With children of all ages spending many of their waking hours on phones, tablets, and computers these days, it’s no wonder that parents across the world are concerned about who might access their family’s personal information.
In addition, there are more hackers than ever in this digital age, using increasingly clever and complex methods to break into computer systems, steal data, demand ransom, or crash systems. As a result, it’s essential for parents to teach their children how to stay as safe as possible online. Read on for some tips you can follow today.
Use Software to Protect Devices from Hackers
The first step in protecting your family’s sensitive information is to install security software on all devices they use. There are many products available that provide maximum security at an affordable cost.
When selecting software, look for options that offer antivirus, anti-spam, anti-malware, and anti-spyware protection. Also, be sure to choose products that include ransomware removal features, as ransomware (a type of malicious software that blocks access to a person’s computer system until a ransom is paid) is on the rise.
Comprehensive security software will:
- Maintain user privacy when online
- Protect against data theft and identity theft
- Keep passwords and other sensitive information safe
- Block dangerous emails, attachments, and websites
Firewalls are another valuable tool for protecting your children’s data online. These devices serve as the first line of defense against hackers trying to infiltrate your networks and systems. Firewalls filter out potential threats from secure, credible information that enters systems during online browsing or data downloads.
If you check your family’s computers, you’ll likely find that firewalls are already installed, though they may not be activated. Be sure to check the settings and turn them on if necessary. Additionally, you can purchase more secure, third-party firewalls that are harder for digital thieves to bypass.
Remember, whichever software you choose will not be effective if you don’t keep it updated. Most software developers release updates annually, or even more frequently, to address security flaws and gaps. Make it a priority to schedule updates as soon as they’re available to ensure that your family’s computer systems are always optimally protected.
Ensure Proper Passwords Are Set on All Devices
Next, make sure your children use strong passwords on their phones, tablets, and other internet-enabled devices. This will help prevent hackers from accessing their information, especially if a device is lost or stolen.
It’s important to teach your children how to choose strong passwords. The passwords should be at least eight characters long (ideally between eight and 12) and include a combination of upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. This makes them more difficult to crack. Children should avoid simple, easy-to-guess passwords such as their name, birth date, pet’s name, family members’ names, or simple combinations like “password” or “123456.”
Educate Children
It’s also important to educate your children about some of the most common scams used by hackers and other cybercriminals to steal data. While there are many different tactics to be aware of, start by teaching your children never to open email attachments from people they don’t know, and to be very cautious about clicking links in emails or on websites.
A common tactic used by digital thieves is “clickjacking.” This is especially prevalent on social media platforms (where children often spend a lot of time) and involves hackers posting sensational headlines with links that supposedly lead to pages with juicy news items. These posts are fake, designed to generate interest and trick users into clicking a link that contains malicious code.
Another common scam is “pharming.” This term refers to a type of phishing attack in which scammers create fake versions of popular, trusted websites (such as banks, social media platforms, news sites, and top blogs). On these spoofed sites, users are prompted to enter their login information or other personal details.
If a user enters this information, cybercriminals can steal it and hijack their accounts. To protect against this, parents should teach their children to always type in the URL of websites directly, rather than clicking on links.
