Personal Internet Safety

From LoveToKnow Safety

If you use a computer in your daily work, it’s wise to remember the rules of personal Internet safety.

Stay safe online by remembering a few basic tips.

What is Internet Crime?

Internet crime is a term law enforcement agencies use to refer to crimes that are either committed or facilitated through the use of the World Wide Web. Common types of Internet crime include:

Internet crime is sometimes referred to as cybercrime, high-tech crime, or e-crime.

Rules for Personal Internet Safety

If you remember the basic rules for personal Internet safety, you can take advantage of the many resources available online while reducing your risk of becoming a victim of online crime.

Keep Your Personal Information Private

The easiest way to avoid becoming a victim of Internet crime is to guard the safety of your personal information. Thanks to the widespread availability of online databases, criminals can use the following information to locate you:

  • Your full name
  • Your date of birth
  • Street addresses
  • The names of your family members
  • Where you work
  • Places you like to visit on a regular basis – restaurants, shopping malls, etc.
  • Photographs – especially if they include identifying details such as a local landmark or a car with a visible license plate number

Be Vigilant

If you use your computer to visit chat rooms, post on social networking Web sites such as MySpace, or take advantage of instant messaging services, be vigilant when interacting with people you meet online.

Since the Internet feels anonymous, many people may misrepresent themselves.. The deception may be simple or serious, but you have no way to determine this yourself. You can’t tell if someone is merely lying about his appearance or trying to cover up a previous criminal record.

Never agree to meet someone you’ve met online in person unless you’ve told a trusted friend or family member when and where the meeting will take place. It’s also a good idea to meet in a crowded public location, such as a restaurant that you’ve frequently visited in the past.

Update Your Computer’s Security Features

Although most large corporations have formal policies for computer security, the average Internet user tends to forget how much valuable information is stored on his/her personal computer. If your computer contains your digital photographs, address book, e-mail records or online banking information, it’s easy for hackers to use this data for Internet crime.

To protect your safety online, it’s important to take computer security seriously. For example:

  • Always keep your virus protection updated.
  • Use a firewall.
  • Regularly check for any applicable system patches.
  • Use secure passwords for all online services. Ideally, your password should be a combination of seemingly random letters and numbers.
  • Avoid downloading free software online unless you’ve positive it is from a reputable vendor. Many free programs are simply delivery vehicles for adware, spyware or computer viruses.

Reporting Internet Crime

If you are concerned that you or someone you know is the victim of an Internet crime, you’ll generally need to contact the nearest FBI office. Since the Internet is a global entity, local law enforcement agencies are simply not equipped to offer investigative assistance.

To assist in the investigation of the crime, you’ll need to provide copies of any documents related to your relationship with the perpetrator. This includes e-mails, Web page postings and photographs, as well as records of phone calls or physical contact.

You can find the location of your nearest FBI office by visiting the FBI Web site. The U.S. Department of Justice also has a site with additional information on how to report Internet crimes.

Additional Information

If you’re interested in learning more about personal Internet safety, check out the following helpful resources:

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Comments

Hi Suhas, You can purchase software to help keep your daughters safe from adult sites and adult content. Try the following sites which sell this software (you can also find software at many office stores, such as Staples):

  • Net Nanny - a very popular program to filter unwanted content for children
  • True Vine - an internet service provider that removes adult content before it reaches your computer
  • Cyber Fence - adult filtering software
-- Contributed by: Charlotte Gerber

Dear Sir / Madam I purchased a computer for my home. I have two daughters - 8 and 15 years young (always positive, so I said young). I want to hand over this computer to them, but before that I want to take precautions to avoid adult content. How do you take such precautions?

take care God bless you

-- Contributed by: Suhas

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