How To Maintain Your Privacy And Safety When Meeting People Online
The Internet is ever growing. More people online means more
people to meet. Wherever you click to, you'll find a discussion board, a
forum, and a poll to voice your opinion, something to join and be a
part of. All this leads to interaction with others online. How can you
maintain your privacy? How can you protect yourself from the "cyber
stalkers" that can terrorize online buddies, email friends and personals
service love interests?
Tip #1:
Always use an anonymous web based email address to sign up for
anything online!
E-mail services such as available at Hotmail, Yahoo, and others
allow you to send and receive email without revealing any personal
information. The email address that your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
gave you, surprising enough, will send along with the email message
headers plenty of personal information describing your location, your
ISP, sometimes even your real name. Do you want this information going
to somewhere you've just joined online or on a forum or discussion list
where you just voiced your opinion? Are you ready to have your personal
and private email address published on a web page for anyone to see and
send to you email you aren't prepared for (spam)?
You can protect yourself by using free web based email service
addresses for any program, club, dating service, newsletter, discussion
list, forum or anything else that requires an email address from you. Of
course, the beginnings of protecting yourself starts with signing up
for an anonymous email service using your ISP given email address to
begin with.
Tip #2:
Know your Instant Messenger Service (IM). Did you know that some
versions of IM's will expose your Internet Protocol (IP) Address? These
10 to 12 digit numbers will reveal who your ISP is and what your
location is. With "dial-up" Internet access, this is not too much of a
threat, as you receive a different IP address every time you dial into
the Internet. But with high speed access being more available, if you
have this type of access you always have the same IP address. With just a
couple of clicks and the right program, someone can find out your home
address in under 15 seconds! Read the privacy information available on
any IM service you are using and understand how to protect your IP
address, your private email address and any other information that may
be displayed to someone sending you a message. Never send or reply to a
message from someone you don't know!
Tip #3:
Never re-use user, account or nicknames! Most services will ask
for you a user name, nickname, account name or some other such
identifier that you use to log in with along with your password that is
revealed to other users. It is very important that with each and every
service you sign up for you have a unique user name (identifier). If
someone decides to give you too much attention online, or starts "cyber
stalking" you, you should "move on" to the next service (after reporting
them and closing your account, of course). But, if you use the same
user or account name somewhere else, eventually they'll find you again!
And again! And again!
Tip #4:
Know the service you are using. Almost every online service that
asks for any type of personal information from you will have a posted
privacy policy. Take the required time to read it. Make a copy of the
email address you need to report someone that harasses you through that
service. Save it with your user name and password information, wherever
you write that down. If at any time you are uncomfortable about
revealing private information about yourself, leave the form blank. If
it is required information, contact the company and explain why you do
not want to provide such information to them. Either you will learn more
about their privacy policy directly from them or not receive a response
at all. If you don't receive a response, consider it a blessing in
disguise!
Tip #5:
What to do if you become the victim of a "cyber stalker".
Don't panic. Send an email to the service and report the person
that is giving you unwarranted attention. Include details such as copies
of emails and messages you have received, their user name and other
information you know or have received. If the harassment has only been
through electronic communication (online), close your account with the
service where the harassment took place. Get a new account name and
email address from your main ISP, or change ISP's. Cancel or close any
web based email services and IM services that you have used to contact
this person or that they have contacted you through.
If the harassment has been offline as well as online, contact your
local police or authorities and make a formal complaint and statement
against that person. Contact your local phone company and change your
phone number.
Remember, the odds are in your favor that the people you meet are
"normal" and will not harass you. But you can never be too safe and that
is what we are trying to help you be, safe. Not paranoid, just safe.
These are the guidelines to follow to protect your privacy so that the unthinkable will not happen to you!
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