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INTERNET SECURITY
1Don't tell anyone your password! 2.Do not make your password you birthday,
last name, etc..
Here are constructive steps you can take to help protect the privacy of your child and yourself:
Talk to your child about privacy on the Web; make sure that he
or she understands not to give away personal information on the Web.
Instruct your child to ask for your permission before surrendering
personal information on the Web. This will allow you to weigh
whether the information being collected seems like a privacy
violation. Make it clear to your child that he/she
shouldn't give out personal information such as name, address, phone
number, e-mail address, age, school, past or planned purchases,
amount of allowance, & so on. Be around when your child is online. Place
the family computer in a highly visible place and check in
periodically. Children move through Web sites quickly and the
enticements to give up personal information are numerous. Take time
to surf with your child. Understand the limits on
"blocking" software, such as Surf Watch, CyberSitter, Net
Nanny and X-Stop, which are designed to screen out certain things,
like sexually explicit, violent, or hate language content. Remember:
No software is unbeatable. There is simply no substitute for your
active involvement in your child's Web experiences. Make sure that your child knows about
advertising and how it works. Keep in mind that some Web sites are
aimed at children as young as four to six years old! If you think a Web site is
collecting inappropriate information, send an e-mail message to
register your objection with the company sponsoring the site. You
should also notify the Federal Trade Commission, who has an ongoing
interest in this issue, through their Web site at
Steer your child to non-commercial sites
with good content. Be constructive. If your child has already
made a mistake about privacy, use the experience as a learning
opportunity. If, when surfing together, you and your child find a
site that may violate privacy, use it as an opportunity to
underscore your concerns. Come up with family projects that can be
done on the Internet, such as planning a summer vacation, building a
family Web page, picking a charity for a donation, and finding a
book on a hobby.
Avoid Online Cons
The Internet and computer industries have worked hard to make
e-commerce — the buying and selling of products and services
online — as safe as, or even safer than, real world shopping.
Today, current Web browsers support virtually unbreakable strong
encryption that can secure all online transactions made on secure
servers. But, if consumers don't take proper precautions, it is
possible for digital crooks to take advantage of the Internet's
openness and steal credit card numbers, hijack bank accounts, and
crack passwords. Follow these basic guidelines and you'll be sure to
avoid online cons like a pro: Get the latest
browser. Web browsers contain security features that are your
first line of defense against crime.
Only make purchases
from sites on secure servers. You can set your browser to alert
you when you enter or leave a secure server, but your browser will
also display a closed (locked) lock icon at the bottom of its window
when a site is secure.
Never email your
credit card number to anyone. Email is NOT secure and can be
intercepted and read on its trip from your computer. If you want to
use your credit card number at a company without a secure server,
use the phone. Most Web stores will give you a phone option.
Report theft to your
credit card company or bank immediately. Credit card companies
have anti-fraud divisions that can find and prosecute cyber-thieves
(by law, your maximum liability for credit card fraud is $50). And
your bank can stop all payments from your account.
Don't be fooled by
the site. Eye-catching graphics and huge, convoluted
explanations can be used to hide the details of a scam. Legitimate
businesses will be glad to provide simple explanations and more
information about what they are offering; con artists won't.
Check out a
company's track record. Ask your friends and family if they've
heard of the site. You can also check with consumer agencies or the
Better Business Bureau in your area about the company's complaint
record. (Remember, no complaints doesn't mean a business is safe;
fraudulent companies often change names and addresses very quickly.)
The following important information was retrieved from Marz Services.