Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a collection of frequently asked questions about the subject of Cyber Awareness
- What is a cyber predator?
- How can I keep my children from being stalked on the Internet?
- How do I report if someone is stalking me or my children?
- What is cyberbullying?
- What steps can I take to safeguard my children from being bullied on the web?
- Are there educational programs that could be implemented in schools to increase awareness against cyberbullying?
- What if my child has been a victim of cyberbullying?
- Is cyberbullying a crime?
- How can I report cyberbullying?
- What is a computer virus and how can I protect my computer against it?
- What is spyware and how can you protect yourself?
- What is phishing?
- How do credit card frauds happen?
- What is a spam and how can I stop it?
- Is broadband more vulnerable than a dial up connection?
- What is a personal firewall?
- What is a web content filter and why should I use it?
A cyber predator is someone who uses communication technologies to stalk a person with the intent of inflicting financial or bodily harm. Though the problem is widespread, much of the public is unaware of how cyber predators identify and pursue their victims.
Cyber predators find their victims over the Internet, using various means to get personal information about their targets. Most cyber predators are proficient Internet users looking for children and young adults for sex.
It always starts with cyber stalking.
Read more about cyber predators
Go to topHow can I keep my children from being stalked on the Internet?
Here are a few safety pointers:
- Discuss the topic of Cyber Predators with your children and share knowledge with them.
- Keep your email addresses gender neutral.
- Do not share personal information on the social networking websites.
- Choose strong passwords and keep them safe.
- Keep a low profile on newsgroups.
- Never meet anyone you met on the web in person.
Read More about saving yourself from cyber stalking...
Go to topHow do I report if someone is stalking me or my children?
Remember, cyberstalking is a crime. First of all make sure that you have enough evidence before you report to authorities. You should:
- Save all emails from the stalker
- Keep all SMS text messages
- Save copies of chat sessions
- Save copies of the sites where threats may have originated
You could save the web pages using your browsers "save web page" functionality.
Contact Authorities
The crime could be directly reported at your local police station. Additionally you could contact the federal government using the following websites.
- FBI Internet Complaint Center website IC3.gov.
- US Government’s Internet Crime Website USA.gov
Go to topAs defined by renown cyberbullying researcher Dr. Hinduja of Florida Atlantic University, cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text. In other words, cyberbullying occurs when cell phones and/or the Internet are used to spread information or send photos with the intent to hurt or embarrass someone. Cyberbullies are malicious aggressors seeking pleasure or profit, or both, from the mistreatment of another individual. Cyberbullies inflict harm through e-mails, cell phone text messages, telephone calls, chat rooms, instant messages and social networking sites such as MySpace, Orkut, and Facebook.
Cyberbullying is a rapidly growing phenomenon that may be more widespread and potentially harmful than conventional schoolyard and classroom bullying. Because the bully does not need to be near his or her victim, home is not a safe haven and the threat of harm is constant. Children can escape threats and abuse in the classroom only to find text messages and e-mails from their tormentor upon getting home. As most cyberbullying is emotional, there are no telltale physical signs–all the more reason for parents to be vigilant.
Read more about Cyberbullying...
Go to topWhat steps can I take to safeguard my children from being bullied on the web?
Keep your home computer in plain view — in the family room or kitchen, for example. In addition:
- Talk regularly with your child about on-line activities he or she is involved in.
- Talk specifically about Cyberbullying and encourage your child to tell you immediately if he or she is the victim of cyber bullying, Cyberstalking, or other illegal or troublesome on-line behavior.
- Encourage your child to tell you if he or she is aware of others who may be the victims of such behavior.
- Explain that Cyberbullying is harmful and unacceptable behavior. Outline your expectations for responsible online behavior and make it clear that there will be consequences for inappropriate behavior.
- Although adults must respect the privacy of children and youth, concerns for your child’s safety may sometimes override these privacy concerns. Tell your child that you may review his or her on-line communications if you think there is reason for concern.
- Consider installing parental control filtering software and/or tracking programs, but don’t rely solely on these tools.
Read more about what you can do as a parent to help your kids...
Go to topAre there educational programs that could be implemented in schools to increase awareness against cyberbullying?
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a comprehensive, school-wide program designed for use in elementary, middle, or junior high schools. Its goals are to reduce and prevent bullying problems among school children and to improve peer relations at school. The program has been found to reduce bullying among children, improve the social climate of classrooms, and reduce related antisocial behaviors, such as vandalism and truancy. The Olweus Program has been implemented in more than one dozen countries around the world.
For more information, see the factsheet on Olweaus program.
Go to topWhat if my child has been a victim of cyberbullying?
There are many forms of cyberbullying — rude comments, mockery, taunts, threats. Your response may vary according to the nature and severity of the cyberbullying. Here are some actions you may want to take:
Read more pointers to help your child...
Go to topAccording to Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 :
"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
Read more...
Go to topHow can I report cyberbullying?
First and foremost, a concerned parent or teacher must get in touch with the police and present evidence of Cyberbullying. As has been recommended in this site, all Cyberbullying evidence must be preserved and presented to the authorities along with complete disclosure of the episodes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) jointly run a website for Internet Crime Control called ic3.gov. You could report to FBI directing using IC3.gov website.
There are not for profit organizations that have come forward and have created websites and call centers where concerned parents can report Cyberbullying using a phone or through the internet. Here is a list of such resources.
Go to topWhat is a computer virus and how can I protect my computer against it?
They are dangerous programs that secretly install themselves on your computer and set about causing all kinds of havoc, from sending out unsolicited e-mail messages to disabling your operating system, or even destroying all the files on your hard disk. Parents also should be aware that, as Be Safe Online warns, viruses may link to pornographic websites or install a pornographic picture as a screensaver.
There are many programs available to ward off viruses. The best way to get an idea of how effective and user-friendly each program can be is to do a little research of your own. A good starting point is to read reviews by trade magazines or online services, such as CNet or ZdNet. At the top of most reviewers’ lists are the Norton and McAfee anti-virus programs. Both come as standalone anti-virus programs or in suites that offer other security features as well. Prices for both vary, depending on the features you need, but bargains can be found on eBay.
There are low-cost options for protecting personal computers, including highly regarded anti-virus programs such as AVG and Avast! which are available for free online. Download sites can be found through services such as Download or Tucows or by simply searching in Google. AVG is a particularly popular anti-virus program for home computers that is easy to install and updates automatically.
Go to topWhat is spyware and how can you protect yourself?
Unlike viruses, these programs do not seek to interfere with the operation of your computer. Instead their purpose is to track your online activity, particularly what you buy. Spyware can report information back to businesses that then may try to interest you in their products through repeated advertisements that literally pop up on your computer screen. These unsolicited ads are known as “pop-ups.” The impact of pop-ups can range from being mildly annoying to making it almost impossible to browse the web. Like the viruses noted previously, pop-ups can sometimes include pornographic images.
As with anti-virus software, there are many different anti-spyware programs available. In part because spyware is still a relatively new phenomenon, none of the programs available seem to pick up all of the spying programs floating around in cyberspace. The good news is that the competition in this market is so intense that many anti-spyware programs are available free of charge. The most highly recommended anti-spayware programs are these:
Windows Defender is the latest entrant to the market. It is widely used because it is an integrated offering from Microsoft. Most anti-spyware programs have community features built into them that provide automated feedback to add to the database of known spyware. This allows anti-spyware manufacturers to improve their products and afford better protection against spyware.
Read more about Spyware...
Go to topPhishing is the practice of luring unsuspecting Internet users to a fake website by using authentic-looking e-mail, with a real organization''s logo, in an attempt to steal passwords, financial or personal information, or introduce a virus attack. The fake websites created by “phishers” are almost identical to the originals, nearly perfect replicas of the sites of well known, trusted institutions, including banks and sites such as eBay and PayPal.
Social networking sites, like MySpace.com, are also a target of phishing, since the personal profiles in such sites can be used in Identity thefts. Statistics show a success rate of over 70% for phishing attacks on social networks.
Read more about Phishing...
Go to topHow do credit card frauds happen?
The popularity of shopping online has made it easier for thieves to steal and use credit card numbers. Credit card scammers go to extremes to get someone’s numbers, often digging through garbage or voided store receipts. One of the most common ways criminals steal credit card information is by misrepresenting themselves as legitimate businesspeople. Some thieves will use e-mail to solicit donations or sell you bogus goods.
If you suspect credit card fraud, contact your credit company immediately and close your account. You should also check the activity of your other cards, including any business credit cards or gas cards.
Read More about Credit Card Fraud ...
Go to topWhat is a spam and how can I stop it?
Spam is a disruptive, usually commercial message posted on a computer network or sent as an e-mail. Spam filters, also called "spam blockers," are built into e-mail programs such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunder Bird and Eudora to delete incoming spam or divert it to a “junk” mailbox. Ask your Internet service provider if it uses spam filters on its mail server. Most do. Spam filtering can be configured to trap messages based on a variety of criteria, including a sender''''s e-mail address, specific words in the subject or message, or by the type of attachment. Users are also expected to participate in enhancing spam filters by reporting spam online. Most common free e-mail sites, like Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo!, provide a conveniently located "spam" button in their user interface. Make it a habit to use this feature in order to help the online community combat spam.
Go to topIs broadband more vulnerable than a dial up connection?
Broadband is more vulnerable to threats because your computer is online for much longer periods of time than when using a dial-up connection.
Read more...
Whatever type of broadband you use, an enterprising hacker will succeed in gaining access to your hard drive to wreak havoc if you are not protected. One option is to purchase a router with a built-in firewall that prevents anyone from gaining access to your computer without permission. It is also a good idea to have a personal firewall on your computer because some programs may not be picked up by the router’s firewall. Thankfully, many of the latest operating systems, such as Windows XP and Vista, come with reasonably effective built-in firewalls that work without you having to go through complicated configuration procedures.
For those with older operating systems, there are a number of software firewalls available at download sites, including some that are free for home use, such as Zone Alarm, one of the most popular such programs. The drawback is that if you are sharing your Internet connection between several computers on a home network, the free version will prevent some of the computers from communicating with the Internet and even with the other computers on your network. The only solution is to pay for the professional version of the product.
Another solution to the high cost of firewall programs is to purchase a “router” for your home network. Routers not only act as “hubs” that keep all the computers on your home network connected, they can also manage your internet connection, acting as a firewall and filtering the web sites that all the computers on your network can access. Routers with these capabilities include:
Go to topA personal firewall is an application which controls network traffic to and from a computer, permitting or denying communications based on a security policy. A personal firewall differs from a conventional firewall in terms of scale. Personal firewalls are typically designed for use by end-users. As a result, a personal firewall will usually protect only the computer on which it is installed. Many personal firewalls are able to control network traffic by prompting the user each time a connection is attempted and adapting security policy accordingly. Personal firewalls may also provide some level of intrusion detection, allowing the software to terminate or block connectivity where it suspects an intrusion is being attempted.
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Go to topWhat is a web content filter and why should I use it?
Of all the threats on the Internet, probably none causes more anxiety for parents than the possibility that their children might come across a pornographic website. Research shows the fear is warranted.
Read more...
There are scores of web filters promising to protect children while online from everything from pornography to sites promoting racial hatred and violence. There are so many such programs that the difficulty for parents is figuring out which to use. Some programs come with so many controls and functions that configuring them and reading all the reports they generate about a child’s Internet activity can be time-consuming. The good news is that reviewers have given most of the top programs high ratings for effectiveness. In fact, some programs may be overly protective, at times blocking access to innocuous sites and documents.
Among the most highly rated programs, according to toptenreviews.com, are Content Protect, Cybersitter, Net Nanny, Cyber Patrol, FilterPak and McAfee Parental Controls — all of which achieved three out of a possible four stars. No program earned a four star rating
There are some low cost options that could do a fairly good job, such as:
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