Friday, February 10, 2012

Internet Safety

Imagining today’s world, that’s striving for efficiency and growth, without internet is not at all a possibility. We all have got so much used to internet that it has become our important need and necessity. The dilemma at our hands is that we do not acknowledge the fact that even though the Internet might help with our day to day work, the Internet is also the main contributor to social and personal chaos and society's demise.

Social networking websites are the most visited websites on a daily basis. Posting all your information on your profile puts your own security and private information online. Numerous sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, exist so that people can communicate with everyone from different countries. Here is the most surreptitious thing you might not know about the people on social networking sites. A stolen picture from there might get used at porn sites putting your privacy at risk. Remember once it is on the internet, it stays there forever, leaving a mark behind.

Internet safety has become a serious issue for everyone connected to the net. Even if you don't think you have anything worth protecting on your computer, it's still important that you keep it locked down. Your files are not the only thing at stake here. If someone gains access to your computer, it can be used for hacking into other computer, hiding the trail of the person who is actually doing it. How would you like to get a call from your local police telling you that there's been a virus attack that has been traced back to your computer? No, even if your computer isn't used for anything critical you need to run security software providing you full proof internet safety.

These programs will keep your computer "hidden" from prying eyes over the internet, as well as protected from viruses and other malware that can be spread through email or other methods.

You also need to make sure you're familiar with the different types of security threats so you can deal with them if they ever come up.

Internet, itself represents an insecure channel of exchanging information. So it becomes very important for us to use internet securely and safely through varied internet safety techniques. Internet safety establishes certain rules and measures that need to be stressed upon to tackle various cyber crimes such as phishing, intrusion, fraud etc. Cyber crime, which now resembles an industry, is witnessing double digit growth from the last few years.


Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Internet Safety for Kids

Internet has completely revolutionized the way today’s kids do their homework and research work. It has become an innovative and wonderful resource for kids to research school reports, online tutorials, communicate with teachers and peers, and play interactive games. But, every technology has some hazards as well. While searching keyword “hit” on Google search engine, a small spelling mistake of writing “p” instead of “t” would become “hip” and can redirect your search to adult web contents.

A study conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that 1 in 4 children between the ages of 10 and 17 have been exposed to cyber crime or unwanted sexual material online.

Most of the cyber crimes that are being committed against children are the responsibility of other child peers in fact, that are approximately the same age and in the same grade level. There is an interesting relationship between age and the evolution of more serious cybercrimes.

Younger children are the ones who have the most parental supervision when they are online, but at best only half of these kids are being monitored by their parents during times of Internet usage. By the time a child reaches high school this supervision virtually disappears. Additionally, as a child grows their exposure to content that makes them feel uncomfortable grows. Boldness in talking to, sharing personal information with and even volunteering to meet personally with strangers also grows. This increase in trust or curiosity is a key contributor in the amount of cyber crimes that are being committed and directed towards kids.
Internet safety for kids is a growing concern amongst most parents due to the increased presence of computers in the home and the significant numbers of hours spent by children "surfing" the internet.

Tips related to internet safety for kids

Personal information on internet
Sharing personal information such as address, telephone number, the name or location of school, parents' names etc. should be avoided. Websites or other online services ask kids for information in order to enter special contests or to obtain free gifts. The information could be used to harm or exploit them.

Face-to-face meet with strangers
Without a parent's permission, meeting with a stranger should be avoided. If a meeting is arranged, make sure that it takes place in public and that parents always accompany the child.


Never respond to adult contents or messages
Kids should never respond to messages or bulletin boards that are sexually obscene, threatening, or make them feel uncomfortable in any way.


Parents should be taken into confidence
Kids should always inform their parents whenever they come across anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Use Internet safety techniques for kids

Internet safety techniques should be smartly deployed on PC’s having kids access. This would make parents aware of what their kids are doing on internet, who they meeting, and what they sharing about themselves online. It's wise to talk with your kids about your concerns.

By stressing upon the above mentioned points of internet safety for kids, we can provide our loved ones an environment where in they can polish their skills and can remain safe from internet menace because, It’s better to be safe than being sorry.