By Michael G. Williams
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
The Internet has permeated virtually every facet of daily life since the widespread adoption of high-speed Web connections. People can shop for a home, apply for a mortgage, pay their bills, participate in live auctions, file their income taxes, or entertain and inform themselves in a variety of ways.
But threats accompany these possibilities. Recognizing this, the U.S. Senate recently passed a resolution declaring the month of June “National Internet Safety Month.” The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the dangers computer users face on the Internet.
The initiative started three years ago when the U.S. House of Representatives passed its Internet safety resolution, according to Jeff Godlis, director of communications for i-SAFE Inc, a non-profit organization that educates young people and adults on safe and responsible Web practices.
The Senate’s resolution, which Godlis believes “has more teeth to it” than the House’s, calls on law enforcement, educators, volunteers, and Internet safety organizations like i-SAFE to increase their efforts in raising awareness of the importance for Internet safety in the United States.
“Just like in everyday life, [on the Web] there are people who want to do you harm like identity thieves, predators, and cyberbullies,” Godlis says. “There are also illegal practices that people should avoid like the illegal downloading of music, videos, games, and certain kinds of pornography.”
Threats can come in the form of viruses and spyware that damage computers or secretly record personal information. Other dangers arise in chat rooms and Instant Messenger sessions where child predators commonly search for victims.