Online safety
The internet is an important part of life as a student in New Zealand. You might find yourself using it to bank, shop or meet people more than you did in your home country. Learn about internet safety and find suggestions for being safe online.
Meeting people online
Meeting people online is common, especially with social media and dating apps. If you've only talked to someone online and now you're meeting them for the first time, you should:
- Google (external link that opens in a new tab)their name and see what comes up. If you have a bad feeling, don't meet them.
- think about taking a friend with you.
- make sure your phone is fully charged in case you have to call or text a friend for help.
- set up a meeting in a public place, where there are other people, like a café, restaurant, or bar.
- tell a friend where you're going, who you're meeting, and what time you'll be home.
- decide on a safe place nearby where your friends can meet you.
Tip: Download the Find My Friends app(external link that opens in a new tab) so your friends can track where you are, and keep them updated if you go anywhere. Remember, if you're with someone and you don't feel safe, you can leave or call 111 for help (ask for police).
Sexting
‘Sexting’ is sending or receiving sexual messages, photos or videos – for example, a nude photo.
Here are some things you should know about sexting:
- Once you’ve shared something, you lose control of it. The person you sent it to might share it or copy it without your permission.
- Think carefully about the potential risks before sharing anything. You should never feel pressured into sharing.
- If you send something and then change your mind, contact the person you sent it to as soon as possible and ask them to delete it. You can also report the content or block the person to prevent them from contacting you again.
- ‘Revenge porn’ is when someone shares – or threatens to share – sexual photos or videos of someone without their consent.
- It’s not your fault if someone shares nude photos or videos of you without your consent. It may be against the law for someone to share your nude or nearly nude photos or videos without your consent, even if you willingly sent the images to them.
- If someone shares sexual photos or videos on social media that you don’t want shared, ask the site or app to remove them.
For more information, check out this helpful resource: Keep It Real Online(external link that opens in a new tab).
If someone is sharing or saying they are going to share your photos or videos, you can get free, confidential help from Netsafe(external link that opens in a new tab) (see their contact details below).
If you’re feeling worried or upset about sexting or revenge porn, you can get help by contacting the free counselling services listed on our Mental health page.
Online shopping or banking
The most important thing to remember when you're banking or shopping online is to protect your money from being stolen by others. This means protecting access to your bank account and credit card details.
Here are some suggestions:
Protect your passwords and security codes (PINs)
Don't write these down. Never share them with anyone (even your bank or the police) – either in emails, texts or in person.
Make your password or PIN hard to guess (don't use your birthdate or cellphone number), change them regularly and make them different from other passwords or PINs you use.
Keep your devices secure
Always lock your screen when you finish using your cellphone or computer.
If you're logged into your bank account, don't leave your device alone or unlocked.
Only get apps from official stores like like Google Play(external link that opens in a new tab) or the App Store(external link that opens in a new tab).
If you sell or give your cellphone or computer to someone else, make sure you remove any saved passwords, banking apps or ways to access your bank account or credit card details.
Be careful using public wifi or shared devices
Public wifi and shared devices (like at your place of study, library, airports, hotels or internet cafes) may have malicious software installed that can capture your password, credit card numbers and bank details.
When banking, use your own device and use mobile data or private wifi you trust.
Don't save passwords, user names or credit card details on someone else's device or a shared device.
When you're finished using a shared device, delete your browsing history and always log off.
Only use trusted and secure websites
Check for https at the beginning of the address bar (the 's' stands for secure) and a locked padlock sign in the address bar.
Don't use links in emails or text messages to log in to your bank. These are sometimes used to direct you to fake websites (that can look real) so someone can steal your passwords and bank details.
When online shopping, use a credit card with a low limit to further reduce your risk.
Be smart when using Trade Me or other auction sites
Check the seller's feedback history to see if anyone has had a bad experience with them before you buy.
If you're using Trade Me (New Zealand's most popular online auction site) use Ping (Trade Me's trusted payment service) or Afterpay – this way you'll be protected by Trade Me's Buyer Protection Programme.
Always complete your trades within the Trade Me website (not by email or text) so you can benefit from Trade Me's safety tools. If you have any problems, check out their advice and ask them for help.
Never send money outside of New Zealand (for example, using an instant money transfer system or to an international bank account) to someone you don't know as these payments can't be traced. If someone asks you to do this, don't do it.
If you need help or advice
If you or someone you know needs help or advice about something that’s happened online, you can contact Netsafe(external link that opens in a new tab). They are New Zealand’s independent, non-profit online safety organisation.
Contact Netsafe
- Text ‘Netsafe’ to 4282.
- Fill out their online contact form(external link that opens in a new tab).
- Email help@netsafe.org.nz
- Call free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723). The Netsafe contact centre is open 8 am – 8 pm Monday to Friday, and 9 am – 5 pm on weekends and public holidays.
For more ways to stay safe online, check out Netsafe's Staying Safe Online Guide(external link that opens in a new tab).
Visit Own Your Online
See real-life examples of people who have been affected by online scams and incidents on the New Zealand Government's new website, Own Your Online(external link that opens in a new tab). This website also has information on how to stay safe online and can direct you to where you need to go if you suspect you're being scammed.
If it's an emergency
If you’re concerned about your immediate safety or someone else's immediate safety, call 111 and ask for police.