Give most children a cell phone or tablet, and it won’t take long to realize he or she is as adept (or, likely, more so) than an adult. It’s no surprise why. A study released earlier this year showed 53 percent of respondents’ children became cell phone owners at 6 years old. Of 2,229 Americans parents who responded, 96 percent said their child has a cell phone and 75 percent have a tablet. Greater access to technology is unavoidable, but with it comes new dangers. Bullies, cybercriminals and predators are an unfortunate reality that every family must face. Children make attractive targets to cybercriminals. Think of it this way: In a criminal’s mind, scams that hoodwink adults are likely even more effective on children. Phishing, malicious viruses, Trojan horses and the trouble that come with these attacks are just a click away. Read on for ways big and small to protect your kids.
- Beef up security. Internet security software — antivirus, antispyware, firewalls — can be an effective first line of defense against unwanted activity.
- Secure your wireless network. Check the security settings on your home network. Set a secure password someone with bad intentions can’t guess. (Hint: “password,” your street name or your network name are not going to cut it here.)
- Keep an eye out. Monitor your child’s credit. This may seem like overkill, but child identity theft can go unnoticed for years — and it’s often a nightmare to restore credit after years of damage. LifeLock Junior protects family members under 18.2
- Stay in the know. Talk to your son or daughter about how he or she spends time online. What sites does your child visit? How many accounts does he or she have? What social media networks does he or she use? Who does he or she email or chat with? Engage your child in a conversation, and start a dialogue. Be open and non-judgmental. This will encourage your kid to come to you if something does go awry online.
- Keep personal details personal. Talk to your child about what is and isn’t appropriate to post online. Personal details — full name, birthday, address and other identifying information — have no place on the internet. Check out more tips for what to avoid posting online.
- Protect online accounts. Educate your child on the importance of creating safe online profiles. This starts with unique, secure passwords. Passwords should be treated like care — no sharing with friends. (I could have sworn I’ve written something for you about safe passwords but can’t find it on the site. Can we link to it here?)
- Put it in terms they understand. Younger children may struggle to understand the dangers they face online. Try explaining things in terms they understand (the concept of stranger danger applies online just as it does in real life, for example). Struggling to get there on your own? Check out the web comic The Cynja.
- Be wary. Talk to your child about the dangers of clicking links, downloading attachments or opening mysterious messages. This includes communications from strangers but also friends. Teach your child to recognize signs a friend has been hacked and has unknowingly sent a malicious message. (Didn’t I do something about recognizing phishing/scams? If not, I should, ha.)
- Log out. Leaving your accounts logged in — at school, the library, a friend’s house — can lead to trouble, especially on a site that stores financial or personal information. Drill in the importance of logging out of websites at home, too, to build the habit.
- Explore parental control settings. Depending on your child’s age, it may be appropriate to limit what your child can do or see online. Access these features on internet-enabled devices, browsers and websites your child frequents.
- Act online as you would in real life. Encourage your child to treat the internet no different than real life. Would you share your personal details with a stranger on the street? It’s probably not wise online, either.
