KARACHI, Oct 12: Internet is becoming a part of our life. It helps us keep in touch with friends, finding homework support, or finding out the latest news. Offering millions of sites to visit and countless things to do, the Internet has lots of ways to waste time and even get into trouble.

Nowadays, one reads stories in newspapers about people who get into trouble in chat rooms. Because users can easily remain anonymous, chat rooms often attract people who are interested in more than just chatting. They'll sometimes ask visitors for information about themselves, their families, or where they live - information that shouldn't be given away.

Usually, the people who request personal information like home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses use this information to fill mailboxes and answering machines with advertisements. In some cases, though, this information may also be used in developing illegal or indecent relationships or cause harm to the visitor or his family.

Of course, the Internet is home to millions of places you can and should visit. Like an infinite library, the web can take you to the ends of the earth with the information it contains. But there might be many persons eager to exploit naive Internet users, especially teens, so it is a must to protect oneself while online.

The first rule of smart surfing is to remain as anonymous. That means keeping all private information private. You should never give out following personal information on the Internet: full name, home address, phone number, passwords, names of family members, and most importantly credit card numbers.

Most credible people and companies will never ask for this type of information online. So if someone does, it’s a red flag that they may be up to no good. Think carefully before you create an email address or screen name. Web experts recommend that you use a combination of letters and numbers in both - and that you don't identify whether you're male or female.

In chat rooms, use a nickname that's different from your screen name. That way, if you ever find yourself in a conversation that makes you uncomfortable, you can exit without worrying that someone knows your screen name and can track you down via email. Some people who hang out with their friends online set up private chat rooms where only they and the people they invite can enter to chat.

Experts recommend that people keep online friendships in the virtual world. Meeting online friends face to face carries more risks than other types of friendships because it’s so easy for people to pretend to be something they're not when you can't see them or talk in person.

If teens ever get involved in a chat room conversation that makes them feel uncomfortable or in danger for any reason, they should exit and tell a parent or other adult right away so they can report the incident.

It's not just strangers who can make one feel uncomfortable online. Cyber-bullying refers to cruel or bullying messages sent to you online. These might be from former friends or other people you know. They can be irritating and, in some cases, even frightening. If one gets these bullying messages online, it's often better to ignore them rather than answer them. Cyber-bullies, just like other bullies, may be angry or disturbed people - and may be looking for attention or a reaction. Fortunately, most people never experience cyber-bullying. But if you're getting cyber-bullied and ignoring it doesn't make it go away, getting help from a parent, school counsellor or some other trusted adult may be a good idea. That's especially true if the cyber-bullying contains threats.

One other menace is online annoyances. Although email is relatively private, hackers can still access it or add you to their spam lists. Spam, like advertisements or harassing or offensive notes, is annoying. But spam blockers can keep your mailbox from getting clogged. Many service providers will help you block out or screen inappropriate emails if your parents agree to set up age-appropriate parental controls.

If you don't recognise the sender of a document or file that needs to be downloaded, delete it without opening it to avoid getting a virus on your machine. Virus protection software is a must for every computer. And you can also buy software that helps rid your computer of unwanted spyware programs that report what your computer is doing. Some service providers make software available to protect you from these and other online problems, such as blockers for those in-your-face pop-up ads.

When going online, one needs to know where the pitfalls are, and use some common sense and caution, and be in control.—PPI