INTERNET SAFETY

The following is based on information provided by the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection's Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Laboratory.

SAFETY TIPS WHEN USING THE INTERNET

Keep information private. Some examples of private information are:

• Your full name
• Your address
• Your telephone number
• Your Social Security number
• Your mother’s maiden name (often used as a password)
• Credit card numbers

Also, does your screen name reveal too much information about you? If you have a profile, what does it say about you? What information do you post on your home page or Website? Be careful not to disclose personal information in these places

Using email:

• Don’t respond to unsolicited email (SPAM). Responding shows the sender your address is valid.
• Forward offensive email to your Internet service provider (ISP). If you think it may be evidence of a crime, print it out (don’t delete it) and contact your ISP for information on what to do next.
• Don’t follow links to Web sites sent to you by someone you don’t know.
• Don’t download files or images from anyone you don’t know. Be especially careful about downloading any .exe files - these can bring a virus into your computer.
• Don't respond to offers that sound too good to be true. These are usually scams.

World Wide Web Shopping:

• Use a credit card that you keep only for Web shopping.
• Check your billing statements for unauthorized charges.
• Keep a low credit limit on the card.
• Don’t use a check card/ATM card/debit card
• Don’t pay with cash or a bank check/postal money order unless you use a trusted escrow agent.

Chat Rooms:

• Be cautious; many people who use chat rooms do not tell the truth about who they really are. Some are there to entice/abuse minors.

Search by program names:

• Computer Fraud/Child Exploitation/Internet Crimes

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SOURCE: State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Laboratory
PREPARED BY: 211/kq
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: January2013