There are people who spend more time on the internet than on any other activity. They cherish the moments they get to play online games, participate in online casinos, chat with friends and contacts on any subject and posting that is on their minds. The internet is here to stay with its pros and cons. Online presence and online activity should be managed so that it does not end up crippling the individual's productivity. A lot of money has been lost by corporate the world over as employees have concentrated more and more on non productive activity online. In some companies employees only access email which in itself also gets abused. It all comes down to one point; when people have limited appreciation of the purpose behind the facilities they have access to then abuse is bound to occur. There are manners one can practice online that can enhance productivity and value addition in people's lives such as inspiration of others, selling corporate product lines and just giving information on the business. Below is a guide on the kind of behavior that would help an individual to have a wonderful internet excursion. Anything done excessively ends up becoming a disadvantage one way or the other.
1. Do not give away your passwords unnecessarily - There are many websites that require you to punch in your email addresses, telephone numbers etc Exercise caution and only do so on trusted websites. If you generously trust every website, you will soon have to grapple with spam in your mailbox and wonder how to eliminate it. Spam is unsolicited emails. Subscriptions you never agreed to and hoaxes that come to your mailbox from time to time. It is also referred to as junk mail. Internet security is a major concern in corporate. Be careful not to give away information that will cause the outside world to hack or access corporate network at ease. Protect your information and that of your organization.
2. Not every software is worth downloading - You will be given many options to download software to your machine. It is easy to download, viruses and trojans to your computer especially if your computer has no effective antivirus. Organizations without a strong software policy are always found on the wrong side of the law as people get to install all kinds of software on computers breaching the licensing policies. Such unwanted software is also extra work for the computer hence productivity is lost when the machine tries to process unnecessary programs and demands made to it. Sometimes you may install a piece of software that purports to solve all your performance issues not realizing that it is a program classified as a Password Stealer (PWS). Be skeptical of any software from online sites.
3. Avoid spreading falsehoods - If you are unsure about something, there is no reason why you should be the one to spread it and advertise it. You may face legal and copyright issues if you do not exercise caution and restraint. It is tempting to want to post malicious or damaging information about people but be prepared to face the consequences of such a decision. It is important to note that as you access the internet, doing your research, you are looking truths not imaginations. You are gathering principles not just ideas. Make sure that you are not the one who spreads falsehoods as truth. Other people rely on your information. If it is a figment of your imagination kindly state it as such not to label it a result of intensive research. Avoid misleading the other online users. Your site must give the value that your advertise it to bring.
4. Treat online financial transactions cautiously - You are not to volunteer bank and credit card information unnecessarily. Even messages from "banks" to verify your security information should also be vetted and tested. I have made first hand experience of such emails that came from "banks". They volunteer some true information about your account (you may have entered it somewhere) to the point that all they want is a code on your card for you to authorize the payments. You can easily be duped into believing that you are getting more sophisticated in securing your account not realizing that you have opened it completely to the outside world. Be very cautious and skeptical of such efforts. Call your bank to verify.
5. Be careful who you befriend on social networking media - You can easily be judged based on a random 5 of your friends. Are you really friends or you are simply adding numbers to appear like a good social networker. Some companies go as far as checking your status update online to see what kind of character you are when no one at work is watching. Unfortunately with social media, the world could be watching your activity. Everywhere you visit on the internet, you leave footprints that can be used against you one day. Even some of the online chats do live a track record of all that you said. This information can be kept for many years and be used when you have already forgotten about it.
6. Do not take all you see or meet at face value - What is the motive behind the person you are chatting with? Why are they pushing for you to meet face to face? It is easy to begin to have some level of trust based on the fact that you have been online friends for a while. You begin to feel a sense of family and trust. You may not have even heard the person's voice before but over time, the trust element kicks in. Similarly, a number of special bargains and offers are usually advertised. Banners fly on your screen continually all that with one goal, to entice you enough to believe that all that has been said is valid.
7. Avoid multiple sign-ons - When you login to a machine, always ensure that on your departure you log out totally. I have seen people using public internet facilities but recklessly leaving machines logged on. Someone who is malicious can come and take over your account and begin to message all your contacts whatever they feel like. I have heard general outcries about accounts that have been hacked into. A personal friend explained the scenario to me and I realized that on the day in question he did not have enough money to surf the internet. He was cut off before signing off on all the sites that were open. Not knowing the consequences of his decision, he simply moved off leaving room for the next person in the queue. It was then our conclusion together that the open screens are the ones the user go into and started administering and using the system.
8. Watch your language while you are online - Sometimes the language that people use when they go online does not build or add value to others. Do not be drawn to express such emotions of anger or hate online. As mentioned before, the language you use and all the statements you make online are recorded and can be used against you in a court of law. Use online options for the right reasons which include communicating messages, inspiring others, research on specific topics, access to information and news bulletins to name a few. You can easily be sued if you use the online facility to spread such material as nudity, pornography and other illicit activity like fraudulent transactions.
9. Treat other online users as you would like to be treated - When every user comes to a realization that other online users have rights then it is an important step in creating a hassle free, inconvenience free online platform. Every user of the internet must treat the next user with respect and dignity. Only then will this be viral spreading throughout the entire web. A new web culture will be developed. Everyone will be held responsible for what they do online. Presently there is no one policing and checking on the contents of each site. This is largely because there is no owner and code of conduct. When we do unto others what we would expect them to do unto us then we are creating a culture of responsible online activity.
10. Avoid Online-addiction - Are you hooked to being online at the expense of your job or other tasks that need to be done. There is nothing wrong with going online and having social contact and interactions but if 80% of your time at work is spent online on non-core business then you are doing your employer or career a disservice.
Rabison Shumba is a writer, businessman and philanthropist. Writer of the book The Greatness Manual which you can preview on [
http://greatnessmanual.wordpress.com]http://greatnessmanual.wordpress.com. Founder and CEO of Infotech Solutions and Greatness Factory Trust. Rabison speaks about success, leadership, motivation and inspiration. His trust works with disadvantaged school children supporting them with school fees and general livelihood. He also helps to network artists (musicians of all genres) to facilitate information sharing and building of future celebrities. Rabison is well traveled having been to Asia, America, United Kingdom and all over Africa. He is married to Jacqueline Edwards and they have two children. They reside in Harare, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa.
Article Source: [
http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Golden-Rules-For-Online-Behavior&id=4541217] 10 Golden Rules For Online Behavior