Keeping yourself safe
The internet can be great fun and can provide entertainment and information but there are a few risks. With a few simple precautions you can avoid these risks.
The Viruses page gives advice on keeping your computer safe. The Shopping page gives advice on keeping your credit card details safe. This page is about keeping yourself safe.
One of the most important rules in using the internet is:
Be very careful who you give personal information to.
There was a cartoon in which Snoopy said cheerfully, "On the internet, no-one knows you're a dog". Unless you are communicating one-to-one with someone you have already met in Real Life, you have no idea who you are really talking to.
There have been stories such as the teenaged girl who arranged to meet a teenaged boy who turned out to be a middle-aged man, or the person who announced in a newsgroup that they were going on holiday and returned to find that the house had been burgled.
Your name and email address is the most you should give away in public forums. You don't even need to give your name - you can make up a nickname.
You should never give away your address or telephone number (except to reputable companies or organisations, for instance when shopping online). In a public forum such as a chatroom or newsgroup you do not know who else is reading your message.
You should be very careful if you arrange to meet someone you have met on the internet. It might be a good idea to take someone else along with you.
Keeping your children safe
By following a few simple rules adults can keep themselves safe. Children, on the other hand, are more vulnerable. They need adults to help them to stay safe.
It is advisable to keep an eye on your children when they use the internet. It is a good idea for the computer to be in a living room rather than a bedroom. Children are naturally inquisitive and it might only take them a few clicks to find some totally unsuitable material.
You should not let children use chatrooms, newsgroups or messaging unless under supervision. You should make sure they know never to give away their address or phone number or arrange to meet people. If older children want to meet someone they have become friendly with on the internet, go with them.
There are ways to help children avoid unsuitable websites. When they search for information on the internet, make sure they use a filtered search engine such as Google Safe Search or Yahooligans. A selection of child-safe search engines can be found on the Searchbox Children's Page.
You can adjust your web browser to help filter the content it will accept. In Internet Explorer, click Tools - Internet Options - Content - Content Advisor to adjust the levels of content or ban certain websites. Netscape users can adjust settings by clicking Help - NetWatch while they are on-line. AOL users too can adjust their browser settings.
There are filtering programs you can buy, such as Net Nanny or Cybersitter.
These methods of filtering content are a help but will not block all unsuitable websites. The best way to be sure of what your children are seeing is to keep an eye on them while they "surf" or better still to go on the internet with them.