Stay away from danger
There are more than 13 million children in Europe like you, who use the Internet regularly. If you are looking for information for your homework, or you just want to have fun, the Internet is a great place, but you must be aware of the dangers… The following advice will help you avoid Internet risks.
- Don't click on links: When you are chatting on instant messaging (MSN Messenger or chat) or you receive an email, never click directly on any links. If the message or email comes directly from someone you know, then type the address in the browser. If you don't know the person that it has come from, the best thing is to ignore it.
- Don't download or run files from dubious sources: No doubt you have often received instant messages inviting you to download a photo, a song or a video. Sometimes, this file might not have been sent by the person whose name appears as the sender, but by a malicious program that has infected their computer and which is trying to spread to other users. Just in case, the best thing to do is ask your contact if they have really sent something. If they haven't, let them know that they are infected so they can delete the file and advise their other contacts.
- Don't talk to strangers: In chatrooms or on instant messaging, you can never really be sure who you are talking to. Especially in online communities, where people have never met in real life. Never make friends with strangers, and under no circumstances should you ever arrange to meet them in real life.
- Don't give out confidential information across the Internet: Never send private information (your details, your address, etc.) via email or instant messaging, and never publish this kind of information in a blog or on a forum. You should also take care when you create profiles for services such as FaceBook or Myspace. You should never include confidential information such as your age or your address. It is also advisable not to use your real name, use a false name or nick instead.
- Look out for anything suspicious : If a program you don't remember installing begins to display false infections or pop-ups inviting you to buy a product, be careful. You may have some type of malware installed on your computer.
- Don't run suspicious files: If your security solution tells you that a file could or does contain malware, don't open the file. Simply delete it.
- Speak to your parents or teachers: If you have any questions about any of this, if you see something suspicious or you receive offensive or dangerous emails, speak to an adult. They will be able to advise you.