Module 2: ICT on Web: Today and Beyond

Let’s Set Your Targets

Learning Competency/Competencies
1. Apply online safety, security, ethics, and etiquette standards and practice in
the use of ICTs as it would relate to their specific professional tracks.

Learning Objective/Objectives
1. Recognize the risks of using the internet.
2. Discover how cybercrimes take place.
3. Discover how cyber criminals commonly trick the users.

Let’s Get Started

Answer the following questions in your own words.

1. Do you agree that the internet comes with risks and threats to its users? Why?

2. If yes, when do you think does the internet become unsafe and dangerous?

3. Did you ever encounter any unusual problem while online? What did happen?

4. As an internet user, how will you prevent the possible risks and threats online?

5. Is it important for every users to be aware of online threats and problems? Why?
Module 2.1: Online Threats and Risks

Let’s Begin Your Journey

Being Online
The Internet can be a truly satisfying world. People use it for their daily tasks,
real-time communication, and even for entertainment. However, being online is also
risky. The web can also come with some issues that will be discussed in this lesson.
Internet users continue to increase worldwide and internet safety is becoming an issue
on the past years. Everyone, regardless of age, should be knowledgeable enough about
the Internet-not only about the benefits but also about the possible dangers it may bring.

Risks and Threats

1. Cyberbullying – act of embarrassing, harassing, or bullying a person using the
internet and communication technologies. It can occur through SMS, gaming, instant
messaging apps, and social media – anywhere in the internet where people usually
participate or share content. It can harm the online reputations of everyone involved
– not just the person being bullied, but also those doing the bullying or participating
in it.
Online bullying should be taken seriously because it can be emotionally damaging
and even lead to tragic consequences. Cyberbullying can include:
• ganging up on a player in online gaming and repeatedly harming a player's
character without any reason;
• posting humiliating or hate content about someone;
• sending mean messages through sms or chats;
 • sharing personal information without the person's consent;
• spreading rumours or gossips about another person through digital platforms, and;
• taking and sharing embarrassing pictures or videos without one's knowledge and
permission.
2. Cyberstalking - refers to the act of stalking and repeatedly harassing someone else
through internet or other electronic devices. The stalker blackmails the victim by
gaining access to their social media accounts, SMS, chats, and more. It is like
traditional stalking but occurs in the cyberworld.
Cyberstalking can include:
• accessing one's account to track his moves, read messages, or change the
password;
• blackmailing someone through the Internet and digital platforms;
• involving the victim's family and friends;
• monitoring one's movements using cameras and GPS technologies without consent;
• sending unwanted texts, messages, or content;
• spreading fake or private information to discredit the victim, and;
• viewing one's profile repeatedly to gather information.
3. Hacking – act of gaining access or controlling one's account or computer secretly to
gain something, make a statement, or challenge oneself. A person who can do this is
called hacker. Hackers are usually skilled computer programmers with knowledge of
computer security. They break into computers or accounts to gather, steal, or change
information- sometimes even installing dangerous malware.
Hackers usually hack others through spams and links that contain malware and
compromise a computer security. They can:
• access a bank account and steal money;
• change one's username and password;
• modify information from a person's account;
• purchase something online without the victim knowing, and;
• sell or share one's information to other parties.
4. Identity Theft – happens when someone steal another person's personal information
and use them without permission. It is usually done by identity thieves to make illegal
or unwanted transactions and purchases. With the use of Internet, identity thieves
can easily use stolen information since a lot of transactions nowadays do not require
any personal interaction. An identity theft victim can instantly:
• get rejected from getting credit, plans or jobs;
• incur damage to his reputation;
• lose access to his accounts, and;
• lose money and run into debts.
5. Inappropriate Contents – might include texts, photos, and videos that are illegal,
offensive, or inappropriate for some age groups. This can be an explicit pop-up ad, a
video showcasing cartoon characters in adult situations, or a forum promoting
self-harm.
6. Internet Bots / BotNets – a network of compromised computers controlled by a robot
that performs malicious acts for its creator. They try to gain access to a computer to
add it to their web. For instance, a botnet tricks a user to download and install a
software that is actually a Trojan. Once it is downloaded, the botnet will contact its
master PC until the user’s computer falls under the control of the person who created
the botnet.
That is why today, captcha technology is widely used to avoid this type of security
threat. It enables websites to differentiate bots from authentic users, and stops
spammers from hijacking forums and comment sections.
7. Internet Scams – act of deceiving a user through fabricated promises or stories,
typically, to gain money from the victim. It comes in many forms – through online
shopping, banking, charity, social networking, gaming, gambling, and dating sites.
8. Online Grooming – happens when someone manipulates, exploits, or abuses a minor
online. Pedophiles use the internet to contact teens or even children; some are even
pretending to be at the same age with the victim. They often try to bribe the victim
with gifts or money in exchange of sexual images or videos. These are then used by
 the predators to blackmail them by threatening to post it online or send it with the
victim’s family and friends.
9. Pharming – uses malicious codes that direct users to a fake website to collect
personal information. Malicious codes are installed on the computer or server. These
condes send the user to a fake website asking for personal information. These
personal information can be used then to commit financial fraud and identity theft. It
can also happen when a user clicks a link or download a file with virus or Trojan.
10. Phishing – act of sending an email claiming to be an established enterprise asking for
personal information. It is almost similar to pharming. However, pharming is
automatically redirecting a user to a fake website, as opposed to phishing that tricks a
user into accessing it himself.
11. Spoofing – act of pretending to be a legitimate business, a neighbor, or someone else.
It is done by fraudsters to gain confidence, get access to computers or systems, steal
data and money, or spread malware. It happens in email, SMS, caller ID, URL, and
GPS.
12. Spams – unwanted and unsolicited messages, often through email. They can also be
found on internet forums, text messages, blog comments, and social media. Spams
are typically sent to a large number of users to advertise and spread malware.
13. Blended Threats – computer viruses can be codes or programs loaded onto the
computer without the user’s permission. They are man-made and can replicate
themselves. A blended threat is a pack of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and
malicious codes into a single threat.

Online Threats in the Philippines

Online threats continue to arise every year as more people continue to access the
Internet. Most put their data and make use of -transactions which is why cyber criminals
are getting more potential targets- and the Philippines is not an exception.
 According to Hootsuite and We are Social, Filipinos spend an average of 10 hours
a day on the Internet making us one of the most active Internet users worldwide
together with Brazil, Thailand, Colombia, and Indonesia. In the second quarter of 2019,
the Philippines also became the fifth country with the highest detected online threats in
Kaspersky Lab's global list. It was also stated that from January to September 2019, the
Philippines was the most attacked country in the Southeast Asia in terms of Android
mobile malware. These are proofs that until now, a lot of Filipino Internet users are still
careless and not knowledgeable enough about online security.
It is also quite alarming that the Philippines also lack of Filipino IT security
professionals. The country is undeniably being left behind when it comes to cyberattack
prevention and online security. The good news is that, as an Internet user, one does not
need to be an IT expert to avoid cyberattacks and other threats that come with being
online. Awareness and knowledge about how cyber criminals carry out their schemes are
enough for users to be safe online- as what others say, prevention is better than cure.

Let’s Value Your Learning

Activity 1: Worksheet!
Identify whether the action is safe or dangerous to do online.
Actions to be Taken Safe Dangerous
1. Chatting to a stranger through Viber.

2. Clicking an unfamiliar link found in email.

3. Sharing limited information online about yourself.

4. Verifying a person’s Facebook account.

5. Typing harsh words on Comment sections

6. Avoiding to log-in in untrusted websites

 7. Pretending to be someone else in social network

8. Downloading questionable files online

9. Not accessing other’s account or computer

10. Answering captchas when needed

Activity 2: Cyber Case

1. This activity must be done individually.
2. Choose one from the following online threats – Cyberbullying, cyberstalking, hacking,
identity theft, online scam, online grooming, spoofing.
3. Using any browser, search for any real-life case regarding the topic that you have
chosen. Try to find a recent case that happened here in the Philippines.
4. Gather enough information about the issue or case by reading from multiple sources.
Do not forget to take note of all the sources.
5. Then, summarize all the information on MS Word:
● Font: Candara, Size 11
● Spacing: Single
● Alignment: Justify

6. You might include some pictures related to the case.

7. Once finished, save your work under your name.

References

Asuncion, Alfred P., et. al. (2020). Empowerment technologies (1st Edition). iBook Publishing
Inc.