Business Profiles
New edition of Web safety guide "Net Crimes and Misdemeanors" on sale
By Jennifer L. Saunders
This local resident, however, has worked hard to see that changed - and to raise awareness among other Internet users of the dangers of what is aptly known as the "Information Superhighway."
On Thursday, June 1, Hitchcock announced that her popular book, "Net Crimes and Misdemeanors," is now available in a brand new, updated edition to help readers stay safety online.
Hitchcock's work to educate the public about the potential dangers of the Internet has caught the attention of the national media, including television personality Montel Williams, who is quoted as saying of Hitchcock's book, "Learn how to stay ahead of online criminals and use the Internet safely. A must-read . . .pick it up today."
As Hitchcock pointed out, anyone and everyone can become victims of Internet abuse - regardless of their age, home location or station in life.
In the book, Hitchcock begins at the very beginning, with her first chapter entitled, "Cyberstalking Happened to Me," retelling her own experience in an effort to help others. From there, the book explores every Internet crime theme imaginable from urban legends to cautions about online auctions, from protecting children while they explore the Internet to protecting your identity.
In announcing the book is now on sale, Hitchcock posed questions almost any Internet user has probably faced while surfing the 'Net or just logging on to check e-mail messages: "Why are Nigerians emailing you? Have you really won the lottery? Is online dating safe? How about online auctions, shopping and banking? Does my computer really need antivirus and firewall protection?"
And, while many of us may laugh off the aggravation of those incessant "SPAM" messages, Hitchcock also points to the darker side of Internet abuse, including what to do if you are being stalked via the Internet or if a stranger is attempting to "chat" with your child.
The answers to each of these questions are catalogued in pages of "Net Crimes & Misdemeanors Second Edition: Outmaneuvering Web Spammers, Stalkers, and Con Artists," published by Cyberage Books.
Although she lives here in town, Hitchcock admits that she is often on the road for book tours as well as speaking engagements for law enforcement training conferences on the subject of Internet crimes. In recent years, she has also begun visiting with middle and high school students as well as those in college to discuss the dangers of many popular Internet community and "Blog" sites.
"When I can make 800 students stop talking, then I know my presentation is working," Hitchcock noted. "I scare the heck out of them with what I show, but they listen and they end up asking some great questions afterwards."
Looking back over the past four years, those who have spoken with Hitchcock about her goals know that she has been committed to continuing this awareness campaign ever since the first edition was completed - born of her own terrifying experience with an online stalker.
"When the first edition came out in 2002, I was told it would be out of date in a year," Hitchcock said in her announcement of the new edition.
That, however, was not the case.
"I was truly surprised at how little I really had to update for the second edition," she said, "so I made sure this was 'new and improved' with more information, new stories and two chapters added about online dating and those Nigerian scammers."
Hitchcock has expanded the original text with 100 new pages that detail stories of victims of Internet crimes. The new edition also includes updated Web site links.
And, Hitchcock pointed out, the book has received support from those in the know when it comes to cyberspace - including Vint Cerf, who is described as one of the "fathers" of the Internet.
"Reading this book is a first step toward increasing your ability to stay safe in a cyberworld that has its dark side as well as its sunny one," Cerf wrote in the book's forward.
In addition to her work as an author, Hitchcock heads-up the organizations Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA) and WHOA-KTD (Kids/Teen Division), which can be visited at haltabuse.org and haltabusektd.org. WHOA is the oldest all-volunteer online safety organization serving individuals who experience bullying, harassment or stalking via the Internet.
In addition to "Net Crimes & Misdemeanors" Hitchcock has authored several other books and is a member of the editorial board of the International Cyber Crimes Journal and of the faculty of the University of Maryland.
For more on Hitchcock's publications, visit jahitchcock.com.
