Online Safety How can you protect yourself online?

The internet is such an integral part of our lives these days. Over 2 Billion people on the planet now have access to the internet and this number is growing rapidly. It opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving access to, quite literally, a world of information and experiences. Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, a games console or mobile phone, children and young people are increasingly accessing the internet whenever they can and wherever they are. Pupils at school now have never known a world without the internet - yet for many adults the internet is only a recent innovation.

As you would protect yourself in the real world, you will want to make sure that you are safe whatever you are doing. Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life. If you understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, you can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so.

Blocking:

• Blocking
  What people can still see, even after you block them online?

Password Security.

• 1. Always keep you passwords secret and make sure they are not easy to guess. Try to include capital letters and numbers in your password.
  Tip: Try turning sentences into passwords - "My dog Rover is 3 years old" becomes "MdRi3yo".
• 2. Change you password on a regular basis.
• 3. If you think someone knows your password make sure you change it.
• 4. If you have the option of setting a security question then do so. Make sure that it is a question that only you know the answer to.

Kingsmead guides on ICT and online safety:

• Young People ICT & e-safety:

• Children, ICT & e-safety:

Useful Websites

• A Parents’ Guide to Cyberbullying:

  The organisation ConnectSafely has produced a free guide for parents on dealing with cyberbullying.
  This short publication explains:

  • What is cyberbullying?
  • How likely is it that my child will be cyberbullied?
  • How do I know if my child is being cyberbullied?
  • What do if I do if my child is cyberbullied?
• South West Grid for Learning:

  The SWGfL are Kingsmead Schools Internet Service Provider and have a useful advice section for parents and young people.

• CEOP's thinkuknow:

  This site contains a vast amount of informations for young people and parents and is maintained by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

• BBC Webwise:

  The BBC's Internet information website covers an array of topics from child saftey to internet banking & online shopping.

• Childnet's award winning Know IT All:

  containing a selection of award winning resources for both parents and teachers and offering the availability of free CD-Roms and downloadable presentations.