Security Awareness Internet Security FAQ

Internet Security

Can cookies be used to give my information to unauthorized people?

Cookies are usually harmless. They can't be used to gather information about you (unless you provide it). But some services do use cookies to create a profile of your interests based on the sites you visit and the things you do there. Advertisers on participating sites can then tailor online advertising to your interests and buying habits. When in doubt, always check a web site's privacy policy.

Date Revised : 2003-06-05

How can I make sure that my children don't visit inappropriate Web sites?

The Internet's vast resources are an excellent means for children to explore, research, and enjoy new information and interests. The Internet is a public place, however, so it's important to teach children how to be safe on the Internet. The best way to assure a good experience is to explore the Internet with your child. Here are some important facts to review with children:

Never give out any personal information on the Internet, including in chat rooms, mailing lists, discussion groups, and at web sites. Personal information includes your name, age, address, school name, and telephone numbers.
Never arrange meetings with strangers you meet on the Internet. Do not accept offers that include meeting at a stranger's house.
Remember that when you communicate with strangers on the Internet, they may lie about who they are. Someone who claims to be a 12-year-old girl might really be a 35-year-old man.
Remember that information you find on the Internet might be false. If something sounds "too good to be true," it probably is.
Don't order or buy anything without asking a parent's permission.

Several filtering programs are available that scan web sites for inappropriate material and block access to those sites. When filtering programs are used, a password (presumably known only to the parents) is required to view such sites.

For more information go to:

http://www.getnetwise.org/

There are a lot of filtering tools, and they do not all work the same way. Most tools filter based on one or more of the following kinds of information:

Web Site Address (URL):

Limits access to a specific list of web sites that have been classified as "inappropriate." Some companies decide what is filtered, some let parents pick among pre-set categories (for example, violence OK, sexually explicit material not OK), some provide a "starter list" where a parent can add or remove sites. Also, some tools allow a parent to override the filter if they think the site is appropriate for their child to view, but others do not.

Human Review of Web Pages:

Some companies employ people to look at web pages and classify them, generally into different categories that a parent may or may not choose to block, although some companies do not offer those choices.

Key Words:

Limits access to sites containing potentially inappropriate words like "sex" or "breast." Some filters block only the "bad" words, not text surrounding them. Some filters apply to web sites, others to e-mail, chat, "instant" message systems, newsgroups, or a combination of them all. Most filters allow parents to turn off or edit the key word list.

"Context Sensitive" Key Words:

This software analyzes the language around key words to avoid blocking "breast cancer" or "chicken breast recipe." No filtering product is fool-proof. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking of using a tool like this, read about them, visit several tool company web sites, and try to find a tool that reflects your family's values. Most of the products Consumer Reports tested failed to block one objectionable site in five. America Online's Young Teen (or Kids Only) setting provides the best protection, though it will likely curb access to web sites addressing political and social issues. If you're not an AOL user but still want some restriction on your kids' access to the Internet, consider which product's features best suit your needs.

Date Revised : 2003-07-22

Is it safe to shop on the Internet?

When you shop on the Internet, you have the same concerns as you do when you use a catalog to shop over the telephone.

Impersonation: Is the business that takes/receives my order authentic?

Eavesdropping: Could someone "listen in" to my order and steal my credit card number?

In the real world, you often give your credit card to cashiers or waiters, and you give out your account number over the phone when placing an order. Using your credit card number on the Internet is no more dangerous than these practices. In fact, it is often more secure to give out your account number over the Internet, because many sites work with your browser software to encode your transaction so if outside parties intercept it, they won't be able to read it.

To check a site's security status, look at the site's URL (the address such as http://sitename.com) in your browser window. An "s" added to the familiar "http" (to make "https") indicates that Secure Sockets Layer (i.e., SSL) security is in effect. A closed padlock which can be found in the lower left corner of Netscape 4.0 or greater and in the right corner for Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater also indicates the web site is secure.

If you're about to send information to a site that's not using SSL, your browser will warn you first. SSL protects your communications during transmission. However, you must also protect yourself by dealing only with Internet companies you are certain you can trust, just as you deal only with merchants who won't share your credit card numbers with others.

Date Revised : 2003-06-05

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