[Kingling]

[CENTER]Protect yourself on the Internet[/CENTER]



By Soraiya Imran


The Internet is widely used all over the world. You have a wealth of information at your fingertips just by logging on to the Internet. You visit countless websites where you can find not only information but entertainment as well. Through video conferencing, voice chat, e-mails and messengers, you can connect instantly with your family and friends in any part of the world. You can also meet new people in chat rooms and message boards. These people may become your online friends.

When it comes to making online friends, don’t trust everyone you meet online. You really don’t know whom you are interacting with. Anyone can pretend to be someone else on the Internet by posting their fake profile and photos, and after winning your trust they can take advantage of you. Sometimes people are not who they say they are online. Therefore, the best rule is to be careful. Whether you use Internet for gathering information, to take help for your homework, playing games or chatting, remember the following rules, which may help to keep you safe on the Internet:

• Never give out your personal details such as your name, home address, your parents’ work address, telephone number, your school name or any other personal details on the Internet, especially in chat rooms and message boards. Also never send your pictures to anyone.

• Never respond to messages that are bad or make you feel uncomfortable on message boards and chat rooms. Instead, tell your parents, guardian or teachers about it. You can even inform the moderator of the message board about it.

• Be cautious of the free gifts and money offered to you for nothing. It would be wise not to accept them.

• Never agree to meet someone you’ve just met online without consulting your parents or guardian.

• Change your Internet and e-mail passwords from time to time. Don’t give out your password to anyone. Even if your best friend asks you for your password, just avoid doing that.

• Don’t open or accept e-mails, files, links and URLs from strangers because these may contain viruses in them.

• Avoid posting your e-mail address in public such as chat rooms, forums, message boards etc. If you do so you may start receiving junk e-mails or spam. If you really need to post your e-mail address in public then have two e-mail accounts. Use one for sending and receiving personal e-mails such as those of your family and people you know very well. Keep the other e-mail account for public use.

• If you are receiving too many junk e-mails (spam), turn on the filters in your inbox or report it to your e-mail account provider.

• Protect your computer from viruses by installing anti-virus software and updating it frequently with the latest virus definitions. For further protection, use a firewall.

• If your parents and teachers have set some rules for using Internet at home and school, you must follow these rules. By doing so, you won’t get in trouble.

Happy surfing!



Courtesy: Daily DAWN

[AjEe]

Well High tips for security. Some thing we called the stealing of your privacy which is happening in this century a lot. The things you mentioned are the best way to steal some ones privacy and this is happening most in the western world including America & Canada. To protect your privacy, I strongly recommend to use a Firewall which at least warns you from something you even don't know.

[Kingling]

Ajee ..... if you could recommend the best of all firewalls. I will be grateful because there are many firewall types nowadays and it is not an easy task to pick the best one.



Thanks.

[melicaster]

Use Kaspersky Internet Security 6. Check it out at http://www.kaspersky.com/. I highly recommended.

For more information, please visit http://www.kaspersky.com/.

[lifetalk]

stealing of privacy.. something very common now.. the best thing is to take the maximum security steps on your part.. and stop relying on unreliable things..!

[techcdo]

What are at risk when you don't turn on the firewall?
Anyway I use avg pro.. I think its fine..
but I was told to switch to bitdefender

[melicaster]

I am using Kaspersky Internet Security 6, I had been protect since 2006. It is still no problem. And any intrusion was defeated.