Communications technology is great for making connection with other people but there is the danger that personal information can be used by the wrong people and for the wrong purposes.

– MSN, Facebook and other social networks are such that people often share more information about themselves than they are perhaps aware. Privacy settings are usually available but sometimes people aren’t aware of this and that their profile is public.

– When making a purchase online you will be required to provide personal details including your name, address and card details. This is something you should only do if you trust the site you are using and various measures have been taken by the site to keep your details safe.

– Some websites will store any personal information you provide so that it can be sold on to third parties for marketing purposes. Only give personal details where it is absolutely necessary and be sure to read the terms and conditions.

– Cookies are small pieces of information which are downloaded onto your hard drive each time you visit a website. They are largely harmless and can help make your visit to the website more efficient. For example, content will be downloaded faster and log-in details can be filled in automatically. If you have made a purchase, some of your financial details will be stored too. If other people have access to the same computer it is best to disable cookies to prevent misuse of personal data.

– Bluetooth can be used to transfer information between mobile devices within several metres of each other. Such an exchange of information poses a potential security risk because it can be intercepted by someone other than the intended recipient.