What is Online Safety?
Online Safety is trying to be safe on the internet and is the act of maximising a user’s awareness of personal safety and security risks to private information and property associated with using the internet, whilst ensuring self-protection from computer crime. As the number of internet users continues to grow worldwide, governments and organisations have expressed concerns about the safety of children and teenagers using the internet. Safer Internet Day is celebrated worldwide in February to raise awareness of internet safety. In the UK the Get Safe Online (GSO) campaign has received sponsorship from the government agency, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), and major internet companies such as Microsoft and eBay.
Nearly half of young people (47%) have received intimidating, threatening or nasty messages online
Sensitive information such as personal information, identity and passwords are often associated with personal property (for example, bank accounts) and privacy and may present security concerns if this information is leaked. Unauthorised access and usage of private information may result in consequences such as identity theft, as well as theft of property. Common causes of information security breaches include Phishing (sounds like fishing but it is different), Internet Scams and Malware.