Internet Security Awareness
Your Behaviour on the Internet
- Be gentle and polite in the way you interact and communicate with
others online.
- Maintain privacy because everything that is published online becomes accessible to all.
- Do not be affected by most of what others post online because it does
not always reflect the truth.
- Make sure to talk to your parents about how to use the Internet in a
safe way and do not hesitate to Inform them of anything that makes
you anxious or uncomfortable.
Protect your Devices and Accounts
- Use a long, complex Password (for example the passphrase 'This is a strong pass', translates to the following: 'Th1515@5tr0ngP@55').
- Don’t share your password with anybody and make sure you change it periodically.
- Download applications from trusted application stores, for example Google Play and Apple Store.
- Download a reliable anti-virus and anti-malware software on your electronic devices and keep it constantly updated.
- Avoid clicking on links and ads from suspicious sources or websites, because this would expose your device and your accounts to possible hacking.
- Avoid posting personal information about you or your family on the Internet (house address, school location, phone number, postal address, e-mail address, ...).
- Use a personal email account exclusively for social media and make sure to access it and check your inbox from time to time.
- Use the 'Block Account feature in social networks to block any account that causes any discomfort or annoyance to you.
- Use children's search engines such as kiddle.co and kidrex.org
- Be aware that some competitions and online games encourage horrible acts such as suicide or pranks on friends and family. Avoid these games and do not listen to their encouragements.
- Logout of your online accounts, in particular Social media when finished using it.
- Avoid commenting, liking, or promoting content on social media websites that offends others or hurts their feelings.
Online Blackmail / Sextortion
Online Blackmail and Sextortion are crimes in which the victims are being threatened by a criminal about posting pictures and videos private to them unless they make a payment or illegitimate activities. Therefore, online blackmail and sextortion must be avoided with an intelligent manner through the following:
- Never post or send private and personal photos or videos through social media applications or share them with anybody through messages.
- Enhance Security & Privacy settings on all your social media accounts.
- Cover the camera on your laptop / desktop, to prevent video recording or taking photos without your knowledge.
- Avoid talking to or meeting with strangers from social media websites. The person you are talking to online is not always the same person in
real life. They may be pretending to be another person using fake
photos or information.
If you are being blackmailed online, you should follow these steps:
- Talk to an adult you trust, such as your family, relatives, or your teachers.
- Do not give in or respond to the requests of the blackmailer, no matter how much they are pressuring you.
- Keep all evidence from the blackmailer, whether it is pictures, videos, messages, comments, e-mails, instant messages, ... so that they can be used to prove the crime when required.
- Report all attempts of online blackmail or sextortion to law enforcement or Judicial Authorities immediately when they happen to you.
- Avoid telling the person blackmailing you that you plan to report him/her to Me relevant authorities. This will help law enforcement catch the person after you inform them of the blackmail attempt.
- Take advantage of the abuse reporting service provided by social media websites, such as YouTube or Facebook when these websites are used to post private and personal pictures and videos of yourself.
Contact the Internal Security Forces (ISF) for help
The Internal Security Forces will always maintain complete confidentiality
in dealing with cybercrime investigations and will make every effort to
help you solve the problem you are facing.
Report to the ISF any cybercrime, online blackmail threat, or cyber threat
you may encounter through one of the following means:
- The Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau telephone number: 01/293293
- The ISF website (isf.gov.lb) and complete the "Report Form"