What should students do to be safe using email and the internet?

Students get so excited seeing the “YOU’VE GOT MAIL!” message after getting an email address and learning how to use the Internet. There are several tips to follow to be a better emailer and a safer Internet user:

· Create Complex Passwords. Creating unique, strong passwords really is the secret to keeping personal and financial information safe. Also, check to see if the online account offers a multi-factor authentication option. This may ask the user to enter a passcode sent to their mobile device or answer a security question only they would know before gaining access to their account. An important aspect of staying safe online is to not share your passwords with anyone.

· Change Passwords Regularly. By changing your passwords often, this makes it harder for hackers to get into your information. Be sure to write down or keep your passwords in a safe place.

· Click Smart. Careless clicking can invite dangers into your computer. Phishing and social engineering are today’s biggest threats tricking people into clicking on spam emails that say things such as, “you have won a free trip! Click here to claim your prize.”, “please verify your information”, “take this online quiz or survey”, and more to try and get people to click on the links or give personal information.

· Do Not Meet Someone Alone You Meet on the Internet. Do not add people on social media that you do not know. Never arrange a meeting with someone you met online unless telling a parent first. You cannot believe everything that you read online.

· Parents Need to Have Access. No matter how old, parents need to know what websites are being visited and who the students are talking to online. Also, it would be good to have a parent or adult to help monitor your accounts to watch for any abnormal activity.

· Do Not Open Unknown Attachments. Unknown attachments can have viruses and the sender may not have known. But you should also keep your computer’s security up-to-date to help protect against these viruses.

· Be a Selective Sharer. Be careful what information you share with others online. On social media, be careful what pictures of yourself you share and what you tell others about where you are and what you are doing.

· Always Tell a Parent or Grownup if Something Makes You Uncomfortable. Never be scared to tell someone what is sent to you on the internet if it worries you or makes you upset. Cyberbullying and cyberstalking are two ways people are sending mean and inappropriate things via the internet.

A key to internet safety is knowledge. Educating students and their parents is key to helping keep students safe when they start accessing the internet.

Check out these other great resources for Internet safety!

Safety Net Kids

KidSMART

Kids' Rules for Online Safety