THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO BEING SAFE ON A COMPUTER!

E-mail Etiquette Computer Care Internet Safety

E-MAIL ETIQUETTE

Rules to help you be polite on-line.

DO NOT

TYPE IN ALL CAPITALS.

It is like yelling.

DO NOT

SWEAR.

It is rude.

DO NOT

FORWARD PERSONAL E-MAILS WITHOUT THE SENDER’S PERMISSION.

If they wrote it then they own it.

DO NOT

SEND ANYTHING REALLY PERSONAL IN AN E-MAIL.

Remember that e-mail is like a postcard and people, other than who you send it to, may read it.

COMPUTER CARE

Rules to keep your computer working well.

DO NOT

DOWNLOAD UNKNOWN E-MAILS, PROGRAMS, AND OTHER FILES.

They may contain a virus which can damage your computer.

DO NOT

DRINK BY YOUR COMPUTER.

A spill may result in an electrical shock to you or your computer. Liquids and electricity are a bad combination.

DO NOT

EAT BY YOUR COMPUTER.

Food crumbs and other particles may get in your computer and it may not work as well.

DO NOT

POUND ON THE KEYBOARD.

You could damage the keys on your keyboard.

INTERNET SAFETY

Rules to keep you safe when you are on-line.

DO NOT

GIVE OUT YOUR WHOLE NAME ON-LINE. IF POSSIBLE CHOOSE A SCREEN NAME WHICH DOESN’T TELL WHETHER YOU ARE A BOY OR A GIRL.

If someone knows your name it is easier for them to find you.

DO NOT

GIVE OUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER ON-LINE.

There are reverse directories which allow someone to find an address from a phone number.

DO NOT

GIVE OUT YOUR HOME ADDRESS ON-LINE.

If someone knows your address they can come to your home and rob it.

DO NOT

SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION ON-LINE SUCH AS THE NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL, THE NAME OF YOUR TEAM, THE NUMBER ON YOUR TEAM, UNIFORM, AND SO ON.

It may allow someone bad to find you.

DO NOT

KEEP E-MAILS WHICH MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE A SECRET.

Tell a teacher, your parents or another adult whom you trust. We can’t help if we don’t know about a problem.

DO NOT

TELL YOUR E-MAIL PASSWORD TO ANYONE EXCEPT A TEACHER OR PARENT.

Other people may use your e-mail account to embarrass your or pretend that they are you and get you into trouble.

DO NOT

KEEP A COMPUTER WITH THE INTERNET IN YOUR BEDROOM.

Children should use computers in a family room so that parents know what you are doing on-line.

DO NOT

EVER MEET IN PERSON ANYONE YOU HAVE ONLY MET ON-LINE.

People can lie on-line and you can never be sure who you are meeting. It might be someone who wants to hurt you even if they pretended to be your friend on the Internet.

DO

BE SMART.

Use common sense, for example don’t go to inappropriate websites because you might lose your computer privileges.

If something feels or seems wrong then tell an adult about it.