Bandits on the Information Superhighway - Softcover

Barrett, Daniel J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1565921569 ISBN 13: 9781565921566

Publisher: O'Reilly Media, 1996

Synopsis

Most people on the Internet behave honestly, but there are always some troublemakers. What risks might you encounter online? And what practical steps can you take to keep yourself safe and happy?Bandits on the Information Superhighway provides a crash course in Internet "street smarts," revealing realistic risks that every user should know about. In addition, this book debunks the overhyped scare stories about Net pornography, computer crime, and dangers to children, perpetuated by the uninformed media. The Net really is a safe place, as long as you take a few simple precautions. Bandits provides that knowledge.Bandits covers online privacy, fake money-making schemes, deceptive advertising, electronic junk mail and "spamming," safe buying and selling, advice for parents, online romance do's and don'ts, pranks and hoaxes, users' rights, and much more.This book will show you:

• How much privacy you have on the Net, and how you can get more
• How to spot common Internet scams, like "get rich quick" schemes and deceptive advertising, and where to look for help if you get ripped off
• The "Ten Commandments" of buying and selling personal items on the Net, when you don't know the other people involved
• What every parent should know about the Internet, and the simple truth behind popular "scare stories" about pornography and pedophiles
• The risks of meeting, trusting, or falling in love with people that you've never met in the flesh
With first-person anecdotes, technical tips, and the advice of experts from diverse fields, Bandits on the Information Superhighway helps you identify and avoid risks online, so you can have a more productive and enjoyable time on the Internet.

About this title

Review:

No hype, no scare tactics. Dan Barrett has written a sane, sound and valuable guide to protecting yourself from the rare dangers and frequent annoyances of Internet abusers. While busting the myths of grotesque dangers lurking behind each Net address, Barrett examines the realities of such things as online scams, hoaxed emails, chat harassment and the pitfalls of online romance. As you read, you'll discover how best to protect your privacy, wisely buy and sell merchandise online, protect yourself from frauds and fight back when your rights are abused.

From the Back Cover:

Most people on the Internet behave honestly, but there are always some troublemakers. What risks might you encounter online? And what practical steps can you take to keep yourself safe and happy? This book will show you how much privacy you have on the Net, and how you can get more; how to spot common Internet scams, like "get rich quick" schemes and deceptive advertising, and where to look for help if you get ripped off; the "Ten Commandments" of buying and selling personal items on the Net, when you don't know the other people involved; how electronic junk mail and "spamming" threaten to overwhelm us with unwanted interruptions; what every parent should know about the Internet, and the simple truth behind popular "scare stories" about pornography and pedophiles; and the risks of meeting, trusting, or falling in love with people you've never met. With first-person anecdotes, technical tips, and the advice of experts from diverse fields, Bandits on the Information Superhighway helps you identify and avoid risks online, so you can have a more productive and enjoyable time on the Internet.

About this edition

• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1565921569
• ISBN 13: 9781565921566
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 229