Internet Safety For Kids

Online predators are out there!!!

They can infect your computer with viruses, they want to steal your personal information and possibly your identity, and they may even want to harm the people who use your computer. Below is a list of helpful tips and reminders that can be used to help recognize these potentially hazardous situations and how to respond appropriately.

Tips for Students

	Do not give out personal information about yourself, your family, friends or school when you have not actually met the person or know and trust the website and know that it is secure (look for the lock in the lower right corner). This is stuff like personal information that can be used by online predators to distinguish you from another person and possibly find you in real life. This includes your name, address, phone number, school, school mascot, school colors, coach’s name, grade your in, teacher’s name, principal’s name, friend’s names, and family’s names.
	Get to know your "online friends" just as you get to know all of your other friends. Be sure that you are dealing with someone that you and your parents know and trust before giving out any personal information about yourself via Instant message, E-mail, an Internet bulletin board, or on a website.
	Never send out your picture without your parents' permission.
	Do not agree to meet someone who you have met online but you don't know in real life.
	Be careful when someone offers you something for nothing, such as gifts or money. Remember, any offer “That is too good to be true”, probably is.
	Don't ever accept a gift or an offer that involves having someone visit your house.
	Always tell your parents or guardian if you see something online that you know is wrong or that makes you feel uncomfortable.
	Do not open email messages from people you do know and especially when they contain weird or unknown attachments. Delete them.
	Don't respond to messages that make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy.
	Try not to panic if you see an inappropriate website. Simply exit the window (click X in the top corner), Control-Alt-Delete, or turn off the computer if the website does not allow you to leave the inappropriate material.
	Only use credit cards or bank prepaid cards online with your parent’s permission and with a website that shows a locked padlock in the lower right corner of your web browser.
	If you feel uncomfortable about contact with a person, email or website talk to your parents or call the police. If possible try to save the email, IM chat, or images or at least try to print them out.
	If you feel uncomfortable about any contact or are unsure about any contacts, you can call Detective Marc King of the Livingston County Sheriff Department at 517-546-2440 extension 7953 and discuss it with him. If he is not in you may leave a message with your name and phone number and the best time that he can call you back when you will be at that number.

Have fun! The Internet is a great tool that is used for many wonderful things. Just like any community, there are areas on the Internet where you can find yourself in compromising situations. A little bit of street smarts on the Information highway will help make your Internet experience fun, rewarding, and safe!

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