BYU offers help for Internet users

BYU unveiled a Web site Friday aimed at helping Internet users avoid a variety of high-tech dangers. The site — besafe.byu.edu — is available to everyone and offers insight and information on five areas of Internet concern — spam and phishing, viruses and malware, web content, social networking and gaming.

The launch was timed to coincide with the university's decision to allow students using the campus Internet to access the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube, which was also made available on campus Friday.

"For some time, we've been working on the ideas behind besafe.byu.edu to help members of our campus community understand the challenges they face online and how to deal with them," said Jon Mott, assistant to the academic vice president for academic technology,

"It seemed appropriate to put the finishing touches on this work and launch the Be Safe Web site at the same time we announced our decision about YouTube access on campus," he said.

A visitor to the site can click on any one of the topics and proceed to a set of subtopic pages for each, titled "Overview"; "Why Should I Worry?"; "Tools, Tips & Tactics"; "Words of Wisdom"; and "Resources."

The "Tools, Tips & Tactics" section provides information to help Internet users with protective measures; "Words of Wisdom" offers counsel from LDS Church leaders on the topic; and "Resources" contains links to additional helpful Web sites.

Mott said that personal choice is the most effective Internet "filter," while changes in technology, such as cell phones and hand-held devices can defy technological attempts to control Web content.

"Filters are also largely ineffective when it comes to video games, texting, social networking sites, and some search engines," Mott said. "We can and should use technological filters, but the safest course is to develop and rely on internal filters."

He said the links in the "Resources" sections of the Web site were carefully selected, and will be kept current.

"Our list is by no means authoritative or definitive. We intend to regularly update the resources links with new and better information as it becomes available," he said.

The best solution to avoid problems on the World Wide Web, he said, is to use it as a tool to accomplish specific goals.

"Don't use it to fill time or kill time," Mott said. "Always have a purpose when you go online or use any technology."

E-MAIL: mhaddock@desnews.com