eSafety

 8.2 eSafety

Data protection

The huge demand for personal information to be securely gathered, processed and stored electronically has resulted in the need for international data protection legislation. There are many laws globally to control how personal information is handled and the rights of the data subjects - the people whose data is being stored. This global requirement has resulted in laws varying greatly from country to country.

Personal data

Personal information is used to identify an individual and includes name, address, date of birth, location, race, ethnic origin or medical data such as genetic and health data.

 Personal data is collected every time you post an update on social media, sign up for an online account, or use a web-based email service or a search engine. These data items will probably be held by lots of different official organisations such as schools, health serviced and governments departments, and also online shops.

People should be concerned about the privacy implications of the storage and processing of their personal information and about the security of the data as weak security could result in personal information falling into the wrong hands. This makes people vulnerable to fraud and identity theft and also burglary of their homes if the address is included in the data. It can also lead to harm from predators if they know how old you are and where you live.

eSafety

eSafety basically means being safe on the internet but it can also include the safe use of technology in general. eSafety is intended to prevent online threats. Which include:

• bullying/cyberbullying.
• inappropriate behaviour or content.
• emotional abuse.
• data theft.

eSafety when using the internet

When finding information using the internet, everyone uses a search engine. There are lots of different search engines and some are especially designed for children and young people so that they will not be exposed to inappropriate content. Young people should be encouraged to encouraged to use age-appropriate search engines to stay safe.

Using safe search engines, software can be used to limit and screen web access.

If a young person comes across inappropriate content, they should simply shut down the computer without clicking on anything else and inform an adult.

eSafety using email

• Always be careful when opening email from senders you do not know. Never click on a link in an email if possible, unless you are expecting the email.
• If you receive an email from a company that you do know, always go to the website by typing the address directly into your web browser, rather than clicking on a link in an email.
• If you receive an email, always check the actual address of the sender by viewing the details of the email header.
• Never send any payment information, such as your credit card number, in an email.
• Always be careful when sending identifiable personal data or images in an email.

eSafety using social media

If social networking sites are not used carefully, some serious problems may occur.

problems that may arise include:

• Cyberbullying.
• Some people may try to exploit or abuse others.
• Catfishing.
• Some people use social networking sites to slander other people that could damage their reputation.
• If your personal profile can be accessed by the public, your personal details could be stolen.
• People using social networks may not be aware that the sites can be searched.

The data trail that you leave is called your digital footprint and it is a public record of:

• What you said.
• What was said about you.
• What you liked, retweeted or shared.
• Where you are or have been

You can manage your privacy settings on social network sites; most of them also have an option to report or block the users.

Before disclosing your personal data ask yourself these questions:

• Who is collecting this information?
• Why is it necessary?
• What will be done with it?
• What will the outcome be for me?

To minimise possible dangers that you might encounter when using social media or networking sites, you should take precautions and follow rules:

• Block and report unwanted users.
• Users should always be aware of the potential dangers of meeting an online contact face to face.
• Users should avoid distributing inappropriate images.
• Users should be careful of the language they use. It should always be appropriate and respectful to other people.
• Users should respect the confidentiality of other users.

Playing games on the internet

You can play online games with people from all over the world. When you play these games, you may be playing with people you know and also with people you don't know. Online gaming is a good way to make new friends with the same interests as you, but you need to know how to keep yourself safe

Tips for playing online games safely

• When playing online games, treat the other players with respect, and don't do anything that you know is wrong to get cheats or tips.
• Don't use your real name when you are gaming. Use a screenname instead.
• Never give out personal information or agree to meet another player face to face.
• Never disclose any financial data such as bank or credit card information.