I came across a few reallly interesting sites when i was researching ‘internet Privacy’ today, and i though it would be a good idea to share with you, some of the interesting sites and facts that i learnt while researching this topic.

The first one i came across was “10 pivacy settings every facebook user should know” and it gives a list of the things that every individual should do to keep their facebook profiles safe. Here is a brief outline of the steps.

1. Use Your Friend Lists

2. Remove Yourself From Facebook Search Results

3. Remove Yourself From Google

4. Avoid the Infamous Photo/Video Tag Mistake

5. Protect Your Albums

6. Prevent Stories From Showing Up in Your Friends’ News Feeds

7. Protect Against Published Application Stories

8. Make Your Contact Information Private

9. Avoid Embarrassing Wall Posts

                           -Adjust Wall Posting Visibility

                           -Control Who Can Post to Your Wall

10. Keep Your Friendships Private     

Here is the link to this page:

      http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-privacy-2009-02

Yesterday a fourth year university student from Ballarat University spoke to us over ellumintae about the Ballarat University, he also spoke a little bit about himself, and what course he is completing, (a teaching course) how he went about it and what not. He finished year 12, with an enterscore that he wasnt quite happy with, a score that wasnt able to get him into what he wanted to get into, so he found a job and worked untill he was 21, and then he attended Ballarat Uni To begin his Course.

 His name was Hein, and he explained what has worked best for him over his univerity years. Hein mentioned that although he lives in Ballarat, and has a house where he lives, he sometimes wished that he lived on campus as alot goes on there. Hein also recommended that students who are wishing to go  to university in the coming years, they should attend o-week, a week where students attend and lear all about the University. He highley recomended this to all first year students.

The Elluminate program worked well. As Hein made his presentaion students in the elluminate room where able to chat to him, asking questions, which he could read and then answer back. Overall the presentaion was good, and very helpfull for the future.

What is meant by Phishing?

Phishing is the criminally false process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by hidden electronic communication. Phishing is a cyber crime!

What advice could be given to protect yourself and others of Phishing? Write at least four dot points.

• NEVER click into unknown links
• Change your password regularly, if you click into a link change your password straight away.
• Give your computer an “anti-virus scan.”
• Warn your friends, so they don’t open a virus scam.

Personal experience:

I was once on msn and one of my good friends sent me a link saying “Look what I just found,” I don’t generally click into things like this, however because it was from a good friend, I simply thought, she wouldn’t send me anything bad. However, she of all people had no idea that she had even sent me this link.

After clicking into the link, I realised that. I had started sending the same link to my online friends. Where from there they started asking me, “should I click into that? Or is it a virus?” I simply had no idea what they where saying. Then I clicked, and realised that it was a “virus” that I had opened. And it was spreading. I panicked, and instantly closed out of my MSN page, current open Facebook and Myspace page. I also “restarted” my computer.  However, it wasn’t until I tried to log back onto my MSN, Facebook and Myspace page when I realised I was unable to. My passwords had been changed.

1. Tell me a little about Elliott Fletcher and Trinity Bates?

Elliott Fletcher: A 12 year old boy, who died after alleged schoolyard stabbing attack in the school grounds of St Patrick’s College.

Trinity Bates: An 8 year old girl, from Bundaberg was found dead in a storm drain after being allegedly abducted from her home.

1. Why is Facebook involved and why is there an issue?

Facebook is involved in this situation as there has currently been a “Facebook page” that has been set up in memorial of both Elliot and Trinity. However with that said, both pages have been vandalised and treated with disrespect by vandals. Such as child pornography and bestiality, was posted on the sites, as well as comments about the alleged killers and how the killings took place.

1. Briefly describe the approach taken by the Facebook staff when the issue was brought to their attention.

Staff reacted with shock and disbelief as they learned of the vandalism of tribute pages set up to honour twelve-year-old Elliott Fletcher and eight-year-old Trinity Bates.

1. Find three or four other online articles on these children and add the references to these as hyperlinks on your blog posts. 

Schoolboys release balloons in sad tribute to Elliott Fletcher: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/schoolboys-release-balloons-in-sad-tribute-to-elliott-fletcher/story-e6frg6nf-1225832197414

Facebook vandals attack boy’s memorial: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/security/facebook-vandals-attack-boys-memorial-20100216-o3b1.html

Four people questioned over comments on Facebook page for Trinity Bates: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/autopsy-to-reveal-how-trinity-leigh-bates-died/story-e6frg6nf-1225833519592

 What kind of courses would benefit most from online learning?

Just about any course would benefit most people from online learning.

What do you think is lost when you have no face-to-face teacher?

With no face-to-face teacher, student would lack communication skills and perhaps find things more difficult to learn, as hand on work would be more difficult to complete is the student is unsure how to do something.

Do you think online learning could ever re-place schools as we know them?

Online learning could defiantly replace schools as we know them today. With majority of people whom do have a computer/electronic device that connects to the internet, it would allow people to learn from home. However with that said, if students found things difficult to understand, it is often better and easier to have things be shown to them one on one.

Which Norse God gave us his name to this day? “Thursday” Of what God was he?

• Answer: Thor (Thor’s day) He was the Norse god of the sky, thunder, and weather.
• Search Engine used
• Search Words: What Norse God Gave His Name to Thursday
• Site used for Answer

What does Net-Gen Mean?

The defining definition of the Net-Gen Ed, Is that kids these days are born into the digital world, They know what to do, have no fear of doing anything wrong, because what they do is always right. Adults wouldn’t just “click” Buttons, or “Try” something new, especially when it comes to Digital/Technology.

Therefore this means that the Net-Gen Ed means that Children, which are born into Technology, Are learning from the Net, Not from Books and Texts.

List the digital Media you are growing up with.

Today we grow up with new digital technology’s all the time. Almost every person has either an Ipod, MP3 Player, Computer, Laptop, Mobile phone, Digital Camera, or in other case’s many people have all the above, and some people are able to have 2 things of each thing. Yes, children these days are taking over, they do know more then their parents do, but its because, they are learning more about it, they have grown up with it, its been with them scince they where born, however adults these days didn’t grow up with this Technology, therefore they know less about it. Back 25 years ago, there was no such thing as a Computer, digital camera or an Ipod and MP3 Player.

Things that people don’t go without are:

Things I use have a star beside them…

·         *Facebook.com, (Communicating with friends)

·         *Myspace.com, (Communicating with friends, Looking and Learning what people Like and Dislike, Learn different things about people-Their blogs)

·         *MSN Messenger (Communicating with friends Instantly)

·         GPS

·         *Digital Camera (Taking photos, Friends, Family, Locations, Holidays,-show people.)

·         *Mobile Phone (Messaging friends/family, Making Phone Calls, Playing games, Taking Photos, Using it as a MP3 player, Calender-reminders for things)

·         *Laptops (Use all internet pages,-Communicating with friends, Completing work for school-Home work, – storing photos, music, contacts, school work, Playing Games.

·         MP3 and MP4 players (Listening to Music)

·         *Ipod/Ipod Touch (Listening to Music, Watching movies, Looking at Photos, Visiting WebPages, Communicating with friends-MSN)

·         *Youtube.com (Downloading Videos, Watching Videos)

I think that in schools, students should be given more opportunities within the technology area, there is so much more to life these days other then putting head to pen and paper, Computer skills are a much more needed, when looking for jobs these days, Such as all the above, but in the work force they are used for bookwork, collecting Data, Accounting, People Use the internet to do their Banking, Downloading Music, Videos, Photos, Ordering food/Pizza, Ordering food from the Supermarket, Purchasing Clothes and so much more. Seriously, what can’t be done on the net?  Technology takes over takes over us.

On February the 7th 2009, Warrnambool recorded its hottest temperature ever, at 44.8 degrees. While Melbourne’s temperature reached a total of 46.1 degrees, a fire started North of Melbourne. Our nation was left in shock, at least 184 people left dead, many people missing, Wildlife in danger, towns wiped off maps, 640 homes have been lost and family’s are traumatized. The 44 degree heat forced people to stay indoors. While outdoors wild winds reaching up to 130km per hour pushed hot air through Victoria. Causing a fire to burn rapidly through 300.000 hectares of land, Burnt down Homes, Sheds, thousands of dollars worth of Hay, Cars, Fences, Damaged Livestock,  and harmed many people.

While families had no option, but to leave their homes to reach safety, they left behind many memories and personal accessories, Photos, Clothing, Pets and unfortunately for some people they left friends and family.  Wild life was stranded having nowhere to go, but into the raging flames. Pets went missing, People where burnt, a young man suffered in a critical condition, with burns to 50% of his body. CFA (fire Brigade) Members were seen by ambulance crew, due to breathing problems from the smoke. 

These people are left with nothing, and fortunately there are so many ways that you can help.

Visit, www.redcross.org.au for more information.

FEBRUARY 7^th 2009- A DAY THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGETT

Tag Galaxy was used to create this image. I Typed Pink into my tag and this what came up.