After reading “11 Illegal Things You Unknowingly Do on the Internet” by Andriy Slynchuk, I reflected on which actions pose the greatest risks to individuals and society. Some violations are minor, but others can lead to serious harm or legal consequences. In my view, these five stand out as the most concerning because of their impact and potential danger.
- Collecting information about children is extremely serious because it violates COPPA and exposes minors to exploitation and privacy risks.
- Performing illegal searches, such as looking up child exploitation or bomb-making, is dangerous because it signals intent to commit crimes and can threaten public safety and national security.
- Faking your identity online is another major offense since it often leads to fraud, scams, and identity theft, causing financial and emotional harm to victims.
- Bullying and trolling may seem less technical, but they have severe psychological impacts and can escalate to criminal charges when harassment becomes extreme.
- Sharing passwords, addresses, or private photos without consent is serious because it enables things like doxing, stalking, and identity theft, putting people at risk.
These actions matter because they go beyond breaking rules, they create harm, compromise safety, and can result in significant legal consequences. It is important to understand these risks in an effort to raise your cybersecurity awareness, as it once again reminds us that ethical online behavior is just as important as technical security measures.