Journal 12: Illegal Things Internet Users May Be Doing

Journal 12: Illegal Things Internet Users May Be Doing

Gary Hensley

08/02/26

There are many great uses for the internet, and it is a great tool for our everyday life.  Andriy Slynchuk wrote an article titled " 11 Illegal Things You Unknowingly Do on the Internet. Going over eleven things that you didn’t know put yourself at risk and what you can do to protect yourself. It's for new and seasoned internet users to keep in mind that the internet can be a dangerous place and you have to protect yourself.

Being online opens you up to large amounts of information, videos, images, etc. These are some of the main things that can get you in trouble based on what you do with information or sites. For example, when you search for movies to watch and use an unofficial streaming site. This is using stolen copyrighted videos and is illegal. Sites that do this could be using the lure of free movies to get access to your information. Even with images from the internet, if they are not in the public domain, you cannot use them without permission. The images were created by someone. Without checking before using images or watching streamed videos, you can land yourself with copyright issues. Many sites you may visit ask for your information or have age limits. One that seems like it might not be a big deal is lying about your age online to gain access to a website or set up an account. People might think that they can hide behind a fake account and bully people. These are both things that can get you into trouble.  If you're not careful with what you do or access online, you can find yourself breaking some of these laws.

Online, some activities might not seem illegal, but some are and can lead you into trouble with the law or make you a target for cybercrime. When using normal browsers, most will block illegal content, but it is best practice to make sure you use verified websites and watch what you search for. The article informed some of the best ways to help you navigate your online activities to protect yourself. When online, it is best to use strong passwords and limit the amount of information you share. This helps keep people from stealing from you.  The article showed some good points on what you could be doing illegally and what might happen to you.

Reference

Slynchuk, A. (2026, January 4). 11 illegal things you unknowingly do on the internet. Clario. https://clario.co/blog/illegal-things-you-do-online