Internet safety
Internet safety, also known as online safety, cyber safety and electronic safety (e-safety), refers to the policies, practices and processes that reduce the harms to people that are enabled by the (mis)use of information technology.
As the number of internet users continues to grow worldwide,
Online safety is necessary and validated as many businesses have been faced with excesses of attacks on the internet which has resulted in losing one’s life on the part of the victims, committing suicide, or psychological disorderliness.
Information security
Sensitive information such as
Phishing
Phishing is a type of scam where the scammers disguise themselves as trustworthy source in an attempt to obtain private information such as passwords, credit card information, etc. through the internet. These fake websites are often designed to look identical to their legitimate counterparts to avoid suspicion from the user.[5] Normally, hackers will send third-party email to target requesting personal information, and they will use this as an entry point to implement attack.[6]
Malware
Personal safety
The growth of the internet gave rise to many important services accessible to anyone with a connection. One of these important services is digital communication. While this service allowed communication with others through the internet, this also allowed communication with malicious users. While malicious users often use the internet for personal gain, this may not be limited to financial/material gain. This is especially a concern to parents and children, as children are often targets of these malicious users. Common threats to personal safety include phishing, internet scams, malware, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online predators, and sextortion.
Cyberstalking
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the use of electronic means such as instant messaging, social media, e-mail and other forms of online communication with the intent to abuse, intimidate, or overpower an individual or group. Over the past decade, cyberbullying has been identified as a significant problem for youth.[8][9] In a 2012 study of over 11,925 students in the United States, it was indicated that 23% of adolescents reported being a victim of cyberbullying, 30% of which reported experiencing suicidal behavior.[10][11] The Australian eSafety Commissioner's website reports that 44% of young Australians report being socially excluded, threatened or abused online.[12]
Sometimes, this takes the form of posting unverifiable and illegal libelous statements on harassment websites.[13] These websites then run advertisements encouraging the victims to pay thousands of dollars to related businesses to get the posts removed – temporarily, as opposed to the free and permanent removal process available through major web search engines.[13]
Child-on-child abuse (peer-on-peer abuse) that happens online often falls under cyberbullying. However, it goes much further. It can include physical and sexual abuse or harassment, relationships abuse, grooming and more.[14][15]
Online predation
Online grooming
Obscene/offensive content
Various websites on the internet content material that some deem offensive, distasteful or explicit, which may often be not of the user's liking. Such websites may include
Sextortion
See also
- Control software:
- Accountability software
- Content control software
- Identity fraud
- Internet crime
- Internet fraud
- Internet security
- Procurement through online dating services
- Website reputation rating tools
Groups and individuals working on the topic
- AHTCC– Australian High Tech Crime Centre
- Childnet
- Insafe
- Internet Matters
- Sonia Livingstone
- ThinkUKnow
- Tween summit
- Youth Internet Safety Survey
References
- ^ "Statistics". ITU.
- ^ "SAFER INTERNET DAY". Commonwealth of Australia 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
- ^ "Get Safe Online".
- .
- ^ "Internet Phishing Alert". Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
- ISBN 978-1-83882-779-3.
- ^ "Cyberstalking". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
- .
- .
- ProQuest 1326638707.
- ProQuest 1326638708.
- ^ "Cyberbullying". eSafety Commissioner. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ "What is online child-on-child abuse?". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ "Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ "Online grooming advice and risks". Internet Matters. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ admin (2019-12-22). "Facts on Offensive or Obscene Content - Criminal Law - LAWS.COM". Criminal.laws.com. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ^ a b "Sextortion (webcam blackmail)". Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Webcam blackmail cases have doubled, police say". BBC News. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ a b "The Skype sex scam - a fortune built on shame". BBC News. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
- ^ "'Sextortion': NCA releases awareness video". BBC News. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
External links
- Quotations related to Internet safety at Wikiquote
- Types of abuse seen on the internet