Posted at 08/24/2011 12:31 PM | Updated as of 08/24/2011 12:34 PM
MANILA, Philippines - While the Internet can give anyone access to information and entertainment, it may also be dangerous to users, particularly children.
Security software firm Kaspersky Lab made the statement as it identified 4 main threats lurking on the world wide web: e-mail spam, pornographic materials, identity theft and sexual predators.
"Children make extensive use of the Internet such as search engines, social networks and e-mail. All of these are a potential source of threats -- like the distribution of links to phishing or pornographic website as well as adult content spam which may negatively affect a child's psyche and expose the computer to the risk of malware infection," said Kaspersky Lab expert Konstantin Ignatiev.
"Even general searches can throw up completely unexpected results," he added.
According to Ignatiev, cybercriminals can use techniques to push unwanted or dangerous links to the top of search results, send an invitation to meet up via social networks, or design fake websites to obtain usernames and passwords.
"Using social networks today is a huge risk for children, since they do not have sufficient life experience to reliably distinguish between the fake and the genuine. Parents should never forget this," he said.
"[People] should just be as careful on social networks and the Internet as they should be in real life."
Ignatiev then gave these tips on how to avoid online risks:
1. Never make your addresses, telephone numbers or other contact information public, or send that information to a stranger by e-mail, via a social network or by chat. Don't agree to meet a stranger in person. Ignore these invitations and cut off communication with anyone who insists on meeting.
2. Never publish your e-mail address on any forums, community websites or social networks as this can be used by spammers to send unwanted e-mail. Don't click on links in messages from strangers as these could have been sent by cybercriminals.
3. Do not follow links with tempting offers, such as increasing your account rating or gaining some kind of super-user options on social networks. Often, these messages are sent by scammers or cybercriminals to trick users into visiting a malicious website which will then infect their computers.
4. Don't pay attention to offers of free prizes, easy money or inheritances -- such messages are only sent by scammers.
5. Make sure that computers are installed with legitimate security applications. New malware are created every day and applications are constantly updated with the latest virus or Trojan signatures.
Security software firm Kaspersky Lab made the statement as it identified 4 main threats lurking on the world wide web: e-mail spam, pornographic materials, identity theft and sexual predators.
"Children make extensive use of the Internet such as search engines, social networks and e-mail. All of these are a potential source of threats -- like the distribution of links to phishing or pornographic website as well as adult content spam which may negatively affect a child's psyche and expose the computer to the risk of malware infection," said Kaspersky Lab expert Konstantin Ignatiev.
"Even general searches can throw up completely unexpected results," he added.
According to Ignatiev, cybercriminals can use techniques to push unwanted or dangerous links to the top of search results, send an invitation to meet up via social networks, or design fake websites to obtain usernames and passwords.
"Using social networks today is a huge risk for children, since they do not have sufficient life experience to reliably distinguish between the fake and the genuine. Parents should never forget this," he said.
"[People] should just be as careful on social networks and the Internet as they should be in real life."
Ignatiev then gave these tips on how to avoid online risks:
1. Never make your addresses, telephone numbers or other contact information public, or send that information to a stranger by e-mail, via a social network or by chat. Don't agree to meet a stranger in person. Ignore these invitations and cut off communication with anyone who insists on meeting.
2. Never publish your e-mail address on any forums, community websites or social networks as this can be used by spammers to send unwanted e-mail. Don't click on links in messages from strangers as these could have been sent by cybercriminals.
3. Do not follow links with tempting offers, such as increasing your account rating or gaining some kind of super-user options on social networks. Often, these messages are sent by scammers or cybercriminals to trick users into visiting a malicious website which will then infect their computers.
4. Don't pay attention to offers of free prizes, easy money or inheritances -- such messages are only sent by scammers.
5. Make sure that computers are installed with legitimate security applications. New malware are created every day and applications are constantly updated with the latest virus or Trojan signatures.
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