Stay safe online

ONLINE SECURITY

Since much of the real world is now loaded into cyberspace, the amount of time and activities you do online have likely increased dramatically.

While you may still be taking some of the usual precautions for now, after a while—as with anything that becomes routine—you may want to let your guard down and take it easy.

But just as wandering distractedly through the outside world can leave you vulnerable to accidents and crime, wandering around the Internet without paying attention can leave you vulnerable. Here’s something to think about.

Fraud

Nigerian princes and random lottery wins still abound, but overall the scams are becoming more insidious and sophisticated. With so many platforms and so much personal data available, scammers are having a great day.

Here are some tips on how to spot and avoid scams.

E-mail

If it looks suspicious, check who the actual sender is. The name that appears at the top of the email may simply be a nickname. In some email clients, you can hover over the sender’s name and it will show their actual email address. In other cases, you may need to select a drop-down that says something like “show original.”

Never click a link in an email or open an attachment unless you completely trust the sender. Fraudsters are getting better at reproducing corporate documents.

Remember that banks and many other institutions will never ask for personal information or post a link.

If you are concerned, please contact the institution directly using the contact information on its website rather than those listed in the email.

Chain memes

They come in different shapes and types: cute “share the love” epithets; alarmist warnings; broadcast games; the guilt that triggers the “I bet none of my friends will…” pleas.

What they have in common is that they ask you to copy a message, paste it into a new message, and pass it on to X number of people you know.

Besides the high annoyance factor and unnecessary additional cyber traffic, many of these messages contribute to the spread of false information; cause anxiety; waste time.

Even seemingly positive messages can have nefarious intentions.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of emails and messages. Don’t interfere.

Official warnings and notifications will never be sent in this way.

Some messages may contain attachments or code that contains – sorry, there’s no other word for it yet – viruses.

Fake news

During the crisis we are currently experiencing, the wheel of the rumor mill is turning like a dynamo.

It is very easy for false, incomplete or misleading information to take hold and quickly become “fact.”

Before you panic about a meteorite hitting Earth (we’ve had droughts, fires, floods and pandemics, so it’s entirely possible), do some research.

Here are some reputable fact-checking sites.

RMIT ABC Fact Check is run jointly by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and ABC News and analyzes claims made in general news coverage, with a focus on local content.

Politfact is run by the Poynter Institute, a research and journalism school in the United States.

Snopes is a very popular fact-checking site that examines all sorts of rumors, from urban legends to political statements.

It’s always best to check a few different sources and see what the consensus is.

Privacy and Confidentiality

I don’t want to put too much emphasis on this, but All has largely moved online. This means that a lot of very personal, very intimate material passes through the fiber optic strands of the World Wide Web.

What you do with another consenting adult (or multiple adults) is entirely your own business… until it is.

You can’t see what’s going on outside the screen at the other end of your connection. Your cyber partner may be recording the meeting without your permission. They may have an audience.

When it comes to digital interactions, you have very limited control over data. Even if you trust your cyber partner completely, you, him, or the platform you use may still be hacked or accidentally leak data.

It’s best to be as anonymous as possible. Use a pseudonym and hide your face.

Unless you know and trust someone completely, do not share personal information and never share details on a public platform.

One thing you should be aware of in this regard, if it is not obvious, is that you are both (all) of the age of consent (17 in Tasmania and South Africa, 16 in the rest of Australia). If you communicate with people abroad, you should check what the law is there.

Meeting people online can also make you emotionally vulnerable, especially if you live alone.

It is easy to become a victim of manipulation or fraud once someone has gained trust in you.

Even without malicious intent, any relationship you build online will be fraught with limitations. We don’t know how long we’ll be isolated, and that can make it difficult to crave intimacy.

It’s worse, of course, if you become emotionally involved and the relationship deteriorates or ends.

Build a support network and be sure to reach out to them. Seek professional services if you feel like you can’t cope.

Stay positive

We are currently bombarded with dire predictions and alarming statistics, and this can be disheartening and worrying.

It is extremely important to stay up to date with the latest advice and restrictions, but it is equally important to remain optimistic and motivated.

There are many trolls and keyboard warriors who love to vent their woes online. Don’t associate with them and please don’t be one of them.

Take a break from social media and the news. Watch something light or inspiring or do something creative.

The Internet has its problems, but it is also a miracle. Imagine what it would be like to go through all of this without him.

Let’s stay positive.