Most people on the Internet behave honestly, but there are always some troublemakers. What risks might you encounter online? And what practical steps can you take to keep yourself safe and happy?

Bandits on the Information Superhighway provides a crash course in Internet "street smarts," revealing realistic risks that every user should know about. In addition, this book debunks the overhyped scare stories about Net pornography, computer crime, and dangers to children, perpetuated by the uninformed media. The Net really is a safe place, as long as you take a few simple precautions. Bandits provides that knowledge.

Bandits covers online privacy, fake money-making schemes, deceptive advertising, electronic junk mail and "spamming," safe buying and selling, advice for parents, online romance do's and don'ts, pranks and hoaxes, users' rights, and much more.

This book will show you:

• How much privacy you have on the Net, and how you can get more
• How to spot common Internet scams, like "get rich quick" schemes and deceptive advertising, and where to look for help if you get ripped off
• The "Ten Commandments" of buying and selling personal items on the Net, when you don't know the other people involved
• What every parent should know about the Internet, and the simple truth behind popular "scare stories" about pornography and pedophiles
• The risks of meeting, trusting, or falling in love with people that you've never met in the flesh

With first-person anecdotes, technical tips, and the advice of experts from diverse fields, Bandits on the Information Superhighway helps you identify and avoid risks online, so you can have a more productive and enjoyable time on the Internet.

Bandits on the Information

Chapter One: Welcome to the Internet!

We'll look at the major ways people communicate on the Net, and we'll discuss the most common risks you might encounter.

Chapter Two: Protecting your privacy

How much privacy do you have online? Can other users read your files or electronic mail? Are hackers and crackers poised to steal your data, or are the risks overblown? We'll discuss various threats to your electronic privacy and what (if anything) can be done about them.

Chapter Three: "Get rich quick" schemes

Can "instant wealth" be yours? (Yeah, sure. And golden pigs will fly out of your modem.) Don't trust online schemes that will supposedly make you rich. Some of them are surprisingly creative and hard to spot. We'll examine them in depth.

Chapter Four: Appearances can be deceiving

Things are not always what they seem to be on the Internet. We'll look at products and services that are presented misleadingly on the Net. In general, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Chapter Five: Free information...for a price

It doesn't make sense to pay for free information, but some people on the Net will try to sell it to you, hoping that you won't notice. Here's an overview of the most common schemes.

Chapter Six: Buying and selling on the Net

How can two strangers safely trade money for merchandise over the Internet? It's done all the time, but there is no foolproof method. Here is important information to help you avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.

Chapter Seven: Pranks, spams, and time-wasters

Care for some electronic junk mail? How about a hoax? Internet time-wasters range from amusing to annoying to financially costly. Here's the scoop on how to avoid wasting your valuable time.

Chapter Eight: Strangers, friends, and lovers

The Internet is a terrific place to meet people. But how can you "know" somebody you've never met in the flesh? We'll cover tips for getting around in chat groups, deciding whether to trust other users, managing Internet romance, and arranging a safe meeting in person.

Chapter Nine: Parents and the Internet

Frightened by recent headlines? Don't be. We'll discuss the unfrightening statistics on pornography, "pedophiles," and other Net scare stories.

Chapter Ten: Your rights on the Net

Here's what every user should know about basic, online legal issues. We'll discuss online service contracts, copyright, privacy, libel, harassment, anonymity, and protection from snoopers.

Chapter Eleven: What to do if you are ripped off

Even if you follow all the tips in this book, a clever scammer still might fool you. Now it's time to get tough. We'll look at online and offline resources for getting help.

Chapter Twelve: What will the future bring?

In the future, will we have more or less privacy online? Will scams increase or decrease? Are new laws on the horizon? Do we really need them? Listen as our panel of expert users speculates on the future of Internet banditry.