On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 70

INTERNET SAFETY
The Internet may be the world’s “information superhighway,” but like any
highway, it has its risks. When you go online, you should keep these in
mind.
What are the risks on the Internet, and how can you avoid them?
Predators. There is always a risk that, while online, you may provide
information or arrange an encounter that could compromise your safety.
In some cases, pedophiles have used e-mail, bulletin boards, and chat
rooms to gain a young person’s confidence and then set up a face-to- face
meeting. Of course, you can’t tell whether the other person online is who
they say they are—a “teenage girl” could turn out to be a middle-age man.
BE CAREFUL! If you have reason to believe that something is wrong, call
the police.
Loss of Privacy. Whenever you enter information online, you’re giving up
a bit of your privacy. Be aware of the data that you are giving to the
websites that you visit, and when in doubt do the research. Pay attention
to the permissions you are granting to apps on your phone, and in
particular the permission to know your location. On social media sites and
apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, pay attention to
your privacy settings and make sure that you are comfortable with them.
Online Security. Do not use the same password for every account you have
online, and do not use a password that can be easily guessed or cracked
by brute force. Ideally, use a password manager that generates complex,
hard-to-crack passwords and stores all of your passwords for you in a
secure place. Change your passwords regularly and pay attention to data
breaches for the sites that you visit. Always log off of websites when you
leave your computer, especially if you’re using a public computer.
Viruses, Scams, and Phishing. Use anti-virus software on your computer
and beware of unknown websites and in particular suspicious looking
emails. Emails may appear to be from someone you know, but actually be
sent from a malicious email address. Do not click links in emails that you
do not trust, and do not send sensitive information to unknown people by
66
66