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When this topic came up, I searched high and low, and what I found is a gross lack of information available for adults that use the Internet.
Weve all read the online Internet safety tips available for our children, but what you donҒt typically find is resources available for adults. Id like to change that, at least here on AdoptionForums.com.
The Internet is a tool that is used daily by millions of people. Some have good intentions, while others intentions are questionable. The fact is, you are anonymous on the Internet, and so is everyone else. Scary isnҒt it?
There are a lot of common sense rulesӔ that we follow, but do you follow them every day?
For example:
Bob asks, Where is everyone fromӔ and ten people respond with the name of their city. Innocent enough, right?
Wrong.
Why is it wrong?
Two weeks later, Frank asks: Does your employer offer an adoption Subsidy, if so, who is it?Ӕ Again, ten people answer, and youre one of them.
Ed, who hasnҒt even posted yet, now knows you live in Memphis, and you work at FedEx.
Again, scary isnt it?
The key to Internet safety is the set ground rules for yourself. Determine what information you think is important to share, and only share that information. Make sure that the information you are sharing cant be combined to identify who you are.
Same scenario as above, now using rules:
Bob asks, ғWhere is everyone from? You respond, ԓWestern Tennessee
Frank asks, ԓDoes your employer offer an adoption Subsidy, if so, who is it? You respond, again, using your rules, ԓA Nationwide Fortune 500 Company.
Now, EdԒs going to ignore what you posted, and look at someone else, because people like Ed look for the easiest target.
The key to Internet safety is for you to use the same set of rules for everything. If you post on another forum, and dont use the same rules, that just makes EdҒs job easier.
Its ok to share your first name, but you have to be careful what other information you are sharing if you choose to do that. Remember, the posts on the forum are there forever. They can be searched via Google, Yahoo, and almost any other search engine.
Just be smart҅People like Ed dont mind piecing the puzzle together҅so be sure and leave enough the pieces out, that he cant get the big picture.
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BRANDY....
Thanks for the reminder!! I think after a while we become so comfortable that we don't even think of these things. Also, we, on this forum, get to know each other quite well, and we say things to each other forgetting that these forums can be read by anyone. Thanks again for the reminder.
Simone
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I am new to message boards and forums of this nature. The issue of safety does effect people of all ages as you said. I think that it is really important to educate people of ALL ages. I think about the elderly that are not as computer savy as younger generations and worry about how vulnerable they are as well. I think that this is an issue that will be an on-going fight for a long time. Thanks for your info!
I have a highly technical background, and I can tell you that what is known about us, any of us, is out there to be had. Sometimes very personal and confidential stuff. But there's also a lot of "behavior" related info. What time do you log on each day? What's your household income and how old are your children? Where do you bank? Where do you shop? Own or rent? Where do the kids go to school? Its endless, really. So take what Brandy says to heart. First of all, she wouldn't post it if it weren't good advice. Second of all, you can't be too careful ANYWHERE on the Internet. Don't be afraid to use this wonderful tool. Just be careful.
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