Digital Safety and Security 4.1.2

student searching internet on laptop computer clipart

Knowledge is the key to understanding. That is true when it comes to internet safety as well. When considering how to keep ourselves and our students digitally safe, we must first consider the audience. I teach in a high school. Students routinely put themselves “out there” leaving their digital impressions hundreds of times a day without a second thought about how that can impact their present and future lives.

Our school adopted a 1 to 1 program through Common Sense Media. We began the school year with a five-day required program in which students and teachers participated by watching videos and joining in Kahoot games to answer a series of reflection questions about digital citizenship and safety. Throughout the lessons, I repeatedly heard students comment about how they had no idea “that” was even possible, or I never thought about “how” that might affect my ability to get into a good school.

I believe awareness is the most important thing when it comes to protecting ourselves and our students in this digital world. Some of the strategies I use in class include an introductory lesson on digital citizenship and internet safety. I monitor all the digital spaces my students have access to for inappropriate or  compromising material. If I do run across something questionable, I will address the post with the student directly and show them how such information can impact them.

Even if a student never posts a negative thing on the internet, they can still expose themselves to danger. According to Kasperski, a first step towards securing your devices and protecting yourself online is ensuring you have a good understanding of the major categories of malware and other threats.

What is Malware?

The name malware is short for ‘malicioussoftware’. Malware includes any software program that has been created to perform an unauthorized — and often harmful — action on a user’s device. Examples of malware include:

  • Computer viruses
  • Word and Excel macro viruses
  • Boot sector viruses
  • Script viruses — including batch, Windows shell, Java, and others
  • Keyloggers
  • Password stealers
  • Backdoor Trojan viruses
  • Other Trojan viruses
  • Crimeware
  • Spyware
  • Adware… and many other types of malicious software programs

But, malware is not the only threat to our students. According to NoBullying.com, cyberbullying has become a hot topic in education. The bully is no longer restricted to the playground or the lunchroom or the bus stop. Cyber bullies can reek havoc in their victims’ life.

Once posted the damage is almost impossible to undo and can lead to public ridicule, and in tragic cases suicide. Creating an environment of positivity when involving students in a DLC is one way to ensure a safe space for students to learn and develop academically. Encourage other students to DoSomething if they witness cyberbullying. Involving young people in social change is the only way cyberspace will ever become self-regulating.

Talk to parents, and offer them direction for developing strategies at home. An example may be the development of a social media agreement. Setting expectations ahead of issues is a lot easier that trying to quiet an angry storm that’s raging. There are many tools available that allow you to put your rules in writing. LifeLock offers the smart talk which offers many options for parents including a smart talk guide.

Digital Safety is really everyone’s business. Katie Greer got a lot of attention in Massachusetts when she started talking about the connection to crimes against children and the internet. Today she travels the country giving talks on Stranger Danger and Cyberbullying.

“I think everybody is looking for a special tool that is going to combat all of these things, but I think education is the best tool,” Greer says. “The biggest thing is awareness and constant conversation around the topic.”

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