Internet Safety - Advice
Some of the information in this section is extracted from the publication Webwise Information and Advice for Schools.
What can schools do to promote safe use of the Internet?
Implement and update an Acceptable Use Policy.
Educate students on how to be safe on the web.
Install and update a filtering/monitoring system.
Combine all three of the above strategies rather than over reliance on one.
Are there any government publications that offer guidelines and advice on browsing, downloading, using email, chat rooms, newsgroups and publishing a school website?
Yes, the main publication is Webwise Information and Advice for Schools.
What is File Sharing?
Peer-to-peer file sharing, sometimes called P2P, is a network technology that allows you to give people access to files on your machine across the Internet. P2P Applications like Napster, Kazoo, and Gnutella are widely used to ‘share’ MP3 music files and video clips. Using P2P applications can expose you to the following risks:
- You risk prosecution for making copyrighted music available over the Internet. The Irish Recorded Music Association has announced plans to take legal action against 17 Irish people for allowing people to download their music collections.
- You can inadvertently make highly personal information available to other users. File-sharing programs have been shown to obtain tax returns, medical records, personal correspondence, personal financial records etc.
- Inappropriate content - peer-to-peer software applications allows people to share any files they choose, there is no filtering or moderation. It is the responsibility of each individual user to participate in safe, responsible and legal sharing. This doesn’t always happen.
- P2P file sharing software can introduce "spyware" or "adware" into your computer. These programs which collect personal information for marketers can be bundled with file sharing utilities
- P2P file sharing software can spread viruses, worms and other malicious computer files due to increased connectivity and flaws in software design.
Mobile Phone Bullying
To keep parents informed of the ever-changing services available on mobile phones, the three mobile operators Meteor, O2 and Vodafone, under the auspices of the Irish Cellular Industry Association (ICIA), have devised a guide that sets out the basics of mobile phones in terms of their uses and services, its primary aim is to inform parents of some key safety tips that will encourage responsible and secure use of mobile phones by their children. It also gives advice for dealing with cases of bullying or malicious communication.
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