Internet Safety

Do's and Don'ts of Internet Safety

• Do follow the rules that your parents have set regarding the time you are allowed to use the internet, the purpose of your use of the internet, the sites you are allowed to visit, and the limitations they have set.
• If you are using instant messaging or entering chat rooms, do stay on public, monitored and child-friendly rooms.
• Do tell your parents immediately if you have encountered any problem while using the internet or if you have engaged in an uncomfortable situation.
• Do use an alias or nickname every time you enter chat rooms and forums.
• Do avoid posting your personal profile on the web. This may be used by online predators against you.
• Do close the web browser immediately if you see any images of violence, nudity, pornography, sex, and other contents that aren’t right for your age. Do tell your parents about this immediately.
• Don’t give your real identity to anyone you meet online. This includes your real name, address, school information, e-mail address, password, and bank account information.
• If you are using instant messaging or entering chat rooms, DON’T allow others to harass you or put you in an uncomfortable situation.
• Don’t reply to or start a conversation with people you don’t know. Don’t accept gift offerings from them.
• Don’t fill out any survey, membership, or application forms asking for your personal information from an unsecured site.
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• Don’t disable any security settings your parents have set such as antivirus, firewall, filtering, and site monitoring programs.
• Don’t open, reply or download attachments from spam or from unknown senders. These may contain viruses or other threats that can harm your computer.
• Don’t download any files that are given to you by people you’ve met online. Don’t download any files from your e-mail unless they are solicited. 
• Doesn’t use free and downloadable peer-to-peer file sharing programs (e.g. Kazza and Grokster)? These are spyware.
• And most of all….Do practice honesty and DON’T hide anything from your parents.

How To Protect Yourself

• Do not reveal personal information inadvertently.
• Turn on cookie notices in your Web browser, and/or use cookie management software or infomediaries.
• Keep a "clean" e-mail address.
• Don't reveal personal details to strangers or just-met "friends".
• Realize you may be monitored at work, avoid sending highly personal e-mail to mailing lists, and keep sensitive files on your home computer.
• Beware sites that offer some sort of reward or prize in exchange for your contact information or other personal details.
• Do not reply to spammers, for any reason.
• Be conscious of Web security.
• Be conscious of home computer security.
•  Examine privacy policies and seals.
• Remember that YOU decide what information about yourself to reveal, when, why, and to whom.
• Use encryption!

Safety Tips

• Never meet up with anyo
• Never give any personal information to anyone you meet online
• ne you don't already know
• Don't fill out any "fun" questionnaires that are forwarded to you, even if they're from your friends
• Make sure you know everyone on your buddy list
• You do not have to answer emails or IMs from people you don't know
• There's no such thing as "private" on the Internet
• Be careful about posting pictures of yourself (if you must, don't post sexy ones or ones showing behavior you wouldn't want your mom, teacher, boss, or potential college advisor to see).
• Don't send pictures of other people
• Don't download content without your parents' permission
• Never share your password with anyone but your parents.