Keeping Safe on the Web

The Internet - What are the risks?

Most people who use online services have mainly positive experiences. But, like any endeavour - travelling, cooking, or attending school - there are some risks. The online world, like the rest of society, is made up of a wide array of people. Most are decent and respectful, but some may be rude, obnoxious, insulting, or even mean and exploitative.

Individuals and businesses can get a lot of benefit from being online, but they can also be targets of crime and exploitation in this as in any other environment. Some of these risks, and links to information about how to reduce these risks, are listed below: 

Risks for Young People

 There are a few risks for children and young people who use online services. Teenagers are particularly at risk because they often use the computer unsupervised and because they are more likely than younger children to participate in online discussions regarding companionship, relationships, or sexual activity.

Some risks a child could encounter while online are:

• Exposure to Inappropriate Material of a sexual or violent nature
• Physical Molestation - a child might provide information or arrange an encounter that could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family members. In a few cases, paedophiles have used online services and bulletin boards to gain a child's confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting
• Harassment - a child could encounter e-mail or bulletin board messages that are harassing, demeaning, or belligerent.

Risks for Adults

Although we hear a lot about safety issues for children and young people in cyberspace, many of the same safety issues apply to adults. Common Internet practices include publishing your own content (blogs, videos, photos etc.), downloading media, on-line trading, gaming and banking. However, each of these activities carries with it a number or risks.

To find out more about these risks and what you can do to address them, please visit the Netsafe website. 

To keep up with the latest web-based scams, visit the New Zealand Police Internet Scams & Frauds webpage.

Risks for Businesses

Like schools and home, businesses and community organisations need to establish safe Internet environments. Every organisation that uses information and communications technologies like the Internet and mobile phones needs to have a robust cybersafety framework in place. As with other safety policies, such infrastructure can help protect staff, volunteers and the community a business serves. 

Visit the Netsafe website to find information and resources about how you can keep your business safe in cyberspace.