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Letting the world take a peek into your private life is as easy as creating a personal profile on the internet.

Kids and teens aren't the only ones who can benefit from internet safety. Adults also need to be conscious of what they post online and who can access that information.

In the ethereal world of cyberspace, social networking sites have created an online community of sorts.

There are safety measures in place.

For example, the social networking group FACEBOOK recently agreed to implement 40 safeguards to help shield youth from sexual predators and cyberbullies.

Still, even in this seemingly safe environment, keeping your secrets, well, secret, takes a strong degree of precaution.

The personal information posted on your online profile may be viewed by far more people than you intend.

Stalkers, identity thieves and even marketers look at the personal-information-made-public to find information that can benefit them.

Future employers have also been known to view personal profile pages to take a look at the person behind the resume. Before posting pictures or other revealing information, consider the implications.

Many Internet users have a false sense of security and, as a result, post information such as dates of birth, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and even home addresses on personal profile pages on social networking sites.

When it comes to social networking sites, the motto should be: "Post at your own risk." If information exists online, odds are it's going to get read, and there are no guarantees who is going to be doing the reading.

Here are some general tips for staying safe in your online community:

If you don't want everyone to know it, don't put it online; this may include information such as your home address, cell phone number, place of work, or even your last name.

Don't arrange to meet people you've "met" online. If you really must, take a friend. Have the arranged meeting in a public place where you won't be alone and tell someone what you're doing and where you're going.

Use privacy settings on your, or your child's, Web page. Many social networking sites allow users to set privacy settings that restrict strangers from viewing or posting information on your personal page.

FACEBOOK has agreed to send a warning message when a child is in danger of giving personal information to an adult.

When you go on vacation or take a trip, don't post it online. This information could leave your home vulnerable to burglary while you are out of town.

Trust your gut. If you are suspicious about someone, concerns should be reported to the police and to the social networking site. Most sites have links where users can immediately report abusive, suspicious or inappropriate online behavior.

(Source: onguardonline.gov/socialnetworking.html.)

Besides the information posted on social networking sites, Internet users need to practice caution in other realms of cyberspace.

Computer "bugs" can enter our ether-world if we're not careful about the links we follow or the e-mails we open.

Contact this reporter at speterson@coxohio.com.

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