Online attitudes should mirror real life behaviour

Most Canadians make a concerted effort to protect themselves so they avoid threats such as thefts, car accidents and physical attacks. They take fewer precautions, however, when it comes to steering clear of the many dangers that exist online. Perhaps they believe there isn’t much cause for alarm. This notion can be quickly dispelled with a look at some of the latest data. A recent survey from Netlingo.com indicates that 44 per cent of teens with online profiles on social networking sites report having been contacted online by a stranger. Adults clearly have their own threats to worry about as well; according to Javelin Strategy & Research's 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report, the number of identity fraud victims last year totaled more than 11 million in the United States alone.