General information on internet threats

 

“Internet-threats” is a term that is usually used for content, software and actions using Internet that cause harm to users – physical and psychical health, forming of young user’s personality, wealth, effectiveness of work, honor and dignity, computer. Most of this things are illegal, what means prohibited by law – if you do that, you may face with legal sentences. Some are not definitely illegal but still harmful – for example, for some special categories of users.

The more you know about possible threat – the better. But the problem is that very often users do not know much about what can be waiting for them in the Web. And people get very much surprised finding out that their actions in the Internet had direct attitude to the matter happened in their life.

Russia goes through the boom of Internet penetration for the last two years – amount of Internet-users increases rapidly, Russian domain zone is one of the most fast-growing, Internet-technologies come to the most remote parts of the country. So now most of the users have very few knowledge about computers, Internet and what happens there. At the same time amount of harm caused via Web also increases, new types of harmful content appear. To be aware and prepared, the user must have available, understandable and up-to-date information – in such case he can also protect those who is near him. Especially children and youth who just come into ‘big life’ but already are most active Web users.

National Internet-Safety Node in Russia includes Information resource that is an awareness-raising, monitoring and research part of the Node. It includes not only standard advices how to avoid typical threats. Firstly, it is a ‘popular encyclopedia’ of Internet-threats which gives information about their genesis, popularity, mail objects of attack, symptoms and, of course, advices on avoiding and overcoming the harm. Then, it is the source of up-to-date information from the world of Internet-safety. Researchers perform studies and monitoring of the problems dealing with online safety, child protection in the Internet, bring out and publish their recommendations, results of studies for implementation. Some of the fields of implementation are participation in legislative work and preparing standards or study courses.

For user’s convenience, the Information resource is divided into five parts. One of them is a special project of National Node (NeDopusti – about child sexual abuse and kidnapping), two more special projects (including anti-cyberbullying) are coming.

Because of their large amount, materials of Information resource are available in Russian only.