Safety Tips & Advice

The Internet should be a place where kids have fun communicating with friends and learning about the world around them. While using the Internet is an integral part of a young person’s life, and a necessary life skill, there are risks associated with it. Young people and parents should be aware of these risks to avoid or minimize their impact and help keep children's online time constructive.

What may reach them

Inappropriate content:
  • Pornographic
  • Violent, Self-destructive (eating disorders, substance abuse, etc.)
  • Inaccurate or Extreme

Unwanted contact:
  • Grooming (sexual predator behavior)
  • Cyberbullying (peer harassment)

Aggressive or undesired commercialism:
  • Blur between content and advertising
  • Sweepstakes and requests for personal information (leading to spam, or annoying/malicious pop-up ads)

Covert web threats:
  • Spyware, hack attacks, viruses, other malicious software
What they share with the world

Personal/private information:
  • That could be used for persons with bad intentions
  • That may damage a young person’s (or a parent’s or peer’s) reputation, candidacy for school or job, etc.

Disparaging comments about others:
  • Libelous, lewd, racist comments
  • Bullying peers, classmates, relatives

Unintended and/or illegal file-sharing:
  • Music, videos, games, other files using a peer to peer service that is not legal or is not set correctly so that the computer can be accessed/hacked by outsiders


Not all young people will encounter these risks, and the more aware they are of these potential hazards, the more likely they will be safe online. This awareness combined with technology, common sense and critical thinking can help to make sure the Internet is in fact a great and safe place for kids and families.

Below are a number of safety tips and resources to help you and your family stay safe and secure online.

General Internet Safety Tips for Kids and Families

This is an overview of the potential risks young people may be exposed to online and some general guidelines for parents on how to minimize these risks. It is especially recommended for those with kids who are just beginning to use the Internet.
Get report

Safety Tips for Social Networking

This guide provides an overview of the potential risks associated with social networking sites, ways to avoid these risks, and instructions on how to report abuse occurring on the more popular sites.
Get report

A Safety Guide for Web Threats

This short overview provides basic definitions of common web threats such as phishing, spyware, and bots, and also provides some basic safety tips and advice on how to prevent these digital threats from harming your computer or your personal information. Get report

Safety Tips for Peer-to-Peer File-sharing

Peer-to-peer services can be useful, but young people can put themselves or their families at great risk if used improperly or if used to illegally share copyrighted material. This guide provides some helpful tips on using peer-to-peer file-sharing services safely.
Get report

Safety Tips for Cyberbullying

This guide provides an overview of cyberbullying and how to handle it if your child becomes a victim or participant of it. Get report

Safety Tips for Online Grooming

This guide provides an overview of online grooming – the method used by sexual predators to gain the trust of kids online in order to meet them offline, how to recognize it, and what to do if it happens to your child. Get report



Send questions or feedback to internet_safety@trendmicro.com

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