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Internet Safety Facts & Worksheets

The size of the internet is unimaginable. There is plenty of room for the good and the bad. We must be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to keep ourselves safe.

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The size of the internet is unimaginable. There is plenty of room for the good and the bad. Although the internet allows us to do many beneficial things like stay connected with others and access information we need, going online also has many risks and dangers. We must be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to keep ourselves safe.

See the fact file below for more information on the Internet Safety or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Internet Safety worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Defining Online Safety

  • Every digital citizen should know how to protect themselves and others online. This essential skill is known as internet safety.
  • Whatever digital device we decide to use, we should always practice safe internet use to avoid threats that may lurk in the dark corners of the web.
  • Being aware of the potential threats that we might face online is already a huge step.
  • Here are 5 of the most common cybercrimes that harm internet users:
    • Cyberbullying
    • Identity theft
    • Phishing
    • Online scams
    • Online predators
  • Cyberbullying is all too common online, especially in the age of social media. Although social media is intended to help people stay connected, others use it to cause harm.
  • A cyberbully is someone who consistently hurts, shames, intimidates, and coerces those who are vulnerable online.
  • This kind of bullying is often present on social media, messaging, and gaming platforms. Cyberbullying may involve:
    • Sending hurtful messages to others.
    • Using someone else’s profile to post embarrassing or offensive content or to send threats to others.
    • Spreading rumors or lies about other people.
    • Posting pictures, videos, and other files without the person’s consent.
  • Cybercriminals often steal other people’s personal information to commit fraud or other crimes online. This harmful act is known as identity theft.
  • These malicious hackers use software to spy on their targets to retrieve important information from their devices. Personal information may include the following: full birth name, birth date, username and passwords, and social security number.
  • These are some examples of how identity thieves use their victim’s personal information:
    • Sending hurtful messages to others.
    • Using someone else’s profile to post embarrassing or offensive content or to send threats to others.
    • Spreading rumors or lies about other people.
    • Posting pictures, videos, and other files without the person’s consent.
  • Phishing is one of the many ways thieves gather information online. They send an email that contains a suspicious link. This link may lead the target to download malware (malicious software). Once the malware is installed on the victim’s device, it will damage the device and steal data from it.
  • WiFi hacking is another technique thieves use. They take advantage of unencrypted WiFi and secretly observe all the activity that happens between it and their victim’s device. They may also lure victims into connecting to their fake WiFi hotspots.
  • Online scams and identity theft are one and the same. Online scams entice victims to give up their personal information for financial gain. Common examples of online scams are job offers, charity, online dating, and lottery scams.
  • Job offer scams often make their way into a person’s email. The victims receive a too-good-to-be-true job offer, like a job with high pay with minimal to no effort required. They are required to send their personal information to a fake boss or company.
  • Scammers also take advantage of disasters and set up fake donation drives online.
  • Fake online dating sites promise victims that they will meet someone special. They may find themselves “dating” someone with an identity that looks authentic but is not. These people are called catfishers. Catfishers ask victims for money, expensive presents, sensitive photos or information, etc.
  • Lottery scams are commonly sent by email. They let victims think they have won a huge sum of money. Scammers will ask for their victim’s personal information for verification before “releasing” the winnings.
  • It is easy to conceal one’s identity and hide behind a fake profile. This is exactly what online predators do. They often lure young people to engage in inappropriate conversations and ask them to meet face-to-face.
  • This is how online predators lure their victims:
    • Private message them, pretend to be nice, and shower them with compliments.
    • Get to know their victims (may get too personal).
    • Convince victims that their fake identity is real (they may send fake pictures and videos).
    • Convince their victims to keep their “relationship” or personal meeting a secret.
  • Digital citizens, young and old, might encounter inappropriate content online. Any material that may disturb or harm others who view it is considered inappropriate content. This may include sexually explicit material, and content relating to violence or terrorism.

Privacy and Internet Safety Tips

  • We need to keep our digital blinds closed and keep our data safe from prying eyes.
  • Digital citizens should remember that anything they decide to do or not do online IS data.
  • In this age of information, data is so valuable – it is collected, sold, analyzed, and even stolen. Companies are willing to pay large amounts of money for consumer data and analyze it in order to boost their business.
  • We leave a trail behind whenever we do a series of online activities like visiting websites, posting pictures, watching videos, and sending emails. This is known as our digital footprint.
  • Anyone can get to know you by analyzing your digital footprint. It speaks of your reputation as a digital citizen.
  • Here are some tips for safe internet use:
    • Familiarize yourself with online risks and threats to help you avoid them.
    • Manage your digital footprint. The way you behave online is important.
    • Do not post anything that might contain personal information or reveal too much about you. Think before you post.
    • Turn on all privacy settings.
    • Make sure you back up all your data and do this regularly.
    • Update your software regularly.
  • This is how you spot fakes online:
    • Fake websites or apps are usually replicas of official ones.
    • For websites, double check the domain name. Notice if the URL says http:// instead of https://. Look for the padlock icon beside the URL. If it is present, it means the website is encrypted. This simply means that the website is safe to visit.
    • Watch out for poor grammar and spelling. Fake websites and apps often put less effort into looking professional than legitimate ones.
    • Look for reliable contact information.
    • Watch out for deals or offers that seem too good to be true.
    • Create a secure password. Make sure it has more or less 8 characters. It should have a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers. Do not use any of your personal information.
    • Keep all login details private.

Internet Safety Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Internet Safety across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Internet Safety worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the size of the internet which is unimaginable. There is plenty of room for the good and the bad. Although the internet allows us to do many beneficial things like stay connected with others and access information we need, going online also has many risks and dangers. We must be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to keep ourselves safe.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Internet Safety Facts
  • E-danger Detector
  • Safe Browsing
  • Watch What You Share
  • Responsible Digital Citizen
  • Spot the Fake
  • Strong Password
  • Social Media Profile
  • Campaign Poster
  • My Digital Footprint
  • Self-reflection: Digital You

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Link will appear as Internet Safety Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 27, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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