In a world growing with hundreds, even thousands, of stalkers and hackers online, it can be scary to put information on the internet. You hear of people getting credit card information stolen or social media accounts being hacked almost regularly. The internet is a scary place but with the right security and caution we can avoid these issues. When I first create an account online I always make sure I am private so no random person can look at my pictures or information I am sharing. I have gotten my credit card number stolen before and it is very scary. Luckily it was only one transaction and I was able to recover the money through my bank. But, through that experience I have learned that you cannot just buy from any website or trust anything you see online. I now only put my credit card number online if I know it is a secure trusted website. Even with secure websites there are still hackers that can find out your information. Another thing I have fallen victim to is downloading unneeded programs that have messed up my laptop. You have to be very careful with everything you agree to and look into everything you do on your computer because you have no idea who is watching. Make sure to password protect everything from accounts to just your phone or laptop itself. Do not be afraid to ask many questions before giving information about yourself to any person or program. No questions are too much. You only have one identity and if that is stolen it can be very dangerous for you and for others around you. The easiest way to avoid this is to not share any information with anyone you do not know or trust. It can be very tempting at times and you may feel safe but coming from someone who has been tricked multiple times into giving unnecessary information to someone, please be very careful.
Carly Kosciolek 
