Republican Center for Organization of Medical Response

Internet security (information material)

Rules for Using the Internet

Communicating online with friends and family can be fun and exciting, but unfortunately, you might also encounter some challenges. To avoid harming yourself and use the internet safely, remember two main rules:

The Rule of PRIVACY. Be aware that your personal information can become accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world. It can be used not only by your friends or family members but also by strangers.

The Rule of PERMANENCE. If you post something on the internet, it can stay there for a very long time. Even messages and photos you delete are stored on special servers.

Keep Personal Information Private

Information such as your full name, home address, school name, etc., is personal. Do not share it with other users on social media.

Keep Your Login and Password to Yourself

Your username (login) and password are important personal information! If your credentials fall into the "wrong hands," you might find yourself in an unpleasant situation. Share your login and password only with your parents. Agree on the situations in which they can use this information (e.g., emergencies). Your password shouldn’t be too simple—don’t use your name or birth year as a password. Let it be something meaningful to you but unknown to others.

Make Your Profile Private

Make your profile visible only to you and your friends. If your social media profile is private, it will be harder for malicious individuals to access your data. You can change visibility settings in the privacy options.

We Are Responsible for What We Post Online

The information you post should not embarrass you or others. Remember! Any form of cruelty or violence online is unacceptable! Treat other users’ information with respect. When communicating on social media, don’t send messages to strangers. Before adding someone to groups, ask if they want to join.

Think Before Approving Tags on Photos

Always review posts and photos where you’ve been tagged. Enable the option to approve posts with tags. This way, you can avoid awkward situations with unflattering photos, unpleasant jokes, or spam. If a photo bothers you, even if you’re not tagged in it, talk to the person who posted it and ask them to remove the post. Always ask for permission if you want to post someone else’s photos. This shows respect for the person and is the best way to avoid unwanted conflicts.

A Few Tips to Protect Yourself

Information on the internet isn’t always reliable or trustworthy, and sometimes it’s created specifically to steal personal information. For example, you receive an email: "Hello, I’m sending you a photo." The attachment looks like a photo. What happens if you click on it? A new page opens, as if your email page has reloaded. You enter your credentials to log back in, and you automatically give your personal information to scammers. This is called phishing—a method of stealing personal information. Always check the sender’s email address. If the address looks strange and you’re unsure, search for it online. Pay attention to "impersonal" emails. Emails without personal greetings or specific details are suspicious. Be cautious of requests for immediate action. Phishing emails often try to scare you into acting quickly. Scammers don’t want you to have time to think. Pay attention to the address bar. Scam websites often contain extra symbols, errors, or numbers.

What Are Personal Data and How to Handle Them

Personal data is any information related to you: your name, surname, date of birth, school number, phone number, address, and other personal details. Personal data is needed online to register on websites or social media, make purchases, or play games. But there are data you might share accidentally! Think about it! These are also personal data, and you should keep them from strangers: your location, places of study, passwords, your parents’ bank card details, sports clubs, or other groups you’re part of.

Always Check a Website’s Reliability Before Registering. Look Out for Warning Signs:

• Errors in the website’s name;
• The website address contains many numbers and random symbols;
• The website opens multiple additional windows.

Protect Your Computer

• To protect your computer, regularly update your software and use reliable antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
• Install such programs only from official websites.
• Keep your antivirus programs updated.
• Introduce these programs to your parents so they can help protect your computer.

Be Careful When Clicking on Links

• Be critical of messages from strangers, flashy ads, or pop-ups on various websites. You never know what might be waiting for you (viruses, harmful, or unpleasant content).
• If you accidentally land on such pages, close them immediately and don’t download anything.

You Can Recognize Such Links by Certain Signs:

• Very bright banners;
• Complicated, unclear addresses;
• Errors in the name;
• Unrealistic promises;
• Promises of free rewards for clicking a link or downloading;
• Requests to send an SMS to download something.

Be Cautious When Connecting to Public Wi-Fi Networks:

• Free and public networks are often unsecured, offering no protection from malicious programs or actions by scammers.
• Connect to such networks only if absolutely necessary.
• Monitor your logins and logouts from your accounts.
• Always log out after finishing, especially if you’re using a computer outside your home.

How to Download Safely from the Internet

If you want to download something from the internet, follow these simple rules:

• First, ask for permission from your parents or other adults.
• Never share your phone number, real name, or surname online. Even if a website asks for this information to download music or a game, it’s likely a scam. Scammers might use your personal data for selfish purposes, like withdrawing money from your account.
• Never enter your or someone else’s bank card details. Using someone else’s card is illegal and can lead to trouble.
• Before downloading, ensure the source is reliable. It’s best to download games from official sources (e.g., App Store, Google Store). Make sure your computer has an antivirus installed. Games can contain viruses that might damage your computer or tablet, or steal your personal data.

Can You Post Your Photos Online?

You can post your photos online, but you need to keep your safety in mind.

A Few Tips for You:

First of all, ask for permission from your parents or other adults.

Before posting a photo, answer these three questions:

• "Does this photo embarrass me?"
• "Could this photo embarrass others?"
• "Why am I posting this photo?"

NEVER send anyone photos or videos of yourself without clothes or showing intimate parts of your body.

Can You Post Other People’s Photos Online?

Before posting photos of other people, think about whether it’s worth doing, even if there’s something interesting or funny in them.

You Can Be Deceived Online

Deception on social media is very common. When communicating online, remember that your conversation partners might not be who they claim to be. Malicious people may use fake profiles, hack accounts, or create fraudulent pages. If you realize someone isn’t who they say they are, contact the platform’s support team to have the account blocked. Inform your friend if you think their account has been hacked.

HOW TO SPOT A SCAMMER?

They insist on becoming your "friend," even though you don’t know them in real life; There’s reason to believe they’re an adult; They have few or no friends on social media; They have many friends but no activity on their page; They persistently ask you for something, even if it seems harmless: to send a photo, share something, or meet up; They ask you to keep your communication a secret; They try to convince you that no one else understands you, or they often say things like:

• "I want to know everything about you";
• Overly "perfect" dialogue;
• "I dare you";
• "This is our little secret";
• "You’re already grown up";
• "No time to explain...";
• "If you don’t agree, I’ll... oh, I’m just kidding...";

What Is Cyberbullying?

Online harassment can take many forms. There are a few key definitions to help understand the types of online violence. While "bullying" refers to physical or psychological violence toward others in general, "cyberbullying" is the same kind of violence, but in the digital space.
It’s important to remember that cyberbullying is a broad term for various types of online harassment, and it shouldn’t be confused with cybermobbing or cyberstalking. Cybermobbing is a form of digital violence carried out through electronic text (messages and comments). Cyberstalking involves causing harm through prolonged pressure in the online space: stalking, spreading rumors, or intimidation. Sometimes cyberbullying can spill into the offline world. Many bloggers and public figures face cyberstalking, where followers track them down and harass them outside of social media.

Important to Remember:

Cyberbullying is aggression. Don’t downplay the emotions of someone who has experienced online violence. Victims of harassment suffer real pain, which can be both psychological and physical. Disconnecting from the internet or imposing other restrictions won’t help. The best approach is to show empathy and offer support.

Examples of Cyberbullying:

There are many ways to hurt someone online. For example, posting a toxic comment under a photo, insulting someone in a group chat or on a social media wall, trolling, or sharing someone’s personal data or private life details. The most common reasons for cyberbullying are appearance, sexual orientation, and online activity. Often, a person can’t defend themselves against cyberbullying, and only a small percentage of users are willing to support a victim of online harassment. Research shows that: 52% of respondents have never stood up for anyone online, 65% believe public support is pointless, 13% fear the aggression might turn on them, and 20% feel powerless to help a cyberbullying victim.

What to Do If You’re Being Harassed Online:

The best option is to seek help from a psychologist to work through the issue. School students can get support from a school counselor. To protect yourself from aggression, try to learn how to set boundaries and express your feelings. Don’t forget that you can always stop communicating with people who cause you pain online. All social media platforms have a feature to block unwanted users. Simply block the aggressor to prevent further negative actions.

If You Don’t Like What Someone Writes to You, There Are Solutions

I CAN!!! Block; Restrict access; Say "NO"; Tell my parents or teachers; Report to moderators; Ignore!

What to Do If You Fall into a Trap?

STAY CALM! Even if something unpleasant happens to you online, you can confide in the adults around you—they’ll help you cope! Scammers are skilled at deception, and anyone can become their victim.

TELL YOUR PARENTS! They can help you. Don’t give in to online manipulators—their goal is to keep you from involving adults, so they might threaten, blackmail, or challenge you.

CHANGE ALL PASSWORDS! To secure your personal information, do this as soon as possible. This will help limit the scammer’s influence.

WARN YOUR ONLINE FRIENDS! To avoid an awkward situation and prevent scammers from using your data to deceive others, inform everyone you communicate with that your data has been stolen. Don’t specify which data was compromised.

IMPORTANT!

If a situation online makes you uncomfortable: Tell your parents or other trusted adults! Seek help from the website’s support team. You can always call for help at 8-801-100-16-11 CHILDREN’S HELPLINE (24/7, FREE, ANONYMOUS)

Safety Rules