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Reading 1/1:
Read the following passage and choose the correct answer for each question.
Be Web Wise
☐ A
☐ B
☐ C
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We're always being urged to stay safe online. But in an era where the Internet is part of our everyday lives for work, fun.
study, shopping, even managing finances, and it's not always easy to spot the dangers. Web safety expert, Amanda
Knox, explores some of the issues lurking in cyberspace.
Her first piece of advice is to install software and a firewall to protect your computer from viruses, hackers, and criminals
who want to steal your data or financial information. "Think of these as your first line of defense." says Amanda.
So much for protecting yourself against intruders, but what about other problems? Say you've accidentally deleted an
important file, or you've been at the mercy of a natural disaster. Katy Marsh runs an online photography business from
home and when a fire destroyed part of her house. It could easily have spelled ruin for her business too. "Luckily. I keep
a regular backup of my data, so it wasn't a catastrophe.' Amanda advises while back-ups are good to have. We must
ensure we protect our computers to start with.
Whilst most of us are aware of the need to protect our computers, it seems we're laxer when it comes to looking out for
ourselves, at least according to a recent web awareness survey. Web safety specialists say better personal awareness
is needed and this is due in part to the rise of 'Social Networking sites like 'Facebook' or 'Twitter', which allow us to
connect with people around the world with similar interests and professional backgrounds. Chris Simpson, a computer
programmer, learned the hard way. "I joined a free online networking group in the hope of making some professional
contacts to help me find a new job. After a month, one of my online contacts invited me to take out a subscription to a
club that promised access to a network of job recruiters. It turned out to be a waste of money. I ended up a
laughingstock with my mates - they couldn't believe that someone in my job could get taken in so easily." No wonder
then that Amanda warns, "It's easy to get complacent and let our guard down when we meet someone with the same
interests online."
This brings us to other potential pitfalls. Are the people you meet online who they claim to be? Can you be sure the
person you're chatting with is a 22-year-old Maths undergraduate from London and not someone merely masquerading
as a student to win your trust? Khaled, a postgrad from Manchester University. quickly realized that it was unwise of him
to post his phone number and email address in the public forum of an online academic discussion group. He was soon
bombarded with unwanted emails and nuisance phone calls. Yet, it's astonishing how many highly educated people do
this without considering the consequences that anyone in the world could use the information to make unwanted contact.
When networking and joining online communities it's better to be cautious about the amount of personal information you
share. For example, it isn't always necessary to use your real name as a username when registering for a service. You
could instead use a pseudonym or a name that doesn't give away your real identity to other users. And is it important to
tell the world details about your school, college, or any local clubs you're a member of? Sometimes it pays to be a little
vague and simply say something like 'I'm studying at college in Madrid at the moment and I'm a member of a local tennis
club'.
1) According to Amanda, why is it important to have regular backups of your data?
A. To protect against viruses and hackers
B. To make professional contacts
C. To avoid joining online networking groups
D. To recover from accidental file deletion or natural disasters
