Setting up relationships through online dating: Safety First

Setting up relationships through online dating: Safety First. It can be fun to date online. But don't let safety and common sense go out the window when you're looking for a date. At the very least, be careful in the following places.

Watch out for your computer

Before you go out into the Internet world, take care of your systems and equipment. You need a firewall and anti-virus software to protect your email, website searches, and other online activities. At the very least, you might want these two free solutions for home computer users (i.e. not for business use):

• ZoneAlarm is a free firewall you can download at www.zonelabs.com.
• AVG Anti-Virus can be downloaded for free at www.grisoft.com.

Keep yourself safe

Also, look out for yourself by choosing the right dating sites. Find a good online dating service and use it. How? Start by talking to people you know who have tried online dating, like friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other people you may know, to find out which sites they liked. Also, search for "online dating services" and keep a notebook with their URLs or website links, fees, rules and regulations, full contact information, and any other useful information that catches your eye. Then compare each one. Don't go anywhere you don't feel safe. Stay away from them.

So be careful. Equip both your computer and yourself with the right tools and information.