Internet Safety

Teaching our students Internet Safety and the Digital Citizenship, the responsible use of technology, is not only a job for the schools BUT also for families. It is important for our students to understand how to protect themselves and how to behave in an age of the ever increasing impact that technology has on our lives. Some simple tips to increase not only our students, but our own safety on the Internet...

• Clear, simple, easy-to-read house rules should be posted on or near the monitor
• Look into safeguarding programs or options your online service provider might offer; these may include monitoring or filtering capabilities.
• Always read a website's privacy policy before giving any personal information. Also make sure that a website offers a secure connection before giving credit card information.
• Websites for children are not permitted to request personal information without parental permission. Talk to children about what personal information is and why you should never give it to people online.
• If children use chat or e-mail, talk to them about never meeting in person with anyone they first "met" online.
• Talk to children about not responding to offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat, or other communications. Report any such communication to local law enforcement. Do not delete the offensive or dangerous e-mail; turn off the monitor, and contact local law enforcement.
• Keep the computer in the family room or another open area of your home.
• Let children show you what they can do online and visit their favorite sites.
• Have children use child-friendly search engines when completing homework.
• Know who children are exchanging e-mail with and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise.
• Be aware of any other computers your child may be using.
• Internet accounts should be in the parent's name with parents having the primary screen name, controlling passwords, and using blocking and/or filtering devices.
• Children should not complete a profile for a service provider and children's screen names should be non-descript so as not to identify that the user is a child.
• Talk to children about what to do if they see something that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Show them how to turn off the monitor and emphasize that it's not their fault if they see something upsetting. Remind children to tell a trusted adult if they see something that bothers them online.
• Consider using filtering or monitoring software for your computer. Filtering products that use white listing which only allows a child access to a pre-approved list of sites are recommended for children in this age group.
• If you suspect online "stalking" or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law enforcement agency. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has a system for identifying online predators and child pornographers and contributing to law enforcement investigations. It's called the CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com. Leads forwarded to the site will be acknowledged and shared with the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.

• Be your own person. Don't let friends or strangers pressure you to be someone you aren't. And know your limits. You may be Net-savvy, but people and relationships change, and unexpected stuff can happen on the Internet.

• Be nice online. Or at least treat people the way you’d want to be treated. People who are nasty and aggressive online are at greater risk of being bullied or harassed themselves. It's a vicious cycle you really don't want to get into.

• Think about what you post. Sharing provocative photos or intimate details online, even in private e-mails, can cause you problems later on. Even people you consider friends can use this information against you, especially if they become ex-friends.

• Read between the "lines". It may be fun to check out new people for friendship or romance, but be aware that, while some people are nice, others act nice because they're trying to get something. Flattering or supportive messages may be more about manipulation than friendship or romance.

• Don't talk about sex with strangers. Be cautious when communicating with people you don't know personally, especially if the conversation starts to be about sex or physical details. Don't lead them on – you don’t want to be the target of a predator's grooming. If they persist, call your local police or contact CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com.

• Avoid in-person meetings. The only way someone can physically harm you is if you're both in the same location; so – to be 100% safe – don't meet them in person. If you really have to get together with someone you "met" online, don't go alone. Have the meeting in a public place, tell a parent or some other solid backup, and bring some friends along.

• Be smart when using a cell phone. All the same tips apply with phones as with computers. Except phones are with you wherever you are, often away from home and your usual support systems. Be careful who you give your number to and how you use GPS and other technologies that can pinpoint your physical location.

• Be reasonable and try to set reasonable expectations. Pulling the plug on your child’s favorite social site is like pulling the plug on his or her social life. Instead of being protective, it can shut down communication and send kids "underground" where they're more at risk. It's too easy for them to set up free blogs and profiles from anywhere, including friends' houses or even a cell phone.

• Talk with your kids about how they use the services. They are the ones to consult about their social-Web experience, not news reports or even experts. Help them understand basic safety guidelines, such as protecting their privacy (including passwords), not harassing peers, never talking about sex with people they don't know, avoiding in-person meetings with people they "meet" online, and taking care in what they post – because anything people put online can be grabbed, reworked, and used against them.

• Support critical thinking and civil behavior. No laws or parental-control software can protect better than a child's developing good sense about safety and relationships. Research shows that kids who are aggressive and mean online toward peers or strangers are at greater risk of becoming victims themselves. So teach them to be good citizens and friends online as much as offline.

• Consider requiring Internet use in a high-traffic place in your home. By keeping it out of your kids' rooms, it will help you stay aware of their online time. This way, you can encourage a balance between online time and their offline academic, sports, and social times. Know that there are also many ways kids can access the Internet away from home, including on many mobile phones and game players.

• Try to get your kids to share their profiles and blogs with you. But be aware that they can have multiple accounts on multiple services. Use search engines and search tools on social-networking sites to search for your kids' full names, phone numbers and other identifying information. You're not invading their privacy if they're putting personal info in public "places" online. If their pages are private, that's a good thing, but it's even better if they share it with you.

Filtering & Blocking Software

Please keep in mind there are is no software that filters the Internet that is 100% effective. The following are just a few options that can be used.
The Mt. Angel School District does not endorse a specific product nor take responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of the product.

• Net Nanny – Reports to provide customization of filtering, limiting the amount of time online, block of Chat Rooms, and other features.
• Cyber Patrol – Reports to provide customization of filtering, limiting the amount of time online and preventing the revealing of personal information.

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Anti-Virus & Firewall

Antivirus protection is very important to have on your computer. There are several brands on the market. This is also true for Firewall software programs (software that assists in trying to prevent someone from “hacking” into your computer).

The important thing is to make sure that you “update” your virus and Firewall protection on a regular basis. Each time you sign onto the Internet is the best practice. Several Anti Virus and Firewall protection software programs are available and can also be researched on the Internet, there are some that are also free but the quality of the product may not be as good as other "pay for" products.

Two of the major names in anti-virus software are Norton and McAfee. Both products offer virus protection packages as well as parental control software and personal firewalls. Both of these sites also offer a look up feature for checking to see if a certain virus, worm or Trojan name that you received in an email or by word of mouth is an actual threat to your computer.

Most of these sites also offer a free check of your computer to make sure it is not infected or vulnerable to a threat.

The Mt. Angel School District does not endorse a specific product nor take responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of the product.  

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Identity Theft

Identity theft is a growing problem that not only impacts adults, but children as well. A child’s identity is essentially a “blank slate” for identity thieves. Children don’t have credit reports and few parents actively monitor their child’s credit or SSN, which means the fraud can go undetected for years. If a thief has a damaged credit reputation, a child’s identity is a way to start over, get hired at a job, or even avoid criminal prosecution.  

• The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is a nonprofit consumer education, research, and advocacy program. The site reports to assist in providing information so that you can take action to control your personal information by providing helpful tips on privacy control.
• The ID Theft Center - A nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and implementing a comprehensive program against identity theft —by supporting victims, broadening public awareness, disseminating information about this crime and decreasing the potential victim population.
• Online Fraud - This site provides information for general Internet Fraud Tips to include Online escrow accounts, computers, software, credit card protection, charity scams, among other online fraud safety tips. This site also includes tips for Telemarketing scams, Elder Fraud and scams against Businesses.

Commonly Used Chat Room & E-Mail Acronyms

The following are examples of useful sites for information, software for monitoring online activity and search engines to help parents and children have a safe Internet experience. These websites and software programs are examples only, and are to be viewed and researched by the parents who must determine what fits their beliefs and needs.

• Netsmartz

This site provides resources for both parents and children for Internet safety. It has an interview with an actual victim who met with a person that she met online and provides information useful to educate parents and children.

• FBI - Simple Steps for Internet Safety

Simple steps for Internet safety.

• GetNetWise

​​​​​​​This site provides resources for and Online Safety Guide, Internet safety products such as filters to block explicit or violent content; limit time on the Internet or that will monitor child’s activities on the Internet, educational and entertaining websites for children and families and places to report trouble encountered while on the Internet.

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

​​​​​​​Provides information on keeping children safe, resources for parents, missing children information and photographs.

• Safe Kids

​​​​​​​Provides child safety on the Internet, parents guidelines, and other related information.