For kids

Talking to strangers online is just as dangerous as talking to strangers on the street. Follow these rules when surfing the Web:

Never talk to strangers online and never agree to meet him or her in person.

Never give out personal information, including your name, address, age, phone number, birthday, e-mail address and your school.

Don't enter contests, join clubs or share any other personal information.

Tell your mom or dad if a stranger contacts you in a chat room or through e-mail or text messaging.

For parents

Parents also play a key role in keeping children safe online. They should follow these steps:

Ask your children what they do online, what Web sites they visit and whom they chat with online.

Go online with your children and check out what Web sites, or chat rooms, they are visiting.

Keep the computer in a visible area of the house so you can always see what your children are looking at while on the Internet.

Make sure kids know the dangers of being online and explain that online strangers are just as dangerous as strangers on the street.

Use a filter, blocking or rating system for your computer.