The safest practice regarding your personal information when conducting online research for school projects is C) Absolutely avoid entering any personal information on websites unless absolutely necessary and you are certain of the website’s legitimacy.

Protecting your privacy online while doing research for school requires caution. Sharing your school email address to access additional resources (A) could expose you to spam or phishing attempts. While professional website design (B) might suggest legitimacy, it’s not a guarantee of safety; scammers can create convincing websites. Automatically trusting websites with a “.com” domain (D) is also risky, as malicious sites can also use this common domain.

Online safety for students involves being careful about what you share. Personal information includes your name, address, email, phone number, and even your school details. Only provide personal information on secure websites (look for “https” and a padlock icon in the address bar) when it’s essential, and you trust the source, such as your school’s online portal or a well-known educational database. Be wary of requests for personal data, as many research resources are available without needing to provide it. Remember that online privacy is important, and practicing safe browsing habits can help protect you from scams and identity theft while you conduct your research.