- Find a news item of a child being targeted by an online predator.
- Do a presentation of the issue, explaining an appropriate social and/or ethical issue related to the IT system used. (150words)
This article describes how an online predator advertised a fake modeling agency on the internet to lure young girls, then he “would push and push as far as he could with the girls to see if he could draw them further into his web of sexual activity,". This shows how he was able to target girls, easily by producing a “modeling” agency, which shows how he was able to target a large number of girls due to the increase in interests of modeling careers; he also targeted girls on under 18 chat rooms which he was allowed access to, this allowed him to attract vunerable girls easily and lure them. He was able to target girls with something they were interested in which allowed him to gain a wide range of younger girls, and also he was allowed to gain access to under 18 chat rooms, he was also able to subvert a filter placed by a child’s parents.
- Evaluate a feasible solution to a problem identified in the news item. (150 words)
A feasible solution to this topic and methods which could be taken out to help stop predators like this could be to make under 18 chat rooms, secure and make sure that users must go through an identity check, where personal details are filled out from something to help prove the child’s identity, for example a child’s passport number or some personal evidence which would not have a big impact of somebody was to get hold of the information also these would need to be incredibly secure. Also if a child is going to be meeting up with a person they had met online then they would need a responsible adult to accompany them when they meet, this would mean that children in schools would need to be educated on this matter more thoroughly. Finally making sure filters are more secure so that they cannot by bypassed.
- Look for 3 examples of Internet abuse.
- cost
- phishing
- phishing
- Explain an appropriate social and/or ethical issue related to the IT system, (150 words).
Phishing is defined as gaining some bodies details via an e-mail requiring bank account details or various methods of doing so, this allows fraudsters to gain passwords or details from a person whilst luring them into a trap, often by using a topic which the victim will be unaware of like an e-mail from your bank which is fake. Phishing often catches people off their guard and are unaware of the problems; however there are many ways of preventing this for example, most anti virus software nowadays comes with anti phishing software which helps protect the user. They can also take also take peoples details by setting up fake websites, and this means users have to be aware of the issue as this can catch them off guard as they wish to do some shopping only to find their details have been taken. There are web pages and methods to help prevent this today and keep users safe however it is still a large scale problem.
- Analyse the IT background (concepts, developments and trends) relevant to the issue. (300 words).
During this article the main IT issue raised is about internet phishing, Phishing is described as “tricking somebody into providing bank or credit-card information by sending a fraudulent e-mail purporting to be from a bank, Internet provider, etc. asking for verification of an account number or password”. Phishing is one of the major issues of internet abuse today with so many people falling victim to various scams and losing out on money and details. Phishing began in 1995 where hackers would use AOL software to pose as workers and instead would have hacked the software and tried to gain a users password, there after Phishing would move onto financial purposes in 2001, where hackers would try to earn bank account details. Phishing is highly illegal and often people are unaware after being caught out by a hacker, and with the encouragement in society to get technical and use computer, more and more computer illiterate people are becoming victims to phishers and internet fraud.
In present times, hackers are now very advanced and as you can see from the article have the ability to create a fake website, just so they could gather your bank account details, so you should always be aware of how to use the internet safely and securely. Also, in new antivirus software packs, they now often contain anti phishing software which helps protect e mails and certain spyware, which keeps you safe online.
Nowadays there are many sources of information around for users if they wish to use the internet safely, and people should be encouraged to read these, to make sure they do not become a victim to a fraudster or phisher.
