Contributors - CyberSecurity Malaysia

CyberdatingHow to Have Funbut Stay Safe23.IntroductionCyber dating, or Internet dating, or chatting as it is calledhas been around for a while, as more people venture out tosee what is out there. In your travels you will find interestingpeople as well as some who are not that appealing. Here ismy short guide to get you started, hope it will help.Dating, whether in the traditional sense or online, requiresa certain level of self protection so that everyone remainssafe. It does not matter what your age, gender or intentionsfor the relationship are – you must protect yourself fromgetting hurt in any way. Unfortunately, many people inthe online dating community do not have pure intentionswhen seeking companionship on the Internet. Thereforeit is essential that you listen to your instincts beforemaking any decisions regarding whether or not to meetsomeone and pursue a romantic relationship with them.Your perceptions of an individual and unspoken intuitionare usually the best guide with regards to what is safe andright for you.The sad fact is many people have been murdered andsexually assaulted by individuals that they met online.Avoiding becoming another statistic is not that difficult,but you must employ a certain level of common sensealong with some protective measures so that everyonemakes it through the process in one piece.used to be thin or when they had hair, or of someone elsealtogether. The best thing about the Internet is also themost dangerous – a person's personality can show throughand what you are inside gets a chance to shine withoutgetting overpowered by what you are outside. But thecues we use in life such as body language, dress, personalhygiene, tone of voice and the way we judge the truth ofstatements, are lost in cyberspace.Take your time, use your head and be careful!However, that said, many people have found love online,so if you're still interested in trying to find your soul mate,here are a few safety tips:Protect Your IdentityCyberdating is a little different from the other first dates,though. When you first meet a cyber-date in person, offline,you feel as though you know them – the normal first dateprecautions are often tossed to the wind. You know theirfavorite actors, authors and foods. You know everythingthey have told you, but they may not have been tellingyou the truth. You do not really know them. So treat themas strangers, use all the normal precautions you wouldwith strangers, even cute ones. You should not give anymore information to a first cyber-date than you would to astranger you meet on a plane, in a club, or in a bar.Women tend to lie about their weight or age, while mentend to lie about their income, level of baldness andathletic condition. Teenagers pretend to be older than theyare. The one rule you can count on is that everyone lies alittle. So keep an open mind.That photo they sent you may be five years old, heavilydoctored up with a graphics program, from when theyMost people would not tell their name, phone number,address, and other personal information to a completestranger. Yet many people naively reveal these details tostrangers online. In a large chatroom, you may be givingyour personal information to hundreds of onlookers.Sharing this information in a private chat is no safer; you'resimply giving it to one person you don't know. Protectingyour identity is the best move you can make when chattingonline. If you decide to take chatting one step further andcall someone on the phone, use caller ID blocking. Reversephone number lookups are easy online and making certainthat the person you talk to is trustworthy, is the first stepto remaining safe.Set up a Hotmail account or other free email accountspecifically for online dating. Cyber-romance can quicklyturn to cyber-stalking – it is better to be able to terminatethat particular account than to have to set up a new mainaccount, and notify everyone you know.e-Security | CyberSecurity Malaysia | Volume 21 - (Q4/2009)