as cyberbullying.
- The United States Computer Readiness Emergency Team: Staying Safe on Social Network Sites: A guide for protecting personal information while on social networking websites.
E-Mail Safety
- Wise Kids: Online Safety Tips for Children and Young People: Read these general Internet safety tips to prevent getting scammed online.
- NetSmartz Workshop: Internet Safety Tips: Parents and children should follow these safety tips before, during, and after Internet sessions.
- Keeping Kids Safe Online: E-mail: A guide offering suggestions for keeping kids safe online while checking e-mail.
- Internet Safety and Netiquette Tips (PDF): A document intended to offer safety tips for children and teenagers that frequently use the Internet.
Phishing
- Yahoo! Security: Phishing: Yahoo! explains how phishing works and ways to prevent from getting snagged into falling for the scam.
- How Can I Avoid Spam and Phishing Scams?: A webpage offering advice on avoiding scams, spam, and phishing online.
- How to Spot an E-Mail Phishing Scam: AOL shares tips on identifying e-mail phishing scams.
- Microsoft Safety and Security Center: How to Recognize Phishing Email Messages, Links, or Phone Calls: Microsoft explains what to look for in phishing scams through e-mail, web browser, or phone.
Reducing Spam
- McAfee: Reducing Spam Risks (PDF): A document offering ten tips for fighting spam.
Keeping Children Safe
- Scholastic: Keeping Kids Safe Online: A parent-child guide that to educating kids and teenagers about the potential dangers lurking on the internet.
- Keeping Kids Safe on Mobile Phones and the Internet: A parental guide loaded with talking points for children who use mobile devices and the Internet.
- Parenting: Keeping Your Child Safe on the Internet: Children and teenagers should listen to what their parent or legal guardian has to say about the dangers found on the internet. This parental guide only reiterates those wise words.