Internet
Scams & Spam
Current computer
and Internet technology provides an overwhelming amount of resources
for students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Unfortunately,
with such expansive technology also comes issues of safety.
Following are
some discussions and resources for information about protecting
your computer, yourself, and family members from viruses, computer
"hacking," and personal safety.
The best advice
that can be offered to people using computers is to exercise caution,
not to give out personal information unless you are sure with whom
you are communicating, and to have some knowledge of what computer
safety issues exist so you can avoid trouble.
The LITS staff
can provide more technical information on protecting yourself to
members of the campus community. If you experience harassment via
your computer, if you believe your computer security has been compromised,
or you believe someone may have broken into any of the College's
computer systems, notify the Public Safety Department immediately,
and also notify LITS. We can work with the LITS staff to help find
options to prevent further problems from occurring, and to assist
in repairing any damage that may have been done to hardware or software.
HOW
CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF ON CAMPUS?
- Remember
that your personal web page is viewable to the entire world; consider
carefully what you post, especially any personal information about
yourself like your name, address, email address or phone number.
People who find your page may not always have pure motives
- Use caution
in responding to electronic mail from people you do not know.
Never release personal information or agree to meet someone you
met online.
- When signing
a guestbook or responding to postings on the Web, be cautious
about any personal information you post. Pay attention to what
organization or company is posting the page and requesting your
information.
- If you have
a problem with someone on the Internet, or believe your computer
has been accessed remotely, contact the Public Safety Department
and LITS as soon as possible.
INTERNET
SAFETY
It can't happen
around here? Recently, a Springfield man was arrested for allegedly
sexually assaulting a young child in Chicopee. The man was hired
by the child's mother to babysit the girl. The mother met the man
over the Internet. The moral: people may be able to disguise themselves
as being very helpful and safe online, but in reality they may be
very dangerous. Check below for some sites with some suggestions
to help keep you and your family safe.
- Churchill
County, Nevada's Internet Safety Page
-
COMPUTER
"HACKING"
Go to a search
engine and type in the word "hacking" and see how many
hits you get. Hacking is becoming more and more frequent, and virtually
no business, college or user is completely protected. Visit these
sites to get some information.
If your computer
is hooked up to a network or to a modem line, your computer is vulnerable
to a hit. Using caution when working online or via a modem, and
taking some precautions can help protect you.
Mount
Holyoke Networking Page - information on security issues on
campus
DOWNLOADING
FILES FROM THE INTERNET
Often, viruses
or other damaging programs can be hidden within or attached to files
shared by diskette or found online. If you have any doubt about
the source of a program or file, do not download it. Pay attention
to who is providing the file and be sure you are confident of any
screening they may do to prevent such viruses or compromising programs
on your machine.
- Mount
Holyoke Networking Page - information on "netbus,"
a backdoor to your computer.
SAFETY
FOR CHILDREN ON THE WEB
"Cyberprowlers"
know that children today are computer savvy, and know that they
generally are very trusting of people. They use this knowledge to
befriend them, and can be dangerous if they learn information about
who the child is, where s/he lives, or tries to arrange a meeting.
If you have children, check some of the sites listed below.
- General
Guidelines
-
- * Teach
your children about safety online; children should never
give out personal information such as full name, address,
birth date, phone number, where they go to school or other
identifying information
- * Monitor
your childrens' online activity; know what they do online.
Let children know you are not being nosy; that you are only
trying to protect them
- * Don't
place a computer that is attached to the Internet in a child's
bedroom; keep wired computers in a main area in the house
where online problems can be easily detected
- * Research
children-friendly aides such as monitors (which can tell
you where your child has visited), filters (which prevent
your child from visiting sites based on various criteria),
Internet service providers (ISPs) with child-friendly access,
and suggesting children use child-friendly search engines
such as www.yahooligans.com.
-
- FBI
Safety Tips for Children on the Internet
- Teen
Safety Online - information about safety, privacy
- University
of Oklahoma's Kid Safety on the Internet - a nice presentation
of safety information
- World
Kid Net Internet Safety Tips
- Illinois
Attorney General's Safety Tips for Parents
- Children's
Partnership Online - a resource for parents about the Internet
-
- SHOPPING
ONLINE SAFELY
-
- Online shopping
sites have increased dramatically in the past few years. They
have become so successful, as a matter of fact, that traditional
retailers have expressed great concern about loss of business.
Some retailers have been successful at getting online themselves
to retain business. But how can you be sure you are purchasing
from a safe company? Some sites have information to help you protect
your money.
-
- The
National Consumer League's online shopping site
- The
Better Business Bureau's Cybershopping - What You Need to Know
- American
Bar Association's Safeshopping.org
- The
Federal Trade Commission's Shop Safely Online
- Better
Business Bureaus Consumer Protection E-Commerce and the Internet
|
