Stay Safe

5 Ways to Keep Safer with Technology

Spanish Version

1) Talk About It
Keep an open line of communication between you, your spouse and your child. Having a good relationship is one of the best ways to help your child be safe. Also,
  • Agree on clear, simple rules for technology use that apply no matter where you are.
  • Identify what websites are okay and when they can and can't be visited.
  • Make sure children understand what personal information is and why they should guard it.
  • Talk about what is and isn't appropriate online behavior.
  • Share your online activities with one another.
  • See Communicate for more tips, including conversation starters.

2) Implement Safety Tools
You can create a safer online environment for your children with software that filters content and monitors traffic through computers, online games, cell phones and other devices.

  • Try Google’s “Safe Search Filter” and/or K9 Web Protection from Blue Coat, both available online for free.
  • Set the controls for online games and cell phones to an appropriate level for your family.

3) Avoid Isolation
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to keep children safe online is to keep computers in a central location where others can see the screen. Avoid locating a web-enabled computer in a bedroom or other private space.

4) Guard Personal Information
Be sure everyone in your family understands what constitutes personal information and when it is and isn't okay to share it. Even a little information here and there can be put together to create a revealing profile. Also,

  • Keep all software up-to-date.
  • Resist clicking on or otherwise accepting pop-ups, free offers and downloads (including music from sites such as Limewire and Kazaa).
  • Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software such as Microsoft's free Security Essentials, Norton Internet Security or MacAfee Internet Security. Note that some Internet service providers include a subscription to a security service at no extra cost.

5) Don't respond to online threats: save evidence & report
If you or your child encounters something mean, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate in an email, text message or website, resist the urge to lash back or delete it. Instead, save a copy and show it to the authorities. See Get Help for information on reporting cyberattacks.

 

NetSafe Pledges

Help children stay safe online with age-appropriate reminders of NetSafe behavior.

Additional Resources:

  • Be Internet Awesome
    Helping kids be safe, confident explorers of the online world.

  • Interland
    An online adventure that puts the key lessons of digital safety into hands-on practice with four challenging games.
  • Internet Safety Quiz
    How much do you know about Internet Safety?

  • iKeepSafe Parent Resource Center
    Find information on balancing screen time with real life and more at this website from the Internet Keep Safe Coalition.

  • Take a NetSmartz Workshop
    Take a NetSmartz workshop to learn how you can keep your children from 5-17 years old safer on topics such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online exploitation, revealing too much information, sexting and scams.

  • Online Safety
    Resources for being safe online by StaySafe.org.