Take care when online

February 8 is Safer Internet Day. Pause a while, for it's time to look at the virtual world and see how to be safe when you are in it.

Merging of worlds: The virtual and the real. Photo: K. R. Deepak

A month into the New Year and it reminds you that time moves on and the resolutions you made in the New Year and hopefully been able to keep.

Safer Internet Day 2011 is on February 8. With our real lives now being played out on the virtual plane thanks to online social networking, shopping, reading the news and so on it is time to get wise. As you surf the Net, a true information superhighway, it is necessary to use commonsense. In fact, just as much as you use it in the real world.

Remember how your parents always told you, “Don't take toffees from strangers”? Well, it isn't very different in the virtual world.

Let's build a safe and responsible cyber world.

Ten commonsense resolutions to stay safe online

SAY NO

to Cyberbullying. On cyberspace, victim's trauma is 24x7, hence trauma is multiplied.

to weak passwords and password sharing. We don't share our toothbrush, do we?

to clicking on unfamiliar links or opening files sent by strangers It could be virus, junk, phishing scam, etc. Remember your parents said, “Don't accept toffees from strangers?”

to meeting alone with friends made online. Stranger danger!

to adding strangers to your Friends List. On the Net, people aren't always who they say they are.

to posting photographs of yourself or sharing personal identifying information on the internet without first checking with your parents. The net is a global audience; don't forget the voyeuristic tendency of human nature!

to posting photographs of your friends without first taking their consent. It's basic human courtesy to ask before splashing their photographs in public spaces.

to thoughtlessly created or embarrassing screen names and IDs. Can be hugely embarrassing when applying for college admission or a job!

to thoughtlessly over-sharing emotions. You have no control over who all will read your postings and take advantage of your emotional vulnerability.

to silently tolerating abuse or uncomfortable messages / happenings on the net. If anything uncomfortable happens, do share with / report it to your parents or a trusted adult).