It has become very easy to send and receive images via a mobile or the internet.  Many people also upload their pictures to their personal profiles when chatting, put them on online photo albums, websites or blogs.

Posting, uploading and sending personal photographs

It is important to remember that when you send or upload pictures onto the internet, you are making them publicly accessible to others and have limited control over their use as it has become so easy for users to copy and download images.

Think before you send out photgraphs of yourself online, for example posting pictures of yourself on a web site or in a public profile. Not everyone online will have good intentions, and by publishing photos of yourself or parts of your life, particularly if other details about you are available such as your location, or place of work.

It is also important that you ask the permission of others when posting or uploading photographs of them as these may show private aspects of their lives which they wouldn't want to share publicly or would have implications for other aspects of their lives.

Receiving from others

 
Exercise caution when receiving or opening files and pictures from others. Spam emails for example may contain pictures or content that you would find offensive or contain attachments with viruses that could harm your computer.

Sources: Cyberspace Research Unit, fkbko.