The Internet - A Short Guide

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The Internet Fraud & Deception

Millions of people are visiting the Internet (a.k.a. Cyberspace). And every day even more venture into Cyberspace.

Because Cyberspace is an image on a computer screen, sometimes it is called a "virtual" world — not actually real. But, like the real world, the Internet has real risks and rewards. No matter where you go common sense and knowledge are your best companions.

This guide could help you avoid fraud and deception on your visits to the Internet.

Getting the Most From The Internet

Cyberspace is a huge place with so many "sites" to visit that you may easily get lost. Chances are your Internet service provider (ISP) offers a lot of information on its web site — from news to shopping to games —including links to other web sites. You may want to use our Internet Portal as a starting point. If you know where you want to go, you can simply type in the URL and go there. Or, you can use a search engine to find what you're looking for.
On the Internet you can visit a famous museum, catch the latest news, enter a chat room to discuss a topic that interests you, learn about parenting, search for a travel bargain, purchase a book or CD, start a part-time business, or e-mail a note to your distant friends or family in a single step.

Books, magazines, friends, and people you work with can steer you to many interesting web sites. Once you're on the Internet, your own curiosity and interests will lead you to even more sites.

A World of Information

Information is gathered on the Internet both directly and indirectly. When you enter a discussion, leave a message on a bulletin board, register with a commercial site, enter a contest, or order a product, you directly and knowingly send information into Cyberspace.

Data also can be gathered indirectly, without your knowledge. For example, your travels around a web site can be tracked by a file called a "cookie" left on your computer's hard drive on your first visit to that site. When you revisit the site, it will open the cookie file and access the stored information so it will know how to greet you. You may even be welcomed by name. If you linger over a product or a subject that interests you, it will be noted. And soon, you may see ads on the site that look as if they've been custom tailored for you. As web sites gather information directly and indirectly, they can collect a complete data picture of you and your family. This kind of information is valuable to marketers because it helps them target their sales efforts.

Maintaining Privacy

It's difficult to be anonymous once you've ventured into Cyberspace. Expect to receive unsolicited advertising e-mail, even personalized ads that seem to know you. This so-called junk e-mail can be a nuisance, even a scam. If it looks questionable, simply delete it. Check with your ISP or online service for ways to limit unsolicited e-mail.
As anywhere, Cyberspace has its share of "snoopers" and con men. Guard your password. It's the key to your account. People who work for your service provider should never request your password. If they do, refuse the request and report the incident to your service provider immediately.

When shopping online, be very careful about revealing your Social Security or credit card number and shipping address. Many web sites scramble or encrypt information like that to ensure the safety of your personal data. Look at the privacy policy for information about how the web sites you visit scramble or encrypt your personal data. This technology is improving rapidly, but still is not foolproof.

Concerns about loss of privacy are not new. But the computer's ability to gather and sort vast amounts of data — and the Internet's ability to distribute it globally — magnify those concerns.

To a large extent, privacy is up to you when you enter a web site. Look for a privacy statement. Sites that are most sensitive to your privacy concerns not only have privacy policies, but also display them clearly and conspicuously, offer you a choice to share your personal information or restrict its use, and explain how your information will be used.

Tips From The Experts

Don't give out your account password to anyone, even someone claiming to be from your online service. Your account can be hijacked, and you can find unexpected charges on your bill.

People aren't always who they seem to be in Cyberspace. Be careful about giving out your credit card number. The same applies to your Social Security number, phone number and home address.

Be aware that when you enter a chat room, others can know you are there and can even e-mail you once you start chatting. To remain anonymous, you may want to use a nickname for your screen name.

E-mail is relatively private — but not completely. Don't put anything into an electronic message that you wouldn't want to see posted on a neighborhood bulletin board.

Check your online service for ways to reduce unsolicited commercial e-mail. Learn to recognize junk e-mail, and delete it. Don't even read it first. Never download an e-mail attachment from an unknown source. Opening a file could expose your system to a virus.

You can be defrauded online. If an offer is too hard to believe, don't believe it.

Credit rights and other consumer protection laws apply to Internet transactions. If you have a problem, tell a law enforcement agency.

Teach your children to check with you before giving out personal — or family — information and to look for privacy policies when they enter a web site that asks for information about them. Many kids' sites now insist on a parent's approval before they gather information from a child. Still, some openly admit they will use the information any way they please.

Glossary

BOOKMARK — an online function that lets you access your favorite web sites quickly.

BROWSER — special software that allows you to navigate several areas of the Internet and view a web site.

BULLETIN BOARD/NEWSGROUP — places to leave an electronic message or share news that anyone can read and respond to. Marketers or others can get your e-mail address from bulletin boards and newsgroups.

CHAT ROOM — a place for people to converse online by typing messages to each other. (Once you're in a chat room, others can contact you by e-mail. Some online services monitor their chat rooms and encourage children to report offensive chatter. Some allow parents to deny access to chat rooms altogether.)

CHATTING — a way for a group of people to converse online in real-time by typing messages to each other.

COOKIE — when you visit a site, a notation may be fed to a file " known as a "cookie" in your computer for future reference. If you revisit the site, the "cookie" file allows the web site to identify you as a "return" guest — and offer you products tailored to your interests or tastes. You can set your online preferences to limit or let you know about "cookies" that a web site places on your computer.

CYBERSPACE — another name for the Internet.

DOWNLOAD — the transfer of files or software from a remote computer to your computer.

E-MAIL — computer-to-computer messages between one or more individuals via the Internet.

FILTER — software you can buy that lets you block access to web sites and content that you may find unsuitable.

INTERNET — the universal network that allows computers to talk to other computers in words, text, graphics, and sound, anywhere in the world.

ISP (Internet Service Provider) — a service that allows you to connect to the Internet. When you sign up (it takes special software and a modem), you'll be asked to enter a screen name, a secret password and your credit card number. Usually, online charges are billed to your credit card. Most providers allow you to review your monthly expenses online instead of sending you a separate itemized bill. If you note unexpected charges from your ISP, call for an explanation. If you're not satisfied with the explanation, or think you may be the victim of fraud, write a letter to your credit card company and your state Attorney General.

JUNK E-MAIL — unsolicited commercial e-mail; also known as "spam." Usually junk e-mail doesn't contain the recipient's address on the "To" line. Instead, the addressee is a made-up name, such as "friend@public.com." Or the address on the "To" line is identical to the one on the "From' line.

KEYWORD — a word you enter into a search engine to begin the search for specific information or web sites.

LINKS — highlighted words on a web site that allow you to connect to other parts of the same web site or to other web sites.

LISTSERV — an online mailing list that allows individuals or organizations to send e"mail to groups of people at one time.

MODEM — an internal or external device that connects your computer to a phone line and, if you wish, to a company that can link you to the Internet.

ONLINE SERVICE — an ISP with added information, entertainment and shopping features.

PASSWORD — a personal code that you use to access your account with your ISP.

PRIVACY POLICY — a statement on a web site describing what information about you is collected by the site, and how it is used. Ideally, the policy is posted prominently and offers you options about the use of your personal information. These options are called opt-in and opt-out. An opt-in choice means the web site won't use your information unless you specifically say it's okay. An opt-out choice means the web site can use the information unless you specifically direct it not to.

SCREEN NAME — the name you call yourself when you communicate online. You may want to abbreviate your name or make up a name. Your ISP may allow you to use several screen names.

SEARCH ENGINE — a function that lets you search for information and web sites. Using a search engine is like accessing the main card file in a library, only easier. A few keywords can lead you almost anywhere on the Internet. You can find search engines or a search function on many web sites.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) — the address that lets you locate a particular site. For example, http://www.glitch-busters.com is the URL for the Glitch Busters. All government URLs end in .gov. Non-profit organizations and trade associations end in .org. Commercial companies typically end in .com, although additional suffixes or domains are now used. Other countries use different endings.

VIRUS — a file maliciously planted in your computer that can damage files and disrupt your system.

WEB SITE — An Internet destination where you can look at and retrieve data. All the web sites in the world, linked together, make up the World Wide Web or the "Web."