Online Safety
Dont meet up with anyone!

Here you can find out how to stay safe online and not just on Habbo hotel.
So how do you stay safe online ?

Messenger program safety
Messenger services are a great way to stay in contact and make new friends via the internet but there are precautions you have to take.

What is a messenger program ?
A messenger program is something that you download onto your computer and can use it to keep in touch with friends/family and other people.
You can have buddy lists where you can add people and you chat to them by clicking on there names and sending them messages.

There are many messenger services available on the internet like:

- Msn messenger
- Yahoo messenger
- Aol instant messenger
- Skype

These programs are great to use as long as you use them properly and stay safe.

There are various hazards with using these programs though like:

- They are never 100% secure
- People can find out vital information about you
- You can receive nasty messages and unwanted messages that could link to inappropriate sites
- It is an easy way for strangers to contact you
- If you have not set your preferences you never know who can be watching you whilst you are online.


Spyware safety
Spyware is something that monitors all the actions you make on your computer.
Most of the time spyware is harmless and is normally just used by companies to get information on you which they use to see which sites you go on which helps them to advertise their company and products.
Sometimes spyware can be more serious and can cause greater problems (e.g. - redirecting your web browser to inappropriate sites)
Spyware can easily be removed by going to http://www.download.com search "ad-aware" and download a free copy, this will scan your whole computer and remove any spyware you may have.

Follow these tips below to make sure you stay safe online:

- Never give out any personal information about yourself
- Always set your preferences to make sure you get what you want
- Never arrange to meet up with anyone you don't know
- Do not go on any websites that could harm your computer (e.g.- spyware, keyloggers)
- Always protect your computer with anti virus software and firewalls (see internet security guide)