Internet Safety
The following information was compiled by Mr. Denis Tanguay of dowco.com Internet for Blockwatch. Our thanks to Mr. Tanguay for providing us with this excellent guide to Internet safety.
Welcome. The Internet is regarded as the best resource available to all for research, news, education, shopping, entertainment and instantaneous correspondence. This multimedia information medium is transcending culture, time , politics and countries. That is both exciting and worrisome. The Internet and the World Wide Web are full of resources but also full of dangers.
As a father of four young children, I have gathered here information that I hope will belp you safeguard your children and your family from the dangers presented by cyberspace.
These days, it is important for parents, schools and communities to take a proactive approach in making our communications safe for our future and that of our children. We hope this pamphlet provides you with some information to help you make this happen.
Please enjoy this resource, and at any time, if you would like to suggest ways that we could improve the information herein, please send me an e-mail.
Tips for Avoiding Internet Fraud when shopping online
Do business with those you know and trust. Be sure you know who the company or person is and where it is physically located.
Businesses operating in cyberspace may be in another part of the country or in another part of the world. Resolving problems with someone unfamiliar can be more complicated in long distance or cross-border transactions.
Understand the offer. Look carefully at the information about the products or services offered, and ask for more information, if needed. A legitimate business will be glad to provide it; a fraudulent telemarket won't.
Be sure you know what is being sold, the total price, the delivery date, the return and cancellation police, and the terms of any guarantee. Also find out what the company privacy policy is, (ie. Who has access to your billing information? How is it stored and how long is it kept?) The federal laws governing telephone and mail order, which also covers orders made by computer, requires goods or services to be delivered by the promised time or, if none was stated, within thirty days. Print out the information so that you have documentation.
Check out the company's or individual's track record. Call to check for complaint records with consumer agencies and the Better Business Bureau in your area. But keep in mind that fraud artists can appear and disappear quickly, especially in cyberspace, so lack of a complaint record is no guarantee of legitimacy.
Never give your bank account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal information to anyone you don't know or haven't checked out. And don't provide information that isn't necessary to make a purchase. If you have a choice between using your credit card and mailing cash, cheque or money order, we recommend using a credit card. You can always dispute fraudulent credit card charges, but you can't get cash back. Use your credit card only on sites that use a "secure" page to capture your information. Minimum encryption should be "SSL" (Secured Socket Layer) technology.
Take your time. While there may be time limits for special offers, high pressure sales tactics are often danger signs of fraud.
Don't judge reliability by how nice a web site may seem. Anyone can create, register, and promote a web site; it's relatively easy and inexpensive. And just like any other forms of advertising, you can't assume that someone has screened and approved it.
Know that people in cyberspace may not always be what they seem. Someone who is sharing a "friendly" tip about a moneymaking scheme or great bargain in a chat room or on a bulletin board may have an ulterior motive; to make money. Sometimes friendly people are crooks!
Know that unsolicited e-mail violates computer etiquette and is often used by con artists. It also violates most agreements for Internet service. Report "spamming", as unsolicited e-mail is called, to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Don't download programs to see pictures, hear music, or get other features from web sites you're not familiar with. You could unwittingly download a virus that wipes out your computer files or even hijacks your Internet service, reconnecting you to the Net through an international phone number, resulting in enormous phone charges.
**ALWAYS USE CURRENT VIRUS PROTECTION SOFTWARE**
Children Safety Tips
Here are a few tips to keep your child's online experience safe and enjoyable. These safety tips are provided by the RCMP Educational Web Publications.
- Never give out identifying information such as Name, Home Address, School Name, or Telephone Number in a public message such as a chat room or on bulletin boards.
- Never send a person a picture of you without checking first with your parent or guardian.
- Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are: suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening or make you feel uncomfortable.
- Be careful when someone offers you something for nothing, such as gifts and money.
- Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house.
- Tell your parent or guardian right away if you come across any information that makes you feel uncomfortable.
- Never arrange a face to face meeting without telling your parent or guardian.
If your parent or guardian agree to the meeting, make sure that you meet in a public place and have a parent or guardian with you. Remember that people online may not be who they seem.
Because you can't see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him- or herself. Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old-girl" could in reality be an older man.
Be sure that you are dealing with someone that you and your parents know and trust before giving out any persoanl information about yourself via e-mail.
Get to know your "online friends" just as you get to know all of your other friends.
