iTools & resources

National Safer Internet Day took place on 10th February, in which a number of events and activities were held across the country by organisations such as CEOP and the DCSF.

Local activities were also held, no more so than in Birmingham. Digital Birmingham worked with school children across the city to highlight how important it is to stay safe online, but to still have fun.

At Sheldon Heath Community Arts College, children were able to listen to and question Ed Gibson, Chief Cyber Security Adviser to Microsoft UK, and former FBI Agent.

Ed talked to the children about many elements of staying safe online, some included:

• Never answering an email that asks for your bank information or to verify your bank account. Your bank will never ask for this information from you, as they already have it.
  
• If you receive spam emails, do not click on any of the hyperlinks within the email as this will no doubt compromise the security of your computer.
  
• Keep your software updated as often as possible. Computers with Microsoft Windows will be enabled with automatic software updates, keeping your computer up to date will give you between 80-90% more protection to external hackers than if you don't.
  
• Do not give out information on the internet that you would not give to a stranger. Even though you may think that only your family and friends can see your social network site etc, this may not be the case. Even after you leave a network, the information on it e.g. photographs, could be cached by another computer user for a very long time.
  
• The UK Government has provided a specific site dedicated to internet security www.getsafeonline.org.
  
• www.safesocialnetworking.com is related to Bebo but offers advice and guidance on setting up and using social networking sites.
  
• At Digital Birmingham we have set up our own resource to help parents ensure their children are staying safe online. http://www.digitalbirmingham.co.uk/family/how-do-we-do-this/be-safe-online

If you would like further information about how to stay safe online please contact us.