Establishing Safety in Online Dating Relationships

Online dating can be lots of fun, but don't overlook dating safety. You must use common sense your when dating online or off, don't forget that.

Should You Protect Your Computer?

Before using the Internet in any form you should take care of your computer system. You should install a firewall and antivirus protection. You don't want a virus or worm coming in and destroying your equipment. Here are some free solutions that will help you out. www.grisoft.com and www.zonelabs.com

How Can You Protect Yourself?

Don't go on dating sites that seem seedy. Don't choose date possibilities with daring or dirty connotations to their handles. Do not answer a profile that is not respectful. Look for online dating services that are well known and reputable. You can ask your friends who use online dating sites which ones they chose and why?

When you go to an online dating service read all the links they have to give you information. Find out all about them. Check online and see if other people have reviewed them, and read over the reviews. If there are a lot of unhappy people who used these sites, chances are you could be unhappy using them.

Compare what several sites have to offer, and choose one or two that you think are the best of the bunch. Carefully read over the regulations they have, the fees, the contracts and make sure they are respectable.

When your finally do join an online dating service and meet people through email, make sure you communicate to these potential dates for a while until you feel you know them well enough to meet them. If there is anything crash or vulgar about any of the communications you have with them, don't contact them again. If you let it go, without checking it, they may think your just out to have some fun, the wrong kind of fun.

Ask questions that will give you an idea of what these potential partners are looking to get out of the online dating experience. Are they looking for commitment, or marriage? Are they looking for a long term romantic relationship? Or are they just looking for a fling? And which one of those would you like to be?

Now I am not trying to scare you away from online dating. Many people have connected in a wonderful way through online dating services. At the very least, you should be able to expect to get some dates, and even if you don't want to marry that person, you should be able to meet interesting people, have some clean fun, intelligent conversations, and perhaps meet someone who will become a friend before you meet your life partner.

Always keep your intentions and goals in mind, and if you are chatting with someone, make sure they are worth your time and attention.