Not everyone who drives a car understands how the car works. Fewer persons know how to maintain their car and keep it in good working condition. Many people take their car to the mechanic for routine maintenance. Similarly, internet users do not need to understand how the internet works. But, like driving and maintaining a car, the internet user does need to know how to use the home computer and internet, how to perform basic maintenance on their home computer, and how to protect themselves when using the home computer and the internet.
This series of articles about internet safety will not teach you how to use your home computer or email, perform internet searches, or the mechanics of finding the software manufacturer's website and downloading security updates. But, it will give you basic guidelines for maintaining personal safety and preventing cybercrime when the home computer is connected to the internet.
- If you do not use the hardware or software installed on your home computer, turn it off, close it, disable it or uninstall it.
- Protect your personal, sensitive or confidential information stored on your home computer and any electronic devices from any unauthorized access as you do with non-electronic files, identification, and paper records.
- Protect your children online as you do offline.
Technology is constantly changing and improving. Regularly there are new tools to make your work and play easier and more fun. With new tools there are new safety procedures. When installing a new device, for example, make sure you understand what the device is used for and how to operate it properly. Consider if there is a way criminal mischief can utilize the device. The basics of internet safety, crime prevention and cybercrime prevention will not change. Adapt what you already know to new and emerging technologies.
When using the internet, use your common sense. If someone you do not know asked a question or gave you some information at a grocery store, at work, in the library, in the park, at an auction, at the doctor's office, or any other place instead of in a chatroom, in email, at a website or online, how would you react? Protect your children and teach them about online safety. Apply everyday smarts and crime prevention procedures to the use of the internet, especially with your children, information, money, and the people you meet. Computers and the internet are tools. Apply common sense about personal safety to tools and emerging technologies.