There are ways that you can protect yourself when you go online. Here are some tips:
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Keep your passwords private, even from your friends. If something unsafe happens, or if you think your password might be in someone else’s hands, change it.
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When you’re asked for personal information, like a credit card number, look at the bottom right corner of the screen for a little padlock symbol. This means the connection is secure and no one else can see what you’re doing.
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Don’t make it easy for strangers to track you down. Keep your personal information to yourself. Personal information includes your name, the names of friends or family, your address, phone numbers, and the name of your school.
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Don’t forward cruel messages to others, or participate in online polls for rating people’s appearance.
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Don’t accept friend invites from strangers.
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Trust your gut. If you don’t recognize the name of a sender, don’t open or answer the message.
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Make sure that only friends can see your profile info. You can make changes to who can access your account under “personal settings” or “settings.”
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Think about how you can be safe if you meet someone online in-person. Be sure to meet in a public place, bring a friend, and make sure you have a cell phone with you.
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Imagine you’re in a bedroom, and there is a large window that overlooks the street. The curtains are wide open, and the street is full of people looking in. How does it feel? You probably want to close the curtains, don’t you? The Internet is like a bedroom that people can see into. In other words, what you do online isn’t always private—others can see, whether you think they can or not.