Social networking Web sites, such as MySpace, Friendster, Bebo, and Dada provide you with an interactive network of blogs, profiles, groups, photos, and an internal email system where you can meet with friends, post your interests, and find out what others care about.

And now, social networking sites are updating their technology so that you can connect, download, upload, and edit from your mobile phone. No matter where you are, you and your friends can share important details about your lives in real-time.

But networking sites pose risks, so you need to protect yourself against these potential dangers. The good news? By arming yourself with the proper knowledge, and installing the right security tools, your can feel free express yourself and network. Here are a couple best practices.

Meet Your Friends and Make New Ones Online

Never respond to email, chat comments, or other messages that are hostile, belligerent, inappropriate, or in any way make you feel uncomfortable.
When chatting or opening your email inbox, you can be vulnerable to some pretty scary material or people. Never tell anyone your password, including friends or someone who seems official (except for your parents).
Don't reveal anything incriminating about yourself, your family, or your friends that could possibly get you or someone you care about into trouble. Anyone can read the information you post-including teachers and bosses. Seemingly harmless details of a party could hurt chances for a job or scholarship.
Learn about splogging to protect your blog and the blogs you visit.
Find out how to spot phishing scams in your e-mail to protect your computer from viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses.

Steer Clear of Predators

Don't give out any private information that could help anyone determine your actual identity. Avoid posting personal information such as your school names, class schedules, phone numbers, and provocative photos.
Never get together with someone you meet online. It's the biggest danger to your safety. If you decide to meet someone, talk to your parents first, and then meet in a public area.
When you're on sites like MySpace and give out personal information or download information from other kids profiles, you open your computer to hackers, who can steal your identity, wipe out your pictures and music, and even destroy your computer. To guard against these risks, make sure your internet security program has a firewall and an antispyware tool that work with other parts of your security system to protect your stuff and your computer from hackers, viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.

Conclusion

Enjoy expressing yourself the way you want to and connecting with your friends. By taking precautions, you can keep your information safe against security threats, so you can continue to enjoy the freedom and choice of the Internet. Stay smart, keep up with networking site scams, and make sure your computer has security tools like Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security—all can really help you have fun and stay safe.