Remain as anonymous as possible. That means keeping all private information private. Never give out any of this information:

• full name
• home address
• phone number
• Social Security number
• names of family members
• school information

Never give out your password. Choose a password that is easy for you to remember but not easy to guess. Remember, the one who controls the password controls everything.

Think carefully before you create an email address or screen name.

• Web experts recommend that you use a combination of letters and numbers in both home address
• Avoid using your whole or parts of your name
• Don't identify whether you're male or female
• Make sure it's easy for you to remember

Stay virus free.

• Make sure that you have an anti-virus program and update it regularly
• If you don't recognize the sender of a document or file that needs to be downloaded, delete it without opening it

Keep online friendships in the virtual world.

• People online may not be who they say they are. Never become so infatuated that you forget your better judgment.
• Don't meet people in real life whom you meet on the internet.  

Be especially vigilant in chat rooms.

• Use a nickname that's different from your screen name.
• Follow chat rules. Know about the chat room and how it works before entering.
• Avoid using offensive, vulgar, or provocative language. Don't get involved in flame matches. And whatever you do, don't feed the trolls.

Think before you hit 'send'. Did a comment leave you fuming? It's okay. Getting angry is natural. But before replying try taking a step back away from the computer. Take some time to get a snack, take a walk, or watch TV.

Don't believe everything that you read, hear, or see online. There are many sites online dedicated to keeping track of bogus warnings and chain letters.  www.snopes.com

Respect copyright! Do not use anything you find online and claim it as yours.

Cyberbullying- It's not just strangers who can make you feel uncomfortable online.  A former friend or acquaintance could send a cruel or bullying message.

• If you get bullying messages online, it's often better to ignore them rather than answer them. Cyberbullies, like other bullies, are often angry or disturbed people and may be looking for attention or a reaction.
• If ignoring it doesn't make it go away, getting help from a parent, school counselor, or another trusted adult may be a good idea.