Internet Safety
In addition to all the benefits technology and connectivity can bring to our lives, it can also be an avenue for criminals to exploit. Computer hacking, email phishing, identity theft, sextortion and online scams are all modern concerns for anyone with an internet connection and an email account.
General internet safety rules to help protect you include:
- Keep Personal Information Professional and Limited: You wouldn’t stand on a street corner giving out your personal information to the strangers who walk by you, right? Then why would you do that online where millions of strangers can see what you posted?
- Keep Your Privacy Settings On: Both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings available to protect your privacy online. These settings are sometimes hard to find because companies want your personal information for their marketing value. Make sure you enable these privacy safeguards and keep them enabled.
- Practice Safe Browsing: The Internet has hard-to-see pitfalls, where one careless click could expose personal data or infect your device with malware. By resisting the urge to click, you don't even give the hackers a chance.
- Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Secure. Use a Secure VPN Connection: When you go online using a public Wi-Fi connection, you have no direct control over its security. Make sure your device is secure, and when in doubt, wait for a better time (i.e., until you're able to connect to a secure Wi-Fi network) before inputting information such as your bank account number. To further improve your Internet browsing safety, use a secure VPN (virtual private network) connection. VPN enables you to have a secure connection between your device and an Internet server so that no one can monitor or access the data that you’re exchanging.
- Be Careful What You Download: A goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. Don't download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don't trust.
- Choose Strong Passwords: Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots in the whole Internet security structure, but there's currently no way around them. Select strong passwords that are hard for cybercriminals to decipher. Password manager software can help you to manage multiple passwords so that you don't forget them.
- Make Online Purchases From Secure Sites: Cybercriminals are eager to get their hands on the credit card or bank account information you provide when making an online purchase. Only supply this information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections. You can identify secure sites by looking for an address that starts with https: (the S stands for secure) rather than simply http: They may also be marked by a padlock icon next to the address bar.
- Be Careful What You Post: The Internet does not have a delete key. Any comment or image you post online may stay online forever because removing the original does not remove any copies that other people made. There is no way for you to "take back" a remark you wish you hadn't made or get rid of that embarrassing selfie you took at a party. Don't put anything online that you wouldn't want your mom or a prospective employer to see.
- Be Careful Who You Meet Online: People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. Fake social media profiles are a popular way for hackers to cozy up to unwary Web users and pick their cyber pockets. Be as cautious and sensible in your online social life as you are in your in-person social life.
- Keep Your Antivirus Program Up To Date: Internet security software cannot protect against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware … as long as it's up to date. Be sure to stay current with updates for your operating system and any applications you use. They provide a vital layer of security.
Message to Parents
Youth, especially, have embraced social media, messaging apps and online gaming to share information and connect with friends. However, without proper guidance and supervision, these types of communication technologies can be dangerous to a child’s physical and psychological well-being. These applications and technologies are portals offering anyone direct contact with your kids, pre-teens and teenagers. Educating yourself to the potential dangers is again key to keeping your kids safe.
It is up to parents to establish rules, guidelines and expectations with their children and to supervise access and the use of these technologies. The Naperville Police Department would like to assist families in keeping their children safe online by reminding them to have frequent conversations about internet safety guidelines. This Internet Safety Pledge may help start those conversations.