City of Red Deer
Victim Services
Staying Safe Online & Protecting Ourselves & Our Kids
Internet Safety
What Can You Do to Be Safe Online?
Safety on the Internet, also known as e-safety, has become an integral part of our digital lives. Internet safety includes understanding your internet privacy and how your actions can impact your interaction with the Internet. Below are a few strategies that you can use to have safe access to the web and others worldwide.
- Recognizing the difference between inappropriate contact and appropriate contact
- Keeping personal information to oneself
- Practicing safe browsing
- Keeping privacy settings on
- Being careful about what you download
- Purchasing from sites you know are secure
- Providing strong passwords
These foundational skills and learning more about internet safety helps assure that you can be safe online. Refer to the document below provided by NeedHelpNow.ca for more information on what you need to know to be safe online.
E-Crimes
Criminal offences often involve the use of the Internet and information technologies to commit illegal activities. Public organizations, businesses, and individuals may be adversely affected by these cybercrimes.
Technology has provided criminals with new opportunities to exploit victims.
Fraud, theft, counterfeiting, and exploitation have been around for a long time. Crimes are being committed with greater efficiency and effectiveness through the use of technology and electronic means.
What Can You Do to Be Safe Online?
E-Crimes
If you’re concerned about sexual exploitation, we can offer you information and advice.
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse. Essentially, one of the principal ways that children or young people are exploited is by being given gifts, drugs, money, status or affection in return for sexual activities. Often, children and young people are led to believe they are in a loving, consensual relationship. We call this grooming. Often, they do not realize they’re being abused, since they trust their abuser.
Child Sexual Assault (CSE) can take place in person or online. The abuser begins with violence or blackmail to gain the child’s trust before committing sexual abuse. An event of this nature can occur quickly.
Online sexual exploitation can lead to children being coerced or forced to do the following:
- Send or post images of themselves that are sexually explicit
- Film or stream sexual activities
- Participate in sexual conversations
Resources & Services
In addition to the growing popularity of doing things online, you also run the risk of being exploited as the number of scams online grows.
The following resources will help you protect yourself on the web.
Red Deer City Victim Services Unit
We Will Help You Every Step Of The Way
Red Deer Victims Service Unit