Privacy online - what we weren't taught in school

When some of us started school, privacy online had no meaning, PC stood for police constable and Mac was the old man who owned a farm.

Now that we can use the Internet in our sleep, well almost, on practically any device with a color display, we have access to most of the world's knowledge at lightning fast speed.

But with faster and wider access comes a higher risk of harm.

Who or what is at risk?

• You
• Your family
• Your computer

These tips will help keep you and your family safe and ensure a high degree of privacy online.

If you do not know what any of them mean then get a geeky friend to help you. You could also search the web for more details - use the highlighted words in your search.

Protecting Yourself

• Do not give your name, address, phone number, bank details, PIN or password to anyone online. Most networks are not secure so play it safe. Make contact by phone if you have any reason to share your private data and only do it when the other person has a need to know.
• Don't open suspicious emails or attachments from unknown sources.
• When dating or socializing online, take even more precautions. Do not be too keen to give out your contact details until you have some way of knowing the other person is genuine. Sometimes the best idea is to meet in a public place. Go with a friend for more security.
• If you have a webcam, only turn it on when you know the other person or want them to see you. Better still, if you have a lens cap on your webcam, fit that when you are not using it. Some have privacy settings - use them.
• Think before you click - don't click on links in emails requesting your personal details. If it seems like your bank is asking you for your details, it most likely is not your bank but someone pretending in order to get your account information. These are called phishing.
• Use passwords that are difficult to guess. Change them a couple of times a year.
• Use different passwords for your banking and finance, email, online shopping and social sites.
• Use your credit card wisely. Only shop on secure sites (the little lock symbol shows up in the bottom of the browser window) or call the company and give the details over the phone.

Protecting Your Family

• Do not give out the name, address, phone number or other personal information of anyone in your family to anyone online.
• If you have children, monitor what they are surfing. If you really want to be mean/kind to them, buy and install a filter that protects them from rubbish on the net.

  Most children are drawn to social networking sites like moths to a flame. Children have very little awareness of the need for privacy online. Help to educate them. Social sites can be a source of much grief. Ban entirely or use plenty of caution.

Protecting Your Computer and Home Network

To minimize the chances of undesirable people accessing your computer, install the following security software. You can get all of these software tools for free. One recommended free product is shown.

There are more choices, both in free and commercial products. If you are not sure, ask a friend with IT skills to help you. Part of self improvement is knowing when to ask for help - and then actually doing it.

• anti-virus (AVG)
• anti-spyware (SpyBot - Search and Destroy)
• a firewall (If you use Windows, use the built-in firewall, otherwise try ZoneAlarm)
• an anti-spam filter (no recommendation yet)

You can also purchase a commercial product (try Symantec or McAfee) that will do all of the above in one package.

Set a password on your wireless modem so that you are not supplying your local neighborhood with free access to your Internet connection and possibly even your computer.

Do you, your family and your computer a favor. Back-up your files every now and then. If you store photos, write letters, do your resume or your home budget on your computer, back up your files once a week. If something goes wrong, at least your precious files will be safe.

If you are still doubting the value of backing up your files, stop and imagine for a moment what you would do if your computer was stolen and never returned.

Check your computers security software regularly for updates. Run it weekly or set it up to run automatically at a time when your computer will be on.

Privacy online is not as scary as it might at first seem. Apply your common sense, read about and at least be aware of each of the above points and you, your family and your trusty computer will all live happy online lives.

Additional reading related to privacy online

If you are keen and would like to read more then here are some other sites that talk about privacy online. These links are to off-site pages and will open in a new tab or window (depending on your browser).

Microsoft FAQ page about some of the above points

UK government sponsored site about being safe online