Safety on the Internet

Introduction

The Internet can be a fun and wonderful place. It can be a great way to meet people from all over the world, people you might not ever meet any other way.

The Internet can also be dangerous. Everyone uses it for their own purposes, and sometimes there are dangers that we must pay attention to. Lots of this isn't new to anyone, but maybe there's something here that you haven't thought about and should.

The Internet is a community like any other, and it has its own set of rules and problems.

It's a community where everyone is free to say anything with total freedom. Unfortunately, it's also where anyone can claim to BE anyone they choose with relative anonymity. In short, unless you've met someone face-to-face, there's NO WAY to know for sure who's who. No amount of "instict" or "intuition" changes that basic fact.

Kids Against Child Pornography is concerned about safety of not only its members, but of all kids online. Uncovering an adult poser in our group has been hard and painful for all of us. He was the driving force in starting the KACP Forum and had numerous other responsibilities. It would have been easy to just let it go, as if he'd simply left the net, but then how can we say we're concerned about safety?

This page is necessary, and we hope you take it seriously.

Some words from our members

Tommy

For some people, the Internet is a place to come and have fun, or find stuff, or meet people. For others like me, it's the only "real world" there is. Our friends are here, and it's sometimes the only safe way we can meet.

Trust on the Internet is different from trust in any other community because you can't see or prove anything. Sometimes you have to learn from bitter experience that some of the heroes your friends have are not who they appear to be. Don't let others online tell you who is to be trusted. You have to decide that for yourself. Anyone who is going to be your real friend will understand if you take your time to learn to trust.

Frank

A little bit about Internet Security:

• Never give out your real name, address or phone number in chat or elsewhere.
• Never send a picture of yourself, or at least not one less then two years old.
• Get a free web mail account if you want to exchange emails with others. Use wrong data for registration at this account.
• Some web mail accounts include your IP Address in every email. If you can be found by this IP then look for another account. You can check this by sending an email from this account to your regular Provider account and check the header of this email.
• Programs like ICQ are unsecure concerning IP Adress. AIM chat is save unless you do a direct file transfer.
• If you really want to meet someone you know from the net, then ask your parents that they come with you the first time. Doing it alone is asking for trouble.
• Always be aware that you never know who is at the other side in the chat, or wherever you are.

Safety Links

Web-Based Email Security

Safe Surf

Internet Safety Guidelines for Children

Safe Kids Home Page

Internet Safety Rules

NEVER GIVE OUT:

• Full name (especially your last name)
• Address or city (unless it's a huge metropolis like Toronto or New York City)
• Phone number
• School
• Any personal information that could be used to track you down

Protect your computer. Use a proxy server or Anonymizer when signing guestbooks or emailing people you aren't sure about. Test your computer's security at the Gibson Research Corporation Site and do what it says to protect yourself.

If someone makes you uncomfortable:

• Stay calm
• Report to whoever's in charge of the chat you're in.
• Tell your friends
• Ignore the person (if you don't know how, ask for help)
• If threatened, LOG the threats and tell people

Please Note: this page is still under construction.

TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HELP:

The following items are still urgently needed.

Internet Safety Rules
Please email your suggestions.

Safety Links
Please email any links you find.

for assistance

This is also available for you to post if you have issues or concerns about reporting abuse. Please feel free to post there.

Share concerns, post messages, view resources, or chat (Java and HTML).

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