Email
Electronic Mail is one of the most used forms of communication on the Internet.  It allows people to send messages to each other from virtually anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.  Documents, pictures and videos can be attached and sent along with the message.  Some risks that are involved with email are exposure to computer virus, spam and phishing emails.  Computer viruses can be sent as an attachment to an email.  Children may open the attachment and unknowingly infect the computer with a virus.  The virus may cause to computer to erase important files, give out personal information about you such as passwords and credit card numbers, or crash your entire computer system.  Spam is also known as junk email.  They are unsolicited messages that can clutter up your inbox.  Phishing emails are scam messages that appear to be from legitimate websites, like a financial institution. These messages may ask you to enter your personal information such as a password, social security number or credit card.  Once your information is entered, it is sent to someone who can then use that information to steal your identity.

Strategies
Teach your children not to open any emails from people they do not know.  Tell them that they should just delete the email or ask you to check it for them.  Make sure that they do not open any attachments with emails from people they do not know. Scan email attachments using your antivirus software. Contact your Internet service provider about how to block spam email. Never give out any personal information in reply to an email.  Financial institutions or other legitimate website do not ask people for social security numbers, credit card numbers or bank accounts through a link in an email message.  If you are not sure if the email is legitimate, play it safe by calling the financial institution by phone. 

Check your credit report to make sure that no one has stolen your identity.