Internet Safety – Overview and Discussion

1. Internet Safety – Overview and Discussion

2. The Internet is a Great Tool • The Internet is a great tool and can make your life easier and more fun: • It provides quick and easy access to educational resources: You have unlimited access to checking the definition and spelling of words and access to online education and degree programs. • Communicating with friends and families is fun: You can keep in touch with all your friends and family members from around the world via e-mail, using instant messenger or Skype and Google Hangouts. • Searching for information and entertainment is easy: You can find an answer to any questions you may have and you can use the Internet to play fun games and watch movies and football games. • Online banking is at the tip of your fingers: You can transfer money online and send remittances to loved ones.

3. Staying Safe Online • While the Internet is a great resource, it is also important to stay safe. This presentation provides some helpful tips on how to be safe on the Internet. We will discuss safety tips on the following topics: • Communicating Online • Sharing Personal Information • Using E-mail • Downloading Files and Software • Information on the Web • Frauds and Scams • Sexually Explicit and/or Violent Content • Teaching your Children about Internet Safety

4. Communicating Online - Personal Information • Information sharing online has many great aspects – it is how we get to know one another. But when sharing information online always be aware and careful with whom you share information. • Always keep in mind that once information is out on the web, it is hard to get it back. • Some information that you will want to be careful about giving out to anyone is the following: • Your full name • Your gender and age • Your home address or current location • Password information • Phone numbers • Financial information • Photographs • Personal information about other people including your family and friends

5. Communicating Online - Using E-mail • Here are some helpful tips when communicating via e-mail and setting up an e-mail account: • When setting up an e-mail address try to pick a username that does not give away too much personal information • Never share passwords and financial information via e-mail • You are never obligated to reply to an e-mail and if an e-mail makes you feel uncomfortable you can delete it, report it as spam and block the sender

6. Using E-mail and Identifying Scams • Be skeptical about e-mails that ask you for money or that ask you to verify personal information – this is likely a phishing scam (419 scam) • Be careful when entering your e-mail addresses to sites and pop-up windows that offer prizes; these companies sometimes sell your e-mail address and you will receive more spam in your inbox

7. Downloading Files and Software • Be careful about downloading files from e-mail attachments and websites: • These files can some times contain malware such as viruses that may affect the computer system • Only open e-mail attachments from senders that you know and are familiar with • Try to download files and software you find on the web from legitimate providers and open-source websites to avoid downloading spyware or other malware

8. Scams and Questionable Information Online • While the Internet is a great portal to unlimited information sharing, not all information posted on the web may be truthful or accurate • It is important to question where information you read on the web comes from. If the information is found on a legitimate website such as an Encyclopedia, a news sites sponsored by known institutions, then the information can likely be trusted; otherwise use good judgment • Be careful about pop-ups that promise prizes and money or that claim you have won something – these are likely scams and you should not provide personal information to these sites • People that you meet online may not be who they say they are. Always use good judgment and try not to give out very personal information to people you have only met online

9. Sexually Explicit and/or Violent Content • The Internet contains a wider variety of information, including information that can sometimes be emotionally harmful and disturbing to younger users and children, such as websites containing sexually explicit or very violent content • There may also be sexual predators in chat rooms that can potentially be harmful to children. These predators introduce children to sexually explicit material and engage them in inappropriate sexual discussions and activities online • It is crucial to be very open with your children about their activity and what and whom they encounter online – the first step is always to have good communication with your children about what goes on online so that they feel comfortable sharing anything they encounter online with you • Adults and parents should keep a watchful eye on what information and material young children are exposed to when using the Internet; the next slides summarize a few approaches to protect children from sexually explicit and violent content on the Internet

10. Protecting Your Children Online • There are numerous ways to protect your children on the Internet. Some approaches include: • Implementing parental controls • Blocking • Filtering • Monitoring • Most importantly: Talk to your children and educate them about safe internet use with the SMART concept

11. Parental Controls • Web browsers often have the option to activate parental control settings • They can be used to filter out inappropriate content such as sexually explicit material or violent content • These parental controls can also be used to monitor activities online • The main categories of parental controls are: • 1. Blocking • 2. Filtering • 3. Monitoring

12. 1. Blocking • Blocking software denies users the access to specific websites, once the users tries to type in that website. • This type of software can be purchased for a small fee and these programs allow web addresses to be added to a list of blocked sites.

13. 2. Filtering • Filtering programs prevent access to certain websites based on search terms that include certain words and phrases. • The downside of filtering is that some content may still slip through even when the filter is on and sometimes harmless sites are filtered out unintentionally.

14. 3. Monitoring • Monitoring software can be installed on the computer to track activity on the web and keep a record of certain websites that have been accessed. • This can help parents keep track of the activities and sites their children engage with and visit on the web.

15. Teaching and Talking to Your Children about Internet Safety • The most important thing you can do to protect your children online is to talk to them about their activities online • The next slides cover the SMART concept, which you can use as a starting point to talk to your children about Internet Safety

16. A Brief Introduction to Internet Safety for Children • The next few slides cover 5 important tips that you can teach to the younger Hello World users • These 5 tips are part of the SMART concept:

17. for Safe Stay safe by not sharing personal information with people, especially strangers, you are chatting with online. Personal information includes: -Your name -Your e-mail -Your home address -The name of your school -Your telephone number -Photos of yourself

18. for Meeting Meeting someone you have only been communicating with over the internet can be dangerous. Only meet someone you have communicated with online with the permission of your parents or teacher and only if your parent or teacher can be present during the meeting.

19. for Accepting Accepting e-mails, text, IM chats, attachments or photos from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems. You should not open these files -they can contain viruses or mean messages and always ask an adult for help.

20. for Reliable Not all the information you find on the internet is true. People online may be lying about who they are and some websites may contain false information. Always ask an adult if any information makes you feel uncomfortable and do have discussions about information you find on internet websites with your friends and teachers.

21. for Tell Always tell your parents, your teachers or a trusted adult if anything you come across online makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. Also watch out for your friends and tell a trusted adult when you feel that a friend is feeling uncomfortable or being bullied.

22. Discussion • What are you most excited about? • What do you think you will use the Internet for? • What are your concerns about using the Internet? • What are your concerns about your children using the Internet? • How do you think the Community can best protect children from harmful or disturbing material online? • What level of filtering and monitoring (if any) do you think the Hello World terminal should have for its users?

23. Thank you! • Please check the Internet Safety tab on the Hello World Hub for more information and useful resources on Internet Safety.