Staying Safe Online

Aberdeen Grammar School

Things to do online

Keep in touch with friends and family using e-mail, twitter and social networking sites.

Chat to people online, phone them and use video links

Use search engines to find all sorts of information

Buy just about anything Work with other people in a group using wiki

or an e-group

Dangers of using the Internet

When you go online some people might try to Infect your computer with viruses and spyware Steal your identity Control your computer then use it to steal

information or defraud banks Fill up your e-mail inbox with spam Hack into your computer Use chat-rooms to bully you and get information

about you

Stopping some of the dangers happening

Antivirus Software A computer virus is a program that will

damage your computer. What are the signs that your computer has a

virus? Hard Drive spinning for no reason Data could go missing Screen display could go wrong Keyboard malfunction

Antivirus software will find and destroy the virus software

Stopping some of the dangers happening

Anti-spyware Software Spyware is a program that spies on your

computer, steals information and sends it back to the person who made the spyware.

Anti-spyware software will find and destroy the spyware

Stopping some of the dangers happening

Firewall A firewall is a program that protects your

computer by preventing other people from getting into your system or taking control of your computer across the Internet.

Your operating system for example Window XP, Vista or 7 will have a firewall built into it.

Stopping some of the dangers happening

Security Suites

You can now buy a security suite that combines antivirus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall in one package.

More Defences

Backups

In case any data is lost or destroyed it is important to make a regular backup

A backup is another copy of your data stored on an external device such as Memory Stick CD or DVD External hard drive

More Defences

Encryption

If you keep sensitive data on your computer it can be protected from being read if you encrypt the data

Encrypting the data means storing it as a code which only your software can decode.

More Defences

Protect your wireless connection

If you use a wireless network some people might try to find out what you are doing or use your connection to commit a crime

Make sure you switch on the encryption on your wireless network, that will keep unwanted people out

Shopping Online Safely Check that you are shopping at a real

website and not a fake criminal one. Before you buy anything, check the website’s

security Before you pay make sure that the website is

using secure way to pay, for example PayPal. When you buy things at an online auction,

check out the seller before you purchase and be careful not to hand over any personal details

Beware of phishing

Some crooks will try to get your personal details so that they can steal your money or buy things using your bank account.

They send out e-mails trying to get personal information from you, this is known as phishing.

Phishing can also be done using fake websites, known as spoofing

http://www.worldbank.org/ http://www.whirledbank.org/

Filtering Software

Filtering software checks web pages and email for undesirable content.

Schools use filtering software which blocks access to websites which may upset pupils, parents or teachers.

Social Networking Sites

Facebook and MySpace are two examples of social networking sites

Social networking sites can be an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and family

There are dangers of using these sites, for example, listing too many personal details can lead to Identity Theft

Cyberbullying

Social Networking sites can be used to bully others

Bullying can take place in chat-rooms and discussion forums

E-mail, IM and text messaging can also be used to bully others

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is against the law and if you are being bullied in this way then Save all bullying emails, text messages and web

pages so that they can be used as evidence Report bullying to the police, the mobile phone

operator, the chat-room or discussion moderator Be careful who you share personal information

such as mobile phone numbers of email addresses with.

Chat-rooms

Chat rooms are social spaces on the internet, where you can meet and connect with other people

Chat rooms can be based around a topic such as music, games or science

Some people in chat rooms will pretend to be someone else and try to get your personal information

Lots of chat rooms have moderators who check what is going on

Grooming

Grooming is when an adult uses the Internet to get to know a young person

The adult will pretend to be young themselves and gradually get lots of information from the young person and try to become their friend

Anti-Grooming Tips

Be careful who you share personal information with in a chat room or forum

Any information or pictures you share over the Internet can quickly travel the world

Be wary of free gifts and offers over the Internet as it may be a way of gaining personal information

Only join chat rooms that have a moderator