The Monroe County Sheriff's Office wants to remind you that just like crimes happen in real life, they also happen 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 encounter are cyber predators and bullies, as well as identity theft. Some things to remind your children of while they are on the internet are:

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 share your passwords with anyone, and 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.

For more information on keeping kids safe online, visit https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Kids%20Cybersecurity%20Presentation.pdf

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