internet safety presentation for adults

Shared Hope International

Leading a worldwide effort to eradicate sexual slavery...one life at a time

White Van Internet Safety PSA arriving June 5, 2024

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We must invade the darkness of the online world where the predators are communicating with our kids. With the strong support of caring friends like you, Shared Hope is doing just that. -Linda Smith

Internet Safety Toolkit

With our years of research and our experience in the field, we developed a comprehensive Internet Safety Toolkit – made with you in mind . This critical information will help you keep the children in your life safe from internet-based danger.

This toolkit includes everything you need to know about online predatory grooming, warning signs, and proactive actions with practical tips on special topics like these here:

• Popular Apps
• Video Games and eSports
• Monitoring Online Activity
• How to Talk to Kids about Online Interactions

Sign up to receive the complete toolkit

Shared Hope International cares deeply about you and the children in your life and aim to help you protect them in this ever-changing digital age.  Download your copy right now to use and share with those you love.

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Youth Online Website

Our youth-friendly website written by youth to educate on the dangers of the internet.  This mobile-friendly, 5-page website informs teens and provides actionable information so they can protect themselves and understand red flags among their classmates.

The Internet Safety Video Series

Shared Hope’s educational video series was created to help you navigate current technology and apps that predators use to target youth.

Internet Safety Webinars

Internet Safety Basics Webinar

Internet Safety: Caregiver Response

Internet Safety for Gen Z: Webinar

Opal Singelton: Sextortion

Chris McKenna: Social Media Webinar

Additional Downloadable Resources

Download the mini guide - a new internet safety guide to keep children safe from being enticed by online sex traffickers

Rules for the Digital World

Internet Safety Mini-Guide in Spanish - Cómo Mantener a Sus Hijos a Salvo de Traficantes Sexuales en Línea

While Shared Hope does not necessarily endorse online dating, we do want to make sure those who are engaging in it are doing so in the safest way possible.

Tips on identifying a safe adult

Read and Watch for Warning Signs

Caregiver Tech Tips (For Adults)

Phone, Gaming, Exploitation? (for Youth)

Internet Safety Presentation Request

Connect with our team today and schedule a virtual or an in-person presentation about Internet Safety.  We have expert staff and trained volunteers ready to help you and those in your circles be prepared.

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Top 15 internet safety rules and what not to do online

So much of our daily life revolves around the internet, from work to education and even talking with friends. A  2021 survey  found that the average US household had around 25 internet-connected devices, up from 11 in 2019. The more online accounts and devices you have, the greater the scope for cybercriminals to cause you harm. That’s why it's now ever more essential to understand internet safety rules which protect you and your family from threats that may harm your data and devices. Read on to find out about key internet dangers and the ways to stay safe online.

The Key Dangers of the Internet

When you and your family use the internet, you are (often unknowingly) exposing yourself to a wide range of potential online threats. Digital landscapes as we know them are constantly evolving as cybercriminals devise new ways to target internet users. Here is a list of just some of the biggest internet dangers you and your family need to watch out for:

• Identity theft.
• Data breaches.
• Malware and viruses.
• Phishing and scam emails.
• Fake websites.
• Online scams.
• Romance scams.
• Inappropriate content.
• Cyberbullying.
• Faulty privacy settings.

Essential Internet Safety Tips

To avoid all of these dangers, we recommend following our essential internet safety tips when you or your family are online:

1. Make sure you’re using a secure internet connection

Although using public Wi-Fi is not recommended, it’s sometimes unavoidable when you are out and about. However, when you go online in a public place and use a  public Wi-Fi  connection, you have no direct control over its security, which could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. So, if you are using public Wi-Fi, avoid carrying out personal transactions that use sensitive data, such as online banking or online shopping.

If you need to do any one of these, use a  Virtual Private Network or VPN . A VPN will protect any of the data you send over an unsecured network via real-time encryption. If you don't use a VPN, we recommend saving any personal transactions until you can use a trusted internet connection. You can find out more about what a VPN is here .

2. Choose strong passwords

Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots when it comes to cybersecurity. People often choose passwords that are easy to remember and, therefore, easy for hackers to crack with hacking software. In addition to this, using the same password for multiple sites puts your data at further risk. If hackers obtain your credentials from one site, they can potentially access other websites which use the same login details.

Select  strong passwords  that are harder for cybercriminals to crack. A strong password is:

• Long – made up of at least 12 characters (ideally more).
• A mix of characters – upper-case and lower-case letters plus symbols and numbers.
• Avoids the obvious – such as using sequential numbers (“1234”) or personal information that someone who knows you might guess (or that might already be online), such as your date of birth or a pet’s name.
• Avoids memorable keyboard paths.

Using a  password manager  can help. Password managers help users create strong passwords, store them in a digital vault (which is protected by a single master password) and retrieve them when logging into accounts online.

3. Enable multi-factor authentication where you can

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that asks users to provide two or more verification methods to access an online account. For example, instead of simply asking for a username or password, multifactor authentication goes further by requesting additional information, such as:

• An extra one-time password that the website's authentication servers send to the user's phone or email address.
• Answers to personal security questions.
• A fingerprint or other biometric information, such as voice or face recognition.

Multifactor authentication decreases the likelihood of a successful cyberattack. To make your online accounts more secure, it’s a good idea to implement multifactor authentication where possible. You can also consider using a third-party authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, to help with your internet security.

4. Keep software and operating systems updated

Developers are constantly working to make products safe, monitoring the latest threats and rolling out security patches in case of vulnerabilities in their software. By using the latest versions of your operating systems and apps, you will benefit from the latest security patches. This is especially important for apps that contain payment, health or other sensitive information about a user.

5. Check that websites look and feel reliable

For any website you visit, especially ones you transact with (such as e-commerce sites), it's crucial that they are reliable. A key element to look out for is an SSL/security certificate . This means, lookout for URLs that start with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP” (the “S” stands for “secure”) and have a padlock icon in the address bar. Other trust signals include:

• Text which is free from spelling and grammar mistakes – reputable brands will make an effort to ensure their websites are well-written and proofread.
• Images that are not pixelated and fit the screen's width correctly.
• Ads that feel organic and are not too overpowering.
• No sudden changes in color or theme. In some cases, where users have interacted with a particular website and returned to a familiar page from a link, subtle color or design changes might indicate forgery.
• The accepted standards of online payments – legitimate ecommerce websites use credit or debit card portals or PayPal, only. If a website is using another form of digital money transfer to accept payments, it is probably fraudulent.

6. Review your privacy settings and understand privacy policies

Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage. But you can take charge of how much information third-parties can access. Both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings to protect your privacy online. Social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, amongst others, have privacy-enhancing settings that you can activate. It’s worth taking a while to review your privacy settings across the board and make sure they are set to a level you are comfortable with.

Many of us accept privacy policies without reading them, but with so much data used for marketing and advertising (and hacking) purposes, it's a good idea to review the privacy policies of websites and apps you use, in order to understand how your data is collected and analyzed. However, bear in mind that even if your settings are set to private, very little data online is totally private. Hackers, website administrators and law enforcement could still have access to the information you regard as private.

7. Be careful of suspicious links and where you click

A careless click can expose your personal data online or infect your device with  malware . That’s why it's essential to browse consciously and avoid certain types of online content – such as links from untrusted sources and spam emails, online quizzes, clickbait, ‘free’ offers or unsolicited ads.

If you receive an email that you're not sure about, avoid clicking on any links in it or opening any attachments.

In fact, it's best to avoid opening untrusted emails at all. If you’re not sure whether an email is legitimate or not, go directly to the source. For example, if you receive a suspicious email from your “bank”, call your bank and ask them if the email is genuine.

When you’re on a website, make sure links click through to relevant or expected topics. For example, if you click on a link that you think is about safaris in Africa, but instead you're taken to a clickbait-style page about celebrity weight loss or a “where are they now?” style piece, then quickly close the page.

8. Make sure your devices are secure

With up to 60% of people using mobile devices for shopping and finding information online, instead of a desktop, it’s important that they are secured correctly. With all your devices – phones, computers, tablets, smartwatches, smart TVs, etc. – it's good practice to use passwords or passcodes and other security options like fingerprint readers or face-scanning technology. These measures will reduce the likelihood of a cyberattack or your personal data being stolen by hackers.

9. Backup data regularly

It's important to backup important personal information on external hard drives and regularly create new backups.  Ransomware  – a type of malware – involves cybercriminals locking your computer so you can’t access valuable files. Backing up your data – and your family’s data – helps mitigate the impact of a ransomware attack. You can protect yourself further with appropriate security software. Other forms of malware deny you access to your personal data by overwhelming your system or simply deleting files, so be careful.

10. Close unused accounts

Over the years, many of us accumulate old accounts that we no longer use. These can be a weak link in terms of safety when using the internet – not only are old accounts more likely to have weaker passwords, but some of those sites may have poor data protection policies. In addition, cybercriminals could piece together the information you have left in them, for example, old social media profiles – such as your date of birth or location, etc. – to build up a picture of your identity in an attempt to hack you later. As a result, we recommend closing your old online accounts and requesting that your data be deleted from the relevant third-party servers.

11. Be careful what you download

A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware, which can be used to open a “backdoor” to your machine. Malware might be disguised as an app – anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. Or, it could be hidden on a malicious website that attempts to install malware on your device.

Malware causes damage – such as disrupting how your device operates, stealing your personal data or allowing unauthorized access to your machine. This usually requires some action on your part, but there are also  drive-by downloads , where a website attempts to install software on your computer without asking for permission first. Think carefully before visiting a new website or downloading anything onto your device, and only download content from trusted or official sources. Regularly check your download folders and if unknown files appear on your system (potentially, from a drive-by), delete them immediately.

12. Be careful what you post and where

The internet does not have a delete key. Any comment or image you post online may stay online forever because removing the original won’t remove any copies that other people may have made. There is no way for you to ‘take back’ a comment you wish you hadn't made or remove an embarrassing image you posted. So, don't put anything online that you would not want a parent or prospective employer to see.

Similarly, be careful about disclosing personal information about yourself online. For example, avoid disclosing your social security number, address or date of birth in social media bios. You wouldn't hand personal information out to strangers individually, so don't hand it out to millions of people online.

Be careful about where you display or submit your email address. It's good to have a secondary, throwaway email account that you use solely for email sign-ups and subscriptions, separate from the one you use for friends and family, and separate from the one you use for work.

13. Be careful who you meet online

People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. Fake social media profiles are a popular way for hackers to groom unwary internet users and pick their cyber pockets. Apply the same caution in your online social life as you would for your in-person social life. This is particularly true with  the rise of online dating scams in recent years .

14. Double check online information

Sadly, fake news, misinformation and disinformation are all present on the internet. It's easy to feel lost with the flood of information we're exposed to every day. If you read something you are unsure of, do your own research to establish the facts. Reliable websites will have references to the original information and source materials. Suspicious pages won’t offer any references at all. Read  our guide to spotting fake news here .

15. Use a good antivirus and keep it updated

As well as following safety tips for online behavior, it's essential to use a good quality antivirus provider . Internet security software guards your devices and data and blocks common threats like viruses and malware (plus complex ones like spy apps, “cryptolockers” and XSS attacks). As with all operating systems and apps, it's essential to keep your antivirus updated to stay ahead of the latest cyberthreats.

3 Online safety rules for the kids

Although many of the tips to stay safe online are the same for adults and children, they are not easy or straightforward to explain. Often, children can accidentally be a gateway for malicious actors to gain access to your digital systems. It is therefore important to teach your kids the essentials of staying safe online in order to protect your home network from any unwanted accidents. Here are 3 areas that you should cover:

Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint, what exists of you online after usage, is an important concept that children need to know about. When teaching children about this, it’s important to focus on how information is readily available and how others could interact with this data (for example, email addresses and usernames that contain identifying information, which could be used for criminal activity). Wider discussions can also come from this, such as sharing content online (through social media, gaming accounts and emails). Make sure to clearly state what content is not allowed on the internet (photos, address, phone numbers and middle names).

Strong passwords are integral to modern cybersecurity measures today. Instructing children from a young age about the importance of strong passwords (ones that consists of at least 12 characters and are a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols) and their appropriate storage is one of the simplest ways to make the internet safer for your family. This is also why it can be very useful to have a password management system that can automatically fill in password credentials for different websites.

Communication

One of the most accessed routes for all manner of cybercriminal, online messaging and communication is a “must-have” conversation for your children’s safety. Primarily, it is important to explain how to identify and avoid messages, suspicious links, downloads or emails from strangers asking for identifying information online. This can also lead to a wider discussion about how to detect phishing scams and fake websites. The second most important part of safe online communication is correct engagement with others. Much like the real world, staying safe can sometimes depend on staying vigilant, engaging in polite communication and learning how to identify and not engage with bullying. Educate your child on what cyberbullying looks like and how to act kindly to others online.

Recommended products:

• Kaspersky Safe Kids
• Kaspersky Home Security
• Kaspersky Password Manager

Further reading:

• Do’s and don’ts for teaching internet safety to kids
• What is a security breach and how to avoid one?
• What is a Digital Footprint?
• Spam & Phishing | Phishing Scam Threats

Featured Articles

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Is ChatGPT safe to use? What you need to know

How to Strengthen your Cryptocurrency Security?

Email Security for Small Businesses

How to use cryptocurrency safely: A guide to cryptocurrency safety

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Resources for parents, educators & communities.

NetSmartz: Online Safety for Middle School

Advanced Online Safety for High School

Internet Safety: Parents, Guardians & Community

Our resources for educators offer multiple ways to engage students, parents and communities in important lessons in digital citizenship and online safety. 

Empower your students to be safer online with our   free collection of teaching materials for families and students in grades K-12.  NetSmartz can help you create a dynamic and engaging Internet safety curriculum.

PowerPoint Presentations

NetSmartz offers free, multimedia internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences — parents and communities, teens, tweens, and younger children. Our innovative presentations make use of online resources, videos, and expert tips to educate, engage, and empower children and adults to be safer on and offline.​

The presentations below are categorized by age of the intended target audience. However, we strongly encourage presenters to review the PowerPoint presentations before deciding which one to use and to consult with the hosts of your presentation (e.g. administration and/or support staff if presenting at a school) to select the most appropriate presentation for your audience. Depending on your audience’s previous exposure to internet safety and related topics, you may need to deviate from the age guidelines given below to find the most relevant information and format. Contact us at [email protected] with questions or for assistance.

For useful tips and recommended strategies for planning and delivering child safety presentations, be sure to check out the free trainings available on NCMEC Connect!

K-12 Google Slides by Topic

Teaching Modern Safety with "Into the Cloud" Season 1 Grades K-2

Teaching Modern Safety with "Into the Cloud" Season 1 Grades 3-5

Teaching Modern Safety with "Into the Cloud" Season 2 Grades 3-5

Be Safer Online with NetSmartz: Grades K-2 (PC/Mac)

Being a Good Digital Citizen: Grades 3-5 (PC/Mac)

Written for tweens, teens, parents, educators, and law enforcement, these tip sheets offer guidance on navigating digital safety.​

Being a Trusted Adult

Gaming Safely

Internet Safety at Home

Sextortion: What Parents Should Know

So You Need Some Help...

Who is a "Trusted Adult"?

"Your Photo Fate" Video Discussion Guide

Cyberbullying Unplugged

How Do You Use Your NetSmartz? Tips for Teens

Parents' Guide to Smartphone Safety

Protecting Your Kids Online 2.0

Social Media Safety for Teens

Talking to Teens About Sexting

Think Before You Send

Your NetSmartz: Tips for Tweens

You Sent a Sext, Now What?

Classroom activities.

Additional material for the classroom, tailored for project-based learning and children with special needs.

Film Discussion Guide: What is Sextortion?

Film Discussion Guide: The Story of S.M.

Film Discussion Guide: The Story of H.M.

Peer Education & Mentoring Kit

Safety Pledges Using SymbolStix

Safety Stories

E-book: Delivery for Webster

E-book: The Princess's Password

E-book: Webster's Gecko Goof

Free online, on-demand trainings related to prevention education are available via NCMEC's online training portal, NCMEC Connect. View webinars, recorded live sessions, resources and best practices covering online exploitation, tips for teaching online safety, parent/guardian specific topics, and more! 

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Internet Safety & Digital Citizenship�Awareness and Education

Larry Magid

Co-director, ConnectSafely.org

Founder, Safekids.com

CBS News/CNET

Lynette Owens

Director, Corporate Outreach

Trend Micro Internet Safety for

Kids & Families Program

• Internet safety and Digital Citizenship

Trends and Implications

• Recommendations

Internet safety vs. Digital citizenship

• Internet safety /Media literacy:

help kids understand online risks and how to respond

• Digital citizenship :

teaches kids to act responsibly around other kids; eliminates biggest threats of being harmed by other kids or themselves

• Viewing inappropriate content
• Posting inappropriate content
• Cyberbullying & harassment
• Online addiction
• Online contributing to destructive, illegal, unethical or inappropriate behavior
• Device security & social engineering tactics

What parents tend to worry about

• Physical safety – freedom from physical harm
• Psychological safety – freedom from cruelty, harassment, and exposure to potentially disturbing material
• Reputational and legal safety – freedom from unwanted social, academic, professional, and legal consequences that could affect you for a lifetime
• Identity, property, and community safety – freedom from theft of identity & property

Types of Internet safety

How the Internet changes the equation...

• Persistence & searchability: Net as permanent searchable archive
• Replicability: ability to copy and paste from anywhere, to anywhere
• Scalability: high potential visibility
• Invisible audiences: you never know who’s watching
• Blurring of public and private: boundaries not clear

AND WE ADD IN:

• Disinhibition : Lack of visual cues reduces empathy

Source: danah boyd: Taken out of Context, 2008

The Net Effect

Sexting and cyberbullying on the rise

Bullying declining

Child identity theft on the rise

Cybercriminals increasingly active on social web

• Children & teens frequently victims of identity theft
• Youth need to be aware of social networking scams
• Teach youth to protect their passwords
• Youth implicated in hack attacks
• Teach security by teaching critical thinking
• Ensure schools and parents use available technologies

Security and Youth

Levels of Internet safety

• More training in "norms theory.”
• Use of "whole school" approach to bullying and other behavioral issues.
• Acceptable use policies that are up-to-date, reflective of today’s technology and uses of it.
• Regular, updated training of staff, students.
• Collaboration with PTO/PTA and families of students.

Some Recommendations

Some Resources

ConnectSafley.org

NetFamilyNews.org

SafeKids.com & SafeTeens.com

Trend Micro Internet Safety

Common Sense Media Educators

Internet Safety Technology Task Force Report

Directory of Internet safety sites & resources

Directory of Internet safety curricula

Internet safety by age levels

Young People and the Internet

-Nielsen Netview, October 2009

Top Web properties visited by U.S. youth ages 2-17

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NetSmartz Internet Safety [web resource] [downloadable] [video]

NetSmartz covers the following issues , each of which has accompanying resources:

• Cyberbullying
• Online Enticement

Video Series

Into the Cloud™ is NCMEC’s flagship online safety product for children ages 10 and under. Using data from actual CyberTipline reports, each episode of season 1 focuses on a different element of online safety, from strategies for handling cyberbullying to recognizing and reporting unsafe/inappropriate interactions and content.   Season 2 focuses on preventing online exploitation, reporting, and removing inappropriate content online.

Educator Resources

Resources for educators offer multiple ways to engage students, parents and communities in important lessons in digital citizenship and online safety.

Presentations

>NetSmartz also offers free, multimedia internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences — parents and communities, teens, tweens, and younger children. The presentations make use of online resources, videos, and expert tips to educate, engage, and empower children and adults to be safer on and offline.​

Written for tweens, teens, parents, educators, and law enforcement, downloadable tip sheets offer guidance on navigating digital safety.​

Project-Based Learning and Special Needs

NetSmartz also provides material for the classroom, including some tailored for project-based learning and children with special needs.

Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children | NetSmartz , https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/home | Copyright © 2024 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Retrieved July 2021. Last reviewed April 2024.

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Online safety leaflets & resources

Promote online safety in the classroom and at home with our free printable e-safety leaflets and resources. Download or print and share with other parents or colleagues to help kids stay safe online.

What’s on the page

Age guide leaflets

Online issues guide

Tech use guides

Other Checklist and Guides

Children use the internet in different ways depending on their age. As such, we’ve developed checklists for parents that include top tips on how to help them stay safe.

Online issues guides

See advice on a range of online issues that your child may face to help them enjoy the digital world safely and smartly.

Whether your child registers for new social media accounts on the regular or is more interested in video games, these guides will help them stay safe online.

Other checklist and guides

These guides offer general information on how to keep children safe in their digital world. Teach them the right way to share information and use social media with internet manners guides and more.

Social media checklists

South West Grid for Learning produced these social media accounts checklists, which provide detailed information on how to stay safe on the most popular social networks. To order any of these leaflets, go to the South West Grid for Learning website or click the image below.

More to Explore

• Advice for 0-5 years
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On site links

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• Parental Controls

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Internet Safety

Staying safe online is essential in today's world. Use these Internet safety tips to keep yourself and your loved ones protected.

Introduction

• 1 Introduction to Internet Safety arrow_forward_ios ✓ Get an introduction to Internet safety by understanding the risks and learning how to avoid them.

Staying Safe Online

• 2 Creating Strong Passwords arrow_forward_ios ✓ Use these tips to create a strong, safe password.
• 3 Your Browser's Security Features arrow_forward_ios ✓ Better understand your browser's security features and how they work.
• 4 Avoiding Spam and Phishing arrow_forward_ios ✓ Use these tips so you can avoid email-based spam and phishing scams.
• 5 How to Avoid Malware arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how to avoid malware and remove it from your computer.
• 6 Safe Online Shopping arrow_forward_ios ✓ Use these strategies for a safe online shopping experience.

Protecting Your Online Privacy

• 7 Understanding Browser Tracking arrow_forward_ios ✓ Understand how browser tracking works.
• 8 Social Media Privacy Basics arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn all about social media privacy so you can control what you share with others online.
• 9 What To Do if Your Computer Gets a Virus arrow_forward_ios ✓ Here's what to do if your computer gets a virus.
• 10 Installing and Updating Browser Plug-ins arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how to update and install browser plug-ins.
• 11 I Have to Provide My Phone Number? Using Phone Verification arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how phone verification works to protect your identity online.
• 12 Wi-Fi Security arrow_forward_ios ✓ Learn how to improve Wi-Fi security using these Internet safety tips.
• 13 Driving Safely with Mobile Devices arrow_forward_ios ✓ Here's how to drive safely with mobile devices.
• 14 Should I Still Use Adobe Flash Player? arrow_forward_ios ✓ Wondering whether you should still be using Adobe Flash Player?
• 15 Internet Safety Quiz arrow_forward_ios ✓ Test your knowledge of Internet safety by taking our quiz.

• The Senior’s Guide to Online Safety

Aug 25, 2021

Most American seniors are now online. As of 2018, nearly 66% of Americans over 65 were Internet users, according to a Pew Research Center survey.That number is getting bigger all the time, and for good reason. The Internet is a great way to read the latest news, stay in touch with family, get medical information and manage appointments, renew prescriptions, and access medical records. It’s how many of us shop and bank without leaving our homes. For an increasing number of seniors, it’s a way to stay in the workforce and even launch a new career or business. And some seniors are going online to make new friends and to find romantic partners through online dating.

The reasons seniors go online are as varied as the users themselves and include:

• Participating in social and cultural activities
• Keeping in touch with loved ones
• Meeting new friends or romantic partners
• Online banking, shopping and investing
• Making travel arrangements
• Getting medical advice and information including doctor reports and test results
• Sharing and viewing pictures
• Exploring and sharing political views
• And much more

Like all powerful tools, the Internet and mobile technologies come with some risks. These risks can be managed as long as you follow some basic rules of the road. So, for all the great things we cover in this guide, we also go over some precautions to help keep you safe.

Communicating with friends and family

Whether it’s text, talk, or video, the Internet is a great way to communicate. You may remember spending a lot of money on long distance calls and keeping them as short as possible to keep costs down, but now you can call just about anywhere in the world for free or a couple of cents a minute, and make free video calls with services like Skype, Apple FaceTime, Google Voice and Facebook Messenger. For better or worse, old-fashioned letters have been largely (but not completely) replaced by email. And thanks to social networking services like Facebook, it’s easier than ever to keep up with your friends and family, and let them keep up with you. Social media allows you to exchange ideas, photos and videos, and even plan events with friends and family living far away. But don’t think that social networking is just for young people. A 2014 study found that 56% of online seniors use Facebook, and that’s just one of the major social networking services.

Stay safe tips

Use strong and unique passwords and never share your passwords with anyone, unless you’ve designated someone you trust to manage your accounts. One reason for this precaution is to prevent someone from using your account to impersonate you — perhaps asking your friends and family to “help you out” by wiring “you” money in an “emergency,” which is a common scam.

Make sure your passwords are long — at least eight characters — and include numbers, upper and lowercase letters and symbols; avoid using names or dictionary words. At ConnectSafely.org/passwords, you’ll find tips and information on how to use multi-factor authentication and fingerprint recognition for more advanced security.

Use privacy settings . Most services have settings that let you control who can see what you post. Facebook, for example, has extensive controls, letting you post to only friends, your friends and their friends, or everyone on Facebook. You can also limit specific posts to a smaller group like only family members or specific people. Some services give you a choice between private and public posts, with private going just to people you designate. Before posting to any service, it’s good to get to know its privacy policies and settings. There are also privacy settings for smartphones that can restrict who has access to your location, contacts, and other personal information.

Think before your post . Whether it’s a picture, video, or comment, what you post and what you share is a reflection on you. Make sure you feel good about being associated with anything you say online and be sure not to post anything that you wouldn’t want to share with the world. Even if you’re using privacy settings to limit the audience, there is always a chance that what you post can be copied and shared by others.

Dealing with “spam” or unsolicited email can be challenging. It’s pretty common to be plagued by junk email. Simply getting these messages isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can be annoying. In some cases they can be from companies you’ve interacted with in the past and, if they are legitimate companies, there is probably a link to a page where you can safely ask to be removed from their list. But if they are truly “spammers,” they won’t stop, even if you ask them to. The best thing to do is make sure you’re using whatever spam filter is provided by your email service. Visit ConnectSafely.org/seniors for information on how to use the spam filters on popular Web-based email services like Gmail , Yahoo Mail , Comcast , Outlook and AOL . Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited email, as there is a chance they could link to sites designed to scam people or infect computers with malicious software.

Report abuse from anyone, including friends, family and caregivers. We hear a lot about children being “cyberbullied,” but it also happens to adults, including seniors. If you are getting messages on social media or in email that are threatening, mean, extremely angry, accusatory or in any way abusive, don’t respond; reach out for help and support from someone you trust or from adult protective services or law enforcement, and report the behavior to the site or service. All major social media companies, and online and mobile service providers have employees that respond to abuse complaints. ConnectSafely has links to abuse and privacy pages for major social networking and Internet and mobile service companies.

Fraudsters use the Internet to scam unsuspecting consumers. If an offer, email, or message sounds too good to be true or just seems plain fishy, go with your gut and do some additional checking. Here’s a roundup of common scams:

Personal emergency scam : Scammers email or post social media messages that appear to be from someone you know saying they are in distress, such as having their wallet stolen or having been arrested. If you get such a message, find another way to verify if it’s true, such as reaching out directly to the person. If you get such a message from a friend, there is a good chance that their account was hacked and that it’s a criminal who is out to steal your money.

You owe money scam : Be wary of emails that claim you owe money. If you hear from a bill collector or a government agency about money “owed” by you or a family member, don’t respond unless you are certain it’s legitimate. It’s pretty common for scammers to send “bills” to people who don’t actually owe them money.

Online dating scam : Many people have found love via dating websites, but others have been scammed out of money by online con artists. For tips on safe online dating and a list of red flags, see “Meeting new friends and romantic partners.”

Infected computer scam : You might get a call from “Microsoft,” saying your computer is infected or vulnerable to hacking, with an offer to fix it for you. Hang up. Microsoft and other reputable companies never make these calls. These are criminals trying to steal your money and plant viruses on your machine. Also be suspicious of any messages in email or that pop-up on your computer, in your Web browser or on a mobile app warning you of a virus or a security risk. If you have reason to suspect that your device is at risk, consult a trusted expert but never download software or apps that you aren’t certain come from legitimate sources.

Speak out and don’t be ashamed if you’re victimized . Criminals are very good at what they do and there have been lots of very smart people who have been victimized online. If it happens to you, report it to a trusted person and, if appropriate, law enforcement. Even if you let your guard down, it’s not your fault if something bad happened to you.

Meeting new friends and romantic partners

The Internet is a great place to meet people, whether it’s someone who shares your passion for an activity or cause, or a potential romantic partner. There are many online groups and forums where people with similar interests meet and that sometimes leads to getting together for all sorts of activities ranging from walks and bike rides to meetings to discuss issues or political candidates.

Online dating is also very popular with seniors and many have met great people via online dating sites, leading to friendships, romantic relationships and sometimes marriage.

Don’t send money . Be especially suspicious and don’t send money if the person asks for money, perhaps to get on a plane to come meet you or to help them deal with a personal or family crisis.

Sharing your views

Social networking sites are a great way to exchange views on a variety of subjects ranging from sports to politics to religion to the latest technology. As you can imagine, people sometimes engage in spirited debates on these and many other issues; there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it strengthens our democracy to have a healthy exchange of ideas and opinions. Sometimes these debates — especially when politics is involved — can get a little too spirited, so here’s some general advice.

Keep it civil . It’s OK to disagree but try to be respectful of other people. Name calling and derisive comments are almost never effective and wind up alienating not only the person they’re aimed at, but others as well. If someone is mean or disrespectful to you or others, it’s best not to engage in a war of words, but to just move on. There are plenty of other people you can interact with. And know that if you express your opinions, there is always a chance that others will disagree, and some may be disagreeable in the way they disagree.

Know fact from fiction . Some things online are simply not true. Sometimes they’re posted to deliberately smear a public official, political candidate, or celebrity and sometimes they’re just honest mistakes. Don’t believe everything you read and never forward or share something if you’re not sure it’s true because then you’re the one who’s spreading false information. If you see something questionable on a website, do a search and research on a reputable site to determine its validity. Sites like Snopes.com and Politifact.com do a good job separating fact from fiction.

Online shopping, banking, charity and travel

The Internet has had an enormous impact on the way people shop, do their banking, make investments, plan travel, and even how they pay their taxes. In the vast majority of cases, the experiences have been positive. Online shopping allows you to find items — which are sometimes hard or impossible to find in local stores — and typically get the lowest possible price by comparing prices with a variety of merchants. Online shopping can be easier than driving to a store — especially for those with limited mobility. It’s also a convenient way to buy gifts for faraway friends and family. Yes, there are risks associated with shopping online, but they can be managed. Besides, there are also risks associated with driving to a store to make purchases.

Online banking and investing is another great convenience. With a click of a mouse or a touch of a smartphone, you can transfer money between accounts, pay bills, and make investments.

B e careful before you click . There are certain things that you may not be able to undo, such as buying or selling the wrong stock or buying a non-refundable flight or hotel room. Carefully review all transactions before confirming them. If you do make a mistake contact the company right away to see if it’s possible to undo it. Many online merchants have a cancelation feature that lets you back out of a purchase, but you must do so promptly. Once an item is ready to be shipped it may be too late to cancel the order. You can often return your purchases, but you’re likely to have to pay for return shipping.

Charity scams . Most charities have websites and the option to donate online. That’s fine as long as you’re sure you’re on the right site and that it’s a legitimate charity that you support. Be careful if you get an email from what appears to be a charity asking you to make an online donation. If you’re not familiar with the organization, check it out at CharityNavigator.org and if you are going to donate online, be certain that you’re going to the charity’s legitimate site. To be safe, type in the charity’s Web address in the browser rather than clicking on a link.

Health and well-being

There are some excellent sites and apps that provide medical information and advice. Some are useful for such things as understanding how specific drugs work or getting an overview of an illness or condition. There are forums where people dealing with conditions share experiences and answer each other’s questions, and most companies that make drugs and medical equipment have websites with details about their products. These sites can be extremely valuable, but think twice before acting on anything you read on any website or app. Begin by knowing who is behind the site or app. In general, sites operated by the government (ending in .gov) or well regarded medical institutions like Mayo Clinic have reliable information, but be aware that some commercial sites, including ones operated by pharmaceutical companies, are there to promote products. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have useful information, but know who is behind them.

There are other sites whose information has not been vetted by medical professionals. Even with legitimate sites, don’t rely on online advice for diagnosing an illness. Having a symptom association with an illness doesn’t necessarily mean that you have that illness.

Always check with a medical doctor or trusted healthcare provider before taking any action or medications. Never enter any personal or health information on a site or an app until you are certain that it is legitimate and will respect and protect your privacy. You’ll find a list of reputable health sites when you scroll down .

You’ll find lots of information online about food, including nutritional information and some great recipes. You’ll also find lots of information about exercise, including videos on YouTube and other sites that show you how to do just about any exercise you can imagine. These instructional videos can be extremely helpful but be aware of your own limitations and consider consulting a doctor or a personal trainer before engaging in any new exercise. You’ll find links to some great food and fitness sites and apps when you scroll down .

Dealing with Medicare, Social Security and the IRS

There are ways that citizens can interact with government agencies online. You can, for example, use websites like TurboTax.com to complete and file your tax returns; get Medicare information at Medicare.gov; and access information about Social Security benefits from SSA.gov. The IRS’s website ( www.IRS.gov ) also has forms and plenty of information for taxpayers.

Don’t send personal information in response to emails from Social Security or Medicare . The Social Security Administration will not use email to ask for personal information, such as your Social Security number or date of birth. When in doubt, call your local Social Security office or 800-772-1213. Be suspicious of anyone posing as a doctor, healthcare provider, or insurance company that asks for your Medicare number, or who claims to represent Medicare. When in doubt, call Medicare directly at 800-633-4227.

Security 101

• Be smartphone savvy . Smartphones can track your location and reveal information about you, including your contacts. Be careful to only download and use reputable apps and be sure to password (or fingerprint) protect your phone. Know how to use tools to find or erase personal data from lost phones. You’ll find more at ConnectSafely.org/cellphone-safety-tips.
• Secure your Internet router . There is likely a small device in your home, called a router or broadband modem, that connects you to the Internet. That device has a password and username and sometimes the default passwords are very easy to guess. Routers can be hard to configure so if you’re in doubt, contact an expert or your Internet service provider for advice on how to change the password.
• Protect your devices by ensuring they are password protected and, in the case of computers, make sure you have good security and firewall software in place. If you need help, reach out to knowledgeable friends or family, or your Internet service provider or mobile operator. Comcast and some other Internet service providers offer free anti-virus software, or you can purchase or obtain free security software from a reputable company such as the ones listed at ConnectSafely.org/securityvendors .
• Reach out for help . There are many great places to get help with computers, smartphones and other technology. Many senior centers, some schools, and some religious or community groups offer free or low-cost classes. There may be family members who can help, but don’t overlook others in your community such as tech-savvy high school students (call a local school and see if a student can be assigned to help you in exchange for community service hours). Both Apple and Microsoft have stores that offer free advice on products they support and you might also be able to get help from staff at other local computer or electronics stores. Always feel free to contact your cell phone carrier if you have any questions about your phone or service, including whether you’re on the most economical plan for your needs.
• Avoid pressure to buy what you may not need and review your service plans . Even legitimate services and merchants may sometimes try to talk you into buying equipment or services you may not need. It’s not necessarily a scam, but could be that they simply don’t understand your needs. When buying a cell phone or Internet plan, think about whether you need all the data they want to sell you, or whether you need that extra speed for an extra price. Once you’ve established service, review it periodically to see if you’re using most of the data or other services you’re paying for. You may be able to save money by downgrading your service.

Advice for seniors considering enlisting help from family members or caretakers

Most seniors are self-sufficient but, as we age, sometimes we need a bit of help. There are many seniors who rely on family members, professional caretakers, or professional advisors to help them with their finances, taxes, legal affairs, housing, and other issues. Sometimes it’s helpful or even necessary for caretakers to have access to a senior’s online bank and investment accounts, medical records, and other online sites. There are various ways that caretakers can access a senior’s accounts but it generally requires some type of power of attorney or other legal authorization. When in doubt, consult an attorney. If you are a senior considering enlisting someone else’s help, be very careful to only authorize someone you trust completely. Whether you’re the person being helped or the caretaker, consider consulting with an attorney to make sure that all authorizations are in order. The U.S. Government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers advice on having another person help you with banking and finance. One of the discussions on that page includes the advantages and risks of setting up a joint account.

Whatever you do, think very carefully before giving anyone — even a family member — access to any of your accounts including financial, health, or social media.

References and Links

• Older Adults and Technology Use (Pew Research)
• Social Media Update (Pew Research)
• Having a friend or family member help with bill-paying and banking (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

Spam filters

Health, fitness & food websites.

• Cooking Light
• Mayo Clinic
• Drug Information Portal
• National Institutes of Health
• The Senior’s Guide to Eating Healthfully (US News & World Report)
• Cleveland Clinic

Government sites

• Social Security Administration
• Medicare.gov
• Federal Trade Commission Free Credit Report
• Bureau of Consumer Protection (Federal Trade Commission)

Additional links

• National Association of Areas Agencies on Aging
• Huffington Post section on Seniors and Technology
• How Older Adults Can Stay Safe When Dating Online
• A how-to guide for having ‘the talk’ with your elderly parents about Internet safety

  This guide was written and produced by ConnectSafely with support from Comcast

Copyright 2023 ConnectSafely, Inc.

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Internet safety

Introduction to internet safety, unit 1: online data security.

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Internet Safety

Online safety for youth.

This page contains topical federal and federally-supported materials and websites.

Featured Resource

Safety Pledge Developed with funding support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Safety Pledge website provides free resources to help parents, educators, and caregivers learn more about the risks that children face online and how to respond safely. NCMEC partnered with the White House and Department of Justice on this new campaign to combat online child exploitation.

Publications

Keeping Children Safe Online U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, January 2023

Profiles of Youth In-Person and Online Sexual Harassment Victimization National Institute of Justice-Sponsored, July 2021

Adolescents' Exposure to Online Risks: Gender Disparities and Vulnerabilities Related to Online Behaviors National Institute of Justice-Sponsored, May 2021

Staying Safe on Social Network Sites U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, February 2021

Related Resources

Crimes Against Children Research Center Funded in part by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Crimes Against Children Research Center serves to combat crimes against children by providing research and statistics to the public, policy makers, law enforcement, and other child welfare personnel.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) The FBI works to prevent criminals, sexual predators, and others intent on malicious destruction from using the internet and online services to steal from, defraud, and otherwise victimize citizens, businesses, and communities. See the following FBI webpages to learn more:

• Cyber Crime
• Safe Online Surfing
• Violent Crimes Against Children/Online Predators

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Protecting Kids Online This section of the FTC site provides online privacy guidelines and resources for kids, parents, and educators.

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program Funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the ICAC Task Force Program was created to help law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to individuals who use the internet, online communication systems, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children.

Keeping Children Safe Online Due to COVID-19, kids and adults are online more than ever, often unsupervised in the same space. This Department of Justice webpage provides information, tips, videos, and more to help kids stay safe.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) The NCMEC mission is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

NetSmartz Developed in part through funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, NetSmartz offers free, multimedia internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences – parents and communities, tweens, teens, and younger children.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) OJJDP provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. See OJJDP's  Sexual Exploitation of Children  page for topical information.

Project iGuardian Project iGuardian is a national cyber safety campaign spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. As part of Project iGuardian, schools and youth groups can request presentations on how to avoid falling victim to online sexual predators.

Project Safe Childhood (PSC) This U.S. Department of Justice initiative combats the use of computers for the purposes of sexual exploitation crimes against children. It aims to investigate and prosecute offenders, as well as protect and assist victimized children.

U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) The mission of the CEOS is to protect the welfare of America's children and communities by enforcing federal criminal statutes relating to the exploitation of children and obscenity.

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Introduction to internet safety

Topic outline.

In this course, you will learn some tips on how to use the internet safely. The course covers email safety, making payments on the internet, child safety and how to keep your personal data safe online.

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Computer and email security basics, use of personal data, secure online payment, child safety online, recommended content, back to getting started online.

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Advanced online security

This topic teaches you everything you need to know about being safe online. You'll learn about creating safe passwords, avoiding scams and how to safely download documents and pay for things online.

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STAY SAFE ONLINE

     Since 2007, Internet Safety Concepts has been dedicated to helping thousands of families make safe online choices.  Our presentations have taught students and parents how to use technology safely while avoiding potential dangers of the Internet, social media and cyberbullying.

Percentage of teens who regularly receive personal messages from people they have never met

Average age of children when they are first exposed to Internet pornography

Percentage of teens who admit they have been the victim of cyberbullying

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Scott Driscoll President Internet Safety Concepts

"Scott’s presentation is hands down the best I have seen on any topic in my 20+ years of education. His knowledge of the pitfalls young adults fall into had our students checking their digital footprint the minute the presentation concluded.”

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“Scott Driscoll’s training on Internet safety and social media is an absolute 'must-have' training for adolescents and parents in today’s society."

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Internet Safety Concepts

6 months ago

Good morning. Anytime we update our devices, we must understand any changes or new features. The current Apple update included a feature, that when enabled, allows someone to place their phone next to your or your family member's phone, and receive contact information including phone number, email address, picture, and more. To turn this feature off take these steps: 1. Go to Settings 2. Go to General 3. Go to AirDrop 4. Turn Off “Bringing Devices Together” The action of sharing a person's contacts would have to be approved but this feature is up and running after the update. Be Safe! Scott ... See More See Less

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• Comments: 6

Comment on Facebook

Is it automatic? Or do users need to accept or consent to that? I imagine it would be similar to air drop…

Thanks Scott!!!

Done. Thanks Scott.

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11 months ago

Was an honor, as always, to be interviewed by Shawnte Passmore about an online investigation. I hope this segment, along with others Shawnte and I have collaborated on help families be safe. Thanks Shawnte and I look forward to working together again. Be safe! ... See More See Less

• Comments: 0

It’s been an amazing school year! I just wanted to say thank you to all the schools, towns, youth and family services, and organizations that brought me in for my presentations during the 2022-23 school year. I am honored to say that I conducted 171 presentations during this school year for new and returning clients. I am very grateful for these opportunities to work together to empower students and families. I am looking forward to some opportunities over the summer that will include working with new organizations. I will also be preparing material for next school year, which will include incorporating fresh and, as always, the latest trends in technology. If your school or organization would like information on hosting a presentation, please let me know. Thank you and be safe! ... See More See Less

1 years ago

Could be another tool in our parent “tool box” to help our kids. Be safe! ... See More See Less

TikTok sets new default time limits for minors

www.wfsb.com

Thank you to Nicole Davison for having me as a guest on her podcast Unpacking Perspectives. We discussed several strategies and techniques to help families stay safe and empower our best choices online. Thank you again, Nicole and I look forward to working together again soon. ... See More See Less

‎Unpacking Perspectives: Perspectives on Internet Safety with Scott Driscoll on Apple Podcasts

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I was honored to speak with Jenna Greenspoon of Kidas on Safer Internet Day. We discussed a wide range of internet safety topics to provide information for parents to help empower themselves and their families to be as safe as possible. Thank you Kidas and I look forward to working together again. To see the interview follow this link lnkd.in/g7YPAAmm Be Safe! ... See More See Less

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Avoiding Scams and Fraud for Older Adults

How older adults can improve their personal cyber security.

Jul 06, 2023

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Key Takeaways

There are countless online scams targeting seniors, who collectively lost $3.1B to fraudsters in 2022—an 84% increase over the previous year.

Following some basic internet safety practices can help ensure that your online experience is safe and enjoyable.

To avoid being the victim of a scam, don’t click on or respond to suspicious links, attachments, calls, and pop-up messages.

The web can be a rich source of information, connection, and community for older adults—something that became even clearer during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as with any public space, you need to be aware of your surroundings. There are many online scams that target older adults, and their number and sophistication continues to grow. In 2022 alone , the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that 88,000 people age 60 and over collectively lost $3.1 billion dollars to internet fraud, with cryptocurrency and technical support schemes topping the list of complaints.

“Cyber criminals prey on older adults for a simple reason,” explained Genevieve Waterman , NCOA’s Director, Economic & Financial Security. “And it’s because they are more likely to have money, earned during a lifetime of employment.”

Perceived memory issues and a sense that older adults are more trusting play into it, too, she said.

Cyber security tips for seniors

But you don’t have to resign yourself to becoming a victim. Scammers may be sophisticated—but there are smart ways to safeguard against them. Think of cyberspace as the freeway: you have to navigate it defensively. Just like fastening your seatbelt, using some basic internet safety practices can help ensure that your online experience is safe and enjoyable. We’ve outlined four top cyber security tips below.

1. Don’t click on links in emails from unfamiliar senders. Be wary of any strange or unexpected messages, even if it's from someone you know.

Emails, text messages (or SMS), and social media posts can all contain malicious links. Spam or malicious emails are by far the most common method attackers use to deliver malware or phishing links. Phishing links take you to sites that gather your personal and financial information. Malware, short for “malicious software,” is software intentionally designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer, server, or network. Malware has the power to destroy files and steal your personal information. It can even impact the performance of your computer.

Here’s an example of how a malware attack works: The attacker sends you a message prompting you to click a link. The message looks professional and legitimate. It might advertise deals that look too good to pass up or convey an urgent request for information or payment. Clicking on the link downloads malware onto your system. Once your phone or computer is infected, the attacker uses your personal contact list to send out more malware directly from your account.

How do you avoid malware attacks and phishing scams? Don’t click on links sent through email, text, and social media from people you don’t know. Be especially wary of emails urging you to go to a website and provide personal details. If a message looks suspicious but appears to be from a business or person you know and trust, check with them before clicking or go directly to their website and contact them that way. It’s not rude—it’s smart . If you want to click with real confidence, be sure to have strong security software installed on your phone, laptop, or desktop computer.

“One thing to keep in mind is that scammers always push victims into feeling like they have to act immediately. They hope to pressure victims into making rash decisions. Don’t be duped by this ploy," said Emma McGowan, a privacy and security expert at Avast. 

"If you ever feel pressured to click on a link or pay some money, step back and assess the situation,” she continued.

2. Don’t open any attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting them to send it.

While attachments to an email may appear to be harmless, they could contain malware designed to launch an attack on your device. These attachments can be disguised as run-of-the-mill Word documents, PDFs, e-files, and voicemails. Don’t open any attachments you aren’t expecting or that are from an unknown contact—especially if they have the extension . exe or . zip . If the file(s) appears to be from a friend or family member, reach out to them to make sure they’ve sent you something.

Even if you get an attachment protected with a password, that password doesn’t mean it’s not malicious, and it won’t protect you. You should still be cautious and check with the sender. This internet safety rule also applies to attachments sent via text messages (or SMS) and social media.

And one more thing about social media: Scammers often create duplicate (fake) accounts using names and photos of people you know, then send a friend request. If you get one of these requests, reach out to your friend before accepting; chances are, it’s not legitimate and you should delete it.

3. Ignore unsolicited phone calls and “robocalls.”

Treat any unsolicited phone calls with skepticism—even if the phone number or name on your caller ID looks familiar.

“Advances in technology mean that phone scammers can easily “spoof”—or mimic—numbers that don’t belong to them,” Waterman said. “They might be calling you from another continent, but the number you see shares your area code, or looks like it’s from a local business. The person on the other end of the line is banking on the fact that you’ll pick up because the call seems legitimate. And once that happens, you’re immediately vulnerable to voice phishing.”

Voice phishing scams use sophisticated phone technology and are a common way for scammers to defraud seniors. What is voice phishing? When you answer the phone, a live person or recorded voice gives you false information that sounds important and time-sensitive. They may claim to be a young relative in trouble or say that your car’s warranty is expiring, and payment is required. Or, the caller may claim to be from “ tech support ” and tell you, falsely, that your computer is infected with a virus and you need to get it repaired. They may then request remote access to your device—or require you to pay a fee. You may be asked to provide personal information, which could be used later to steal your money or your identity. The person on the other end of the phone may try to pressure you—or even use threats.

Keep in mind that government entities, such as the IRS, will never call you asking for sensitive information. And technology companies won’t call you out of the blue to offer you technical support or assistance. Avoid giving money to someone over the phone, especially wire transfers, gift cards, and fines or bail. The best thing to do is to pre-screen all your calls, even if you’re pretty sure who’s on the other end of the line. Any friend, family member, or organization with a legitimate need to call you, will either leave a message or try again.

And if you do pick up and hear a recorded voice, the next best thing you can do is say nothing and hang up.

4. Don’t respond to or click on pop-up windows on your phone or computer.

Screen pop-ups are another way to scam older adults. A common pop-up ploy is scareware . This is a malware scam technique that uses pop-up security alerts and other tricks to frighten you into downloading or paying for fake software disguised as real cybersecurity protection. How does scareware work? An “urgent” pop-up window appears on your computer or phone, telling you that your device is compromised and needs repairing. When you call the support number for help, the scammer may either ask for remote access to your computer or request a fee to fix it.

Another malware technique is to use deceptive “Close” or “X” buttons, which automatically install a virus when you click on them. If you’ve accidentally downloaded scareware onto your device, delete the downloaded file immediately . It’s also a good idea to install genuine antivirus software that can remove any harmful remnants of the malware.

5. Don’t conduct any transaction involving personal information while using a public (or unsecured) network

“This advice is less specifically about scams and more about online safety overall,” Waterman said. “Public networks are crawling with scammers just waiting to intercept your passwords, bank account numbers, and other sensitive information so they can use it later to steal your money or identity. And it doesn’t require them to fool you into giving it up. They just take it.”

If you often rely on public WiFi and need to make purchases, log in to your financial institution, check your medical record, or other activity involving personal information, consider setting up a virtual private network (VPN ) to protect yourself. Otherwise, wait to do these things until your internet access is firewalled (secure).

You can further safeguard your mobile device from intrusion by protecting it, and any apps on it, with a PIN number or biometric recognition (such as touch ID or facial recognition).

How to take action to prevent online scams that target older adults

Internet safety for adults is important, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Awareness is a powerful first step in protecting yourself. Another item on your personal cyber security checklist should be installing trusted antivirus software to protect you and your device. There are a number of reputable options available for free on the web.

Lastly, if you think you’ve been the victim of an online scam or cyber attack, be vocal about your experience. You’re not alone—and there’s no reason to feel embarrassed about what happened. Immediately contact your local police and your financial institution if money has been taken from your account. You can also report the scam online to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

This content on personal security was developed in partnership with Avast . Learn more about Avast’s privacy and security software and how it can help protect your information and data.

Get More Tips Avoiding Scams and Fraud

Older adults lose billions of dollars each year to scams and fraud. Learn how to spot common scams, keep your money secure, and report financial fraud if you suspect you’re a victim.

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INTERNET SAFETY

Mar 24, 2019

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INTERNET SAFETY. Brian Blaszak Erie 1 BOCES [email protected] 821-7241. Course Overview. Schools E-mail Precautions Kids vs. Adults Messaging Your Child/Student Internet Predators Internet Sources. Schools. I-Safe Program www.isafe.org

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INTERNET SAFETY Brian Blaszak Erie 1 BOCES [email protected] 821-7241

Course Overview • Schools • E-mail • Precautions • Kids vs. Adults • Messaging • Your Child/Student • Internet Predators • Internet Sources

Schools • I-Safe Program • www.isafe.org • Overview: is the worldwide leader in the Internet safety education. Founded in 1998 and endorsed by the U.S. Congress, i-SAFE is a non-profit foundation dedicated to protecting the online experiences of youth everywhere. i-SAFE incorporates classroom curriculum with dynamic community outreach to empower students, teachers, parents, law enforcement, and concerned adults to make the Internet a safer place. Please join us today in the fight to safeguard our children’s online experience.

Schools • School Filters • For the most part, schools are a safe place for kids to explore the Internet. • WHY? Supervision and Filters block most content • Problems: Too many websites and natural change • Kids ALWAYS have or try to find a way around it!

Schools • RESEARCH Projects! • Teachers need to take extra steps to look at the websites they are giving students for projects…don’t just let them go to Google and go wild… • Find out who is running the website: • http://www.easywhois.com • Always do some of the research yourself • Typo Squatting (whitehouse.com vs. .gov)

Schools • Plagiarism: “I only took some of it…” • “Google it” (If it is not in the first 10 pages of Google, they may not have plagiarized). • Helpful websites: Some of these sites are pay sites: • http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0404web.htm

Schools • Popular Websites for students you may not have known about: • www.ratemyteacher.com • www.myspace.com • www.facebook.com (need HS/College e-mail) • www.wikipedia.com • http://www.urbandictionary.com/

E-mail • Write down your personal e-mail address on a scrap piece of paper • What does your e-mail address reveal about you? • TMI…Too Much Information! (In some cases) • Examples from I-Safe: • LilGrl41390 • Footballstar#5 • Syracuse_babe

Policing Your Computers • Computer Location: Family Room, Living Room, etc • Know the “ins” and “outs” of the computer • History of Internet Activity • “Cookies” • Awareness of programs on the computer • Take time to explore the Internet and see what is out there • Key Logger Program (records the typing on the computer)

Pay Bills Book vacations Shop Directions Sports E-mail family and friends Information Chat Blogging My Space Gambling Videos and Music Porn Sports Trouble: Violent and Delinquency Kids Vs. Adults: Adults are the “Tech Immigrants” Adults Kids

Precautions • Be Real…talk to your kids and students about the real dangers out there • Explore the Internet together • Top Internet Searches • Set time limits • Computer Locations should be in sight at home • Set passwords to your computer

Instant Messaging • Popular programs: AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Cell • Check out the “Buddy Lists” • Find the Print option • If your child/student is being harassed LEARN THE TEXT LANGAUGE!

LOL- Laugh out loud LMAO- Laugh my ass off BAG- Bust a Gut BB4N- Bye-Bye for Now BRB- Be Right Back DIKU- Do I Know You? CTN- Can’t Talk Now P911- Parent in room: Watch language PAL- Parents are listening 9- someone is looking over my shoulder 99- person has left the room Text Acronyms Need more? http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm

INTERNET PREDATORS • DATELINE NBC: • Ran a series of 6 stories called “To Catch a Predator” • 1st: no one was arrested, just an expose in the Washington DC area • 2nd: move to a different state (California) • 3rd: 50 men were arrested in this sting • Dateline: Predators • http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10912603/ remus.rutgers.edu

INTERNET PREDATORS • Other articles of Internet Safety: • WGRZ: What is your child doing? • TMI: Article from DATELINE on account info • My Space arrest from prank • My Space invader: teens are not as safe as they think • Perverted Justice (mentioned in the DATELINE video-Wikipedia article)

Internet Predators • How hard is for them to find their prey? • EASY! How can they do it? • MYSPACE.COM • CHATROOMS • BLOGS • Let’s Explore how easy it is to find out about someone on My Space

Is your child in danger? • Google their name and see what comes up • Create a fake account on My Space or a real account with no information so you can explore the site • Go to the Search feature in My Space and type in their name It is a fine line between being nosey and protecting your children and students!

Ways of Protection • Monitor your child’s Internet activity • Change their screen names • Take your address and phone numbers off any local phone directory • Sex offender website (see where registered sex offenders are in your neighborhood) • http://www.familywatchdog.us/

Malicious Code • A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file so it can spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. Much like human viruses, computer viruses can range in severity; some viruses cause only mildly annoying effects while others can damage your hardware, software, or files. Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer but it cannot infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going.  People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mailswith viruses as attachments in the e-mail. http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

Malicious Code • A worm is similar to a virus by its design, and is considered to be a sub-class of a virus. Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the ability to travel without any help from a person. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which allows it to travel unaided. The biggest danger with a worm is its ability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect. One example would be for a worm to send a copy of itself to everyone listed in your e-mail address book. Then, the worm replicates and sends itself out to everyone listed in each of the receiver's address book, and the manifest continues on down the line.  http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

Malicious Code • A Trojan Horse is full of as much trickery as the mythological Trojan Horse it was named after. The Trojan Horse, at first glance will appear to be useful software but will actually do damage once installed or run on your computer.  Those on the receiving end of a Trojan Horse are usually tricked into opening them because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate source.  When a Trojan is activated on your computer, the results can vary. Some Trojans are designed to be more annoying than malicious (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or they can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system. Trojans are also known to create a backdoor on your computer that gives malicious users access to your system, possibly allowing confidential or personal information to be compromised. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not reproduce by infecting other files nor do they self-replicate. http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

Malicious Code • The first steps to protecting your computer are to ensure your operating system (OS) is up-to-date. This is essential if you are running a Microsoft Windows OS. Secondly, you should have anti-virus software installed on your system and ensure you download updates frequently to ensure your software has the latest fixes for new viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses. Additionally you want to make sure your anti-virus program has the ability to scan e-mail and files as they are downloaded from the Internet. This will help prevent malicious programs from even reaching your computer. If this isn't enough protection, then you may want to consider installing a firewall as well. http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

Malicious Code • A firewall is a system which prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A firewall can be either hardware or software. Hardware firewalls provide a strong degree of protection from most forms of attack coming from the outside world and can be purchased as a stand-alone product or in broadband routers. Unfortunately, when battling viruses, worms and Trojans, a hardware firewall may be less effective than a software firewall, as it could possibly ignore embedded worms in out going e-mails and see this as regular network traffic. For individual home users, the most popular firewall choice is a software firewall.  A good software firewall will protect your computer from outside attempts to control or gain access your computer, and usually provides additional protection against the most common Trojan programs or e-mail worms. The downside to software firewalls is that they will only protect the computer they are installed on, not a network. http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp

Dear valued customer, We recently updated our accounts and noticed that your account information appears to have old information according to our records. Please click on the link below and type in your account information so we can have updated records of your account. http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/marathon/marathon.html Thank you, HSBC Bank

PHISHING • The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information. For example, 2003 saw the proliferation of a phishing scam in which users received e-mails supposedly from eBay claiming that the user’s account was about to be suspended unless he clicked on the provided link and updated the credit card information that the genuine eBay already had. Because it is relatively simple to make a Web site look like a legitimate organizations site by mimicking the HTMLcode, the scam counted on people being tricked into thinking they were actually being contacted by eBay and were subsequently going to eBay’s site to update their account information.

Helpful Internet Resources • www.isafe.org • www.netsmartz.org • www.chatdanger.com • www.cybertipline.com • www.internetfiltereview.com

Questions • Concerns? • Questions? • Comments?

BLOG Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author. http://www.webopedia.com/

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No deposit. no risk. in-person or webinar., "i sat next to our school resource officer during the entire 4th/5th grade presentation. he leaned over and said, "this is a cop's dream education for teaching kids tech safety. every kids should hear this." he was impressed" (text received from a parent, jeanette, after a recent elementary school talk), custom internet safety work for your organization, student surveys.

We've created age-appropriate surveys for grades 4-12. Assess the digital behaviors of your students so that leadership, parents, and our team know where to focus our efforts.

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We've performed over 1,500 live and virtual internet safety presentations around the world. We bring our best to kids, teens, educators, parents, and caring adults.

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We'll customize an 8-week Marketing Plan just for you, including parent communications (also in Spanish), social media graphics, flyers, press releases, and email templates.

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We leave you with months of tech content to send in newsletters, in-class discussion guides, and at-home conversation starters (also in Spanish).

Our team has performed hundreds of talks since 2015. We have over 35 years of combined ministry experience in Evangelical and Catholic churches.

We perform a variety of online safety presentations.

Technology is a Blast (Grades K-2)

The Protect Young Eyes team teaches kids how to use technology awesomely with age-appropriate language, engaging conversation, interactive activities, and videos. This presentation talks about screens, confusing pics and videos, predators, privacy, secrets, and the power of our words (typically around 25-30 minutes).

Although the main bullets are the same, the presentation decks are different between K-2 and 3-5, using age-appropriate images, illustrations, and videos.

For faith-based situations, Scripture covered includes: John 10:10, Proverbs 6:6, Psalm 119:37, and James 3:6.

Technology is a Blast (Grades 3-5)

The Protect Young Eyes team teaches kids how to use technology awesomely with age-appropriate language, engaging conversation, interactive activities, and videos. This presentation talks about screens, confusing pics and videos, predators, privacy, secrets, and the power of our words (typically around 30-35 minutes).

For faith-based, Scripture covered includes: John 10:10, Proverbs 6:6, Psalm 119:37, and James 3:6.

You Matter (Grades 6-8)*

After many presentations in the US and beyond, we have discovered that students, like adults, desire to be known and have significance. Modern technology (especially social media) has tapped into this and offers a platform that often takes more than it gives back. We must remind students that THEY matter.  This presentation covers topics such as digital footprints, pornography, bullying, sexting, privacy, mental health, and addiction (fits within a class period).

*We do not use the word pornography with students in grades K-6. Instead, we’ll use the words you see above: “confusing,” “unsafe,” “bad,” or “you know what we’re talking about (and they all nod their heads). If we happen to have just grades 7-8 together in a junior high talk, we will use the word pornography. We know that they are.

Heavy focus on Romans 5:8 and Psalm 139 for faith-based situations only.

You Matter (Grades 9-12)

After countless presentations in the US and beyond, we have discovered that students, like adults, desire to be known and have significance. Modern technology (especially social media) has tapped into this and offers a platform that often takes more than it gives back. We must remind students that THEY matter.  This presentation covers topics such as digital footprints, pornography, bullying, sexting, privacy, mental health, and addiction (fits within a class period).

Although the main bullets are the same, the presentation decks are different between 6-8 and 9-12, using age-appropriate images, illustrations, and videos.

How to Create a Tech-Ready Home: Navigating the Tension Between Careful, Countercultural, and Confident

(Audience: parents and caring adults; children discouraged from attending)

This is our bread-and-butter talk that has been delivered hundreds of times all over the USA and beyond. Although it’s not possible to create an internet-safe home, it is possible to create one that is internet SAFER. We’ve observed what it takes to have kids learn to use technology well. And we call it the PYE Core Values. This presentation breaks down these 5 foundational ideas. Get ready for a ton of practical tips, solutions, and ideas you can implement this weekend. (can be 60 or 90 minutes + QA).

Can be secular or faith-based.

Mental Health, Technology, & Our Kids: The Complicated Intersection Between Brains and Algorithms

Studies are starting to point toward a greater percentage of teens and young people who struggle with anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation. It's a really complicated time to grow up. This talk elevates our understanding of their brains so that we elevate our empathy for why some teens do and feel the things that they do online (can be 60 or 90 minutes + QA).

Pornography & Self-Generated Content: Real Threats. Real Solutions

In this presentation, we'll explore the effects pornography has upon young brains and one’s view of self and others. Why do good kids look at porn? Why are teens sending nude photos to complete strangers? What should be our response? We will raise awareness and leave parents and caregivers with 6 practical ways to protect their families from the porn-demic (can be 60 or 90 minutes + QA).

Protect Young Eyes in the News Fighting for Your Family

We Speak to a Variety of Organizations

Feedback about our Internet Safety Work

Dan Behm, Superintendent, Forest Hills Public Schools

"PYE provides extremely useful information, tips, and tools for parents. Parents must take an active role in managing these powerful tools, and it is never too young to build good habits. PYE covers this A to Z. Your future self will thank you for heeding the advice provided by Protect Young Eyes."

Wendy Hofman , Head of School, Lansing Christian

"that presentation was five bills.".

The response from a high school student when asked by PYE speaker Doug Crawford how it went. Don't worry. It's a good thing.

SENATE JUDICIARY HEARING

July 9, 2019.

Protect Young Eyes founder Chris McKenna was asked to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on protecting children online. His testimony came as a result of his #FixAppRatings initiative , and is now shaping legislation that is attempting to prevent the exploitation of children.

Questions about getting started? Drop us a note to find out more!

Michele from the PYE team is super fast! We'll respond quickly.

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Smart Online Safety Adult Program to teach adults how to keep kids safe online

ONTONAGON, Mich. (WLUC) - A presentation about how parents can keep kids safe online is coming to Ontonagon this weekend .

The Ontonagon County Child Protection Council is teaming up with the Michigan State Police to host the Smart Online Safety Adult Program . The presentation is meant to inform adults about how to keep kids safe online and to recognize the signs that a child is being bullied or extorted online.

Organizers say it’s important for adults to stay up to date on these things to keep kids safe.

“There are monsters out there, a lot of evil,” Ontonagon County Juvenile Officer and District Court Probation Officer Paula Domitrovich said. “As adults, parents, teachers, coaches, we need to be educated so that we can protect the children in our community.”

The Smart Online Safety Adult Program will be this Sunday, March 10 at 6 p.m. at the Ontonagon Theater of Performing Arts. It’s open to the public and free to attend.

For those who need transportation assistance or childcare to attend the program, reach out to the Ontonagon County Child Protection Council .

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• About Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Risk and Protective Factors
• Program: Essentials for Childhood: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences through Data to Action
• Adverse childhood experiences can have long-term impacts on health, opportunity and well-being.
• Adverse childhood experiences are common and some groups experience them more than others.

What are adverse childhood experiences?

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). Examples include: 1

• Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect.
• Witnessing violence in the home or community.
• Having a family member attempt or die by suicide.

Also included are aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding. Examples can include growing up in a household with: 1

• Substance use problems.
• Mental health problems.
• Instability due to parental separation.
• Instability due to household members being in jail or prison.

The examples above are not a complete list of adverse experiences. Many other traumatic experiences could impact health and well-being. This can include not having enough food to eat, experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, or experiencing discrimination. 2 3 4 5 6

Quick facts and stats

ACEs are common. About 64% of adults in the United States reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18. Nearly one in six (17.3%) adults reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs. 7

Preventing ACEs could potentially reduce many health conditions. Estimates show up to 1.9 million heart disease cases and 21 million depression cases potentially could have been avoided by preventing ACEs. 1

Some people are at greater risk of experiencing one or more ACEs than others. While all children are at risk of ACEs, numerous studies show inequities in such experiences. These inequalities are linked to the historical, social, and economic environments in which some families live. 5 6 ACEs were highest among females, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults, and adults who are unemployed or unable to work. 7

ACEs are costly. ACEs-related health consequences cost an estimated economic burden of $748 billion annually in Bermuda, Canada, and the United States. 8

ACEs can have lasting effects on health and well-being in childhood and life opportunities well into adulthood. 9 Life opportunities include things like education and job potential. These experiences can increase the risks of injury, sexually transmitted infections, and involvement in sex trafficking. They can also increase risks for maternal and child health problems including teen pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and fetal death. Also included are a range of chronic diseases and leading causes of death, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and suicide. 1 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

ACEs and associated social determinants of health, such as living in under-resourced or racially segregated neighborhoods, can cause toxic stress. Toxic stress, or extended or prolonged stress, from ACEs can negatively affect children’s brain development, immune systems, and stress-response systems. These changes can affect children’s attention, decision-making, and learning. 18

Children growing up with toxic stress may have difficulty forming healthy and stable relationships. They may also have unstable work histories as adults and struggle with finances, jobs, and depression throughout life. 18 These effects can also be passed on to their own children. 19 20 21 Some children may face further exposure to toxic stress from historical and ongoing traumas. These historical and ongoing traumas refer to experiences of racial discrimination or the impacts of poverty resulting from limited educational and economic opportunities. 1 6

Adverse childhood experiences can be prevented. Certain factors may increase or decrease the risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences.

Preventing adverse childhood experiences requires understanding and addressing the factors that put people at risk for or protect them from violence.

Creating safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children can prevent ACEs and help all children reach their full potential. We all have a role to play.

• Merrick MT, Ford DC, Ports KA, et al. Vital Signs: Estimated Proportion of Adult Health Problems Attributable to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Implications for Prevention — 25 States, 2015–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:999-1005. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6844e1 .
• Cain KS, Meyer SC, Cummer E, Patel KK, Casacchia NJ, Montez K, Palakshappa D, Brown CL. Association of Food Insecurity with Mental Health Outcomes in Parents and Children. Science Direct. 2022; 22:7; 1105-1114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2022.04.010 .
• Smith-Grant J, Kilmer G, Brener N, Robin L, Underwood M. Risk Behaviors and Experiences Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness—Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 23 U.S. States and 11 Local School Districts. Journal of Community Health. 2022; 47: 324-333.
• Experiencing discrimination: Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Impacts of Racism on the Foundations of Health | Annual Review of Public Health https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-101940 .
• Sedlak A, Mettenburg J, Basena M, et al. Fourth national incidence study of child abuse and neglect (NIS-4): Report to Congress. Executive Summary. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health an Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.; 2010.
• Font S, Maguire-Jack K. Pathways from childhood abuse and other adversities to adult health risks: The role of adult socioeconomic conditions. Child Abuse Negl. 2016;51:390-399.
• Swedo EA, Aslam MV, Dahlberg LL, et al. Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among U.S. Adults — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:707–715. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7226a2 .
• Bellis, MA, et al. Life Course Health Consequences and Associated Annual Costs of Adverse Childhood Experiences Across Europe and North America: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Lancet Public Health 2019.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associations with Poor Mental Health and Suicidal Behaviors Among High School Students — Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January–June 2021 | MMWR
• Hillis SD, Anda RF, Dube SR, Felitti VJ, Marchbanks PA, Marks JS. The association between adverse childhood experiences and adolescent pregnancy, long-term psychosocial consequences, and fetal death. Pediatrics. 2004 Feb;113(2):320-7.
• Miller ES, Fleming O, Ekpe EE, Grobman WA, Heard-Garris N. Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Obstetrics & Gynecology . 2021;138(5):770-776. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004570 .
• Sulaiman S, Premji SS, Tavangar F, et al. Total Adverse Childhood Experiences and Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review. Matern Child Health J . 2021;25(10):1581-1594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03176-6 .
• Ciciolla L, Shreffler KM, Tiemeyer S. Maternal Childhood Adversity as a Risk for Perinatal Complications and NICU Hospitalization. Journal of Pediatric Psychology . 2021;46(7):801-813. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab027 .
• Mersky JP, Lee CP. Adverse childhood experiences and poor birth outcomes in a diverse, low-income sample. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2019;19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2560-8 .
• Reid JA, Baglivio MT, Piquero AR, Greenwald MA, Epps N. No youth left behind to human trafficking: Exploring profiles of risk. American journal of orthopsychiatry. 2019;89(6):704.
• Diamond-Welch B, Kosloski AE. Adverse childhood experiences and propensity to participate in the commercialized sex market. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2020 Jun 1;104:104468.
• Shonkoff, J. P., Garner, A. S., Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, & Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (2012). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232–e246. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2663
• Narayan AJ, Kalstabakken AW, Labella MH, Nerenberg LS, Monn AR, Masten AS. Intergenerational continuity of adverse childhood experiences in homeless families: unpacking exposure to maltreatment versus family dysfunction. Am J Orthopsych. 2017;87(1):3. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000133 .
• Schofield TJ, Donnellan MB, Merrick MT, Ports KA, Klevens J, Leeb R. Intergenerational continuity in adverse childhood experiences and rural community environments. Am J Public Health. 2018;108(9):1148-1152. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304598 .
• Schofield TJ, Lee RD, Merrick MT. Safe, stable, nurturing relationships as a moderator of intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment: a meta-analysis. J Adolesc Health. 2013;53(4 Suppl):S32-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.05.004 .

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

ACEs can have a tremendous impact on lifelong health and opportunity. CDC works to understand ACEs and prevent them.

Degrading behaviour towards women is part of 'mainstream' pornography. What are the risks of this?

In a bid to curb Australia's domestic violence crisis, the federal government is turning its attention to online pornography.

This month, the government announced it would spend $6.5 million to pilot age-verification technology. It follows a 2023 report that found 75 per cent of 16-18-year-olds surveyed had seen porn. Of those, nearly one-third saw it before the age of 13.

The measure aims to prevent children from accessing adult material and "tackle extreme online misogyny, which is fuelling harmful attitudes towards women", the government said .

It's concerned that violent or degrading pornography — particularly viewed at an early age — may fuel gender-based violence in adulthood.

But is there a direct link? And is regulation the answer or would other measures be more effective?

Pornography, misogyny and sex crimes

According to Caroline West, a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Sydney, pornography is "sexually explicit material, either pictures or words that are primarily designed or used to produce sexual arousal in viewers or consumers".

She's been writing about the topic for more than two decades, most recently authoring a chapter on pornography in The Oxford Handbook of Freedom of Speech.

There are various — and often vastly different — sub-genres of pornography. These include gay pornography, feminist pornography, and violent or degrading pornography.

Dr West says that this last category is a concern for some feminist thinkers who believe there's an association between the consumption of violent pornography and an increase in sex crimes.

She points to an increase in sexual choking , especially among younger adults, as one example.

"That can be linked in a pretty direct, linear way to increased depictions of choking in pornography, and it's disproportionately women who are being choked," Dr West says.

"Some disturbingly high percentage of real women say that … they haven't been consulted before the choking happened in their real-life sexual encounters."

Dr West says there's a worrying gap in sex education in many parts of the world and pornography often fills that void.

"Young boys and some young girls, but mostly young boys, [are] viewing pornography, partly in order to learn how to have sex," she says.

"And if the kind of pornography that they're viewing is not respectful, if it shows women being degraded or brutalised … then that's obviously a problem.

"This is kind of bad for men as well, you know. Men have to be the brutalisers and the dominators … I think a lot of people are worried about that."

These concerns are shared by the Australian government.

This week, federal minister Tanya Plibersek told ABC's AM program that the figures for sexual assault are " exploding ". 

"Kids are seeing pornography that includes choking and anal sex before they've had their first kiss," she said.

"Unless we begin to tackle it now, we are going to see a continued epidemic of sexual assault amongst teenagers."

The UK government is currently trying to enact its own age assurance measures, although pornography regulation has proven problematic in the past.

Meanwhile, three of the world's biggest porn sites are facing new requirements, including age verification, in the European Union .

It's unclear how the Australia's pilot will work, but if the eSafety commissioner's  2023 Roadmap for age verification is anything to go by, it could involve anonymised digital tokens to prove a user's age.

The pleasure factor

Misogyny and gendered violence aren't constrained to the pornographic realm, says Louise Richardson-Self, a senior lecturer in philosophy and gender studies at the University of Tasmania.

"Violence against women is a massive problem," she points out.

"[We see] objectifying representations of women in other forms of media, in advertising, but also in film and TV."

She believes this is one reason why pornography has so many alarmed.

"[It's] consumed within this wider context where the degradation of women — and stereotyping and violence against them — is everywhere," she says.

But there's another factor at play.

"The way we consume pornography is unlike the way we consume other media," explains Dr Richardson-Self.

When someone watches porn, they create a connection between the embodied sensation of pleasure and the content, she says.

And this is where viewers could enter ethically murky territory.

"Even if you personally want to seek out the most ethical porn that there is … there's a good chance that you're going to run into degrading stuff along the way," Dr Richardson-Self says.

"I think that there is space to talk about what … repeated exposure to degradation can achieve, [whether it's] intentional or otherwise.

"Is there a role of subtle preference formation going on there?"

It's not just the pornographic content itself that could be shaping viewers' attitudes towards women.

Dr Richardson-Self says we also need to consider the text that accompanies a video.

Certain words, for instance, can denigrate the female participant — even if, behind the scenes, the adult performer was afforded a respectful work environment.

"It's not necessarily that the sex act itself is exploitative or problematic or wrong," says Dr Richardson-Self.

"But the way in which the sex acts are framed for people's consumption might be problematic."

The case for ethical porn

The correlation between consumption of violent or misogynistic pornography and gendered violence has not been empirically proven, says Dr West.

"It's very difficult because there are so many confounding factors," she points out.

Queensland University of Technology research fellow Zahra Stardust says that a lot of anti-porn literature is problematic.

She sits on the editorial board of the academic journal Porn Studies and has written extensively about sex worker ethics.

"Research about 'violence against women' in pornography is heavily distorted because violence is frequently conflated with consensual kink practices," Dr Stardust says.

"It is based on representation only, without any reference for performer agency, negotiation, preference or desire.

"Women have been making pornography for decades and it is deeply troubling that our well-documented pioneering political interventions into ethical production and distribution are routinely ignored."

Dr Richardson-Self understands why many women object to pornography being framed as inherently exploitative. 

"There are many people who not only actively enjoy sex, but also enjoy creating their own content," she says.

"To suggest, in a kind of blanket way, that this is exploitative, these women are oppressed, completely denies their agency with respect to their sex."

However, Dr West says that even if some women find performing in pornography empowering, others may have different experiences.

In 2023, a panel of international experts, led by the University of Sydney, identified six criteria that constituted "healthy and ethical pornography":

• A negotiation of consent on-screen
• Depictions of safe sex
• Ethical production
• A focus on pleasure for all participants
• A variety of sexual practices
• A variety of body types, genders, and races.

Dr Richardson-Self says that ethical porn minimises potential harm.

"If you kind of step back from the moral outrage of it all, and ask, 'Is there anything wrong with people enjoying sex?' [The answer is] no," she says.

"If that's the case, then presumptively there could be a space for pornography that is considered ethical, whether it's … best practice on set, you know, everybody is consenting, there's good communication, nothing is ever taken too far."

Another aspect, she says, is ensuring the content is "inclusive and celebratory of sex, rather than viewing sex as as something that is done to someone else, or punishment imparted onto someone else's body".

Could porn be regulated, anyway?

Dr West says that strengthening age restrictions on access to pornography is an important measure.

She also believes that sex education could examine the messages and images that children may come across in online material.

"When they're older and they probably have been exposed to some pornography, just having a critical reflective discussion of ideas about how to have sex and sexual equality," she says.

Aside from Australia's age verification pilot — the details of which will come to light in coming months — could pornography be regulated?

Dr Richardson-Self is sceptical.

"Even if you think in principle it's the right decision, you have to ask whether or not it can be successfully achieved," she says.

"With the internet being such a vast space, and with people consistently finding ways to out-manoeuvre bans on sites … it seems like censorship as a strategy would be one of constantly chasing one's own tail, or like a game of Whack-A-Mole."

"Just because something can't be done perfectly isn't, in and of itself, a reason not to do it to its imperfect best, but it does call for the need to actually step back and assess the problem and go 'What are we trying to achieve?'"

In her earlier academic years, Dr West says she was much more in favour of regulating what she calls "inegalitarian pornography".

Today, her views have changed.

"Regulation, just in general, is a bit of a blunt and treacherous weapon," she says.

"If there are ways that we can challenge the harms, without regulating, [that] would be less costly and preferable."

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• Domestic Violence
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• Internet Culture
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• Women’s Rights