Internet Safety: Privacy

PRIVACY

It is important to protect your personal information and privacy while on the internet.  There are many times in which internet users are not aware that their information is being compromised.  There are many ways to easily prevent your privacy from being jeopardized.

 

Practice common sense when using the internet.

  • Do not give your username or password to anyone in person or online, not even someone claiming to be an online service you may use.  No online service will ever e-mail you and ask for a password or username, they will always have you go directly to the website to do anything with that information because that is where everything is secure.
  • On the internet, someone can pretend to be anyone they want to be, so do not ever give out any personal information to someone over the internet - especially your phone number, address, credit card number, or social security number.
  • Nothing that you write on the internet is private, even if you have privacy settings so that only a few people can see it.  If someone else can see it, then they can copy it and post it somewhere else and that means it is not private.  Never post anything on the internet that you don't want to see posted somewhere else because there is always a chance someone might do that.
  • Learn how to recognize junk e-mail and delete it.  Never download or open e-mail attachments from an unknown source as the likelihood that it will contain a virus or spyware is very high.
  • Fraud is rampant on the internet.  If the offer is too good to be true, it is.  Do not give your information to those sources because they are offering you a free iPad if you fill out a survey!  This is most likely a website full of spyware or phishers.
  • Credit rights and other consumer protection laws apply to internet transactions.  If you have a problem with a transaction online, contact a law enforcement agency as well as your banking company.
  • Teach your children to talk with you before they give out personal or family information and to look for privacy policies when they enter a website that asks for information about themselves. 

 

View this BrainPOP video for more information about privacy.  (Requires LE Login to view.)

 

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