INTERNET SAFETY AND ABUSE
By: Mansi Singh
Internet safety or online safety or cyber safety or E-Safety is trying to be safe on the internet and is the act of maximizing a user’s awareness of personal safety and security risks to private information and property associated with using the internet, and the self-protection from computer crime. Internet abuse on the other hand refers to improper use of the internet and may include Cyberbullying, Cybercrime, Cybersex trafficking, Malware, Spamming, etc.
During the last decade, there has been an enormous development and diffusion of new forms of Internet information and communication technology, such as social media, personal computers, mobile or cellular phones, and other devices. Adolescents and young adults represent the most users of these different tools and the main purpose of the use is social interaction and interpersonal communication. To live in a world where we don’t allow our kids to access the Internet is not realistic, especially during the current pandemic and coronavirus crisis. 95% of schools are now connected to the Internet with 45 million children aged 10–17 using the Internet. Our society depends on the Internet for education, communication, and information. Therefore, it is imperative as adults that we instill best practices for our children to remain safe as they navigate cyberspace and protect them from online exploitation and human trafficking.
But online access also comes with risks, like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators. Using apps and websites where kids interact, predators may pose as a child or teen looking to make a new friend. They might prod the child to exchange personal information, such as address and phone number, or encourage kids to call them, seeing their phone number via caller ID. Talking about the young generation specifically which current is the major consumer of this mode especially when the entire world is under lockdown, it gets a little trickier to monitor their time spent online. They may carry a smartphone with them at all times. They probably want — and need — some privacy. This is healthy and normal, as they’re becoming more independent from their parents. The Internet can provide a safe “virtual” environment for exploring some newfound freedom if precautions are taken. For this, let us understand the problems that one can face online and derive solutions for the same.
1. Cyberbullying — The vast majority, of teens agree that cyberbullying is a problem, and believe this is a serious problem. A 2018 survey of children’s online behavior found that approximately 60% of children who use social media have witnessed some form of bullying, and that, for various reasons, most children ignored the behavior altogether. And according to enough.org, as of February 2018, nearly half of all young people had been victims of cyberbullying. Social media and online games are today’s virtual playground, and that is where most cyberbullying takes place, and it is operating 24/7. Children can be ridiculed in social media exchanges. Or, in online gaming, their player personas can be subjected to incessant attacks, turning the game from an imaginative adventure into a humiliating ordeal that escalates into cyberbullying across multiple platforms and in real life. The best foundation for protecting against cyberbullying is to be comfortable talking to children about what is going on in their lives online and in real life and how to stand up to bullies.
2. Cyber Predators-These days sexual and other predators often stalk children on the internet, taking advantage of their innocence, lack of adult supervision, and abusing their trust. This can culminate in children being lured into dangerous personal encounters IRL. These predators lurk on social media and gaming platforms that appeal to children — the same virtual venues where anonymity facilitates cyberbullying. There, they can exploit not only children’s innocence but also their gift of imagination.
3. Phishing -Phishing is what cybersecurity professionals call the use of emails that try to trick people into clicking on malicious links or attachments. These can be especially difficult for kids to detect because often, the email will appear to be from someone legitimate, like a friend or family member, saying simply, “Hey — thought you might like this!” This can also be done by using messaging apps or text messages.
4. Falling for Scams-Children are probably not going to fall for Nigerian princes offering them a million dollars, but they might fall for scams that offer things they value, such as free access to online games or special features. Young people are easy marks for scams because they have not yet learned to be wary. As with phishing, cybercriminals can use sites popular with children to identify potential victims, and then promise prizes in return for what they want — like parents’ credit card information. Teaching children to be leery of online offers that promise too much is a good measure.
5. Accidentally Downloading Malware-Malware is a computer software that is installed without the knowledge or permission of the victim and performs harmful actions on the computer. This includes stealing personal information from your computer or hijacking it for use in a “botnet,” which causes sluggish performance. Cybercriminals often trick people into downloading malware.Phishing is one such trick, but there are others — such as convincing victims to download malware masquerading as games — that can be especially beguiling to children.
6. Sextortion-Sextortion, especially via the use of webcams, is a concern, especially for those who use webcams for flirting and cybersex. Often this involves a cybercriminal posing as someone else — such as an attractive person — initiating communication of a sexual nature with the victim.The video is recorded by the cybercriminal, who then reveals their true intent and demands money or other services (such as more explicit images of the victim, in cases of online predation), threatening to publicly release the video and send it to family members and friends of the victim if they do not comply.
A video highlighting the dangers of sextortion has been released by the National Crime Agency in the UK to educate people, especially given the fact that blackmail of a sexual nature may cause humiliation to a sufficient extent to cause the victim to take their own life, in addition to other efforts to educate the public on the risks of sextortion. Protecting children on the internet is a matter of awareness — knowing what dangers lurk and how to safeguard against them. Although cybersecurity software can help protect against some threats, the most important safety measure is open communication with children. Here are some measures designed to deal with this.
Internet Safety Laws-A federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) helps protect kids younger than 13 when they’re online. It’s designed to keep anyone from getting a child’s personal information without a parent knowing about it and agreeing to it first. COPPA requires websites to explain their privacy policies and get parental consent before collecting or using a child’s personal information, such as a name, address, phone number, or Social Security number. The law also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or enter a contest.
Online Protection Tools-Online tools let parents kids’ access adult material and help protect them from Internet predators. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) provide parent-control options. You can also get software that helps block access to sites and restricts personal information from being sent online. Other programs can monitor and track online activity. Let us all envision a safer world for the new world that’s developing through the internet. Let us be responsible citizens and guide everyone in the best way possible and report any uncanny activity that comes to our notice.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, create an open line of communications with the younger and older generation about internet safety. This should not be a one-time conversation, but rather a regular topic of conversation. Be open and genuinely interested in what games they are playing or their new friends on social media. It will be a lot easier to protect your loved ones if they truly believe they can talk to you about their online activities without getting into trouble. Remember that trust and belief is always about the real and virtual world as well.
