Keeping Up with Technology and Protecting Your Privacy
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By Cassie O’Connell
Guest Columnist
In today’s world, technology and internet crimes are constantly evolving. Trying to keep with the newest trends, electronics, or the latest apps can be daunting. Most importantly, as technology grows, so do scams. It’s important to protect yourself and your family from potentially dangerous apps, phone calls, websites, text messages, and emails where valuable information can be taken or simply even given.
Here are some general guidelines to remember:
Set strong passwords and change them regularly. Most importantly, do not include your name, your kids’ or pets’ names, or other well-known information about yourself in your password.
Only give out personal information such as your address and telephone number to trusted individuals.
Trust your instincts if you come across something that makes you feel uncomfortable or suspicious.
Do not respond to any messages that are hostile. If they are threating, notify the authorities.
Never agree to get together with someone you meet online without first letting others know who, when, and where you are meeting. Also, be sure that it is in a public place and bring someone else along if you can.
Be careful about the pictures you post online. These photos can reveal information and important details about you, your home, your family, when you’re vacationing, and even your children’s school. Also, remember the photos you share online can easily be saved by others.
Do not give out your passwords to anyone (except possibly immediate family who may have a valid need to access this information).
Get passwords and login information for all online accounts that children in your home create, so you can access their accounts as well.
Think and check the reviews before you download/install software or apps (especially if it’s free). They could be loaded with harmful code that can damage your cell phone/computer or spy on your activities, which could jeopardize your privacy.
Rules adapted from “Kids’ Rules for Online Safety”, Safekids.com.