1. Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.
2. Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a dear friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email. Better be safe than sorry and confirm that they really sent it.
3. Do not open any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or unexpected. If the need to do so is there always save the file to your hard drive before doing so.
4. Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any to them. These types of email are considered spam, which is unsolicited, intrusive mail that clogs up the network.
5. Do not download any files from strangers.
6. Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one. Verify that an anti-virus program checks the files on the download site. If you're uncertain, don't download the file at all or download the file to a floppy and test it with your own anti-virus software.
7. Update your anti-virus software regularly. Over 500 viruses are discovered each month, so you'll want to be protected. These updates should be at the least the products virus signature files. You may also need to update the product's scanning engine as well.
8. Back up your files on a regular basis. If a virus destroys your files, at least you can replace them with your back-up copy. You should store your backup copy in a separate location from your work files, one that is preferably not on your computer.
9. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution and do not open, download, or execute any files or email attachments. Not executing is the more important of these caveats. Check with your product vendors for updates which include those for your operating system web browser, and email. One example is the security site section of Microsoft located at http://www.microsoft.com/security.
10. If you are in doubt about any potential virus-related situation you find yourself in, you may report a virus to our virus team.
Child Sexual Exploitation On The Internet
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The live chat networks are the main areas of the Internet where sexual predators cruise searching for vulnerable children. |
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Predators target children online who appear alone, lonely, have low self-esteem, or lack parental supervision. It is not uncommon for a pedophile to become the online "confidant" of a lonely child, and they will often teach the child how to keep the online friendship a secret from their parents. Online, just as offline, it is the child who is left alone who is most at risk. |
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Sexual exploitation of children online may take the form of sexually explicit email or chatting, the sending of pornography or child pornography to the child, or the adult showing the child adult pictures on the World Wide Web. This may even progress to attempts to meet the child offline with a view to a sexual encounter. |
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Report incidents of online
child sexual exploitation to the National Center For Missing And Exploited
Children (NCMEC) cybertipline |
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Electronic Harassment and Cyberstalking
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It is possible that your child could become the target of a prolonged and vicious bullying or hate campaign waged through chat rooms, discussion groups or emails. |
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This harassment may involve electronic attacks on their internet connection, the sending of threats or hate mail and the spreading of vicious rumors about your child. This can be very upsetting for the victim of such harassment. |
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If a person is following your child around whenever they are online, threatening or harassing them, they are said to be “cyberstalking” your child. |
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Report incidents of electronic
harassment and cyberstalking to SafetyEd International |
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Consumer Fraud
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More and more companies are using their Web sites to target children online for the purpose of consumer advertising and market research. |
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Through games, prizes, gifts and other enticing offers, these marketers lure children into filling out detailed surveys about themselves and their families. Many children have no idea that the personal information they are giving will be bought and sold in the marketplace. |
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The data collected by these companies, which includes children's names, addresses, telephone numbers and ages, is bought and sold by mass marketing brokers. |
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Parents have no idea what is being done with the data collected about their children, and many Web sites do not inform parents. |
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Your child may become involved in an online scam or fraud, or you may feel that they are being economically exploited by a Web site. |
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Report incidents of internet
scams and consumer child exploitation to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) |
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Software Piracy
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You may find evidence of organized computer software piracy, or music piracy on your child’s computer. |
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Parents can be held financially liable by angry corporations if their children commit piracy. |
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Report incidents of organized
software piracy to the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) |
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