Social networks have
provided the exposure to enhance the circles of friends by sharing their
information within a network. It is a place to hangout, learn and talk
with friends. Within a large community, people can communicate through
blogs, chat rooms, email and instant messages (IM). However, people
might enter to a community where security threats appear due to people
with dirty intentions. Most of the time teens and tweens are getting
involved in this cyber socialization and tend to use technology
differently. Therefore, it is important to understand these threats and
know how to enjoy Internet safely.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is a term
which refers where young people undergo harassments or threats from
another person. When the people are getting involved in harassing, it is
called cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking. Cyberbullying occurs when
someone uses IMs, emails, posting personal information, photos, or
videos which are designed to hurt or blackmail someone else
Effects of Cyberbullying

The young communities are victims of cyberbullying. They are reluctant
and ashamed of social stigma. They are exposed to greater risk on
stress-related disorders, depression, and anxiety and most probably some
kids have decided to commit suicide. As punishments, they might be
suspended from school or the parents will punish them because of
violating school�s principles or discrimination. It reveals that the
kids, who have access to a phone or a computer device, are on a risk at
all the time.
How to avoid Cyberbullying

If the parents can
identify that their child has being cyber-bullied, they can help their
child by explaining the childhood experiences of parents and it helps to
reduce the depression of a child
Most of the devices have
the facility to block the emails, Instant Messaging (IM), text messages.
So people can block the bullies to avoid the risk.
Parents need to be aware
about their children�s online world and they can control the
accessibility of technology for their children.
Limit the information
available on web sites about yourself because this could leads to
someone getting your personal information.
Use strong credentials to protect personal accounts from unauthorized
access and do not save your credentials on browser.
Scan and verify before opening email attachments and links in instant
messages from unknown persons.
Udeesha Isurinda
Sumanaratne
Udeesha
is an undergraduate of the University of Colombo School of Computing who
is currently following Bachelor of Computer Science(CS) Currently he is
working as Intern - Information Security Engineer at Sri Lanka CERT|CC
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