What internet safety tips can you share?

[sharonb]

After reading the last discussion on introducing Stitchin fingers to people I think we also need  a page of safety tips for new folks. We need tips that apply not just to stitchin fingers but to the internet in general  as we have many people who are really confused between blogs and forum sites etc   

My big one would be not to publish your address or email on this site as everything apart from the messages is public. 

Private messages are private and if anyone sends you a suspicious message (asking form money etc) report it to me as I dont want members scammed.

What else would you add? 

How would you word it? (I am such a geek I forget what people dont know - I dont mean to forget but I know I lose them with too much geek speak if I am not careful) 

I will take the suggestions and structure it into a page that people can use. Hopefully it will make this place be a little less scary for people new to the net and stitchin fingers.

[Annette Garcia]

How about a reminder that everything you post on the Internet hangs around forever, so don't post stuff you would not like your Mum or your boss to read

Perhaps you could explain what identity theft is with a link to how to avoid it?

[Annette Garcia]

Sharon,

There are some really good points in this article

http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-505144_162-57373533/6-things-you-should...

[Lorelei Halley]

If you get a private email from another member whose profile page is private, so that you can't see anything about that person, there may be a reason.  A person who solicits private communication, but is extra careful to mask who they are, may be up to no good.  We expect to see statements about a member's textile interests, and these are harmless.  There is no reason to hide them.

The obvious one about don't click on any link in an email unless you have a history of perfectly reasonable communication back and forth with that person over a substantial period of time.