There are lots of ways to be safe, and you’ve probably heard most of them: Look both ways before you cross the street. Don’t take candy from strangers. Don’t run with scissors.
Versions of those warnings exist for your life online, too. You can do things to protect yourself, protect your information (and your family’s), and your computer.
Protecting yourself
Use privacy settings to restrict who can see and post on your profile. Many social networking sites and apps have privacy settings. Find out how to turn these settings on, and then do it. Limit your online friends to people you actually know. Trust your gut if you feel threatened or uncomfortable because of someone or something you find online. Tell someone who can help you report your concerns.
Location, location, location
There are apps that allow you to find your friends – and allow them to find you. It can be fun – but there are downsides to letting everyone know where you are. Use location features only with people you know personally and trust. Check out the privacy settings on your phone and on your apps, and think about when it might make sense to turn off your location.
Did you know that when you post a photo you took on your phone, there could be information about your location attached to it? If you don’t want to broadcast where you were for every selfie, consider disabling your location on your smartphone’s camera.
Protecting your information
Some information should stay private. Your Social Security number and family financial information – like your parents’ bank account or credit card numbers – should stay within the family.
When you’re done using an account, log out. Don’t stay permanently signed in to accounts.
Don’t reply to texts, emails, or pop-up messages that ask you for personal information – even if they look like they’re from a friend, family member, or a company you know. The message might ask you to click on a link, ask you to send your personal information in exchange for a free gift, or even threaten that something bad will happen if you don’t reply. Chances are it’s a fake, sent to steal your information. Just delete it.
DID YOU KNOW?
46% of teen apps users have turned off location tracking features on their cell phone or in an app because they were worried about the privacy of their information.
Passwords
The longer your password, the harder it is to crack. You might be tempted to reuse the same password, but that means that if it’s stolen, hackers can use it to access your other accounts.
Remember, passwords can help you secure your devices, too. Password-protect your phone – it’ll prevent annoying “pocketdials” and help keep your photos and information from falling into the wrong hands.
Oh, and keep your passwords private. Don’t share them with anybody, including your best friends, your boyfriend, or your girlfriend.
Is your favorite Wi-Fi hotspot secure
You’re hanging out at the local _______________ [fill in the blank], and you use their free Wi-Fi to get online. Aah, so convenient. But guess what? Many public Wi-Fi networks aren’t secure, and they may not protect the information you send and receive – including passwords, messages, photos, and account information.
How can you protect your information?
• Turn off the Wi-Fi auto-connect feature, so you can choose which networks to use and when.
• Look for a pop-up window asking for a WPA or WPA2 password. If you’re not asked for a password to join a Wi-Fi hotspot, then other people may be able to see what you send over that network.
• Use secure websites. Look for sites with a padlock symbol or https in the web address. The “s” stands for secure.
• If your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, the apps you use will connect to that network, too. When you use public Wi-Fi, don’t use apps that ask for personal information. Come up with different passwords for your different accounts. Think of something as unique as you are! Use a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
P.S. Don’t use your name, birthdate, or the word “password.” That’s too easy to guess.
Challenge Bill Shock
If your parents have ever met Bill Shock, you’d probably know.
Mr. Shock isn’t a who – it’s a what. Bill shock is what happens when your family cell phone bill is much higher than it’s supposed to be. Or than your parents thought it would be.
Your parents might pay a phone company a monthly fee for a data plan that lets you connect on-the-go. Maybe you streamed one movie too many, or left that music app open and forgot about it. Oops – you’re over your data plan. Whatever the cause, the effect is extra charges. What can you do about bill shock? Make it a habit to close out of apps and screens you’re not using. Sometimes just having them open in the background can eat up data.
Most phones or carriers have a way to track the amount of data you’ve used. You might even get a message when you’ve almost reached your data limit. Check your carrier’s website or ask your parents how you can track your usage. If your parents have a secure Wi-Fi network set up at home, it might be a good idea to switch to that network when you’re around the house – so you’re not using up your family’s data. But if you’re out and want to connect to free Wi-Fi, know that most public hotspots are not secure. Check out OnGuardOnline.gov to learn more about using public Wi-Fi networks safely.
Protecting your devices
Learn about security software and how your computer is protected.
Be cautious about opening attachments or clicking on links. They may hide viruses or spyware. Whether it’s your laptop, tablet, or phone, don’t leave it alone or unprotected – even for a minute.
Applying yourself
Do you download apps? You might be giving the app’s creator access to your personal information – maybe even information that’s not related to the purpose of the app. For example, say you download a game, and the app’s developers get access to your entire contact list and your location. The developers might sell the information they collect to marketers or other companies. You can try to check what information the app collects – if it tells you – and then check your own privacy settings. Think about whether using that app is worth sharing the details of your life. Some apps cost money. And many free apps let you buy real and virtual stuff within them – with real money. Check with your parents to make sure they’re OK with you buying additional features, especially if they’re paying the bill. If you read an app’s reviews, you’ll learn whether people found it worthwhile.
DID YOU KNOW?
51% of teen app users have avoided certain apps due to privacy concerns.
Dear Expert,
I might be in trouble. I was playing on my dad’s computer and downloaded some stuff. It was free, or I wouldn’t have. Did I mess up? Now he says his computer’s really slow and goes to sites he doesn’t want it to.
Did you mess up? That’s up to your dad. Is the computer in trouble? Probably. Some people claim to offer free stuff online – like videos, apps, or music. But when you download it, it secretly installs harmful programs – called malware – on your computer. Malware could search your computer looking for credit card numbers or bank account information. Or, it might copy everything you type in – even personal stuff – and send it back to a crook. So when you’re thinking about downloading something on to the computer, talk it over with your dad first. Think about whether it might be malware in disguise. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more on protecting your computer from malware. Ask the Expert Dilemma You’re online and you see an ad for a free game. It’s a game you want, and here it is – for free. What do you do? Download and start playing? Check with your parents first? Skip it because it’s probably some kind of scam?