Digital Media Safety Issues

Physical Safety Issues Safety issues pertinent to digital media professionals fall under two categories: Physical safety issues Physical azards that could injure you or others Digital safety issues Computer or technology-related dangers to your personal, financial, emotional or physical well-being

Physical Safety Issues Electrical Hazards A dangerous condition that poses a threat of injury or even death. Contact with electrical current or equipment failure can result in electric shock, arc-flash burn, thermal burn, blast or other injury.

Physical Safety Issues Trip Hazards Unexpected objects in a path can pose a hazard. Examples: Poor housekeeping Cords in walkways Cluttered work area Poor visibility Open drawers

Physical Safety Issues Ergonomics Ergonomics is simply defined as the science of designing the workplace to fit the worker, enabling comfort and avoiding injury from strain. Examples: Proper posture Safe lifting techniques Appropriate seating position Adaptive equipment

Physical Safety Issues Lifting Hazards Improperly lifting a heavy object is the most common cause of injury for younger workers, damaging muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. Lift with the knees, not the back Keep loads close to the body and near your center of gravity Use diagonal foot positions Lift from waist height rather than from the floor. Avoid awkward positions and get help if needed!

Digital Safety Issues Identity Theft Identity theft is a serious problem in modern society, made easier for criminals by the use of computers and electronics. Identity thieves steal or capture identifying or personal data such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, passwords, etc. and use it to gain access to financial accounts and more.

Digital Safety Issues Cyberbullying “Cyberbullying” is when someone – often a child, pre-teen or teen – is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another person using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.

Digital Safety Issues Cyberbullying There are two kinds of cyberbullying: direct attacks (messages sent to your kids directly) and cyberbullying by proxy (using others to help cyberbully the victim, either with or without the accomplice's knowledge). Because cyberbullying by proxy often gets adults involved in the harassment, it is much more dangerous.

Digital Safety Issues Viruses A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real programs. For example, a virus might attach itself to a program such as spreadsheet software. Each time the spreadsheet programs runs, the virus runs too and has the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other programs) or wreak havoc.

Digital Safety Issues Trojan Horses A Trojan horse is simply a computer program that claims to do one thing (it may claim to be a game, or screensaver software) but instead does damage when you run it. A Trojan horse may use your computer to send spam, or could even erase your hard disk.

Digital Safety Issues Worms A worm is a small piece of software that uses computer networks and security holes to replicate itself. A copy of the worm scans the network for another machine that has a specific security hole. It copies itself to the new machine using the security hole, then starts replicating from there as well.

Digital Safety Issues Spam Companies sell valid addresses to people who want to sell a product. They may get the s through numerous methods, including: Social networks or websites Newsgroups or chat room Websites that request personal info Sites created with the specific purpose of ‘harvesting s’ (example: prize offerings)

Digital Safety Issues Hoaxes Hoaxes, commonly spread via , chain letter or social media, are false reports. They can be malicious, or mischievous. They are usually started with mal-intent but then spread by people who believe them to be true. Hoaxes sometimes involve: Non-existent subjects (e.g. warnings about viruses that aren’t real), Claims of impossible feats False alarms about supposed new criminal tactics False or exaggerated accusations against politicians or celebrities Scams or scares Chain letters (if you don’t send this letter to ten friends by midnight..)

Digital Safety Issues Internet Addictions Internet addiction is a type of compulsive disorder that encompasses many unhealthy obsessions: Cybersex addiction Online gambling Compulsive online gaming Auction addiction Internet addicts gradually spend less time with real people in their lives in exchange for solitary time in front of a computer.