Tips for Children

There's some great stuff on the Net, but some bad stuff too. It's important to be careful when using the Internet and remember to follow these simple rules:

1. Keep your personal details Secret.

Never ever use your parents' credit card without their permission, and never give away your name, address, age, friend’s details, photos, or passwords - it's like handing out the keys to your home.

If you visit a chat room - sign on using a nickname, and when you’re chatting don’t give out your real name or any other personal details.

2. Tell your parent or carer

If you do need to give out personal details to enter a web site or you wish to download a particular document or file - ask your parent or carer’s permission first.

3. Don’t Meet Up

Never meet someone you have contacted in Cyberspace without your parent's/carer's permission, and then only when they can be present.

4. Stick with whom you know

Do not accept e-mails, open attachments or download files from people or organizations you don't really know or trust - they may contain viruses or nasty messages.

5. Don’t hang about

Remember that someone online may not be who they say they are. If you feel uncomfortable or worried in a chat room simply get out of there! Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable. Inform a parent or carer if you receive such messages.

6. Don’t believe everything you see.

Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that's "too good to be true" probably is.

7. Steer clear of "over 18" sites.

The warnings are there to protect you. Adult sites can sometimes cost a lot more on your Mom’s phone bill too due to ‘invisible’ downloads of premium rate dialers.

8. Do not spend too much time at the computer.

Take regular breaks. Prolonged use of computers, over a period of time, can potentially lead to eye damage and repetitive strain. If you play games - always use approved joysticks, game pads etc which are designed for comfort and ease of use.

9. Never download Peer 2 Peer software

It’s an open invitation for strangers to access to your computer and it is also a guaranteed way of filling your computer up with unwanted ad-ware and spy- ware. If you do chose to file share, remember the two important rules:

a) Only share files with someone you know and trust

b) Keep your file-sharing legal - Downloading copyrighted music, movies and software without the copyright owner's permission could put you in serious legal trouble.

You should also remember that you may not be anonymous while using peer to peer. Copyright holders have located peer-to-peer copyright infringers and have successfully sued them. Always use authorized online download music and movie websites.

10. Research Well

The web's a great resource for homework & research, but remember to use more than one site for your information gathering to ensure that you get a broad and balanced view and always cross reference your sources.

11. Research Accurately

When searching for a particular subject using a search engine, try and ensure that the ‘search term’ you use is as specific as possible and spelt correctly. It is common practice for purveyors of inappropriate material such as pornography sites, to deliberately set up sites which have similar web addresses to legitimate and popular sites.

12. The Golden Rule

If you come across anything AT ALL that is suspicious or makes you feel uncomfortable or worried - LOG OFF and tell your parent or carer immediately.