Commerce risks can include dangers such as  cybercrime, identify theft, copyright, online gambling, inappropriate advertising, phishing and or financial scams.

Cybercrime is criminal activity committed using computers and/or the internet. It is broadly categorised as either ‘cyber-enabled’ (crimes that can happen offline but are enabled at scale and at speed on-line) or ‘cyber dependent’ (crimes that can be committed only by using a computer).

Cyber-dependent crimes include

• unauthorised access to computers (illegal ‘hacking’), for example accessing a school’s computer network to look for test paper answers or change grades awarded
• denial of Service (Dos or DDoS) attacks or ‘booting’. These are attempts to make a computer, network or website unavailable by overwhelming it with internet traffic from multiple sources
• making, supplying or obtaining malware (malicious software) such as viruses, spyware, ransomware, botnets and Remote Access Trojans with the intent to commit further offences.

Children with particular skill and interest in computing and technology may inadvertently or deliberately stray into cyber-dependent crime. If there are concerns about a child, the DSL (or a deputy), should respond in line with their child protection policy and consider referring into the Cyber Choices programme.

'Cyber Choices' is a nationwide police programme supported by the Home Office and led by the National Crime Agency, working with regional and local policing. It aims to intervene where young people are at risk of committing, or being drawn into, low level cyber-dependent offences and divert them to a more positive use of their skills and interests.

Guidance for Schools, Colleges and Early Years Settings 

• Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges - standards schools and colleges should meet on cyber security, user accounts and data protection.
• National Cyber Security Centre
  • Cyber Security for Schools
  • Cyber security in schools: questions for governors and trustees
  • Board Toolkit
  • Cyber security training for school staff
  • Early Years practitioners: using cyber security to protect your settings

Cybercrime

• Cyber Choices
• Cyber Explorers (11-14)
• NPCC - 'When to call the Police’
• National Cyber Security Centre
  • CyberFirst
  • CyberSprinters (7-11)
    • Hacker games and trojan tales: new CyberSprinters activities now available to download
• Internet Matters: Privacy and Identity Theft Hub

Fraud, Phishing and Scams

• Get Safe Online
• Action Fraud
• Anti-Phishing Working Group
• PSHE Association and CIFAS: Anti-Fraud Education lesson plans
• Meet the Malwares
• CyberSprinters

Advertising, Copyright, In-App Purchasing and Gambling

• Childnet: Being smart with your smartphone
• Parent Zone: Gaming or Gambling
• MediaSmart
• ProMusic
• Copyright and Schools