Online Safety Tips for Children AND Adults

We use the internet for everything these days – shopping, chatting to friends, working, gathering information and so much more. But, because we use it for basically aspect of our lives, there will be dangers that we will face.

With some knowledge you can protect yourself and your loved ones from these dangers.

Online Scams / Fraud

A lot of scams these days are so cleverly thought out that you won’t even realise they they’re scams. Obviously is someone randomly emails you and promises you’ll get rich if you send them a large sum of money, then it’s clearly a scam. But, some are less obvious than others.

  o   A family member / friend emails you that they’re in trouble and they need help. Make sure to contact them and confirm that they actually sent the email before you send any money.

  o   When you want to make a purchase online. Always double check that the website is legit and secure.

Online Bullying

Bullying online can be just as hurtful as bullying in real life. Teenagers are usually the target of cyberbullying; however adults can be a victim of bullying too. If you feel you are being bullied online, use these steps:

       1.       Remove yourself from the situation by blocking the bully or just step away from your PC.

       2.       Do not respond! This will only make the situation worse.

       3.       Keep evidence of all the emails and messages the bully has sent to you.

       4.       Never be afraid to report a bully if you feel their actions are getting out of hand.

Online Predators

Young children and teenagers are often the victims here, so be aware of people who will pretend to be friends to gain someone’s trust…

  o   Keep track of what your child is doing online and who they are engaging with.

  o   To avoid becoming the victim of a stalker, keep all your online profiles generic.

  o   Should your child become depressed or withdrawn this can be a warning sign.

It doesn’t matter how often you are online or how long you have been using the internet for, you should always be on guard of the potential dangers.

Should you fear that you are not secure online, contact The Computer Guyz in Cape Town or Johannesburg, we will assist you in any way possible! Call 087 001 0511/2 or email helpdesk@thecomputerguyz.co.za