12. Keeping a balance
Playing games online and using consoles or games on a
computer is great fun, but you to need to be careful about
how much you play and who you play with. Too much gaming
can affect your school or social life. It is important that if you
chat with other gamers, you protect your privacy and don’t
share personal or private information.
13. Keeping a balance - Tips
If another player is behaving badly or making you
uncomfortable, block them from your players list. You may
also be able to report them to the game site operator.
Limit your game play time so you can still do other things
like homework, jobs around the house and other activities.
Keep personal details private.
Respect others in the game and only say to them what you’d
want said to you—we were all n00bs once.
Remember to make time offline for your friends, your
favorite sports and other activities.
Check classifications and game reviews to see if they are
right for you.
14. P2P file sharing
Peer-to-peer (P2P) services can be a great
way to share music, software and movies,
but if the owner of that media does not want
them to be shared, you could be breaching
copyright laws, and liable for a large fine.
Also, many files available from file-sharing
sites are deliberately mislabeled, so you
could end up getting more than you
bargained for, like viruses, Trojans or
offensive and illegal material.
15. P2P file sharing - Tips
Check that the content is legally available. Some
content is licensed to be available for free, but
much of what is available on P2P networks is not.
Try the legal file-sharing/download sites—you’ll
get better quality files this way, even if they aren’t
free.
Check your settings. You may be sharing
everything on your hard drive, including personal
files!
Be worry. Many files on P2P networks are infected
with viruses or are mislabeled, and they can
contain offensive or illegal material.
16. Offensive or Illegal Content
When you’re surfing the web you may come across
websites and other material that is offensive,
obscene or illegal. There are some easy ways to
handle these situations.
17. Offensive or Illegal Content -
Tips
Report the content to a trusted adult. Try your mum,
dad or an older brother or sister. Use the report
button on this site to report this content or contact
the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Know how to ‘escape’ from a website if an internet
search takes you to an unpleasant, offensive,
obscene or illegal website. Hit control-alt-delete if the
site will not allow you to exit.
Surf on. If a website looks suspicious or has a
warning page for people under 18 years, leave
immediately.
Set your search engine to block ‘offensive’ or adult
material.
18. Online Financial Stuff
Online shops are increasingly popular as they provide an easy,
fun and convenient way to buy the things you want or need.
To avoid any issues when you're shopping online, aim to use
the websites of well-established, recognized retailers. These
sites rely on people feeling safe, so they manage their site to
ensure that transactions are secure.
Auction sites, like eBay, are also popular. To keep safe, use a
reputable auction site and read the privacy policy to make sure
you are comfortable with how the business works. Also check
that you can make a complaint or cancel an order. If you need a
hand going through the details, ask a trusted adult. Many
parents enjoy using these sites too.
19. Online Financial Stuff - Tips
Check out the site before you buy. It’s important to know
who you’re buying from, the site’s security features, their
privacy policy and their returns or refund procedure. Safe
shopping or auction sites use strong encryption and show
the padlock symbol in the browser during the transaction
process. It’s important to check the URL as well to make
sure you’re not shopping at a fake site.
Know the cost. Reading the terms and conditions so that
you know delivery options, charges and warranty conditions
is important. Also check for any additional costs to cover
postage and handling. Most reputable sites will provide a
clear indication of the total cost before the final payment
stage.
20. Understand the service. Some products involve ongoing
contracts rather than a one-off payment, so check the terms and
conditions and know if you are signing up for just a one-off or
ongoing service. Find out how to stop the service and, in some
cases, how much it costs to break the contract if you do decide
to stop.
Know when it’s coming. Some sellers save money by sending
goods the cheapest and slowest way possible. If you’re
purchasing a product from overseas, that can mean months of
waiting.
Know what you’re getting. Auction sites usually let you contact
the seller directly, so if you have any doubts about an item, ask
questions. It’s better to find out the details early on rather than
when you’ve already bought it. It’s also a good idea to check out
reviews of the item and check its details, since you can’t see or
hold the item before you buy it.
21. Identity Theft
Identity theft is when your personal information is used
without your knowledge or permission. This can take a variety
of forms, and, in the worst case, it can involve criminals using
your information to steal money from you or to open bank
accounts or credit cards in your name. While this may not
seem a problem if you don’t yet have a credit card, it might
damage your chances of getting one when you’re older.
Personal information can be accessed from your computer or
at a public computer terminal. With sufficient information,
criminals can make credit card purchases, apply for loans or
transfer money directly from your bank, while pretending to be
you.
22. Identity Theft
Criminals use many methods to gather personal information,
including sending viruses and spam, and setting up fake
websites. You can also have your identity ‘stolen’ if someone
uses your personal information to impersonate you online.
They might pretend to be you on MSN, make a fake profile of
you or hack into your actual profile!
23. Identity Theft - Tips
Watch your blog/profile. If your profile has been hacked shut it
down ASAP.
Use secure websites for online shopping and banking. Make sure
the website is secure. More secure website addresses start with
‘https’ rather than the less secure ‘http’. Alternatively, a padlock
image should appear in the browser.
Protect passwords. Passwords should be eight or more
characters in length. Change them regularly and don’t write them
down or store them where they are openly available. Never share
your passwords, even with your friends—it could be misused to
access your MSN, email or profile.
24. Identity Theft - Tips
It’s not just your passwords. Don’t post personally identifiable
information online. Each little bit of information can be put together
by identity thieves to build a total picture and steal your identity.
Set profiles to private and don’t blog or tweet personal information.
Watch your bank account. Respond immediately to any unexpected
withdrawals or spending. Look out for small amounts of money
being withdrawn unexpectedly. This may be a criminal testing your
account details prior to withdrawing a larger amount.
Don’t get phished. Don’t respond to calls or emails from any bank
asking for passwords or other details. Banks never send emails
asking you to click through to their site—if the email asks you to
click on a link, chances are it’s a scam. If you receive a call from
someone saying they’re from the bank, hang up and call back at
the publicly listed number to see if it’s real.
25. My Mobile
Mobile phones are great for keeping in touch—you can call or
text your family and friends, surf the net, take and send photos,
record sound and track where you are.
While you can do all sorts of things with your mobile, there are
some risks and points you should keep in mind.
26. My Mobile - Tips
Only give out your mobile number to people you know and trust.
Respect your friends’ privacy by not giving away their details
without permission.
Keep your personal information private. Don’t share personal
details like your name, address or school with people you don’t
already know in real life.
If you plan to send private information to anyone using your mobile
phone, talk to a trusted adult before you send. Being cautious is
the best plan.
Think before you send. The person who you send information,
pictures or videos to may not be the only one who will see them—
so if you don’t want them to go public, don’t send them.
When you’re looking to buy a phone, check details of service
plans or contracts, the type of phone and what it offers. Buy the
one that suits your needs and use—and won’t cost the earth.
27. Don’t accept offers that sound too good to be true. They probably
are, and it could lead to really high bills. Check with your parents
before accepting any offers.
If your phone is lost or is stolen, notify your network carrier and
the police immediately. Tell them your IMEI number (generally found
inside the battery compartment of your phone or by pressing *#06#)
and any other identifying features of the phone. Your carrier can
use this number to block your phone from all networks in Australia
once you report the phone lost or stolen, making it useless to any
thief. Importantly, this also ensures you’re not paying for any calls
made by the thief. Visit www.amta.org.au for more information.
If you use Bluetooth, change the settings so that the phone is not
‘discoverable’. This means that it can’t be found or discovered by
other Bluetooth-enabled devices searching for another one.
Keeping your phone undiscoverable is a good protection against
potential attack.
28. Don't respond.
Save the message and the date, time and number of
the can.
Let a trusted adult know, like your parents or
brother/sister.
My Mobile – Tips for Dealing with
Unwanted SMS and Voice Messages