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screamshot of my bookmark

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Here is a scam I received this week via text. I noticed that the word Net Flix was two words instead of one. I also noticed that the web site address was not a normal Netflix web address. Also my phone identified the message as a scam. Jacqui

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my screen shot

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Well done for taking part and completing the course and achieving your learning goals. Lets celebrate your success together ...

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king keraun clap GIF by Fuse - Find & Share on GIPHY

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Discover & share this king keraun clap GIF by Fuse with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

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Please use the link to feedback your comments on today and to review the progress you have made since starting the course.  Thank you.

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Please take a look at our group agreement, we want everyone to feel safe, supported and included.  We want everyone to achieve as much as possible by taking part.

To approve and to leave an suggestions please use the link below.  It is important that all course members submit their approval of the Group Agreement

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Mental Health Awareness Week, May 2023 - Resources to help you manage anxiety

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Mental Health Awareness Week, May 2023 - Resources to help you manage anxiety

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If your feelings of anxiety are not going away, are having a negative impact on your life, or often prevent you from doing things you need or want to do, seek support. Speak to your GP or healthcare professional about the support available in your area or contact a helpline service.

Anxiety UK

Anxiety UK was established in 1970 and is run by and for those with anxiety, offering an extensive range of support services designed to help support those affected by anxiety disorders, anxiety and anxiety-based depression.
Services available include:
Helpline services - 03444 775 774, open from 9:30am to 17:30pm Mon to Friday, along with a text service 07537 416905 and 'Ask Anxia' chatbot service, available 24/7 for all anxiety queries at anxietyuk.org.uk. See Helpline services for more information.

Anxiety UK also offer fast access to a range of psychological therapy services, including counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), clinical hypnotherapy & Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, with appointments available in person, online and by telephone. See Therapy services for more information.

They also run a range of courses and groups including a popular Art for Anxiety Relief (AfAR) course, anxiety management courses, and online peer-led anxiety support groups. See Support Groups for more information.

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What can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety?

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If your feelings of anxiety are not going away, are having a negative impact on your life, or often prevent you from doing things you need or want to do, seek support. Speak to your GP or healthcare professional about the support available in your area or contact a helpline service.

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Learn My Way | Learn how to use the internet

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Learn how to use the internet. Learn My Way is a website of free online learning for beginners, helping you develop digital skills.

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Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)

If you're looking for a job and are currently claiming Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), a SWAP can help you learn new skills, gain industry experience, and enhance your CV for free.

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If you're looking for a job and are currently claiming Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), a SWAP can help you learn new skills, gain industry experience, and enhance your CV for free.

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12 scams to be aware of and how to avoid them

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The internet opens you up to a whole new world of opportunity, but it also exposes you to a wide variety of online scams. Here are 12 scams to be wary of, and ways to avoid them.

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Get the Jump: explore your education and training choices | National Careers Service

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Get the Jump on the education and training choices that are out there for you.

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Example of cyberbullying and how to respond

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Example of cyberbullying and how to respond

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This video shows several different forms of cyberbullying and how to deal with them.

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Safer Internet Day 2023 - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 170 countries worldwide.

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On-line learning at home - Home Safety Tips and Workstsation Advice

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On-line learning at home - Home Safety Tips and Workstsation Advice

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Are you sitting comfortably - no, then take a look at these links:

A short youtube video on workstation safety: https://youtu.be/ZLwIP8cBaWA

Health & Safety Executive workstation checklist: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.pdf

Always make sure that you are plugged in safely - take a look at this really useful guidance provided by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

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Did you know faulty electrics such as overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances cause around 7,000 house fires across the country every year?

General Advice

When using electronic devices always use the official charger and don't be tempted to use cheap counterfeit replicas instead.

Ensure that you replace all damaged cables and chargers.

Make sure all electrical appliances have a British or European safety mark when you buy them.

Don't overload your sockets - keep one appliance to one plug where possible and use the socket overload calculator to reduce the risk of fire.

Unplug appliances when you are going to bed or not using them.

High powered appliances such as washing machines should have a single plug socket.

Never use square box plug adapters, and if using a strip adapter/extension make sure it's fused and don't overload it.

If using a cable drum extension lead, it should be completely unwound to avoid overheating.

Never put anything metallic in the microwave.

Do not leave your washing machine on overnight or when you go out.

Clean the filter on your tumble dryer regularly and remove fluff.

Clean behind the fridge and freezer in order to avoid the blocking of air vents.

Don't leave electric blankets folded when storing them over summer months as this damages the internal wiring - store them flat or rolled up.

If your electric blanket isn't thermostat controlled, unplug the blanket before you get into bed.

Don't buy second-hand blankets - check your blanket regularly for wear and tear.

If your blanket is over 10 years old, replace it and dispose of the old one at your nearest recycling centre.

Socket Overload Calculator

Are you overloading your sockets?

Overloaded sockets can easily cause fires, which could be easily prevented. Use the socket overload calculator to plug in some typical household appliances to see the effect on the load, and to get useful tips on how to avoid overloading your sockets.

Register your electrical appliances for a safer home

Only 36% of consumers register all of their large domestic appliances.

The register my appliance website is designed to make it quicker and easier for the public to register all of their appliances. It provides up-to-date, accurate, contact information for owners who have acquired specific models of appliances within the last twelve years, so manufacturers can issue safety updates or repair notifications to the right homes. The website provides access to the registration pages of over 40 leading brands of domestic appliances, including most of the UK's top-selling brands of major white goods.

Other electrical items should be registered with the manufacturer when you purchase them. They can be checked for recalls and registered using the Electrical Safety First website.

The site above also gives advice on what to do if you get a recall notification.

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Did you know faulty electrics such as overloaded sockets and faulty electrical appliances cause around 7,000 house fires across the country every year? When using electronic devices always use the official charger and don't be tempted to use cheap counterfeit replicas instead. Ensure that you replace all damaged cables and chargers.

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How to remove viruses using Windows Defender

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How to remove viruses using Windows Defender

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How to Remove a Virus from Your Computer (Official Dell Support)

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Great link with some useful information on detecting whether your emails are genuine or scams!

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How to tell if an e-mail is genuine or a phishing email.

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Phishing emails may tell you about an invoice that needs to be paid or to let you know an order has been dispatched. The email may contain an instruction like "order details and invoice in attached file". If you open this file it may put a virus on your computer.

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This section is for everyone to use and add to create our very own digital word list with definitions. So people can access it for learning and reference. Please add some digital words you know

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How can we help?

We know everybody's different, but choose the statement that best describes you or your situation and we'll suggest some relevant topics.

Still not sure where to start?

Don't worry. We're here to help guide you to the information you need. Use the links below and we'll point you in the right direction.

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This video is aimed at parents about their children. However the forms of cyberbullying discussed can be aimed at any age group children or adults.

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Cyber-bullying Facts – Top 10 Forms of Cyber Bullying

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Here is a beginners guide for using computers and accessing online sites

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Safeguarding information for learners from Staffordshire Community Learning / county council

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Safeguarding information for learners from Staffordshire Community Learning / county council

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Safeguarding and Prevent duty: overview - Staffordshire County Council

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Information, guidance and documents on Safeguarding and the Prevent Duty.

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This is a great way to make a strong password which you can remember.

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The citizen advice provides this help with reporting online scams

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You can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline if you:

think you might have found a scam

need advice about scams

want to report a scam

We'll let you know what to do next, and give you support on the issues you might be facing.

Before you report a scam to us, you should first check our advice on reporting a scam.

Call our helpline

You can contact an adviser by calling the consumer helpline.

Telephone: 0808 223 1133

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm - except on public holidays.

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

Talk to us online

You can also chat with an adviser online. Our chat service is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It's not available on public holidays.

If you can't see a chat box on the page, it might mean there are no advisers available. It's worth waiting for a few minutes and then trying again.

We'll need to ask you for a few details, including your postcode. Read our privacy policy to find out how we store and use your personal information.

Some 'ad blocker' software stops chat working. If you use an ad blocker, make sure you add citizensadvice.org.uk as a trusted site.

Use our form

You can report a scam using our form. You can say on the form if you would like us to email or call you back.

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Find out how to contact our Scams Action service for advice about online scams.

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https://careers.staffordshire.gov.uk/jobs/latest

WeRecruit is the new Staffordshire County Council's career hub which will improve the recruitment experience for you! It is accessible on both mobile and desktop devices, and will include all candidate communications and show your application progress.  You can now easily: apply for jobs, manage your profile, find information to support your job search. It will also allow you to set up job alerts, so you can quickly access jobs matching your chosen criteria.

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This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience and to enable social media functionality. By clicking "Turn cookies on", you agree to such purposes. Read more about cookies.

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Jobs and careers with Staffordshire County Council

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This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience and to enable social media functionality. By clicking "Turn cookies on", you agree to such purposes. Read more about cookies.

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Cyberbullying: What it is and how to stop it

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Cyberbullying: What it is and how to stop it

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This link takes you to a page which gives you lots of information on cyberbullying and steps you can take to stop it.

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We brought together UNICEF specialists, international cyberbullying and child protection experts, and teamed up with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter to answer some of the most common questions about online bullying and give advice on ways to deal with it.

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of digital technologies. It can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms and mobile phones. It is repeated behaviour, aimed at scaring, angering or shaming those who are targeted. Examples include:

spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos or videos of someone on social media

sending hurtful, abusive or threatening messages, images or videos via messaging platforms

impersonating someone and sending mean messages to others on their behalf or through fake accounts.

Face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying can often happen alongside each other. But cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint - a record that can prove useful and provide evidence to help stop the abuse.
If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, you can seek help by calling your national helpline. If your country does not have a helpline, please urgently speak to an adult you trust or seek professional support from trained and experienced carers.

1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?

All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it's hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, especially online. Sometimes they'll laugh it off with a "just kidding," or "don't take it so seriously."

But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too far. If it continues even after you've asked the person to stop and you are still feeling upset about it, then this could be bullying.

And when the bullying takes place online, it can result in unwanted attention from a wide range of people including strangers. Wherever it may happen, if you are not happy about it, you should not have to stand for it.

Call it what you will - if you feel bad and it doesn't stop, then it's worth getting help. Stopping cyberbullying is not just about calling out bullies, it's also about recognizing that everyone deserves respect - online and in real life.

2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?

When bullying happens online it can feel as if you're being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there's no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways:

Mentally - feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even afraid or angry

Emotionally - feeling ashamed or losing interest in the things you love

Physically - tired (loss of sleep), or experiencing symptoms like stomach aches and headaches

The feeling of being laughed at or harassed by others, can prevent people from speaking up or trying to deal with the problem. In extreme cases, cyberbullying can even lead to people taking their own lives.

Cyberbullying can affect us in many ways. But these can be overcome and people can regain their confidence and health.

3. How can cyberbullying affect my mental health?

When you experience cyberbullying you might start to feel ashamed, nervous, anxious and insecure about what people say or think about you. This can lead to withdrawing from friends and family, negative thoughts and self-talk, feeling guilty about things you did or did not do, or feeling that you are being judged negatively. Feeling lonely, overwhelmed, frequent headaches, nausea or stomachaches are also common.

You can lose your motivation to do the things that you usually enjoy doing and feel isolated from the people you love and trust. This can perpetuate negative feelings and thoughts which can adversely affect your mental health and well-being.

Skipping school is another common effect of cyberbullying and can affect the mental health of young people who turn to substances like alcohol and drugs or violent behaviour to deal with their psychological and physical pain. Talking to a friend, family member or school counsellor you trust can be a first step to getting help.

The effects of cyberbullying on mental health can vary depending on the medium through which it happens. For example, bullying via text messaging or through pictures or videos on social media platforms has proven to be very harmful for adolescents.

4. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?

If you think you're being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust such as your parents, a close family member or another trusted adult.

In your school you can reach out to a counsellor, the sports coach or your favourite teacher - either online or in person.

And if you are not comfortable talking to someone you know, search for a helpline in your country to talk to a professional counsellor.

If the bullying is happening on a social platform, consider blocking the bully and formally reporting their behaviour on the platform itself. Social media companies are obligated to keep their users safe.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key.

It can be helpful to collect evidence - text messages and screen shots of social media posts - to show what's been going on.

For bullying to stop, it needs to be identified and reporting it is key. It can also help to show the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable.

If you are in immediate danger, then you should contact the police or emergency services in your country.

5. I'm experiencing cyberbullying, but I'm afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?

If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult - someone you feel safe talking to - is one of the most important first steps you can take.

Talking to parents isn't easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how serious the problem is for you. Remember, they might not be as familiar with technology as you are, so you might need to help them to understand what's happening.

They might not have instant answers for you, but they are likely to want to help and together you can find a solution. Two heads are always better than one! If you are still unsure about what to do, consider reaching out to other trusted people. There are often more people who care about you and are willing to help than you might think!

6. How can I help my friends report a case of cyberbullying especially if they don't want to do it?

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. If you see this happening to someone you know, try to offer support.

It is important to listen to your friend. Why don't they want to report being cyberbullied? How are they feeling? Let them know that they don't have to formally report anything, but it's crucial to talk to someone who might be able to help.

Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying.

Remember, your friend may be feeling fragile. Be kind to them. Help them think through what they might say and to whom. Offer to go with them if they decide to report. Most importantly, remind them that you're there for them and you want to help.

If your friend still does not want to report the incident, then support them in finding a trusted adult who can help them deal with the situation. Remember that in certain situations the consequences of cyberbullying can be life threatening.

Doing nothing can leave the person feeling that everyone is against them or that nobody cares. Your words can make a difference.

7. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the Internet?

Being online has so many benefits. However, like many things in life, it comes with risks that you need to protect against.

If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long-term solution. You did nothing wrong, so why should you be disadvantaged? It may even send the bullies the wrong signal - encouraging their unacceptable behaviour.

We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others.

We all want cyberbullying to stop, which is one of the reasons reporting cyberbullying is so important. But creating the Internet we want goes beyond calling out bullying. We need to be thoughtful about what we share or say that may hurt others. We need to be kind to one another online and in real life. It's up to all of us!

8. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?

Think twice before posting or sharing anything on digital platforms - it may be online forever and could be used to harm you later. Don't give out personal details such as your address, telephone number or the name of your school.

Learn about the privacy settings of your favourite social media apps. Here are some actions you can take on many of them:

You can decide who can see your profile, send you direct messages or comment on your posts by adjusting your account privacy settings.

You can report hurtful comments, messages, photos and videos and request they be removed.

Besides 'unfriending', you can completely block people to stop them from seeing your profile or contacting you.

You can also choose to have comments by certain people to appear only to them without completely blocking them.

You can delete posts on your profile or hide them from specific people.

On most of your favourite social media, people aren't notified when you block, restrict or report them.

9. Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?

Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you are being cyberbullied by other students, report it to your school.

People who are victims of any form of violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, have a right to justice and to have the offender held accountable.

Laws against bullying, particularly on cyberbullying, are relatively new and still do not exist everywhere. This is why many countries rely on other relevant laws, such as ones against harassment, to punish cyberbullies.

In countries that have specific laws on cyberbullying, online behaviour that deliberately causes serious emotional distress is seen as criminal activity. In some of these countries, victims of cyberbullying can seek protection, prohibit communication from a specified person and restrict the use of electronic devices used by that person for cyberbullying, temporarily or permanently.

However, it is important to remember that punishment is not always the most effective way to change the behaviour of bullies. Sometimes, focusing on repairing the harm and mending the relationship can be better.

10. Technology companies don't seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?

Technology companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying.

Many of them are introducing ways to address it and better protect their users with new tools, guidance and ways to report online abuse.

But it is true that more is needed. Many young people experience cyberbullying every day. Some face extreme forms of online abuse. Some have taken their own lives as a result.

Technology companies have a responsibility to protect their users especially children and young people.

It is up to all of us to hold them accountable when they're not living up to these responsibilities.

11. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?

Each social platform offers different tools (see available ones below) that allow you to restrict who can comment on or view your posts or who can connect automatically as a friend, and to report cases of bullying. Many of them involve simple steps to block, mute or report cyberbullying. We encourage you to explore them.

Social media companies also provide educational tools and guidance for children, parents and teachers to learn about risks and ways to stay safe online.

Also, the first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you. Think about where cyberbullying happens in your community and ways you can help - by raising your voice, calling out bullies, reaching out to trusted adults or by creating awareness of the issue. Even a simple act of kindness can go a long way.

The first line of defense against cyberbullying could be you.

If you are worried about your safety or something that has happened to you online, urgently speak to an adult you trust. Many countries have a special helpline you can call for free and talk to someone anonymously. Visit United for Global Mental Health to find help in your country.

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Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it

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What teens want to know about cyberbullying

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Use this website to check if your email address has been copied

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Pastes you were found in

A paste is information that has been published to a publicly facing website designed to share content and is often an early indicator of a data breach. Pastes are automatically imported and often removed shortly after having been posted. Using the 1Password password manager helps you ensure all your passwords are strong and unique such that a breach of one service doesn't put your other services at risk.

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Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email has been compromised in a data breach

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Have I Been Pwned allows you to search across multiple data breaches to see if your email address or phone number has been compromised.

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Links to English, Maths and IT support here

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Links to English, Maths and IT support here

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Numeracy and Digital Skills - The government have launched The Skills Toolkit, a collection of free online courses for adults to access whilst at home, to help you build new skills and boost growth and productivity.

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One in three people have used online learning to help them get a better job. On average, online learning can boost your annual pay by £3,640 too [ 1]

94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development [ 5].

Help boost team productivity and motivation by upskilling your employees with free, high-quality digital, numeracy and soft skills courses. All courses on The Skills Toolkit are free and available online, so your teams can learn flexibly from home at a time that suits them.
Explore courses

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Learn a new skill at home. Find free, high quality digital courses in The Skills Toolkit.

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https://www.getsafeonline.org/

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From the Blog

Blog

Who are you really talking to online?

The internet is a fantastic innovation that has, in many ways, made life more convenient, given us more choice, brought enrichment and for many, made...

Our Partners & Supporters

Our Mission

Our Mission

Get Safe Online is the UK's leading source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety.

Our website is a unique resource providing practical advice on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobile devices and your business against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online. It contains guidance on many other related subjects too - including performing backups and how to avoid theft or loss of your computer, smartphone or tablet.
Read more about who we are

Get Safe Online around the world

Get Safe Online has a presence in 24 countries around the world. Each country benefits from its own Get Safe Online website, customised to deliver the best and most relevant experience for individuals and businesses. Many of the countries also have a community of Get Safe Online Ambassadors and Advocates working on our behalf.
Read more about our International Sites

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Get Safe Online | The UK's leading Online Safety Advice Resource

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The UK's leading online safety advice resource. Providing free, impartial internet safety advice to help keep you and your family safe online.

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This is a very quick video which can help you make safe passwords for online accounts

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How To Create a Strong Password: 5 Easy Tips To Protect Your Accounts

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Learning how to create a strong password helps keep your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Follow our 5 easy tips to boost your interne...

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A great quiz to recap on your knowledge from this week.

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You get an email or text that seems to be from one of your company’s vendors. It asks you to click on a link to update your business account. Should you click? Probably not.

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Beat the cold - some links you may find useful

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Beat the cold - some links you may find useful

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Beat the Cold provides energy advice and guidance to address fuel poverty (https://www.beatcold.org.uk/).

Support with Cost of Living Resources: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Community/Cost-of-living-support/Here-to-help.aspx

Hypothermia Advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypothermia/

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Please use the link to feedback your comments on what you have learned today.  Thanks.

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This link explains some of the basic terms which every internet user should understand

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The internet is a vast interconnection of computer networks that comprises millions of computing devices. Desktop computers, mainframes, smartphones, tablets, GPS units, video game consoles, and smart devices all connect to the internet. No single organization owns or controls the internet.

The World Wide Web, or web for short, is the space where digital content is served to users of the internet. The web contains the most popular content on the internet and-most likely-much of the content that beginning internet users ever see.

For a beginner who strives to make sense of the internet and the World Wide Web, an understanding of basic terms is helpful.

Beginning and advanced internet users all access the web through web browser software, which is included on computers and mobile devices at the time of purchase. Other browsers can be downloaded from the internet.

A browser is a free software package or mobile app that displays web pages, graphics, and most online content. Popular web browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, but there are many others.

Browser software is specifically designed to convert HTML and XML computer code into human-readable documents.

Browsers display web pages. Each web page has a unique address called a URL.

A web page is what you see in a web browser when you are on the internet. Think of the web page as a page in a magazine. You may see text, photos, images, diagrams, links, advertisements, and more on any page you view.

Often, you click or tap on a specific area of a web page to expand the information or move to a related web page. Clicking a link-a snippet of text that appears in a color that is different from the rest of the text-takes you to a different web page. If you want to go back, use the arrows provided for that purpose in most browsers.

Uniform Resource Locators-URLs-are the web browser addresses of internet pages and files. With a URL, you can locate and bookmark specific pages and files in a web browser. URLs may be listed at the bottom of business cards, on TV screens during commercial breaks, linked in documents you read on the internet, or delivered by one of the internet search engines.

The format of a URL resembles this:

http://www.examplewebsite.com/mypage

This format is frequently shortened to this:

www.examplewebsite.com/mypage

Sometimes URLs are longer and more complicated, but all follow acknowledged rules for naming. URLs consist of three parts:

Protocol: The protocol is the portion ending in //:. Most web pages use the protocol http or https, but there are other protocols.

Host: The host or top-level domain, which frequently ends in .com, .net, .edu, or .org but can also end in one of many others that have been officially recognized.

Filename: The filename or page name.

HTTP and HTTPS

HTTP is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the data communication standard of web pages. When a web page has this prefix, the links, text, and pictures should work correctly in a web browser.

HTTPS is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. This indicates that the web page has a special layer of encryption added to hide your personal information and passwords from others. Whenever you log in to your online bank account or a shopping site that you enter credit card information into, look for https in the URL for security.

HTML and XML

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the programming language of web pages. HTML commands a web browser to display text and graphics in a specific fashion. Beginning internet users don't need to know HTML coding to enjoy the web pages the programming language delivers to browsers.

XML is eXtensible Markup Language, a cousin to HTML. XML focuses on cataloging and databasing the text content of a web page.

Your computer and every device that connects to the internet uses an Internet Protocol address for identification. In most cases, IP addresses are assigned automatically.

Beginners don't usually need to assign an IP address. An IP address can look something like this:

202.3.104.55

Or, like this:

21DA:D3:0:2F3B:2AA:FF:FE28:9C5A

Every computer, smartphone, and mobile device that accesses the internet is assigned an IP address for tracking purposes. It may be a permanently assigned IP address, or the IP address may change occasionally, but it is always a unique identifier.

Wherever you browse, whenever you send an email or instant message, and whenever you download a file, your IP address serves as the equivalent of an automobile license plate to enforce accountability and traceability.

You need an internet service provider (ISP) to get to the internet. You may access a free ISP at school, a library, or work, or you may pay for a private ISP at home. An ISP is the company or government organization that plugs you into the vast internet.

An ISP offers a variety of services for a variety of prices: web page access, email, web page hosting, and so on. Most ISPs provide various internet connection speeds for a monthly fee. You may choose to pay more for a higher-speed internet connection if you like to stream movies or select a less expensive package if you use the internet mostly for light browsing and email.

A router or router-modem combination is the hardware device that acts as the traffic cop for network signals arriving at your home or business from your ISP. A router can be wired or wireless or both.

A router provides a defense against hackers and directs content to the specific computer, device, streaming device, or printer that should receive it.

Often your ISP provides the network router it prefers for your internet service. When it does, the router is configured appropriately. If you choose to use a different router, you may need to enter information into it.

Email is electronic mail. It is the sending and receiving of typewritten messages from one screen to another. Email is usually handled by a webmail service-Gmail or Yahoo Mail, for example-or an installed software package such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail.

Beginners start by creating one email address that they give to their family members and friends. However, you aren't limited to one address or email service. You may choose to add other email addresses for online shopping, business, or social networking purposes.

Email Spam and Filters

Spam is the jargon name of unwanted and unsolicited email. Spam email comes in two main categories: high-volume advertising, which is annoying, and hackers attempting to lure you into divulging your passwords, which is dangerous.

Filtering is the popular, but imperfect, defense against spam. Filtering is included in many email clients. Filtering uses software that reads incoming emails for keyword combinations and then either deletes or quarantines messages that appear to be spam. Look for a spam or junk folder in your mailbox to see your quarantined or filtered email.

To protect yourself against hackers who want your personal information, be suspicious. Your bank won't email you and ask for your password. The fellow in Nigeria doesn't need your bank account number. Amazon isn't handing you a free $50 gift certificate. Anything that sounds too good to be true probably isn't true. If you are unsure, do not click any links in the email and contact the sender (your bank or whomever) separately for validation.

Social Media

Social media is the broad term for any online tool that enables users to interact with thousands of other users. Facebook and Twitter are among the largest social networking sites. LinkedIn is a combination of a social and professional site. Other popular sites include YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Tumblr, and Reddit.

Social media sites offer free accounts to everyone. When selecting the ones that interest you, ask your friends and family which ones they belong to. That way, you can join a group where you know people.

As with all things internet-related, protect your personal information when you sign up for sites. Most of them offer a privacy section where you can choose what to reveal to other users of the website.

E-commerce is electronic commerce-the transactions of selling and buying online. Every day, billions of dollars exchange hands through the internet and the World Wide Web.

Internet shopping has exploded in popularity with internet users, to the detriment of traditional brick-and-mortar stores and malls. Every well-known retailer has a website that showcases and sells its products. Joining them are dozens of small sites that sell products and enormous sites that sell just about everything.

E-commerce works because reasonable privacy can be assured through HTTPS secure web pages that encrypt personal information and because reliable businesses value the internet as a transaction medium and make the process simple and safe.

Encryption and Authentication

Encryption is the mathematical scrambling of data so that it is hidden from eavesdroppers. Encryption uses complex math formulas to turn private data into meaningless gobbledygook that only trusted readers can unscramble.

Encryption is the basis for how we use the internet as a pipeline to conduct trusted business, like online banking and online credit card purchasing. When reliable encryption is in place, banking information and credit card numbers are kept private.

Authentication is directly related to encryption. Authentication is the complex way that computer systems verify that you are who you say you are.

Downloading

Downloading is a broad term that describes transferring something you find on the internet or the World Wide Web to your computer or another device. Commonly, downloading is associated with songs, music, and software files. For example, you might want to download a new musical ringtone for your smartphone or download a trial copy of Microsoft Office.

The larger the file you are copying, the longer the download takes to transfer to your computer. Some downloads take seconds; some take minutes or longer, depending on your internet speed.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing began as a term to describe software that was online and borrowed, instead of purchased and installed on a computer. Web-based email is one example of cloud computing. The user's email is stored and accessed in the cloud of the internet.

The cloud is the modern version of the 1970s mainframe computing model. As part of the cloud computing model, software as a service is a business model that assumes people would rather rent software than own it. With their web browsers, users access the cloud on the internet and log in to their online rented copies of their cloud-based software.

Increasingly, services offer cloud storage of files to facilitate the ability to access files from more than one device. It is possible to save files, photos, and images in the cloud and then access those files from a laptop, smartphone, tablet, or another device. Cloud computing makes collaboration among individuals on the same files in the cloud possible.

Firewall is a generic term to describe a barrier against destruction. In the case of computing, a firewall consists of software or hardware that protects a computer from hackers and viruses.

Computing firewalls range from small anti-virus software packages to complex and expensive software and hardware solutions. ​ Some firewalls are free. Many computers ship with a firewall you can activate. All computer firewalls offer some kind of safeguard against hackers vandalizing or taking over a computer system.

Malware is a broad term that describes any malicious software designed by hackers. Malware includes viruses, Trojans, keyloggers, zombie programs, and other software that seeks to do one of four things:

Vandalize your computer in some way.

Steal your private information.

Take remote control of your computer (zombie your computer) for other ends.

Manipulate you into purchasing something.

Malware programs are the time bombs and wicked minions of dishonest programmers. Protect yourself with a firewall and knowledge of how to prevent these programs from reaching your computer.

A Trojan is a special kind of hacker program that relies on the user to welcome it and activate it. Named after the famous Trojan horse tale, Trojan programs masquerade as legitimate files or software programs.

Sometimes, it is an innocent-looking movie file or an installer that pretends to be actual anti-hacker software. The power of the Trojan attack comes from users naively downloading and running the Trojan file.

Phishing is the use of convincing-looking emails and web pages to lure you into typing your account numbers and passwords or PINs. Often in the form of fake PayPal warning messages or phony bank login screens, phishing attacks can be convincing to anyone who is not trained to watch for the subtle clues.

As a rule, smart users-beginners and long-time users alike-should distrust any email link that says, "You should log in and confirm this."

A blog is a modern online writer's column. Amateur and professional writers publish blogs on all kinds of topics: their hobby interests in paintball and tennis, their opinions on health care, their commentaries on celebrity gossip, photoblogs of favorite pictures, or tech tips on using Microsoft Office. Absolutely anyone can start a blog.

Blogs are usually arranged chronologically and with less formality than a website. Many blogs accept and respond to comments. Blogs vary in quality from amateurish to professional. Some savvy bloggers earn reasonable incomes by selling advertising on their blog pages.

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The internet is a vast interconnection of computer networks that comprises millions of computing devices. Desktop computers, mainframes, smartphones, tablets, GPS units, video game consoles, and smart devices all connect to the internet. No single organization owns or controls the internet.

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Once you have successfully completed your course why not try another course with CARE or one of the  learning courses available with Staffordshire Community Learning.  Please follow the link below for full details.

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Staffordshire Community Learning - Staffordshire Adult and Community Learning

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This is the official website for Staffordshire County Council's Adult Community Learning service.

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More online safety including advice for parents

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More online safety including advice for parents

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Welcome to the UK Safer Internet Centre, where you can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online.

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This link provides advise on how to make a strong password.

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A strong password is difficult for anyone to guess or 'crack'. When you sign up for an account and choose your password, many websites will give you an indication of how strong your password is. It will also specify if the password needs to include numbers, letters, and symbols.

Traditionally, some of the below can help you create a strong password for these websites.

be at least 8 characters long (preferably 12)

include a combination of upper- and lower-case letters

include some numbers and keyboard symbols such as & or !

not include personal information, such as your name, any usernames, your date of birth, or any family member's details.

not include common words like 'password'

When creating a strong password yourself, putting three random words together such as 'YellowChairApple' is a good idea. You can add in some of the options above for added security if you'd like.

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Digital tips: Password security | Age UK

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A strong password is difficult for anyone to guess or 'crack'. When you sign up for an account and choose your password, many websites will give you an indication of how strong your password is. It will also specify if the password needs to include numbers, letters, and symbols.

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How to report internet scams and phishing

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How to report internet scams and phishing

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This is a government site which explains how to report any internet scams and phishing

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Skip to main content

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies

Report misleading websites, emails, phone numbers, phone calls or text messages you think may be suspicious.

Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), reply to text messages, download attachments or click on any links in emails if you're not sure they're genuine.

Emails

Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it.

Text messages

Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 - it's free.

This will report the message to your mobile phone provider.

Adverts

Report scam or misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority. You can report adverts found online, including in search engines, websites or on social media.

You can also report scam or misleading adverts to Google if you found them in Google search results, or report to Bing if you found them in Bing search results.

If you think you've been a victim of an online scam or fraud

Contact Action Fraud if you think you've lost money or been hacked because of an online scam or fraud and you're in England or Wales. You can:

report online - either sign up for an account or continue as a 'guest'

call 0300 123 2040

If you're in Scotland and you've lost money because of an online scam or fraud, report the crime to Police Scotland.

Avoid websites, emails and phone numbers that imitate government services

Some websites, emails or phone numbers look like they're part of an official government service when they're not, or claim to help more than they actually do. Some make you pay for things that would be free or cheaper if you used the official government service.

Search on GOV.UK to find official government services and phone numbers, for example if you want to apply to the DVLA for a driving licence.

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Avoid and report internet scams and phishing

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Skip to main content We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

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Please complete the course feedback form below, it will give us its lots of really useful comments about what you have enjoyed, learnt and what you would like to do next. Please be honest, but if you have anything you would like to discuss personally before you complete the form please ring me, Carol Parkes on 07772 273033 or you can email me on carolparkes@chaseaquaruralenterprise.com
The Course Code you will need is DIGCARE02

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Community Learning 2022-23 Learner Feedback - Staffordshire County Council - Citizen Space

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This site contains consultations that are run by Staffordshire County Council.

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In today's session we have looked at social media in more detail and we can now look at your own personal settings online. Please take some time to review your own settings on social media accounts, let me know what changes you have made after today or if you just now feel more comfortable that the settings you already have are ok.

If you don't already have a social media account then think about what we have covered today and think about the setting you would have on a account where you to set up a Facebook or Instagram profile in the future. Would you have a private account for example?

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Thank you to all learners for their comments and feedback and for our discussions about your next steps.  We look forward to seeing you on future Community Learning courses and if you need any further information with the progression pathways we have discussed individually with you please get in touch.

Please be aware that at some stage in the future you may be contacted by Staffordshire County Council for feedback from you about how you have been able to use your new learning.

Best wishes  Brad & Jeanette

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This glossary keeps the definitions of online terminology simple and easy to understand

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Glossary of online terms | Technology and internet | Age UK

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Baffled by browsers? Vexed by viruses? Our glossary of online terms explains what they mean.

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Two useful careers links worth following on Twitter for the latest info about careers.

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Two useful careers links worth following on Twitter for the latest info about careers.

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@nationalCareers and
@CareersWestMids

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Other websites of interest for "reading around" the subject

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Other websites of interest for "reading around" the subject

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https://www.getsafeonline.org/

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Staying safe online - tips for older people | Age UK

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Online scams are becoming increasingly common. These include viruses which can damage your computer and online scams. Read our guide to staying safe online.

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Please use the link to feedback your comments on what you have learned today.  Thanks.

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Please use the link to feedback your comments on what you have learned today.  Thanks.

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Please use the link to feedback your comments on what you have learned today.   Thanks.

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Your digital skills journey starts here:

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Your digital skills journey starts here:

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Please can I ask you to complete the attached survey, you can access it by clicking on the link.

All of this information is really important and helps is to make sure your journey takes you to where you want to go.  Thank you.

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Please find below a short video which rounds up the course and goes through a few last things such as feeding back with you. Congratulations for finishing the course! You've all done brilliantly!

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a screenshot of my bookmark

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Congratulations on enrolling on a Staffordshire Community Learning or Everyday Maths course!

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We want to make sure that you get the best out of the course, that it is the right one for you. Please check out our course aims and outcomes below.  If there is anything you can't see on there that would be useful for you please let us know - leave a comment below, ring, email or facebook us - full details below.