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Chapter 1: Online Safety
Contents
Page 2: Introduction to Online Safety
Page 4: Cyberbullying
Page 6: Social Networking
Page 8: Chat Rooms
Page 9: Computer Viruses
Page 10: Assessment
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
What is Online Safety?
Computers and mobile phones help us all to share things,
talk to our friends and meet new people. But they can also
make it easier for bullies and other people who might want
to hurt you to get close to you.
So it's important to know
how to be safe on your
computer, on your phone
and on websites. If you
want to stay safe, or find
out what to do if there’s a
problem, this guide has
some very useful advice.
Introduction to Online Safety
This is the Introduction to Online Safety! This Chapter of this
textbook will help you understand what Online Safety is and
will help you understand some of the important sub-sections
of Online Safety.
This Chapter will help you understand…
Online Safety
Cyberbullying
Social Networking
Online Chat Rooms
Computer Viruses
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
What is Online Safety continued
There are many campaigns that aim to give young people
advice regarding internet safety. A new internet safety
campaign; ‘Zip It, Block It, Flag It’, offers parents and young
people tips on how to stay safe online. By following the 'Zip
it, Block it, Flag it' code, parents and children can take a
few simple steps to help them stay safe online, while
continuing to enjoy the internet.
What will this chapter tell me?
This chapter will inform you about
everything connected to Online
Safety, what the main sections of
Online Safety are, how they can
harm you, and finally how to
combat them.
The final page of this Chapter will
be an assessment to test what you
have learnt from reading this
Chapter of the textbook about
Online Safety… so get reading!
Introduction to Online Safety
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when a
child or teenager is
threatened, harassed,
embarrassed or targeted by
another child or teenager
using the Internet, on social
networking sites such as
Facebook, and digital
technologies such as
mobile phones. But be warned, cyberbullying is usually not
a one-time communication and escaping cyberbullying
can be very difficult .’
Who do people Cyberbully? There’s not one simple answer for why some people
choose to cause pain to others by bullying them. There are
lots of possible reasons, but here are some common ones:
Some people who cyberbully
think that they won’t get caught
if they do it on a mobile phone or
on the internet.
Cyberbullies often think that
getting their group of friends to
laugh at someone makes them
look cool or more popular.
Want to
know about
chat rooms?
Go to page
8 to find out!
Cyberbullying
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
Some people also bully others as a form of
entertainment or because they are bored and have
too much time on their hands.
Many do it for a joke or just to get a reaction.
How can you prevent Cyberbullying?
Although cyber bullying can't
physically hurt you it can still
make you feel bad and is a
form of emotional abuse. No
one has the right you make
you feel like this. It might seem
that there is no way to make it
stop, but there are things that
you can do to prevent it from
happening or make it stop.
Talk to someone you trust like a parent or teacher. They
can help you to sort it out. Or you can call us to speak
to someone who can help you.
Keep a copy of the abusive emails, texts or messages
that you receive and when they were sent to you.
Block email addresses and/ or complains to host
website.
Never give out any personal details on the internet such
as your real name, address, age or phone number.
Even telling someone which school you go to can help
them find out information about you.
Cyberbullying
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What is social networking?
Social Networking sites are websites where you can create
a profile all about yourself and contact other people. You
can also upload photos, music and videos to share with
other people, and on some sites, chat to other people on
forums. It's important to know how to stay safe online and
what to do if someone is nasty to you.
What are the risks of social networking?
Social networking sites
are rapidly becoming a
huge target from
preying cyber-
criminals. They are able
to abuse the nature of
these sites and gather
personal information
about its users -
information that users themselves are making publicly
available.
Social Networking
The top 5 used Social Networking Sites
A Cyber-criminal
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
For young people, social networking sites can bring
together many of the risks associated with being online;
online bullying, disclosure of private information, access to
age-inappropriate content and online grooming and child
abuse.
How can you prevent the risks of social networking?
When online you can chat to people, play games and
share pictures. But sometimes people may say nasty things
to you which upset you. You can avoid these risks and
enjoy social networking sites by following a few sensible
guidelines:
Be wary of publishing any identifying information about
yourself. In particular things like: phone numbers,
pictures of your home, workplace or school, your
address, birthday or full name.
Always tell a trusted adult straight away if you are upset
or worried about something that has happened online.
Use a strong password.
Social Networking
‘STOP Cyberbullying’ - A campaign to stop cyberbullying and
help the victims
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
What are Chat Rooms?
Chat rooms and online forums are a
great place to meet other people,
where you can talk about all the
things you enjoy… There are forums /
chat rooms where you can talk about
music, sport, and films - anything that
you find interesting.
You can read messages that have
been put up by other people, you
can reply to messages by adding
your own answers or ideas and you
can also put up a new message or
question of your own.
What are the bad sides of chat rooms?
When you log onto a forum or chat room, always use a
nickname rather than give your real name.
If you see a message that upsets
you, tell a trusted adult.
Some people who you meet
online may not be who they say
they are. It’s very easy for people
to lie when they’re chatting
online, so NEVER ARRANGE TO
MEET UP WITH SOMEONE WHO
YOU HAVE MET ONLINE. If anyone
asks to meet up with you, tell a
trusted adult.
Chat Rooms
An example of a chat
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Chapter 1: Online Safety
What are computer viruses?
Viruses are computer programs that serve no purpose other
than to cause serious damage to your PC by changing or
even deleting files. They can also spread to other files on
your computer and even other PCs.
Dr Fred Cohen, a virus researcher defined viruses as: ‘a
program that can infect other programs by modifying them
to include a... version of itself.’
How can you get them?
Viruses are all over the Internet, especially attached to files
you can download. Generally, the downloader of the file
won't even realise they're
distributing the virus, but if you
get infected, you'll soon know
about it. Trojans are viruses that
generally can't replicate
themselves but are just as
destructive, often opening up
your computer for computer
hackers to control. You normally
pick them up from malicious
files downloaded from websites.
Trojans and viruses aren't just annoying; they're serious
destroyers of personal data. Follow the advice below to
reduce the threat to you:
Install anti-virus software.
Install anti-spyware software.
Make sure your firewall is enabled at all times.
Don't open attachments from people you don't know.
These are some of the most well
known Internet Security Software
Computer Viruses
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What is this assessment?
This assessment will test your understanding of Chapter 1.
1. Name one reason why people Cyberbully.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. Name one way you can try to prevent Cyberbullying.
________________________________________________________
3. What are two ways in which Social Networking Sites are
risks?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. Name two ways to prevent the risks of Social Networking
Sites.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5. Name one thing that Chat Rooms can be used for.
________________________________________________________
6. What are two bad points about Chat Rooms?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7. Give a summary of what Computer Viruses are.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
8. Name two ways you can try to prevent Computer Viruses.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Assessment