Stay Safe Online
The Internet Watch Foundation today released figures saying that many sexually explicit pictures and videos intended for private use are making their way onto porn sites due to the careless way in which they are being uploaded.
To avoid the same thing happening to you we’re giving you some tips on staying safe online when it comes to dating and relationships, enjoy!
Do Your Research
This is especially important when using online dating sites. Check out a number of sites, use recommendations from friends or consult the internet and see which ones have good reviews and do a little research into the company before joining one.
Try out a few select ones once you’ve done your research and then narrow it down and see which one works best for you. Stick with the one you feel most confident and trusting with and remember to keep your whits about you!
Take It Slow
If you’ve taken to online dating and found someone you think you might be interested in then take it slow. Don’t rush to tell them everything about yourself and never give out details such as your address and bank details.
If you decide to meet then make sure it’s in a public place with plenty of people, such as a coffee shop or a busy restaurant. Only give them your phone number once you’ve met them and are sure you’d like to keep in contact.
If you’re in a relationship or dating someone, be very careful when skyping them. Don’t let them pressure you into doing anything explicit on camera. It’s very easy for them to print screen the image and then upload it to the web.
Keep It Personal
Don’t send explicit pictures or videos via the internet to your love interest. Even if you trust them, you never know who can get hold of them so it’s best to keep them to yourself.
Even sending them to a phone can have its disadvantages, if the phone is stolen it only takes seconds to upload the media to a website and once it’s on the internet it’s virtually impossible to take it down.
Password Protect
It sounds obvious but put passwords on everything. Password protect your laptop itself with a good password, containing upper and lower case letters as well as numbers and symbols.
Do the same with your dating site accounts, as well as your skype and if you’re going to file share then make sure you set up a file sharing account which also has a good password instead of simply sending files via email or instant messaging.
Getting a good anti-virus software is also a must. There are millions of viruses out there and many are designed to take information from your computer so make sure you’ve got an anti-virus and perform regular scans.
Cara Mason @FemaleFirst_UK