Xtra Xtra - read all about it

We’re very concerned about safety. We lock our houses, install alarm systems, and create “c0mp1ic8ed” passwords for our computers. We tell our kids not to talk to strangers, and we get mad when our cars don’t work properly. We do a lot of things to ensure our safety, but it’s surprising how vulnerable we allow ourselves to become online.

Consider the following list of risky or unsafe online actions. How safe are you online?

• Giving Away Your Location—Social media tools like Twitter and Foursquare have created a surge in microblogging, and many people are tweeting whenever they walk out the door. Tweets like “I’m at Logan Airport” reveal where you are, but as the folks at PleaseRobMe.com point out, they also reveal that your house is empty. Be conscious of what you toss out into cyberspace, because it might come back to bite you (or, in this case, steal your home entertainment system).

• Password Pass/Fail—How often do you change your passwords? Do you use the same one at different sites? Do you store that information on your computer so you can log in without keying in a password? Your answers to these questions can make or break your internet safety. Last year, over 10,000 Hotmail passwords were stolen, jeopardizing users’ content and web security. You should vary your passwords, and keep them in your memory or on a hidden sheet of paper rather than saved to your browser. Google created a great guide to making smart passwords, so take a look and update your accounts. After all, it’s also a good idea to change your password from time to time to prevent hacking, phishing, or spam.

• Sharing the Names of Children—People are sharing more photos on sites like Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, and so forth, and it’s impossible to keep track of who is seeing what. If you post a picture of your child, be sure not to use his or her full name unless you can be sure of who will see the photo. It’s a good rule of thumb to post only first names or initials when sharing pictures of youngsters on our site, and always ask for the parents’ permission if you’re sharing a picture with other kids in it (i.e. a great picture from a birthday party).

• My Email Address Is….—This one might not be “unsafe,” but it certainly attracts unwanted email. Posting your full email address in blogs or on websites makes you vulnerable to phishers and spammers. To avoid unwanted mail, spell out your email address. For example, Joyce23@gmail.com should be “Joyce23-at-gmail-dot-com.” A person can put two and two together and still reach you; unable to recognize it as an email address, a robot or spammer will leave you alone.

• Giving Away Your Information–Before you give a website anything–whether it’s money, your name, your email address, or your date of birth–do some research and make sure it’s a legitimate website. Some sites make a profit by selling your contact information to a third party source, so spend some time reading a webpage’s Terms of Use page or Privacy Policy. Many sites, including xtra xtra, are also certified for internet safety by outside parties, so look for logos from companies like TRUSTe when you’re evaluating a site.

Web safety is a big concern as more and more of our daily lives move to the internet. When your family, your bank account, and your identity are on the line, you have to be careful. What about you, xtra xtra fans? What tools and strategies do you have for staying safe online? Share in the comments below!

Till next time,

CH