WORLD WIDE WEB

The World Wide Web is a system of Internet Servers the supports HTML documents. HTML stand for Hyper text Markup Language, and allows users to follow links to other pages, documents, or graphics. The World Wide Web is a collection of electronic documents that are linked together like a spider web.
These documents are stored on computers called servers located around the world.
The Web has evolved into a global electronic publishing medium and increasingly, a medium for conducting electronic commerce.

The Web consists of:
 

Your personal computer

Web browser software to access the Web

A connection to an Internet service provider (ISP)

Servers to host the data

Routers and switches to direct the flow of data

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Web Browsers

 A web browser is the software program you use to access the World Wide Web, the graphical portion of the Internet. Sometimes school choose to use other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox, that offer more security against unwanted pop-ups and better filtering against inappropriate subjects. Our school used Internet Explorer. Although many different browsers are available, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox and Netscape Navigator are the most popular. At one time, Netscape (now owned by AOL) and Microsoft have put so much money into their browsers that competitors found it hard to keep up.You can download Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Firefox for free from each company's website. If you have one browser already, you can test out the others. Also note that there are slight differences between the Windows and Macintosh versions.

Common Domain Extensions

The extension of a URL will usually tell the type of Web site. Domain extensions indicate non profit organizations, governmental agencies, and businesses among many others.

• Nonprofit organizations have URLS that end in .org (Example- www.seaworld.org or www.girlscouts.org).

• Most businesses have URLs that end in .com (www.nike.com or www.oldnavy.com ).

• Government agencies have URLs that end in .gov (www.fbi.gov or www.stateofindiana.gov ).

• Military branches have URLs that end in .mil (www.navy.mil or www.army.mil ).

• Many schools, colleges and universities have URLs that end in .edu (www.uwec.edu or www.standford.edu ).

• Email providers have URLs that end in .net (www.earthlink.net or www.charter.net ).

• Public school districts often have URLs that end in .k12, the two-letter state abbreviation, and the letters .us (www.dce.k12.wi.us or www.stillwater.k12.mn.us ).

Common Web File Extensions 

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But that access can also pose hazards to adolescents. For example, an 8-year-old might log on to a search engine and type in the word "Lego." But with just one missed keystroke, he or she might enter the word "Legs" instead, and be directed to thousands of websites with a focus on legs - some of which may contain pornographic material.

That's why it's important to be aware of what dangers on the Internet. You parents may have no idea what you may see and hear on the Internet, who you meet, and what you share about yourself online. I remember the days where I thought it wouldn't happen to me or I know what I am doing, but kids need to realize it could be you.

Just like any safety issue, it's a good idea to talk with your parents about your situations, take advantage of resources to protect you from potential dangers, and keep a close eye on your activities.

Internet Safety Laws

A federal law has been created to help protect you while they are using the Internet. It is designed to keep anyone from obtaining kids' personal information without you knowing about it and agreeing to it first.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites to explain their privacy policies on the site and get parents' consent before collecting or using a child's personal information, such as a name, address, phone number, or social security number. The law also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or contest.

But even with this law, a child's best online protection is knowledge. By talking to you about potential online dangers and proper computer use, we'll be helping you to surf the Internet safely.

Online Tools to Protect You

There are online tools that you can use to control access to adult material and help protect yourself from Internet predators. No option is going to guarantee that you will be kept away from 100% of the risks on the Internet. So it's important that you be aware of what you are on and educate yourself about the online dangers and risks.

Many Internet service providers (ISPs) provide control options to block certain material from coming in to you computer. There is also software that can help block your access to certain sites based on a "bad site" list that your ISP creates. Filtering programs can block sites from coming in and restrict your personal information from being unknowingly sent online. Also, it's a good idea to create a screen name to protect your real identity.

Cookies

Many sites use "cookies," devices that track specific information about the user, such as name, email address, and shopping preferences. Cookies can be disabled. Ask your Internet service provider for more information.

• It's also a good idea to stick to these guidelines while using the Internet:
• Follow the rules  set by your Internet service provider.
• Never trade personal photographs in the mail or scanned photographs over the Internet.
• Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location. Use only a screen name. Never agree to meet anyone from a chat room in person.
• Never respond to a threatening email or message.
• Always tell a parent about any communication or conversation that was scary.
• If you have a new "friend," be very cautious. Look for signs.

2. Pharming

An online scam that attacks the browser's address bar. Users type in what they think is a valid web-site address and are unknowingly redirected to an illegitimate site that steals their personal information.

3. Phishing

An online scam that uses e-mail to "fish" for users' private information by imitating legitimate companies. People are lured into sharing user names, passwords, account information or credit-card numbers. The phishing e-mail usually contains a link to an illegitimate site. Scammers copy the look of a web site to set up a nearly identical page, one that appears to be part of that company's site.

4. Spimming

Mass mailings sent as Instant Messages to users. Often these can feature links to inappropriate sites.

5. Mouse Trapping

A commonly used technique by inappropriate sites where a user gets "locked" in a web site. While surfing the internet it is possible to click a web site and have multiple undesirable web sites open. When this happens, you often cannot close or back out of the sites and must close your web browser completely.

6. Cyberstalking/Harassment

Terms that can refer to the online enticement of children; rude or threatening messages; slanderous information; or repeated, unwanted messages.

7. Cyberbullying

Sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the internet or other digital communication devices.

Take the quiz to see if you have been cyberbullied.

http://www.wiredkids.org/ktt_universal/games/javascript/cyberbullying_quiz_1/index.html

Why do kids bully each other online? Let me count the ways....

Before you read further, know that is there is a threat or personal contact information about your or your child posted online, you have to take action and report it to the authorities. Better to be embarassed a bit for jumping the gun than finding your child or yourself in physical danger.

Telling the difference between flaming, netbullying and harassment and cyberstalking, knowing when to ignore it and when to get help...

It’s not always easy to tell these apart, except for serious cases of cyberstalking, when you “know it when you see it.” But you can start by running through this checklist. If the communication is only a flame, you may not be able to do much about it. (Sometimes ISPs will consider this a terms of service violation.) But the closer it comes to real life threats the more likely you can and should get help from the authorities.

The kind of threat:

• The communication uses lewd language
• The communication insults your child directly (“You are stupid!”)
• The communication threatens your child vaguely (“I’m going to get you!”)
• The communication threatens your child with bodily harm. (“I’m going to beat you up!”)
• There is a general serious threat. (“There is a bomb in the school!” or “Don’t take the school bus today!”)
• The communication threatens your child with serious bodily harm or death (“I am going to break your legs!” or “I am going to kill you!”) 

The frequency of the threats:

• It is a one-time communication
• The communication is repeated in the same or different ways
• The communications are increasing
• Third-parties are joining in and communications are now being received from (what appears to be) additional people

 The source of the threats:

• Your child knows who is doing this
• Your child thinks they know who is doing this
• Your child has no idea who is doing this
• The messages appear to be from several different people 

The nature of the threats:

• Repeated e-mails or IMs
• Following the child around online, into chatrooms, favorite websites, etc.
• Building fake profiles, websites or posing as your child’s e-mail or IM
• Planting statements to provoke third-party stalking and harassment
• Signing your child up for porn sites and e-mailing lists and junk e-mail and IM.
• Breaking in to their accounts online
• Stealing or otherwise accessing their passwords
• Posting images of the child online (taken from any source, including video and photo phones)
• Posting real or doctored sexual images of the child online
• Sharing personal information about the child
• Sharing intimate information about the child (sexual, special problems, etc.)
• Sharing contact information about the child coupled with a sexual solicitation (“for a good time call …” or “I am interested in [fill in the blank] sex…”)
• Reporting the child for real or provoked terms of service violations (“notify wars” or “warning wars”)
• Encouraging that others share their top ten “hit lists,” or ugly lists, or slut lists online and including your child on that list.
• Posting and encouraging others to post nasty comments on your child’s blog or guestbook.
• Hacking your child’s computer and sending your child malicious codes.
• Sending threats to others (like the president of the United States) or attacking others while posing as your child.
• Copying others on your child’s private e-mail and IM communications.
• Posting bad reviews or feedback on your child without cause.
• Registering your child’s name and setting up a bash website or profile.
• Posting rude or provocative comments while posing as your child (such as insulting racial minorities at a website devoted to that racial minority).
• Sending SPAM or malware to others while posing as your child.
• Breaking the rules of a website or service while posing as your child.
• Masquerading as your child for any purpose.
• Posting your child’s text-messaging address or cell phone number online to encourage abuse and increase your child’s text-messaging or cell phone charges.
• Launching a denial of service attack on your child’s website.
• Sending “jokes” about your child to others or mailing lists. 

The more repeated the communications are, the greater the threats (or enlarging this to include third-parties) and the more dangerous the methods, the more likely law enforcement or legal process be used. If personal contact information is being shared online, this must be treated very seriously.

If the child thinks they know who is doing this, that may either make this more serious, or less. But once third-parties are involved (hate groups, sexually-deviant groups, etc.) it makes no difference if the person who started this is a young seven year old doing it for a laugh. It escalates quickly and can be dangerous.

It can be very helpful if you have pre-installed a monitoring software program that can record all communications and all instant messaging platforms. When netbullying happens, you would have the proof necessary to do something about it.

Also, remember that different netbullies have different motives for their bullying. Understanding their motives can be very effective in stopping their bullying. You can read more about the reasons kids netbully and the solutions that work with each type of netbully at the Why Kids NetBully page.

If you are going to make a report to the ISP, the school or the police, you can use the form and instructions at Report It! These will help you get a more effective response.

And if you need help deciding whether you need ot report the netbullying, feel free to drop by WiredSafety.org's cyberstalking and harassment tipline where a trained volunteer will help you with your problem. Note that if there is a death threat or one of serious bodily harm or personal contact information posted online, WiredSafety.org requires that you make a police report before they will assist you. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If your local police department doesn't know how to handle the complaint, refer them to CyberLawEnforcement.org for help.