In this briefing

Cybersafety
Tips for Students, Parents & Educators
Cybersecurity
Best Practices
Glossary of key terms
Online Resources
Legislation

In Idaho and other western states, access to the Internet is becoming increasingly important, especially to families in our most remote areas, by reducing the distance to vital services or even the nearest library from hundreds of miles to only a few clicks.

Internet security and online safety

Like many Idahoans, I am no friend of regulation and government intrusion into our lives. Our most vulnerable citizens—our children and our seniors—must be protected. I believe our government can provide basic protections while leaving the freedoms we enjoy intact, and many of us in Congress have been working to do just that.

Freedom requires responsibility, and each of us must take on the responsibilty of keeping ourselves and our families safe while online. If you have not done so already, I hope you will use the information in this Briefing to learn about cybersafety with tips for parents and students on safe surfing, and cybersecurity with details on the importance of securing the systems we use to access the Internet.

Cybersafety

There are dangers and risks involved in accessing the Internet. In many cases just being aware of the risks and knowing how to recognize the dangers helps us avoid online pitfalls. Sadly, many children and teens, and their parents, do not have the information they need to protect themselves or their families.

It's Up to You

If you are a student who is new to the Internet:

• Check out the tips for students and new users below to learn how to stay safe on the Internet.
• Talk to your parents or another adult you trust if you have questions or encounter any problems online.
• Share what you learn about Internet safety with your friends and classmates who are online, too.

If you are an adult who is new to the Internet:

• While the tips for students below are geared toward teens and children, adults need to stay safe online, too, and can use these basic guidelines to do so.

If your child accesses the Internet from home, school, the local library, or from a friend's house:

• For those who have already discussed online safety with their kids, this can be an opportunity to review what each of you know and remember about staying safe online.
• For those who have been putting off a talk about online safety, I hope you will consider the survey results above as a call to action.
• Use the tips and guidelines below as a starting point to promoting Internet safety in your own home.
• Share what you learn with your friends, family-members or colleagues who also have children online.

If there are no children accessing the Internet in your home:

• Talk to your friends, family members or colleagues who do have children online about the importance of Internet safety.

Tips for students and new users

Never share personal identifiers

• What you look like—your appearance, gender, age
• Where you might be—address, school, workplace, hangouts, clubs
• Who you are—your real name, not even your first name, teams you play on, bank account info
• And NEVER share a pic of yourself—avoid posting your pic openly or emailing it to those you don't know well offline already

Create Game Plans and a Panic Plan in Advance

• In chat rooms and IM conversations—decide how to calmly exit from threatening or uncomfortable conversations
• While surfing the web—practice closing windows quickly so you will be prepared in case you accidentally open an inappropriate or upsetting website
• When reading your email—learn how to delete attachments from strangers, get to know what spam and bogus ads look like
• Talk about your Game Plan—Parents or other adults you know and trust can help you be ready to handle whatever comes up online

Remain anonymous to those you don't already know offline

• Usernames—should be generic and not include your real name
• Online Profiles—put down your thoughts, ideas, and principles instead of where you live and what you look like
• Meet only in cyberspace—developing online friendships is fun, but avoid meeting for real, especially if your new friend keeps bringing it up

Not everything online is true

• People you meet—may not be who they say they are
• Online advertisements—some people will tell you anything to get you to buy something

Know what you may legally download

• Music MP3s and Movies—usually are not given away online at no charge
• Intellectual Property—just because you are able to download a file, like a song or video, doesn't make it legal
• Software and Programs—know the difference between freeware, shareware, and purchased programs
• Read the small print—read license agreements to check for unexpected program installations or personal info collection

Tips for for parents and teachers

Educate yourself

• Learn about the risks and dangers of surfing and chatting
• Find out what chat lingo and abbreviations mean
• Know where to go online for help and answers to questions, then bookmark these sites for when you need them

Keep lines of communication open

• Talk with children about how to stay safe online, and let them know you are there to help them get out of any bad situation
• Avoid anger if a problem situation arises, rather help solve it constructively to ensure your child will come to you next time he or she needs help
• Get involved in your child's online experience

Respect privacy, but keep computers in the open

• Never allow a computer with Internet access in your child's bedroom
• Make the computer area fun for kids, and offer headphones instead of demanding quiet

Regulary review the files on your computer

• Learn how to check for virus infections and update virus protection files
• Keep tabs on files saved by your children, such as pictures and downloaded media files
• Adopt practices to keep your computer secure, such as those in the Best Practices of Cybersecurity in this briefing

Include Internet-related issues in your other "talks"

• Bring up chat room dangers during your "talk" on avoiding sexual predators, for instance

Cybersecurity

The Congressional Internet Caucus was formed to educate Members of the House and Senate about the promise and potential of the Internet by providing a forum for Internet-related policy discussions and encouraging greater use of Internet resources by Caucus members in communicating information about government. As a member of the Caucus, I have pledged to promote the growth of the Internet, in both commerce and the free flow of information, and the advancement of our nation's leadership in the emerging digital world.

Consistent with Goal Seven of my Mission & Goals statement, Caucus members also seek to maximize the openess of and participation in government by the people. A vital component in reaching these goals involves cybersecurity, ranging from the protection of individuals accessing our nation's cyberspace to the guarding of cyberspace itself.

Secure your computer to help secure our nation

The connection that delivers the world to our computer screens can also serve as a gateway to our personal information, to our homes, families and offices. Threats to our security and safety, like viruses, hackers and worms, can make cyberspace a dangerous place. Those who do not protect themselves and take advantage of available precautions risk becoming victims of cybercrime, or, worse yet, unwitting participants in cyberterrorism. Even more disturbing than personal identity theft is that vulnerable computers could be used in a planned attack devised to weaken or disrupt key national infrastructures.

Fortunately, keeping your computer or your home or business network secure is largely a matter of routine maintenance combined with the Cybersecurity Best Practices outlined below. Additionally, there are numerous software and hardware solutions available which offer various levels of online protection. Learn more about which tools might be best for you and your family in the Online Resources section below.

Cybersecurity Best Practices

Take advantage of software updates and patches.

Most likely, the makers of the software applications you are using provide free updates known as security fixes, patches and service packs. Your operating system should always be kept up to date with the latest security patches.

Use strong passwords.

Your passwords should not contain any part of your name, username, or email address. Experts advise avoiding the use of any word you could find in a dictionary, and including both uppercase and lowercase letters combined with numbers and other special characters. Try using a "passphrase" to create a unique password made up of the first letter of each word in the phrase, such as remembering "Today I ate two tasty Idaho potatoes!" as "tI82tIp!" If you must write down your passwords in case you forget them, keep your list in a secure location away from your computer.

Use anti-virus software.

After installing the software, be sure to keep it current with the updates provided by the software maker. Over 500 new viruses are discovered each month. You are not just protecting yourself when using virus software, but also others you communicate with.

Handle email with care.

Don't open email messages from senders you do not know, and never open an email attachment--even from someone you do know--unless you understand exactly what you are opening. When sending an attachment, include that you have done so in the text of your message so that the recipient can be confident he or she knows what the attachment contains. Take the time to research any "virus alerts" you receive before forwarding to friends and family to make sure the message isn't actually a virus hoax, or even a virus itself. Be suspicious of messages with too-good-to-be-true offers and watch out for red flags like misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and excessive punctuation.

Disconnect from the Internet when you are not online.

The extra time required to reconnect and disconnect each time you access the Internet, especially if you have a broadband connection without a firewall in place, guarantees that hackers cannot access your personal files nor use your computer to harm others.

Know what you are downloading and read the "small print."

Take the time to understand what you are getting when you agree to download an application. Read the license agreement to make sure other programs, like spyware or file-sharing applications you do not want to install, are not required components. Pay attention to security alerts generated by your browser verifying that you really want to install a new plug-in or helper program, and be wary of pop-up ads masquerading as official-looking alerts trying to sell something or make you click through into a website.

Use a firewall to guard against intruders.

A firewall is your security guard that stands between your home computer and the Internet. It lets you control which traffic your computer accepts. It also controls which of your programs can connect to the Internet. With a firewall, you define which connections between your computer and other computers on the Internet are allowed and which are denied. Many operting systems offer free firewalls that you need only activate to use.

Discuss cybersecurity with family members and others who use your computer.

Make sure that anyone with access to your computer understands and follows the safety guidelines you establish. There are many online resources to help parents teach children how to remain safe online.

Glossary of Key Terms

The following terms appear in this briefing and are defined here for your convenience. Access GetNetWise for a more extensive list of Internet terms and definitions.

Cyberspace

Refers to the various information resources that are available through computer networks and the Internet, as well as to "communities" which have developed through their common use of such resources, and to the culture which is developing in such electronically connected communities. May also be used to distinguish the physical world from the digital, or computer-based world.

Firewall

Hardware or software that secures computer files by blocking unauthorized access.

Hacker

Someone who breaks into your computer (or into a network of computers) over the Internet.

Internet

A global connection of computer networks, also referred to as the "Net," which share a common addressing scheme.

Operating System

The main program that runs on a computer. An operating system allows other software to run and prevents unauthorized users from accessing the system. Major operating system include UNIX, Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Plug-in

A small piece of software that enriches a larger piece of software by adding features or functions. Plug-ins enable browsers to play audio and video.

Spyware

Programs which surreptitiously install themselves on your computer through e-mail, unauthorized web downloads or by bundling themselves with other downloaded software. These programs are almost always installed without meaningful user consent, and vex systems with a range of annoying functions, such as displaying unwanted ads, changing users' browsers' default home pages, adding programs to the system tray and, in some cases, collecting personal information. They draw computing power away from your other applications making your computer sluggish and unstable, and are almost always very difficult to uninstall or disable.

Virus

A program that is loaded onto your computer unbeknownst to you. Viruses can make copies of themselves, quickly using up all available memory. Some viruses can transmit themselves across networks.

Worm

A program that reproduces itself over a network, usually performing malicious actions, such as using up the computer's resources and possibly shutting the system down.

Online Resources

GetNetWise

A public service brought to you by Internet industry corporations and public interest organizations to help ensure that Internet users have safe, constructive, and educational or entertaining online experiences. The GetNetWise coalition wants Internet users to be just "one click away" from the resources they need to make informed decisions about their and their family's use of the Internet.

US Computer Emergency Readiness Team

US-CERT is a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the public and private sectors, and is charged with protecting our nation's Internet infrastructure by coordinating defense against and response to cyber attacks.

FTC's Infosecurity Website

The Federal Trade Commission has created this website for consumers and businesses as a source of information about computer security and safeguarding personal information.

The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace

The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, an implementing component of the National Strategy for Homeland Security, is part of the White House's overall effort to protect the Nation. The purpose of this document is to engage and empower Americans to secure the portions of cyberspace that they own, operate, or control, or with which they interact.

CyberAngels

Part of the Guardian Angels program and committed to fighting cybercrime, this non-profit organization's site features free online classes and other resources, from "Internet 101" to "Parenting Your Online Child." Assistance in selecting software solutions is also offered.