Telstra Warning On Safer Internet Day

Telstra is urging Australians to think about the information they post online ahead of worldwide Safer Internet Day today.

To build awareness of safety and privacy risks and the need to responsibly share information online, Telstra has partnered with the Australian Communications and Media Authority to support Safer Internet Day.

Telstra’s Officer of Internet Trust and Safety, Darren Kane said the theme of this year’s activity – “Think B4 U post” – was relevant as children sometimes lack the judgement and emotional maturity to steer clear of online risks.

“Therefore, it’s important adults teach children basic online guidelines, which are also suitable for people of all ages,” Kane said, ahead of the promotion. “New technologies, such as social networking sites and smartphones have meant personal information and images can be easily published online. Information posted online can be accessed by anyone – from friends, to family members and even future employers,” concluded Mr Kane. 

Kane said as a telephone and internet service provider, Telstra takes its role in helping Australians stay safe online seriously.

“Safer Internet Day is a timely reminder of the simple steps we can all take to ensure we enjoy positive experiences online, from using the privacy settings offered by social networking services to keeping your personal information private and only publishing photos you would be happy for everyone to see,” Kane concluded.

Recommendations for online safety include:

• Think before you post – once information is posted online, even if it’s later deleted or modified, it’s almost impossible to remove completely.

• Keep your personal information private – be careful about the types of details you publish about yourself and never share important information such as your age, address or phone number on social networking sites.

• Keep it locked – ensure your computer is locked with a password when you are not using it. Additionally, make sure your mobile phone uses a PIN so if lost or stolen it can’t be used to auto-sign into your online profiles.

• Stay smart – change passwords on accounts at least twice a year and think before you click on links or attachments from unknown sources.

• Respect other people’s privacy – don’t post photos of other people or share their information without their permission.