A Free Educational Resource Created by Carnegie Mellon University to Empower You to Secure Your Part of Cyberspace

Web-based Group

A forum on the Internet set up for dialogue among a community of interest

A Web-based group or Internet forum is an interactive Web site where people gather in order to discuss some topic. In contrast to instant messaging or chat systems, the messages are formatted like an email and are posted in a virtual bulletin board system where they can be read by any member of the group.

Web-based groups normally focus on one interest or limit the conversation to a single topic. In this sense, they create virtual communities. Every member may have a login name and password or, on some sites, anonymous guests can write or reply to posts. Web-based groups are normally free.

Protective Measures

Practices

  • Be careful what you say. Messages in a Web-based group can be read by any other member.
  • Don't give sensitive personal information. Examples of personal information are your phone number or address. Don't publish personal information in your profile for the Web-based group.
  • Beware of fake information in profiles. Don't put blanket trust in the information in the profiles in a Web-based group. Many of these profiles are fake.
  • Monitor your children's access to the Web. Be aware if your children uses.

Links

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