Blog 3

Beyond Social Services

The website is to connect with the youths and to tell them about the delinquency among disadvantaged young people and their families and to move them beyond their problems. The website also want to develop young people who respect the law, value education and seek to become responsible persons.

Beyond Social Services also run a range of preventive, restorative and developmental programmes and services that are designed to fight delinquency among children and youths. They also believe that youth offending is the product of young people’s environment and not inherent in them. With appropriate support, young people from disadvantaged and troubled backgrounds can escape the cycle of poverty, violence and crime and be contributing members of our community.

National Addictions Management Services

The National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) was incorporated in Aug 2008. Located at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), NAMS includes the Specialist Outpatient Clinic C (SOC C) as its outpatient arm, and the inpatient Serenity Centre, which provides residential detoxification and rehabilitation. NAMS treats problem gambling and other behavioural addictions (internet, gaming, etc), and substance addictions (alcohol and drugs).

NAMS MISSION

1. Provide high quality, accessible and affordable care that is evidence-based and localised to suit our population.
2. Educate and engage the public on addiction prevention and treatment.
3. Reduce stigma and barriers to seeking treatment.
4. Raise standards of care through training and education.

National Crime Prevention Council

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting public awareness of and concern about crime and to propagate the concept of self-help in crime prevention. The Council comprises representatives from the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as from the public sector and the Singapore Police Force (SPF). The NCPC is incorporated as a charity and depends entirely on donations and sponsorships to run its programmes and activities. It is registered as a society with the Registry of Societies. 

Objectives of the council are: 

• to raise the level of the public awareness and concern about crime
• encourage self-help in crime prevention
• examine, develop and recommend crime prevention measures suitable to the public
• coordinate efforts of organisations in crime prevention

Various Penalties For Cyber Crimes

The most frequent type of online wrongdoing is identity fraud. This takes place when anybody creates a web page (or sends a mass email directing people to their web page) in the hopes that the victim will provide his or her personal information, like bank card data or SSN. The person or agency responsible for the fraud then uses your credit card for transactions, or in the case of bank-based cards, empty your account. This could also occur if you unconsciously acquired a computer virus from a web page or e-mail add-on. You'll want to be cautious prior to getting any type of attachment from an unfamiliar site, and find some type of virus protection on your system. Additionally, keep clear of all unsolicited business enterprise proposals from those you do not recognize. These are nearly always a hoax, and people found in charge of developing and releasing viruses may get jail time.

• Theft of telecommunications services is generally a misdemeanor and carries a fine with minimal jail time. Illegally intercepting communication is a Class D felony punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and a fine.

• The penalty for illegally accessing a computer system ranges from 6 months to 5 years. The penalty for the unofficial modification on a computer ranges from 5 to 10 years.

Various Cyber Crimes That Has Been Committed

Cybercrime can take the form of cyber stalking, where they follow you around into various chat rooms and harass you online. This can also be things like a hacker taking control of your computer or someone stealing your identity online. Everything can be destroyed by cyber criminals. They can wipe entire hard drives, steal your entire life and everything about it and essentially just mess with your entire world.

How can you protect yourself from becoming a victim of cyber crime?

To prevent criminals from reaching your personal computer it is important to have a good antivirus protection program in place as well as a firewall. Ensure you use spyware programs and of course that you keep up on all the security updates for these programs as well.

Protect your personal information. Although many now have pictures and their entire lives posted on blogs and other sites, they are playing in dangerous waters. Criminals can locate everything about you from something as simple as your email address. So, simply put, minimize the information you provide online. Don't give out vital information like your Social Security Number or anything else unless you trust the source and their use for that information.

When shopping online, always ensure that you are using secure sites for your e-commerce transactions and payments.

Password protect everything, and do not use the obvious birth date or mailing address or any other simple to guess password. Pick up instead a program like roboform that will generate randomized letter and number combinations that are not associated with anything in your life.

Crimes Committed

Some of the many crimes that are regularly committed with the facilitation of the Internet are child pornography, fraud, the sell and purchase of illegal guns or drugs, or other material that are protected by copyright. In the worst cases, cyber crimes can result in child abduction and molestation, and physical harm to victims. These heinous crimes have forced lawmakers and legislators to look long at hard at the state of crimes in relation to the Internet, and what laws are in effect to protect and prevent such crimes from harming those at risk. 

Computer crimes can be broken down into three categories:

1."Hacking" into someone's computer for the purpose of stealing by taking complete control over the information contained within, or gaining control over someone's computer in an effort to sabotage information or mess up the flow of information or crash the server.

2. Criminals use computers as ways to keep up with illegal contacts, such as drug dealers. A person who steals identities may use the computer to store stolen passwords, credit card info, and other sensitive information in furtherance of an illegal act.

3. The other way in which criminals utilize the computer to further illegal acts is through the act of communication. Email accounts on a computer can be used to set up any number of unlawful acts.

Internet Addiction

Internet Addiction, otherwise known as computer addiction, online addiction, or internet addiction disorder (IAD), covers a variety of impulse-control problems, including: 

• Cybersex Addiction – compulsive use of Internet pornography, adult chat rooms, or adult fantasy role-play sites impacting negatively on real-life intimate relationships.
• Cyber-Relationship Addiction – addiction to social networking, chat rooms and messaging to the point where virtual, online friends become more important than real-life relationships with family and friends.
• Net Compulsions – such as compulsive online gaming, gambling, stock trading, or compulsive use of online auction sites such as eBay, often resulting in financial and job-related problems. 
• Information Overload – compulsive web surfing or database searching, leading to lower work productivity and less social interaction with family and friends.
• Computer Addiction – obsessive playing of off-line computer games, such as Solitaire or Minesweeper, or obsessive computer programming.

 How do people become addicted to the Internet?

Many people turn to the Internet in order to manage unpleasant feelings such as stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. When you have a bad day and are looking for a way to escape your problems or to quickly relieve stress or self-soothe, the Internet can be an easily accessible outlet. Losing yourself online can temporarily make feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air.

Risk factors for Internet addiction and computer addiction

• You suffer from anxiety. You may use the Internet to distract yourself from your worries and fears. An anxiety disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder may also contribute to excessive email checking and compulsive Internet use.
• You are depressed. The Internet can be an escape from feelings of depression, but too much time online can make things worse. Internet addiction further contributes to stress, isolation and loneliness.
• You have any other addictions. Many Internet addicts suffer from other addictions, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex.
• You lack social support. Internet addicts often use social networking sites, instant messaging, or online gaming as a safe way of establishing new relationships and more confidently relating to others.
• You’re an unhappy teenager, you might be wondering where you fit in and the Internet might feel more comfortable than real life friends.
• You are less mobile or socially active than you are used to. For example, you may be coping with a new disability that limits your ability to drive. Parenting very young children can make it hard to leave the house or connect with old friends.
• You are stressed. While some people use the Internet to relieve stress, it can have a counterproductive effect. The longer you spend online, the higher your stress levels will be.

Signs and symptoms of Internet addiction or computer addiction

• Losing track of time online. Do you frequently find yourself on the Internet longer than you intended? Does a few minutes turn in to a few hours? Do you get irritated or cranky if your online time is interrupted?
• Having trouble completing tasks at work or home. Do you find laundry piling up and little food for dinner in the house because you’ve been busy online? Perhaps you find yourself working late more often because you can’t complete your work on time — then staying even longer when everyone else has gone home so you can surf the Web freely.
• Isolation from family and friends. Is your social life suffering because of all the time you spend online? Are you neglecting your family and friends? Do you feel like no one in your “real” life — even your spouse — understands you like your online friends?
• Feeling guilty or defensive about your Internet use. Are you sick of your spouse nagging you to get off the computer and spend time together? Do you hide your Internet use or lie to your boss and family about the amount of time you spend on the computer and what you do while online?
• Feeling a sense of euphoria while involved in Internet activities. Do you use the Internet as an outlet when stressed, sad, or for sexual gratification or excitement? Have you tried to limit your Internet time but failed?

Helping a child or teen with an Internet addiction

• Encourage other interests and social activities. Get your child out from behind the computer screen. Expose kids to other hobbies and activities, such as team sports, Scouts, and after school clubs.
• Monitor computer use and set clear limits. Make sure the computer is in a common area of the house where you can keep an eye on your child's online activity, and limit time online. This will be most effective if you as parents follow suit. If you can’t stay offline, chances are your children won’t either. 
• Talk to your child about underlying issues. Compulsive computer use can be the sign of deeper problems. Is your child having problems fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce, which is causing stress? Don’t be afraid to seek professional counseling if you are concerned about your child.