Wilmington, North Carolina.
February 5th, 2006.
"Okay Riley. Your parents have been talking to me quite a bit about the internet and how to use it.", Benny announced as he sat down in the chair in front of Rock's desktop, "So, I'm gonna be teachingyouthe same thing and how to use it safely. Understand?", he asked his niece. "Isn't the internet the computer place where you look at emails and look up stuff?", Riley asked. "Well yeah, those are two things you use the internet for but there's still quite a lot for you to know.", Benny answered before opening up Internet Explorer. "Y'know about YouTube? That place where you watch videos and stuff?", Benny asked, typing in the exact website. "Yeah.", Riley nodded. "Well sometimes, not all the videos that go on there are for kids.", Benny explained, "Sometimes, videos tend to have more…stuff suited for grownups. Or some videos that you think will tell you something cool only for it to be a trick.", he added.
"Like the stuff grownups do in bed together?", Riley innocently asked with a tilted head, making her uncle visibly flinch. "No no no! Not….that.I mean like…people saying grownup words and stuff.", Benny clarified in a slightly nervous tone, "There's an entirely different website for that kind of stuff where you'redefinitelynot allowed to go on!". "I heard people can use the internet to talk to other people from other places. Is that true, Uncle Benny?", Riley asked. "Yeah, that's true.", Benny answered, "That's how your dad answers emails, right?", he rhetorically asked which Riley nodded to. "Well, there's a little more to that. "People talk through other places besides email like Facebook and MySpace.", Benny replied. "Do kids go on there too?", Riley asked. "No, it's older people and grownups.", Benny shook his head.
"The internet sucks! Where do all the kids get to go and talk to each other?", Riley whined with folded arms. "There is this one place called Club Penguin.", Benny assured, "There, you can make your own penguin, play games, and even talk to other people.", he said, showing a video of the website. To say Riley was fascinated by what Club Penguin had to offer would be a major understatement as she then asked Benny to click on another video featuring Club Penguin…then another…and another…and another…and another…everything about it just looked so fun in Riley's eyes. Of course though, Benny had to get back on topic and he closed the videos of it. "Okay getting back to the conversation, there's still things you gotta be careful on here when you make an account.", Benny informed. "...A what?", Riley asked in confusion. "An account. It's like a ticket to go inside of Club Penguin.", Benny clarified. "What's there to be careful of?", Riley further asked.
"One of thereallyimportant things is to never use your real name.", Benny said with a slight stern tone of voice, "Unless you know them in real life, you always use a fake name when talking to other people online especially when they ask what your name is.". "But they're not gonna know who I am.", Riley retorted. "Would you tell a stranger you see on the street what your name is?", Benny asked. "No.", Riley answered. "Exactly. The same things you wouldn't tell a stranger you see outside, you don't tell them to people you see online.", Benny explained, "Not your name, how old you are, and especially where you live.". "What if they tell me though?", Riley further asked. "Youstilldon't tell them.", Benny promptly answered, "Especially if the person says they'll get you something for free like a present or money.".
"And if they tell you to meet in person, doNOTgo for it.", Benny advised, "You don't know who's on the other side of the screen. It may or may not be a kid, but don't take any chances.". "I know Daddy does those video call things when he's at work. I can't do that either?", Riley asked. "Well in your dad's case, that's people he has to do work with since it's his job. But if it's meeting with a stranger online that you would never meet with otherwise, don't show your face.", Benny answered.
"Benny, are you done teaching Riley about Internet safety or whatever?", Jane flatly asked, suddenly opening the door with a bored expression and a bag of chips in her hand. "Just a minute, honey bunny!", Benny replied before turning back to Riley, "If you want a really good example of what not to do, look to your Aunt Jane.". "What did she do?", Riley asked. "A long time ago, she thought she met someone online she could screw over after meeting them in person. Forgot the exact details, but basically the person was smarter than she thought and with your aunt Jane leaving some… passwords behind? And she got hacked.", Benny explained. "Uh I'm standing right here!", Jane offendedly exclaimed.
"Which is another thing you shouldn't do. If you use someone else's computer to log in to something,alwayslog off when you're done. And don't use the same password more than once.", Benny added, ignoring his on-and-off wife's complaining as she walked out the door. "What if I can't remember all of them?", Riley asked. "Write them down on a piece of paper.", Benny answered, "Speaking of passwords, you never share them with anyone.". "Not even Mommy or Daddy?", Riley asked. "Well maybe except them, but your passwords are to be kept secret from everyone else. Understand?", Benny explained. "Yeah.", Riley nodded, "Is there anything else I gotta know?".
Benny pondered for a moment, "Well, the only thing I think there's left to say is if someone sends you a link to a place you don't know,don'tclick on it.", he advised. "What happens if I do?", Riley asked. "Well if you're very unlucky, your computer gets this thing called a virus and it could mess it up pretty bad.", Benny described, "Good thing though there's a thing called antivirus and that can help protect the computer. Your parents should have that installed. Any other questions?". "Ah ah.", Riley shook her head. "Alright then, good.", Benny nodded as he stood up from the chair and walked Riley out of the office. "Hey Benny babe, I got us reservations for that sushi restaurant that's like 10 minutes away.", Jane announced, basically ignoring Riley. "Oh nice, what time is it at?", Benny asked. "3.", Jane promptly answered.
"It's 2:40 right now but we can't just leave Riley here", Benny said, checking the time, "Maybe we should drag her along…". "Nah, she'll be fine. Right, Riley?", Jane assured, dismissing her on-and-off husband's concerns. "Yeah…", Riley reluctantly replied. "There, see? It's win-win. Now let's get going.", Jane confidently told Benny, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Okay then…", Benny shrugged, "Riley, there's stuff in the pantry if you're hungry and don't tell your parents we left you alone.", he said before Jane practically forced him out of the door and into their rental car. Riley then looked over and saw Jane's laptop on the couch before getting an idea.
About 20 minutes pass and Benny and Jane return to the Okajima residence. "Riley, we're back! Your parents should be home in a few minutes!", Benny called out to her. "Must be playing with her toys again…", he muttered as he and Jane sat back on the couch with the latter opening it up and seeing a barrage of popups, sudden browser redirects, and a very horrendous glitched up wallpaper. Jane could only freeze in place as she looked in horror at her now malware-infested laptop. "Y'know, that sushi wrap was a tad too spicy for my tastes.", Benny commented, "What do you think, honey bunny?", he casually asked, turning to a fuming Jane. "Jane?", Benny concernedly asked, "Jane, are you-". Before Benny could ask what was wrong with her, Jane suddenly erupted into a hot boiling rage.
"WHAT DID THAT BRAT DO TO MY LAPTOP?!"