Sharing photos
When taking and sharing photos, it is important that the kids keep in mind:
- Whom they taking photos of and does this person know this;
- Do not post photos of other people, especially if they are embarrassing;
- Do not post photos with personal information: name, phone number, address etc. Also do not post information that can attract thieves or nudity.
Another topic to discuss with kids would be to never send anyone photos of themselves wearing skimpy outfits or nudity. Also not to share these kinds of photos of others, children or adults. It is advisable to not share photos of oneself to strangers in general, always discuss with an adult first. Internet is full of suspicious people who collect photos of children or organise “modelling competition” or send photos of themselves in return. Children should also tell an adult when they get photos from someone.
Friend requests
People get many friend requests, children are no different. Therefore it is important that they can critically evaluate, which are good requests to accept. Adding the wrong people can give them additional information and access. Therefore, it is important to stress that they should know the person in real life or at least in a game or similar. If the photo and name are familiar but the profile seems strange, they should also be careful and ask for additional information because there are many fake accounts going around. When they meet an internet friend in real life, they should always consult an adult first, especially if the “friend” asks them not to.
Things for free
There are many free things, ads and good offers on the web. Many of them are scams.
- Free things often come with viruses or other malware. If it should not be free (like a movie, for example) and someone else is charging for it, the free one is suspicious.
- „Share this and you might win“ is usually a scam. Even if you get the reward right away, the sharing is still not a good idea.
- If something seems like too good to be true, it usually is.
Communicating on the internet
Communicating on the internet is no different from the offline world, one must be polite. But one has to think of additional consequences, children should keep in mind the following:
- When writing something or uploading a photo on the web, there will always be a trace of it;
- Words said online have the same impact as things said in real life – insulting someone online is not kinder;
- You cannot keep track of shared information: you must be careful with what you share and with whom but you must also keep in mind that others might share your information further;
Passwords
All devices and accounts should be password protected. You have to remember three things:
- All passwords must be unique, each account has to have a different password;
- Passwords must be long and complicated
- At least 12 characters
- Letters, numbers and other symbols
- Don’t use easily recognisable things like your name, name of a family member etc.
- Do not share your passwords with anyone, maybe only your parents.
Hacking
Hacking is any misuse of computer to get access to someone’s computer or system. Hackers can have ethical goals but often they are malicious. Hacking usually requires computer skills and knowledge but there are also those who purchase readymade assets on the internet and use them for their goals. Hacking is usually illegal so hackers are often greeted by police at their doors, and hackers are considered criminals.
Scams on the internet
The number-one internet threat right now is scams. This often means phishing emails and messages or the spreading of false information. It is important to be vigilant at any age and to keep in mind the main rules of cyber hygiene.
- Always be careful when selecting a WiFi network, downloading apps or reacting to messages.
- Fake messages can come via email or SMS, through instant messengers or even as phone calls.
- It is important to always double-check the information through a different channel before reacting.
- Some common signs of scams are:
- a surprising sender;
- the phone number or address is different from the sender’s usual one;
- being prompted to react quickly;
- vagueness in details.
- Never send money based on just one email or message.
- Children should always discuss any suspicious messages with their parents, especially when money or data are involved.