To avoid further scams make sure that you have updated firewall and anti-virus software active on your system at all times. This will make it harder for anyone to install key loggers, Trojans, spyware, or other similar devices intended to retrieve your information. Keep your operating system up to date with latest security patches and updates and be careful where you enter your details. Always look into reputability of site that is requesting your details and keep an eye on lower right-hand corner of your browser. If page you are viewing has a little padlock symbol appear in corner, then it means that your details are being secured by some encryption method. You can double click on icon to get more details if you wish. Sites without padlock icon don't have encryption, which means that your details are a lot easier for malicious crooks to get a hold of. Even if you're sure website is legitimate, it's not a good idea to send your details over an unsecured connection. By way, email does not count as a secure connection, and neither does any instant messaging program, (such as MSN, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, AIM etc.) so don't give out personal details that way either.

Another common scam very similar to phishing involves emailing of promises of great wealth. Seriously, what do you think your chances are of winning lottery, let alone one that you never even entered? Or of some obscure yet ridiculously rich person in Africa dying and you being legally allowed to pick up their money? Or of a foreign prince wishing to smuggle money out of his country using your account? These emails are all scams. I wish it were true that I won three different lotteries every single day, but if you get in contact with people sending these messages they're going to do their utmost to clean out your pockets. Unfortunate as it may sound, 'Please Donate to Charity' emails sent are usually also scams. If you really want to donate money to a charity, look them up and send it usual way, don't respond to a multi-recipient email that may or may not be real. You also shouldn't donate to some random charity that no one has ever heard of before. Some of Internet lowlifes have started up fake charities, 'dedicated to helping Tsunami victims' or similar and are simply pocketing donations.

Everything in this world can be used for either good or evil purposes and Internet is no exception. Staying alert and having just a little bit of Internet know-how can keep you out of harm's way for majority of time, and allow you access to wonderful online services available with relative safety.

The man was visibly upset and said that Internet was not a good place for people to exchange ideas and have conversations. I laughed and replied that Internet is very young and how could he judge it so harshly in such a black and white manner? He ironically sounded a little like fascists that he disliked so much when he retorted that no great ideas had ever come from people on Internet, and for that matter, a 'real' conversation between people had to be conducted face to face. Well, I could have mentioned that on telephone you cannot 'see' anyone's face, but I thought I'd try to explain my position on matter a bit more positively.

I told him that Internet was just a simple tool of communication that was bringing individuals closer together. You can see someone across world with a web cam whilst hearing his or her voice perfectly. I then mentioned that Internet was doing exactly what he felt was necessary for society to flourish in future; it is giving voice to individuals' ideas like never before in human history. The guy was then really starting to lose his cool and was getting quite upset. I then thought I'd mention idea that Web was dissolving concept of national borders as anyone could talk to anybody else freely with simple realization that all people are same. People are no longer forced to think of other nationalities as separate 'types' of people that one should steer away from.

By this time guy had become very irate and said vehemently that there is nothing wrong with having separate nations. He then contradicted himself and agreed with me by saying that 'Empire' only wanted to 'divide and conquer' and split countries into even smaller entities that could then be taken over. I replied softly that that process inevitably produced more unnecessary borders between fellow humans.

The main point that stuck with me after conversation ended was fact that it was mentioning of Internet as a positive medium for communication and enlightenment that so severely upset guy. I guess no matter how knowledgeable about world and sure of yourself that you are, if there are things that you are still unaware of, or in this case close-minded to because of some irrational fear; like a link that snaps in a chain, so will your peace and calm will be shattered by ignorance and anger.

Spirituality and morality can be discussed on many different mediums...Politics and economics must be same.