General
Original material from Coleg Powys
What is E-Awareness?
Like it or not, the internet is becoming increasingly embedded into our every day lives. Whether we access it at home, college, on a mobile, or via games consoles, we spend a huge amount of time connected. We put so much information online these days it's easy to forget just how important it is to protect that information, and ourselves.
As useful, informative and fun as the internet can be it also carries risks, dangers and pitfalls in equal measure - just like in real life. Things like cybercrime, inappropriate material and fraud can effect all of us, regardless of age.
E-Awareness is about knowing the risks, keeping safe online and knowing who to turn to if you have a problem; the more aware of the potential dangers we are, the safer we will be.
By using the resources on these pages you'll learn tips & tricks on how to stay safe, maintain your privacy, spot scam websites and e-mails, identify cyber-bullying and much much more. Please feel free to look around and get in touch if you have any questions.
W | Always ask why a website or someone you make friends with on the Internet would need your personal information. |
I | Be inspired! The Internet offers great tools for learning, discovering and creating. |
S | Be secure. There are constantly new scams, hoaxes, viruses and spyware on the Internet. Install security software to keep your computer and data safe. |
E | Evaluate the stuff you read, see or receive through the Internet. Just because its on the Internet does not make it true, reliable or genuine. |
Staying safe on social sites
A social site can be any website where you interact with other people. Some popular examples include Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, YouTube, and Last.FM but you'll find that the majority of websites nowadays either have some form of social interaction or will link to sites that do.
Our Top Tips
Staying safe on Facebook
Facebook has a number of built-in controls to protect you and secure your personal information, allowing you to choose who's allowed to view it. Some of these are activated automatically - if you're under 18, for example, Facebook does not add your profile to public search results - but for many of the settings you'll need to adjust them yourself. |
Useful Web Links
Cyber-Bullying
What is cyber-bullying?
Cyber-Bullying is, put simply, bullying carried out through the use of electronic devices; that is, through your computer, mobile phone, etc. The Directgov website describes it as:
"when one person or a group of people try to threaten, tease or embarass someone else by using a mobile phone or the internet" (Directgov)
Cyber-Bullying can be just as damaging as "normal" bullying, if not more so, because it often comes with a degree of anonymity for the bully; you may not always be aware of who's carrying it out. Having the ability to type things into a computer, and not speak face-to-face, makes it much easier for a bully to send hurtful comments.
It's important to remember that the boundaries of cyber-space are unlimited. Cyber-bullying does not rely on you being in the same playground as the bully and they have the potential to keep harassing you even outside school and/or college hours.
Cyber-bullying does happen but you don't need to be a victim. There are things that you can do to stop it, and people who can help and support you through it.
What forms can cyber-bullying take?
Cyber-bullying appears in many different ways. Directgov has compiled a list of the most common forms:
Sending emails that can be threatening or upsetting. Emails can be sent directly to a single target, or to a group of people to encourage them to become part of the bullying. These messages or ‘hate mails’ can include examples of racism, sexism and other types of prejudice.
If someone sends you a message and you forward or laugh at it, you’re actually adding to the problem.
Sending instant messenger and chatroom messages to friends or direct to a victim. Others can be invited into the bullying conversation, who then become part of it by laughing.
Setting up profiles on social networking sites to make fun of someone. By visiting these pages or contributing to them, you become part of the problem and add to the feelings of unhappiness felt by the victim.
Sending humiliating and abusive text or video messages, as well as photo messages and phone calls over a mobile phone. This includes anonymous text messages over short distances using Bluetooth technology and sharing videos of physical attacks on individuals (happy slapping).
Games consoles allow players to chat online with anyone they find themselves matched with in a multi-player game. Sometimes cyber bullies abuse other players and use threats.
They can also lock victims out of games, spread false rumours about someone or hack into someone’s account.
Some people send viruses or hacking programs to another person that can destroy their computers or delete personal information from their hard drive.
Many victims of cyberbullying have complained that they have seen personal photos, emails or blog postings posted where others could see them without their permission.
Social networking sites make it a lot easier for web users to get hold of personal information and photos of people. They can also get hold of someone else’s messaging accounts and chat to people pretending to be the victim.
(Taken from the Directgov website's page on Cyber-Bullying)
Useful Web Links
Spotting Scam E-Mails
We're all used to spam, but how well can we spot a scam e-mail? It's all too easy for conmen and fraudsters to use the internet to their advantage while preying upon innocent consumers. Sometimes their efforts can seem very convincing, but there are some easy ways to avoid falling into their trap.
The most common type of scam e-mail is called "Phishing". This is where you get an e-mail from someone pretending to be your bank, or other account holder, and asks you to verify your personal details via e-mail. If you follow the instructions in one of these then a fraudster will gain access to your personal information and not your bank. These scams can sometimes be difficult to spot as they're often designed to look just like an e-mail from your bank would - see below for our top tips on avoiding them. Remember that no company will ever ask you to verify your details via e-mail.
In this section you'll find a few tips on how to identify, and avoid, scam e-mails.