How can I protect my privacy when going online?
You can easily protect your privacy by never publishing online personal data such as your real name, address, telephone number, name of your school (if you are a minor) or information concerning friends and family.

When chatting, use a nickname, and avoid getting personal, if you don’t actually know the person(s) you are chatting in the offline world. Also ensure that you don’t inadvertently give away any information that could help a predator locate or identify e.g. your hobbies, where you like to hang out etc.

When entering websites where personal information is asked for, be sure that those sites are trustworthy, and before sending your information ask why it is needed. In all cases, consult the ‘Terms and Conditions’ and/or the “Privacy Statement” of the company operating that website.

What can I do, if my mobile phone is stolen? How can I prevent the thieves from using my mobile phone?
You are able to stop thieves from using your mobile phone. Your phone has a unique identification number, called IMEI. You can find your phone’s IMEI by pressing *#06# on your mobile phone. Write down the number you see on your phone’s screen, and keep it in a safe place. If your phone is stolen, report your SIM number (i.e. your phone number) together with the IMEI to your mobile phone company. The company will immediately cancel the SIM card, and the thieves will not be able to call from your mobile phone and increase your bill.

If a classmate or friend asks for my password to connect to the internet, shall I give it out?
No. You should not give your password to him/her because you are responsible for any activity he or she may carry out on the internet and it will be traced back to you if he/she misuses the internet. In general, you should never give out your password. If you believe that somebody found out your password, you should immediately change it. Always try to have a password that nobody else would be able to guess. For example, avoid your name, names of your family members, close friends, birthdays, the name of your pet, etc.

Am I invisible on the internet, or can I be discovered?
You are not invisible on the internet, even if it feels like it. All internet users always leave evidence, the so-called “cybertrails” (like footprints), when they go online. This is actually good: if people commit crimes on the internet, the police or other competent authorities can trace this evidence, and catch them. Every computer has an IP address and this is often the key to finding out who sent specific information etc.

I want to take a picture or video of a friend with my mobile phone or digital camera and upload it on the internet. Can I do it?
If you want to take any pictures of a friend, family member, classmate etc., first you have to ask the person for permission to do so. Nevertheless, never upload pictures on the internet, but keep them safely, and only for your own personal use. Remember that as soon as you upload a picture to the internet, it stops of being private and you cannot control where it will end up.

If a commercial company asks for my personal information to send me some advertising material or to let me participate in a lottery, what shall I do?
First of all, be sure that the company is trustworthy. There is nothing wrong in receiving advertising material, if you wish that, or in taking part in a lottery, contest etc. But before sending your personal data, check the privacy policy of the company, i.e. how it intends to use your data, and if it explicitly states that your data will be kept confidential and not handed out to third parties. If you are a minor, first ask your parents if it is ok to do so and, only if they agree, give out your information. Remember the best option is to keep your personal information safe.

An online friend has asked me to send a picture of myself. What shall I do?
Sending pictures to online friends is not such a good idea. Never send a picture of yourself to somebody you met online or don’t actually know in person, especially over the internet. A picture of yourself will enable an online acquaintance to find you more easily in the real world. Also, remember that digital images can be kept forever. So if an online acquaintance has your picture or video, you could one day find it somewhere on the internet, and it could even end up looking nothing like the original because digital images can easily be changed.

Always remember: as soon as you upload images to the internet, they stop being private and you cannot control where and by whom they will be used.

Now go to your national node’s website to find useful links and further information.