River Forest Public Library

Internet Safety Awareness

The internet is a powerful tool; the more knowledge you have the better off you are. The purpose of these materials is to help you educate yourself about safety on the Internet. Below is a brief description of the different sections that make up this site:

Top Cyber Security Practices

The following practices are from the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA):

1. Protect your personal information.
2. Know who your dealing with online.
3. Use anti-virus software, a firewall, and anti-spyware software to help keep your computer safe and secure.
4. Be sure to set up your operating system and Web browser software properly, and update them regularly.
5. Use strong passwords or strong authentication technology to help protect your personal information.
6. Back up important files.
7. Learn what to do if something goes wrong.
8. Protect your children online.

Where to Report a Problem

Reporting cyber crime can seem confusing because of the global nature of the Internet and the many levels of law enforcement. Please note: If you feel that your or another person's life is being threatened, please contact your local or state police immediately! Otherwise, a good starting place for reporting a problem is the:

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was established as a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to serve as a means to receive Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for any investigation they deem to be appropriate.

Last revised: 03/16/2007