• If you’re under 18, MySpaceBoobs is not the place for you. Go away. If we find out a user is under 18, we will delete his or her profile. If you’re under 18, there are other sites better suited for you. If you see anybody on MySpaceBoobs who looks or says they are under 18, oh well..
  
  
• Always publicly post your photos or links to websites or other profiles.
  
  
• While it’s fun to meet new people online, always remember that the friends you make online should NEVER replace people you know and are friends with in real life. No matter how often you have chatted with someone or how much you think you know about them, you never really know who you are chatting with online. That cute 21 year old guy may not be cute, may not be 21 and may not be a guy!
  
  
• We have all heard the stories about in-person meetings going bad. The simple fact is, people can “be” anyone they choose to be online. Just because they sent you a picture, does not mean it is THEIR picture. Or their picture taken within the last three decades. IF you feel that you must meet someone you are only familiar with from online conversations, be sure you choose to meet them in a VERY PUBLIC PLACE. A busy coffee shop, or shopping mall (near the security guard station) would be a good first step. Meet during the day. And BRING A FRIEND! (or several, preferably big tough sumo wrestler friends.) Do not be afraid to walk away if you feel you have been lied to in anyway.
  
  
• Don’t reply to spam. At best, they go into a black hole and never get to the sender. At worst, you find yourself now on many more lists because they figured out you read the junk e-mail. Invest in a good spam filter or reach out to your ISP and see what anti-spam services they offer.
  
• Being online does not make you completely anonymous. There are ways that people use to discover real life information about the people they meet online. Sometimes the code on the top of your e-mail, or used when you post anything online can tell people where you go to school, work or access the Internet.
  
• Some people enjoy giving others grief online. If for this reason only, you should never go to an online chatroom, or download public files or email without having a good firewall and an up-to-date anti-virus program installed on your computer.
  
  
• Some hacking programs and spyware can grab your passwords and credit card information. Use a firewall and anti-virus program and update them automatically.
  
• Keep your password a secret. Sharing it can cause you huge problems. And don’t use one that’s easy for someone to guess, or use a password hint that others who know you might figure out. (Keeping it on a post-it note glued to your monitor at work may not be the best way of storing your e-mail address.) Change it once in a while too. In a similar light, have a secret code word with your real life friends that you chat with online. If you are chatting with someone you think you know, but are suspicious if the person on the other side is really them or not, ask them for the password. If they do not know it, disconnect! (It might be their roommate, office mate, or creepy uncle!)
  
  
• Use your head! Many new schemes exist to trick you into giving up your login and password info, especially at your Paypal, bank and e-commerce member pages. If something seems too good to be true, it’s not true. Unfortunately, there is a cybersucker born every minute.
  
  
  
• Don’t be naïve!! If someone makes you an offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There is no one in Nigeria who is actually going to give you 30 million bucks, and that girl you don’t know who just emailed you doesn’t want you to watch her webcam because you’re cute. No reputable bank, ISP or other online service will EVER ask you for your password via email or instant message or send you a link to their site if there is a “security breach.” If someone is making you uncomfortable on email or instant messenger, most programs will let you BLOCK them. You don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to.
  
  
• Treat others with respect, and expect the same from them. Don’t be obnoxious. Online arguments are known as “flaming”. Do not go there. Many times these incidents can escalate into off-line harassment. Harassing people online is against the Terms of Service guidelines of just about every ISP. Do not harass others online. If you do it can get your service revoked. Bad things you say and do online can come back and bite you.
  
  
• If you ever feel like you’re in real danger from someone online, tell someone you trust and then go directly to your local law enforcement agency. Don’t delete the message. Also, a printout won’t be enough. The police will need the live communication to check out the headers and other coding to trace the sender or poster.

A little common sense can go a long way online. Keep it safe.