Establishing Online Dating Relationships: Safety First
Online dating can be fun. But don't neglect safety and common sense when you try to hook up with a mate. At minimum, take caution in the following areas.
Protect Your Computer
Take care of your equipment and systems before you head out into the Internet
realm. You need to have a firewall and anti-virus protection for your email and
for when you search websites and interact online. At the bare minimum, you may
want these two solutions that are offered at no charge to home computer users
(i.e. not for commercial use):
Free Firewall Download: ZoneAlarm
www.zonelabs.com
Free Anti-Virus Download: AVG Anti-Virus
www.grisoft.com
Protect Yourself
Take care of yourself, too, by choosing appropriate dating sites. Seek and
choose a reputable online dating service. How? Begin by asking around with
friends, neighbors, co-workers and others you may know who have tried online
dating, and see which places they recommend. In addition, search ?online dating
services? and keep a notebook of their URLs or website links, the fees, rules
and regulations, complete contact information of each and any other useful
information that spikes your interest. Then compare each place. Try only those
places where you feel safe. Avoid the others.
So take care. Arm your computer - and yourself - with the correct tools and
knowledge!