Internet safety

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Online safety is trying to be safe on the internet and is the knowledge of maximizing the user's
personal safety and security risks to private information and property associated with using
the internet, and the self-protection from computer crime in general.
The number of internet users continues to grow worldwide,[1] internets, governments and
organizations have expressed concerns about the safety of children using the Internet. Safer Internet
Day is celebrated worldwide in February to raise awareness about internet safety.[2] In the UK the
Get Safe Online campaign has received sponsorship from government agency Serious Organized
Crime Agency (SOCA) and major Internet companies such as Microsoft and eBay.[3]

Contents
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 1Information security
o 1.1Phishing
o 1.2Internet scams
o 1.3Malware
 2Personal safety
o 2.1Cyberstalking
o 2.2Cyberbullying
o 2.3Online predation
o 2.4Obscene/offensive content
o 2.5Sextortion
 3See also
o 3.1Groups and individuals working in the topic
 4References

Information security[edit]
Sensitive information such as personal information and identity, passwords are often associated with
personal property (for example, bank accounts) and privacy and may present security concerns if
leaked. Unauthorized access and usage of private information may result in consequence such
as identity theft, as well as theft of property. Common causes of information security breaches
include:
Phishing[edit]
Phishing is a type of scam where the scammers disguise as a trustworthy source in attempt to obtain
private information such as passwords, and credit card information, etc. through the internet.
Phishing often occurs through emails and instant messaging and may contain links to websites that
direct the user to enter their private information. These fake websites are often designed to look
identical to their legitimate counterparts to avoid suspicion from the user.[4]
Internet scams[edit]
Internet scams are schemes that deceive the user in various ways in attempt to take advantage of
them. Internet scams often aim to cheat the victim of personal property directly rather than personal
information through false promises, confidence tricks and more.
Malware[edit]
Malware, particularly spyware, is malicious software disguised as software designed to collect and
transmit private information, such as passwords, without the user's consent or knowledge. They are
often distributed through e-mail, software and files from unofficial locations. Malware is one of the
most prevalent security concerns as often it is impossible to determine whether a file is infected,
despite the source of the file.

Personal safety[edit]
The growth of the internet gave rise to many important services accessible to anyone with a
connection. One of these important services is digital communication. While this service allowed us
to communicate with others through the internet, this also allowed the communication with malicious
users. While malicious users often use the internet for personal gain, this may not be limited to
financial/material gain. This is especially a concern to parents and children, as children are often
targets of these malicious users. Common threats to personal safety include: phishing, internet
scams, malware, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online preditions and sextortion.
Cyberstalking[edit]
Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, a
group of individuals, or an organization. It may include the making of false accusations or statements
of fact (as in defamation), monitoring, making threats, identity theft, damage to data or equipment,
the solicitation of minors for sex, or gathering information that may be used to harass. According to a
study conducted by Baum et al. (2009), the rate of assault through electronic means such as e-mail
or instant messaging was over one in four out of all stalking victims in the study.[5]
Cyberbullying[edit]
Cyberbullying is the attack upon an individual or group through the use of electronic means such as
instant messaging, social media, e-mail and other forms of online communication with the intent to
abuse, intimidate, or overpower. In a 2012 study of over 11,925 students in the United States, it was
indicated that 23% of adolescents reported being a victim of cyber bullying, 30% of which reported
experiencing suicidal behavior.[6][7]
Online predation[edit]
Online predation is the act of engaging an underage minor into inappropriate sexual relationships
through the internet. Online predators may attempt to initiate and seduce minors into relationships
through the use of chat rooms or internet forums. In a sample of 216 incarcerated sexual offenders,
the behavior characteristics that emerged were categorized into three groups: A) manipulative -
typically a child molester; B) Opportunist - typically a rapist and C) Coercive being a mixture of both
rapists and child molesters. [8]
Obscene/offensive content[edit]
Various websites on the internet contain material that some deem offensive, distasteful or explicit,
which may often be not of the user's liking. Such websites may include internet, shock sites, hate
speech or otherwise inflammatory content. Such content may manifest in many ways, such as pop-
up ads and unsuspecting links.[9]
Sextortion[edit]
Sextortion, especially via the use of webcams, is a concern, especially for those who
use webcams for flirting and cybersex.[10][11] Often this involves a cybercriminal posing as someone
else - such as an attractive person - initiating communication of a sexual nature with the victim. The
victim is then persuaded to undress in front of a webcam, and may also be persuaded to engage in
sexual behaviour, such as masturbation.[12] The video is recorded by the cybercriminal, who then
reveals their true intent and demands money or other services (such as more explicit images of the
victim, in cases of online predation), threatening to publicly release the video and send it to family
members and friends of the victim if they do not comply.[12] A video highlighting the dangers of
sextortion has been released by the National Crime Agency[13] in the UK to educate people,
especially given the fact that blackmail of a sexual nature may cause humiliation to a sufficient
extent to cause the victim to take their own life,[11] in addition to other efforts to educate the public on
the risks of sextortion.[10]

See also[edit]
 Control software:

 Accountability software
 Content control software

 Identity fraud
 Internet crime
 Internet fraud
 Internet security
 Website reputation rating tools
Groups and individuals working in the topic[edit]

 AHTCC – Australian High Tech Crime Centre

 Childnet
 Incredible Internet
 Sonia Livingstone
 ThinkUKnow
 Tween summit
 Youth Internet Safety Survey

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ "Statistics". ITU.
2. Jump up^ "SAFER INTERNET DAY". Commonwealth of Australia 2013.
3. Jump up^ "Get Safe Online".
4. Jump up^ "Internet Phishing Alert".
5. Jump up^ Stawhun, Jenna; Adams, Natasha; Huss, Matthew. "The Assessment of
Cyberstalking: An Expanded Examination Including Social Networking, Attachment, Jealousy,
and Anger in Relation to Violence and Abuse". ProQuest. Violence and victims. Retrieved 4
December2016.
6. Jump up^ Litwiller, Brett; Brausch, Amy. "Cyber Bullying and Physical Bullying in Adolescent
Suicide: The Role of Violent Behavior and Substance Use". ProQuest. Journal of Youth and
Adolescence. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
7. Jump up^ Bonanno, Rina; Hymel, Shelley. "Cyber Bullying and Internalizing Difficulties: Above
and Beyond the Impact of Traditional Forms of Bullying". ProQuest. Journal of Youth and
Adolescence. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
8. Jump up^ Rebocho, Maria; Gonçalves, Rui. "Sexual Predators and Prey: A Comparative Study
of the Hunting Behavior of Rapists and Child Molesters". ProQuest. Journal of Interpersonal
Violence. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
 9. Jump up^ http://criminal.laws.com/computer-crime/types-of-computer-crimes
10. ^ Jump up to:a b "Sextortion (webcam blackmail)". Retrieved 12 March 2017.
11. ^ Jump up to:a b "Webcam blackmail cases have doubled, police say". BBC News. 30 November
2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
12. ^ Jump up to:a b "The Skype sex scam - a fortune built on shame". 27 October 2016. Retrieved 12
March 2017.
13. Jump up^ "'Sextortion': NCA releases awareness video". BBC News. 30 November 2016.
Retrieved 12 March 2017.
Categories:
 Crime prevention
 Internet safety