Kids and teens spend a lot of time online establishing their internet identities. But it’s important to remember that what you post online can be viewed by anyone. Teachers, coaches, college admissions offices, or potential employers might be your scanning your profile to get a sense of who you are.

So how do you decide what information is ok to post? The folks at Net Smartz have some good advice to help.

• Don’t post any pictures, videos or information that you might regret later.
• Think before posting anything. Who might see this? What will they think?
• Use privacy settings to control access to what you post. This can help prevent cyberbullies and predators from gaining access to your personal information.
• Think about how fast information can move from one place to another when people forward via e-mail, IM, or texts. And once it gets out there, you may never have a chance to take it back.

The AMW Safety Center has a lot of information you can share with your teens, to help make sure they stay in control of their online reputations. And check out the Net Smartz Workshop for more tips.

With as much time as we all spend online, the frustration of a computer slowed down by spyware or a virus is probably very familiar. These sinister and invasive applications can range from simply annoying you with advertising, to being completely malicious–they could invade your system, destroy your files, or transmit your personal information to identity thieves.

But some of the latest viruses finding victims today are placing horrendous photos and videos onto your computer. These viruses are able to turn you into an unwitting child pornographer. So instead of malicious software used to target your identity, it’s being used to destroy your reputation. Pedophiles are able to utilize your virus infected computer to store their files without getting caught themselves. The viruses are designed to make it look like the traffic is coming from your computer, potentially landing you in serious trouble. Continue reading Could A Computer Virus Frame You For Child Pornography? »

As Americans struggle to stay afloat during these tough economic times, it seems everyone is scaling back on their purchases. But sometimes, you come across a deal on a product with an offer that seems too good to refuse. Unfortunately, scammers are out in full force to take advantage of shoppers searching for deals and often making offers that are too good to be true.

Whether pulling the old bait and switch, or offering miracle cure-all products, false advertising is illegal. We have some great advice here at the AMW Safety Center from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help you recognize these false claims, and what you can do to protect your wallet against them.

Ohio teen Jessica Logan had her whole life ahead of her, but one snap of a camera phone changed her life forever: that one image — meant for only her boyfriend at the time — would have deadly ramifications.  Jessica’s parents say she took her own life in her bedroom after the racy photo was leaked around her school, and she had been harassed for months.  Now, Jessica’s parents are stepping out, trying to launch a national campaign to educate parents and teens about the dangers of “sexting.”  Sexting is when someone sends a sexual message and/or revealing photos to others.  It some cases, it starts out by kids sending a picture message to a boyfriend or girlfriend, but what they don’t realize is that picture is usually passed on, quickly, from person to person – and it can linger online forever. Continue reading Are Your Teens Aware Of The Dangers Of “Sexting”? »