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CYBER SECURITY INFORMATION FOR PARENTS & CARE GIVERS

Date Posted: 03/14/2022
Category: General

The Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office wants to remind you that just like crimes happen in real life, crime also happens on the internet.

The Department of Homeland Security says learning about the dangers online and taking action to protect ourselves (and our children) is the first step in making the internet a safer place.

Common dangers that children on the internet may encounter are cyber predators and bullies, as well as identity theft. Some things to remind your children about while they are on the internet:

  • Keep your personal information private; avoid sharing your name, address, telephone number, birthday, passwords, and the name of your school when using the Internet.
  • Speak up. If you see something inappropriate, tell an adult you trust. Don't ignore inappropriate online content - speak up!
  • Create strong passwords with eight characters or more that use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Don't use the same password for multiple accounts.
  • Think before you click - don't open emails from strangers and don't click on links for unfamiliar sites.

What is cyberspace?
cyberspace is the internet. we use the internet in many ways-to talk to our friends and family, play video games, download music, watch TV shows and much more. Our families use the internet to conduct work and business. Companies manage transportation, electricity, banking and other important everyday activities online. can you imagine the world without the internet?

STOP.THINK.CONNECT

In 2009, president Obama asked the Department of homeland security to create the stop.think. connect. campaign to help Americans understand the dangers that come with being online and the things we can all do to make sure we are more protected from cyber threats. stop.think.connect. reminds all of us that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility-at home, at school and in our communities. What can you do to be cyber safe?  Follow the same rules online as you do in real life:

  • don't talk to strangers. Don't communicate with strangers online and never agree to meet in person. tell a parent or another adult if a stranger contacts you in a chat room or through email or text message.
  • Don't enter contests, join clubs or share your personal information online for any reason, unless your parents say it's Ok. Personal information includes your name, address, age, phone number, birthday, email address, where you go to school and other facts about you. Remember all that glitters is not gold; have you ever received an e-mail offering something free, like a cell phone or concert tickets? These are tricks designed to get you to give up personal information.  The Department cannot protect the internet alone, we need help from all Americans-including you to make smart and safe decisions online. Once we understand the dangers online, we need to tell other people who might not be as cyber smart and savvy. Setting a good example of online behavior is something you can do right now to make a difference. If we all become more aware of who we talk to, what we say and what we share, we can all make a big difference.
  • For more information on cybersecurity, visit stop.think.connect. at www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect. stop.think.connect. is a national public awareness campaign aimed at empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online. the campaign's main objective is to help you become more aware of growing cyber threats and arm you with the tools to protect yourself, your family and your community. For more information visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect. 

Thank you for making our community a safer place to live and raise a family!