Internet Safety

For many of us it’s hard to imagine life without the internet these days but we need to be careful that familiarity does not breed contempt. There can be risks involved if you drop your guard too much but by taking the following precautions, you can minimize the risks to you and your family.

• Do not give out personal details, such as your name, address or phone number on the internet.
• Make sure no-one else knows your passwords. If someone else knows your password, they can use your account. Their internet use will be charged to your phone bill.
• If you are buying things over the internet, make sure you only use secure sites and keep your credit card details secure.
• Use the virus protection software to protect your computer and make sure it stays up to date.
• You can get monitoring or filtering programmes that help block out sex and violence. Ask your internet service provider for details.

Chatting Online

• Choose a nickname to use in chat rooms and newsgroups. Never use your real name.
• Try to make it hard for people to guess your real name. For example, it’s easy to guess that someone with the nickname ‘luap’ is really called Paul.
• Internet providers will never ask you for your password except when you first sign on. If you get an email saying that computer problems mean they have to ask you to confirm your password, delete it from your mailbox without answering.
• If someone is making rude or offensive comments or using threatening language in a chat room or newsgroup, leave the chat room at once and report the person to those in charge of monitoring the chat room.

Meeting Someone in Person

• If you decide to meet someone you have been chatting to arrange to meet in a busy public place, like a bar or café that you know well and feel safe in.
• Try to get a friend to come with you, at least at the beginning. Consider having a pre-arranged signal that you can use to indicate to your friend that you would like them to stay with you if necessary.
• Let people know that you are meeting someone. Give them the contact details for the person you are meeting and tell them when you expect to be home. Arrange to phone them once you are home safely.