CYBER SAFETY

safe and responsible use of information

and communication technology
WHAT IS CYBER SAFETY
• Cyber safety refers to safe and responsible
use of Internet, to ensure safety and security of
personal information and not posing threat to
anyone else’s information.
SAFELY BROWSING THE WEB
• These days we must know the threats while
browsing the web. Safe browsing on web needs
you to know many things like:
• What are possible dangers?
• How to avoid these?
• How to virtually conduct yourself while browsing
web
• You must remember, not every site you visit is
safe. Whatever you post or do online is visible to
others. Not everything you see or is promised
online is true.
Identity Protection while using
Internet
• We surf internet for a variety of reasons, from using
social media, buying and selling goods, to exchanging
information.
• When we give private data to businesses and other
Internet users (such as while filling online form or
making payment online), we trust them to use that
information for legitimate purposes.
• These information can be used for harmful reasons like
hacking, stalking an identify fraud.
• Identity fraud is when personal details that have been
accessed or stolen are used to commit fraudulent acts
posing as someone else with stolen identity
Solution of Identity FRAUD
• Most common solution to this is :
• Private Browsing Or
• Anonymous Browsing

Before we understand this, let us talk about what happens

when we browse the internet…
Anonymous Browsing
• All the ways discussed earlier of identity leakage is resolved
by either ANONYMOUS OR PRIVATE BROWSING.

• ANONYMOUS BROWSING : allows users to view

websites without revealing any personnel information of
user like IP address, machine type, location. An
anonymous browser lets users access websites
anonymously. It can also be as a tool for government,
journalists and everyday security-conscious surfers.
P r i v a t e Browsing
• There are other ways to use internet
without revealing our search history and
sharing our data :
• Incognito Browsing : opens up a version of the
browser that will not track you activity. Its
particularly useful if you are entering sensitive
data like bank details into the browser as it can
minimise the risk of our information being saved
to that computer. In Google chrome, just press :
CTRL + SHIFT + N to open in incognito mode
Private Browsing
• Proxy : act as a middlemen between your
computer and the website you want to access.
Now the tracking website will get the IP address
and information that belongs to the proxy site, so
you are effectively getting the same content from
another source without getting to know your
browsing details
• VirtUAl PriVATE Network (VPN) : is a method to
add security and privacy to private and public
networks like Wi-Fi hotspot and the Internet.
VPNs are most often used by corporation to
protect sensitive data. VPN were originally meant
for business employees working offsite to gain
access to shared drive.
ConFIDENTIALITY of INFORMATIOn
• Internet is a public platform. The sites you visit, the
products you search, the posts that you put on social
media are all visible to public. But there must be
some information like Credit Card Details, Bank
Details which you do not want to make public i.e.
you want to keep this information confidential.
Practices to Ensure Confidentiality
of Information
1. Use Firewall wherever possible : we must secure
our system such that only authentic users can
connect to it. Firewall is one very good solution for
this. Firewall is a program/hardware that monitors all
communications and traps al illicit packets. Most OS
now comes with firewall preinstalled. We must install
Firewall that can monitor both incoming and outgoing
communication and traps the illicit ones.
Practices to Ensure Confidentiality
of Information
2. Control browser setting to block tracking : as
we know that website can track our surfing on their site
by IP address, to minimise these threats we can turn our
default settings to exclude third party cookies since they
can be used to build up detailed profiles of our surfind
pattern over time.

In Google Chrome : Open settings, -> Privacy and

Security -> Content Settings-> Cookies -> “Enable”
Block Third party cookie.
Practices to Ensure Confidentiality
of Information
3. Browse privately wherever possible: to avoid the
tracking as discussed earlier try to browse anonymously
or privately.

4. Be Careful while posting on Internet : When you

post anything to public Internet such as social
networking site like Instagram or Facebook etc.
newgroup, mailing list or chat room you generally give
up rights to the content and any expectation or privacy
or confidentiality is useless. So never post crucial
information like you personal details such as address,
mobile phone numbers, bank details, credit card details.
Etc. on public internet sites.
Practices to Ensure Confidentiality
of Information
5. Ensure Safe sites while entering crucial
Information : while entering or giving crucial
information like Passwords, Bank Details always ensure
the website is working on https not on http. https means
website is Secure i.e. Secure Socket Layer. For e.g.
(next slide)
Closed Lock PAD (Secure Connection)
Practices to Ensure Confidentiality
of Information
6. Carefully handle emails: While opening emails,
make sure you know the sender. Never open email of
unknown or if by curiosity/accidently opened the mail
never click on any link inside it or open any attachment.
It may lead you to a fraudulent site, or trap for you or
may be a Trojan, which will act as a Spy in your
computer for sending information to the sender without
your knowledge.
 Practices to Ensure Confidentiality
of Information
7. Avoid using Public Computer: Always try not to use the
public computer specially if you have to deal with your crucial
data. But if it is an urgency then do remember:
✓ Browse privately
✓ Never save your login information (ID/Password)
✓ Avoid entering sensitive information
✓ Don’t leave computer unattended with sensitive
information on screen
✓ Disable the features that stores passwords
✓ Properly logout before you leave the computer
✓ Erase history and traces of your work i.e. clear history
and cookies
✓ Look for any suspicious device connected to computer
Cyber Crime
• Is any criminal offense that is facilitated by, or
involves use of electronic communications of
information system including any electronic device,
computer or the Internet.
• It involves the terms like: Phishing, Credit Card
Frauds, illegal downloading, industrial espionage,
child pornography, cyber bullying, cyber stalking,
cyber terrorism, creation and /or distribution of
viruses, spam and so on.
 Cyber Trolls and Bullying
• It refers to a person who purposely post opposing,
sarcastic, demeaning or insulting- comments about
something or someone with an aim of targeting a
person online. The provocative messages posted this
way are also called trolls. It is a cyber-crime and is a
form of cyber bullying.
Cyber Bullying
• Harassing, demeaning, embarrassing, defaming, or
intimidating someone using modern technologies like
internet, cell phones, instant messengers, social
networks etc. is called Cyber Bullying.
Cyber STALKING
• It is a kind of online harassment wherein the victim is
subjected to barrage of online messages and emails.

• Typically these stalkers know their victims instead of

resorting to offline stalking, they use the internet to
stalk.

• A cyber stalker relies upon the anonymity afforded by

the Internet to allow to stalk their victim without being
detected.
 Cyber Stalking
• Cyber Stalkers often do this to trouble their
victims:
• They collect all personal information about their
victims
• The stalker may post this information on any obscene
or illegal website posing as if the victim is posting this
information
• People of all kind from nook and corner of the world,
start calling the victim as his/her residence/workplace
for many filthy/obscene reasons
• Some stalker subscribe the email account of victim to
illegal websites because of which victim starts
receiving such kind of unsolicited e-mails.
 Cyber Stalking
• Cyber Stalkers often do this to trouble their
victims:
• Some stalkers keep on sending repeated e-mails
asking for various kinds of favors or threaten the
victim.
• Stalkers follow their victim from board to board.
• Stalkers will almost always make contact with their
victims through email having friendly or threatening
content. The stalker many times uses multiple names
when contacting the victim.
Spreading Rumors Online
• People often think that they can make a fake profile with
some different name and do anything online and will not
be caught. Through such fake profile, people sometimes
indulge in posting false information on social media, or
comment could hurt others or spread rumors that may
trigger panic or hurt religious sentiments of other people
resulting into clashes and even riots.
• Spreading rumors online is a cyber-crime and it may
invite a fine with imprisonment extendable up to three
years.
Reporting Cyber Crime
• If any cybercrime happens, one must report it firstly to
parents, school authorities and then to police.
• The local police stations can be approached for
filing complaints just as the cybercrime cells
specially designation with the jurisdiction to register
complaint.
• In addition, provisions have now been made for
filing of E-FIR in most of the states.
• In addition, the ministry of Home Affairs is also
launching a website for registering crimes against
women and children online including cybercrimes.
Common Social Networking Sites
• Facebook : it is a platform where you can share
your ideas in form of posts, share photos, videos etc.
• Twitter : micro blogging site which allows to post very
small messages up to 280 chars.
• Linkedln : social network for professionals. Provides
features to make profiles look sort of detailed resumes,
with sections for work experience, education, volunteer
work, certifications, awards etc.
• Instagram : on of the most popular social networks
for online photo sharing. Offer features like sharing
real-time photos and short videos while on the go.
Appropriate usage of Social Networks
• Whatever we do online – post something or visit
friends pages or search something etc leaves a
permanent footprints called digital footprints and it
remains for years storing trails of your online
activities.
• We are using this platform for personal reasons and
visible to anyone who looks for it, this might not
cause any problem now BUT sometimes later it can
pose potential problems when it comes to matter like
– taking admissions in higher education or looking for
job or even when looking for a life partner
• These days many universities look for digital footprints
of applicant students before giving them admissions,
similarly employers may look for digital footprint of
candidates and so on.
What you should know?
• While using social networking sites, you should know
about what the right online behaviors are and what is
considered a cybercrime

• If anyone thinks by making fake profile he/she can do

such activity without being caught he/she is certainly
mistaken. Modern technology tools can find anyone
online using IP address, locations etc. So one must
not indulge in these activities at all.
Digital Footprints
• Are the records and traces individuals leave behind
as they use the Internet.

• Your interaction on social media, your friend circle on

social media sites, site you visits, online purchase,
location visited through Facebook check-ins. etc. all
make up your Digital Footprints.
Privacy Settings
• When you start social media, you should not go with
default privacy settings. Rather it is always a good
idea to set-up privacy settings yourself by using
Account Settings. Through privacy settings you can
control:
• Who all can see what you have posted
• Who all can send requests to you
• What all information about you is visible to others,
even to you contacts etc.
 What you should do – Usage Rules
1. Be Authentic : Be honest about your identity
2. Use a Disclaimer : if you are associated with any
institution / organization and you are sharing your
personal views about something, do make it clear that
these are your personal views and you do not represent
any institution/organization.
3. Don’t Pick Fights Online : don’t pick fight online if you
do not like anyone's comments on your post.
WHAT you should do – USAGE Rules
4. Don’t use Fake names or Pseudonyms : never
pretends to be someone else.

5. Protect Your Identity : while you should be honest

about yourself, BUT you should never provide or post
personal information online. These information can be
used to conduct fraud or crime.

6. Does your Information / Post pass the publicity

test ? : if your post is not acceptable for face-to-
face conversation, over the telephone then it is NOT
ACCEPTABLE for a social networking site too.
What you should do – Usage Rules
7. Respect you audience : sometimes school/college
students talk in slang or use some abusive words which they
find okay within their small group. But these things must not
be posted online because it would not be acceptable in you
connected world.

8. Respect other’s Sentiments : you should always

respects others’ privacy and be considerate for topics
that may be considered sensitive – such as politics and
religion.
Monitor Comments : most people who maintain social media
sites welcome comments– it builds credibility and
community. You should prefer to review and approve
comments before posting them on your site. This way you will
ensure quality of comments.