UNIT I: Information and Communication Technologies

RULES OF NETIQUETTE
LESSON 2
(Online Safety, Security, Ethics and Etiquette)

The internet is the guiding technology of the Information Technology Age just as the
electrical engine was of the Industrial Age. In these times, more and more people are already
engaged in the use of technology. These people who are raised in a digital, media-saturated
world are called digital natives. No doubt, the Internet has been very useful to us but with the rise
of instant messaging, chat rooms, emails and social networking sites, it can also bring trouble -
from cyberbullying to more serious Internet dangers, including exposure to sexual predators.
Thus, internet safety is always our primary concern.

Pre-Test

Direction: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your
answers on the blank provided before each number.
1. What is Netiquette?
A. The proper use of manners and etiquette on the Internet.
B. Using a net to catch fish.
C. Being mean to other people on Facebook.
D. Using proper manners at the dinner table.

2. What is considered shouting over the Internet?

A. Screaming at your computer.
B. Writing in all CAPS.
C. Putting a lot of exclamation marks at the end of a sentence.
D. Not answering a friend request on Facebook.

3. It is OK to forward or post an email message that you received if __________

A. the message is typed in all capitals.
B. the author of the message has given you permission to forward or post it.
C. it does not contain any copyrighted material.
D. the author of the message hasn't marked it as confidential.

4. What is a flame in cyberspace?

A. A person who follows the rules of Netiquette.
B. An expert programmer.
C. An online chain letter.
D. A post or email message that expresses a strong opinion or criticism.

5. Knowledge and understanding of netiquette is useful because ___________

A. it will help you create a positive impression on those you meet in cyberspace.
B. it explains some of the technical limitations of online communications.
C. it explains the conventions already being used by millions of cybernauts.
D. All of the above.

6. What type of online threat happens when an attacker uses electronic devices
to do unwanted surveillance against its victim?
A. Cyberbullying C. Spamming
B. Phishing D. Cyberstalking
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7. What type of online threat happens when the attacker impersonates another individual or
organization to gather personal or business information?
A. Cyberstalking C. Scamming
B. Spoofing D. Pharming
8. What type of information should you avoid giving when using the internet?
A. Phone number C. Shirt Size
B. Profile Picture D. Religion
9. What is the golden rule of netiquette?
A. Remember the human. C. Use correct grammar.
B. Put a smiley in every message. D. Respect people’s time.
10. You get an email telling you that you won a hundred thousand without joining in a competition.
You should ____________.
A. Claim the prize. C. Return the email with response.
B. Ignore the email. D. Send rude message as revenge

Preparatory Activity OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson,

Works Cited students will be able to:

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
1. Consider one’s and
other’s safety when
sharing information
using the internet;
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Think about your life with media. First consider the questions below.
Use your responses to help you finish the statement, “My media life
is like a...” This statement is a simile, a literary device for comparing
two unlike things. For instance, someone who does not use much
media might say that her media life is like a desert because there is
little life there. Someone might say that his media life is like a track
meet, because he is exhausted at the end of the day. Finally, make
a picture or drawing of the simile you created. The drawing can
include text.

Illustrate your simile in the box below.

Questions to consider:

 Are digital media a big part of your life?

_________________________________________________________

 What kind of impact do digital media have on you (a little, some, a lot)?
_________________________________________________________

 What is social media’s role in your life?

_________________________________________________________

 Do you connect with others or create things with digital media?

_________________________________________________________

 Finish this statement:

My media life is like___________________________ because__________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Exploration

There's almost no limit to what you can do online. The Internet makes it possible to access
information quickly, communicate around the world, and much more. Unfortunately, the Internet

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

is also home to certain risks, such as malware, spam, and phishing. If you want to stay safe
online, you'll need to understand these risks and learn how to avoid them. Below is a checklist
about how much information you share online. Put a check under Shared or Not Shared
column.
Shared or Not Shared? How Safe Are You?
TYPE OF INFORMATION SHARED NOT SHARED
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Current and Previous
School/s
Your mobile phone number
Complete name of mother
and father
Your parents’ mobile phone
numbers
Name of Siblings
Your Address
Your Birthday
Guide Questions:
1. How many of the above information have you SHARED?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. How many of the above information have you NOT SHARED?
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Based from your answers above, do you think you are safe when using the Internet?
Why?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

If you probably answered Shared in the first two items, try using a search engine like Google
then type your first and last name. Did you get a link to your profile page? Try switching to
image search. Did your pictures appear? If you have unique name, do not feel bad if it did not
appear though; in fact, it is probably for your best interest not to have pictures of yourself in a
search engine.

Firm-Up

Online safety refers to the practices and precautions that should be observed when using the
internet to ensure that the users as well as their computers and personal information are safe from
crimes associated with using the internet. Below is the personal information that must be kept
confidential.

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Let us go back to the “How Safe Are You?” test. Let us visit each item and see how risky it is to
share them.

There are numerous delinquencies that can be committed on the internet such as stalking,
identity theft, privacy violations, and harassment. To avoid these online crimes, follow the
following online safety measures:
 Never give any personal information out about yourself over the internet.
 Do not give any banking or sensitive information unless you are sure that it is a
reputable business having a secure service. To make sure that you are in a secured
network, the website address should begin with “https://’ as opposed to “http://”.
 Never access your accounts by following an email link, instead type your URL by
yourself.
 Never open messages or attachments from someone you do not know.
 Regularly review your privacy settings in your online accounts to make sure you are not
sharing important personal information.

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

 When using a public computer terminal, be sure to delete your browsing data before
leaving.
 Keep your software updated to avoid security holes.
 Do not download or install software or anything on your computer or cell phone that is
unknown to you.

Info source: https://www.wikihow.com/Find-if-a-Website-Is-Legitimate

Netiquette is a combination of the words network and etiquette. It is a set of rules for behaving
properly online. Below are the 10 rules of netiquette:

Flame war is a series of flame posts or messages in a

thread that are considered derogatory in nature or are
completely off-topic. Often these flames are posted for the
sole purpose of offending or upsetting other users. The
flame becomes a flame war when other users respond to
the thread with their own flame message.

Image from: https://twitter.com/Parkster00/status/1246347088625045504

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

The Internet is defined as the information superhighway. This means that anyone has access to
this highway, can place information, and can grab that information. Any information, even things
that you have set privately, can be accessed one way or another. This is why social networking
sites like Facebook continue to improve their security features. The threat of cybercrime is very
real. While you may not experience the threat now, whatever information we share today could
affect our future.
Tips to Stay Safe Online
1. Be mindful of what you share online and what site you share it to.
2. Do not just accept terms and conditions; read it.
3. Check out the privacy policy page of a website to learn how the website handles the
information you share.
4. Know the security features of the social networking site you use. By keeping your profile
private, search engines will not be able to scan your profile.
5. Do not share your password with anyone.
6. Avoid logging in to public networks/WiFi. Browsing in “incognito or (private) mode”, a
feature of the browser will not protect you from hackers.
7. Do not talk to strangers whether online or face to face.
8. Never post anything about a future vacation. It is similar to posting. “Rob my house at
this date.”
9. Add friends you know in real life.
10. Avoid visiting untrusted-websites.
11. Install and update antivirus software on your computer. Use only one antivirus software
to avoid conflicts.
12. If you have a Wi-Fi at home, make it a private network by adding a password.
13. Avoid downloading anything from untrusted websites. You are most vulnerable in peer-
to-peer downloads (torrents) as the download is the most likely not monitored by the site
owner.
14. Buy the software; do not use pirated ones.
15. Do not reply or click links from suspicious emails.
Practice
Skill Exploration 2.1 Privacy Policies
Visit a social networking site and look for the site’s privacy policy. The link is typically
found at the bottom of the page and sometimes labeled only as “Privacy”. Write a brief summary
on how the website handles both your private and public information.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Kinds of Online/Internet Threats

There is no doubt that you need to be vigilant online. As the World Wide Web evolved
over the years, many internet predators have been playing on vulnerabilities to attack computers
and retrieve sensitive data from individuals. Half the time, we aren’t even aware it is happening
until it is too late.
Online threat is deemed any malicious act that attempts to gain access to a computer
network without authorization or permission from the owners. These are usually done by
computer hackers who use the World Wide Web to facilitate cybercrime. Web threats use
multiple types of malware and fraud, all of which utilize HTTP or HTTPS protocols, but may
also employ other protocols and components, such as links in email or Instant Messaging apps,
or any malware attachments on servers that access the Web. They benefit cybercriminals by
stealing information for subsequent sale and help absorb infected PCs into botnets. Web threats
pose a broad range of risks, including financial damages, identity theft, loss of confidential
information/data, theft of network resources, damaged brand/personal reputation, and erosion of
consumer confidence in e-commerce and online banking. The following are the top kinds of
online threats that you should be aware of:
1. Phishing happens when an email is sent from an internet criminal disguised as an email
from a legitimate, trustworthy source. The message is meant to lure you into revealing
sensitive or confidential information.

2. Pharming happens when a hacker (or “pharmer”) directs an internet user to a fake
website instead of a legitimate one. These “spoofed” sites can capture a victim’s
confidential information, including usernames, passwords, and credit card data, or install
malware on their computer. Pharmers usually focus on websites in the financial sector,
including banks, online payment platforms, or other e-commerce destinations.

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

3. Internet Scam generally refers to someone using internet services or software to defraud
or take advantage of victims, typically for financial gain. Cybercriminals may contact
potential victims through personal or work email accounts, social networking sites, dating
apps, or other methods in attempts to obtain financial or other valuable personal
information. Online scams may come in various forms such as lottery scam, charity fraud
scams, job offer scams, and online dating scams to name a few.

4. Internet robots are also known as spiders, crawlers, and web bots. It is a software
application that is programmed to do certain tasks. Bots are automated, which means they
run according to their instructions without a human user. Some bots are useful, such as
search engine bots that index content for search or customer service bots that help users.
Other bots are "bad" and are programmed to break into user accounts, scan the web for
contact information for sending spam, or perform other malicious activities. If it's
connected to the Internet, a bot will have an associated IP address.

5. Malware or malicious software is any program or file that is harmful to a computer

user. Here are the most common offenders in the rogues’ gallery of malware:

 Adware (advertising supported software) is unwanted software designed to throw

advertisements up on your screen. Example, pop-up ads and banner ads.
 Spyware is malware that secretly observes the computer user’s activities without
permission and reports it to the software’s author. Example is a keylogger
*Keylogger - used to record the keystroke done by the users. This is done to steal their
password or any other sensitive information. It can record email, messages, or any
information you type using your keyboard.
 Virus and Worms are malwares that attach to another program and, when executed—
unintentionally by the user - replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and
infecting them with its own bits of code.
 Trojan, or Trojan horse, is one of the most dangerous malware types. It usually
represents itself as something useful in order to trick you. Once it’s on your system, the
attackers behind the Trojan gain unauthorized access to the affected computer. From
there, Trojans can be used to steal financial information or install threats like viruses and
ransomware.
*Rogue security software – tricks the user into posting that it is security software. It
asks the user to pay to improve his/her security but in reality they are not protected at all.
 Ransomware is a form of malware that locks you out of your device and/or encrypts
your files, then forces you to pay a ransom to get them back.
 Spam unwanted email mostly from bots or advertisers. It can be used to send malware.
 Cyberstalking refers to the use of the internet or other electronic device to harass or stalk
individuals or organizations.

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

6. Cyberbullying refers to the act of tormenting, harassing, or embarrassing another person

using the internet.

7. Spoofing happens when someone or something pretends to be something else to gain our
confidence, get access to our systems, steal data, steal money, or spread malware.

Protecting Reputations Online

In the past, doing something embarrassing was not much of a big deal. It happened;
people would laugh at it, and they would move on. Nowadays, embarrassing moments are
captured using any device you could imagine. What is worse is that people can easily upload it to
the Internet, where it can be stored forever. This could impact not only your reputation but also
the people around you. What is worse is that people tend to ignore this fact, and suffer from it
later in their life.
Once you post something over the internet, search engines keep them in their archives for
search results. This makes anything you post to last forever even if you delete it in your page.
Something you and your friends find funny today may be something that could harm someone’s
reputation later. Before hiring, companies do a background check on the applicant, and the
easiest way to check your background is to visit pages that are related to you. Thus, if they find
disreputable information about you, it may harm your reputation even if this information has
been discarded.

Think Before You Click

Here are the things you might want to consider before posting something over the Internet:
1. Before you post something on the web, ask these questions to yourself: Would you want
your parents or grandparents to see it? Would you want your future boss to see it? Once
you post something on the web, you have no control of who sees your posts.
2. Your friends depend on you to protect their reputation online. Talk to your friends about
this serious responsibility.

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

3. Set your post to “private”. In this way, search engines will not be able to scan that post.
4. Avoid using names. Names are easy for search engines to scan.
5. If you feel that a post can affect you or other’s reputation, ask the one who posted it to
pull it down or report it as inappropriate.

Copyright Infringement

If you create something – an idea, an invention, a form of literally work, or research, you
have the right as to how it should be used by others. This is called intellectual property. In other
words, the copyright law includes your rights over your work, and anyone who uses it without
your consent is punishable by law. Try grabbing any book then browse its first few pages and
you will find a page with a disclaimer with the words: “No part of this book may be copied,
reproduced…” That is a copyright page.
As a responsible user of the Internet, you have to consider that not everything out there is
free for you to use. Just like your own, contents that you see from websites have their respective
copyrights.
Here are some tips that could help you avoid copyright infringement:
1. Understand. Copyright protects literally works, photographs, paintings, drawings, films,
music (and lyrics), choreography, and sculptures, but it generally does NOT protect
underlying ideas and facts. This means that you can express something using your own
words, but you should give credit to the source.
2. Be responsible. Even if a material does not say that it is copyrighted, it is not a valid
defense against copyright. Be responsible enough to know if something has a copyright.
3. Be creative. Ask yourself whether what you are making is something that came from you
or something made from somebody else’s creativity. It is something to add your own
creative genius in everything that will be credited to you.
4. Know the Law. There are some limitations to copyright laws. For instance, in the
Philippines, copyrights only last a lifetime (of the author) plus 50 years. There are also
provisions for “Fair use” which mean that an intellectual property may be used without a
consent as long as it is used in commentaries, criticisms, search engines, parodies, news
reports, research, library archiving, teaching, and education. If you have doubts that what
you are doing does not fall under the policy of fair use, seek permission first.
Another misconception is that fanfiction is not copyright infringement. In reality, it is and
some copyright holders ignore them but they can opt to use the rights.

Skill Exploration 2.2 Show Me How You Hashtag

Direction: Look at the following images below and create a (#) hashtag based on the type of
online threat represented by each image. Write your answers on the blank provided.

_____________________________ _____________________________

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

_____________________________ _____________________________

______________________________
Enrichment

Instruction: Look for a news or events related to cybercrime. Using your cellphone or any
video-recording device, present the news or event through reporting/newscasting in your own
creative way (minimum of 2 minutes and maximum of 4 minutes video recording). After
producing/recording, send the recorded clip on the teacher’s email address or Facebook
messenger. You will be graded according to the rubrics below.
10 8 5 3
Clearly, quickly Established focus of Audience had an Little or no intro,
established the focus the speech but not idea of what was such that audience
Opening & of the speech, very clear. Gained coming, but the did not know the
Introduction gained audience attention. intro did not clarify speaker’s main
attention the main focus. focus.
Main items in the Main items of the Audience infers Presentation jumps
headline clearly headline fairly clear; main headlines; among random
Content stated and some missing links holes are evident. topics. Main items
explained; logical, or transitions. of headline unclear.
smooth organization

Highly detailed, Reports all the news Reports the news Incomplete, reports,
well organized, items in an items without much few details, too
Clarity & shows a strong organized way. research brief, disorganized,
Organization research of the or confusing.
issues covered.

Loud, clear, relaxed Loud, clear, with Varies from loud Difficult to hear or
with few pauses. some pauses to and clear to difficult understand, seems
Voice and Well prepared, gather thoughts. to understand, unprepared or has
Manner presentation Seems well seems prepared, body movement that
prepared, somewhat may have some significantly distract
nervous. nervous and listeners.
distracting behavior.

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.
 EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Consistent eye Eye contact mainly Sometimes looks at Little or no eye

contact with many with the teacher or the audience; often contact with the
Eye Contact members of the one member of the looks at notes or audience.
audience; rarely audience; elsewhere.
looks at notes. occasionally refers
to notes.

12

Works Cited

Innovative Training Works, Inc. (2016). Empowerment Technologies. Manila: Rex Book Store.