Safety While Socializing on the Internet
From LoveToKnow Safety
Safety while socializing on the Internet is very important. There are a lot of well-meaning folks to run into online, but it’s also completely possible to meet people with less than good intentions online.
Why Bother With Internet Safety Precautions?
The Internet can create a false sense of security. You’re at home, or at a public café, safe behind the glowing screen of your monitor. However, you’re not that secure. If you give away personal information about yourself, and your life, it’s all too easy for someone to track you down.
To learn more, read, Why is Internet Safety Important.
Basic Safety Precautions for Safety While Socializing on the Internet
To stay safe while online, you need to follow some basic safety precautions while socializing on the Internet. The best thing is to use common sense. If you wouldn’t give your full name, social security number, home address, and phone number to some random person on the street, don’t give that information online. You don’t know the online friend, and they may not be who they say they are.
Use the following safety tips for the Internet to stay safe while enjoying online activities:
Giving your name online: Some people feel that it’s safe to give their real first name while online, and it likely is, but you probably should keep your last name quiet. Once someone has your name, it’s pretty easy for them to Google your name and see what you’re up to, where you live, or track down phone numbers.
Other personal information: Never give personal information to someone you meet online, or post personal information at a forum. Keep it general. I live in California, not I live in a little town on the border of Chico, California. Never offer your social security number, your phone or cell number, your workplace address, or other personal info. Also don’t give personal information of someone else, say a spouse, friend, or child.
Financial information: First off, it’s sort of in bad taste to reveal your income status, but it’s also something that can make you a target. If someone is looking to locate money, and you broadcast all you have, it makes you an easy choice. You also should never give anyone online your bank account number, credit card numbers, ATM pins, stock information, or anything else related. If you wouldn’t put the financial information up on a public billboard, then don’t give it out online.
Blog safety: If you blog, it’s fine to blog some information, but stick to generals. For example, you might write, “The weather in Washington right now is so rainy,” but don’t give your exact city or neighborhood. Also follow basic safety precautions of not giving out too many personal tidbits, especially not anything that makes it too easy for someone to find you.
Password safety: Never tell anyone your personal passwords. Not to your blogs, forums, online financial accounts, or email accounts. To be very safe, you should change your passwords every so often, and not use easy to guess words. For example, if you have a pet cat named Bob, and you always talk about him with online pals, don’t make bob, bobcat, or anything else related your password for any account.
Meeting Someone in Person
If you decide to meet an online friend in person, you need to take some extra precautions:
- Always meet during the day, in a public place.
- Always meet locally – flying off to a place you’re not familiar with is one of the most dangerous things you can do. You won’t know the area, but your online “pal” will, which puts them at an advantage if they choose to take advantage of you.
- Always take a buddy along to meet the individual. There is safety in numbers.
- If for some reason, you decide not to follow the above rule, and go alone to meet someone, make sure that more than one person knows where you’re going, who you’re meeting, and when you should be back.
There’s plenty more to learn about safety while socializing on the Internet. Take a look at the following resources:
