Full Notification

Sheriff Keith Nygren reminds all residents of McHenry County of several ways to practice safety on the internet. Parents and those supervising children should monitor and educate children on internet safety. As helpful as the internet can be, it can also lead to problems with cyber bullying, strangers, and other cybercrimes.

Arm yourself with knowledge and programs to assist you in keeping your residence safe. Here are several internet safety tips:

• Create clear, simple, easy-to-read house rules regarding computer use and post them on or near the monitor. Explore creating an internet safety pledge, have it signed by adults and children, and periodically review it with your family.
• Keep the computer in the family room or another open, high traffic area of your home.
• Educate yourself about computers and the Internet.
• Let children show you what they can do online, and visit their favorite sites with them.
• Educate children on the dangers of communicating with strangers or those they are unfamiliar with on the internet.
• Have children use child-friendly search engines when completing homework.
• If children use chat, e-mail, or social media, 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, social media 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.
• Be aware of any other computers or internet access your child may be using: cell phones, friend’s computers, wifi sites, etc.
• 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.
• If you suspect online "stalking" or sexual exploitation of a child, report it to your local law enforcement agency.
• 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 a parent's permission. Talk to children about what personal information is and why you should never give it to people online.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office investigates crimes that occur on the internet. If you feel like you have been a victim of a crime on the internet, please contact your local law enforcement agency. Visit Netsmartz, a division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, www.Netsmartz.org for more information on internet safety.