Children and the Internet: How to Keep Your Family and Assets Safe
PURE Staff
As parents, there is so much to consider when it comes to our children’s internet use and the variety of risks that come along with it: Exposure to inappropriate content and misinformation, cyberbullying and online harassment as well as online predators and cyber criminals.
Children are prime targets for phishing and fraud, and can be easily led to untrustworthy sites through social media and video streaming platforms.
Children may inadvertently become victims of data breaches as many apps and websites collect personal data, which could be hacked or sold to third parties without parental consent. They may not understand the nuances of privacy settings and unintentionally share personal information or they may be tricked into sharing it, which can result in identity theft.
They may click on links that lead to malware or viruses, compromising their devices and personal information. Or, they could be targeted by fake offers and phishing schemes, tricking them into revealing login credentials or financial information.
Even highly responsible children can increase a household’s cyber risk. Children tend to be more trusting than adults, too, and so they may inadvertently engage with cybercriminals in gaming or social media situations. They may also be aware of new techniques to circumvent parental controls.
To help mitigate these risks, you can implement parental controls on devices or monitor their usage; you can engage in open dialogue with your children about online behavior, the potential risks and educate them about privacy, cybersecurity, and online safety. Here are some helpful guide posts to initiate conversations.
Cyber Safety Advice for Children
Avoid communicating with people you don’t know.
Some people you meet online may not be who they say they are. Tell a parent or trusted adult if a stranger tries to communicate with you, and don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
Some people you meet online may not be who they say they are. Tell a parent or trusted adult if a stranger tries to communicate with you, and don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
Be cautious about clicking links. They may be malware.
Cybercriminals use many tactics to coerce people, especially children, into clicking on malicious links, including fake apps, plug-ins and enticing offers. These malicious links may show up in social media feeds or blogs and chatrooms.
Cybercriminals use many tactics to coerce people, especially children, into clicking on malicious links, including fake apps, plug-ins and enticing offers. These malicious links may show up in social media feeds or blogs and chatrooms.
Avoid sharing personal information.
Avoid sharing your full name, address, mobile number, school and photos online. If such information is required for something important, ask a parent first.
Avoid sharing your full name, address, mobile number, school and photos online. If such information is required for something important, ask a parent first.
Set your profile to private.
Strengthening your privacy settings allows only your friends access to your profile.
Strengthening your privacy settings allows only your friends access to your profile.
Do not use your real name.
Instead, choose a nickname. And never give out your password.
Instead, choose a nickname. And never give out your password.
Avoid accessing public Wi-Fi networks.
Even networks that require a password are not secure.
Even networks that require a password are not secure.
Be careful when playing online games.
Keep all chats relevant to the game, use a private chatroom and only with people you know. Never spend real money in a game without asking a parent first.
Keep all chats relevant to the game, use a private chatroom and only with people you know. Never spend real money in a game without asking a parent first.
Do not accept offers that sound too good to be true.
They most likely are, and you or your parents could end up with an unexpected bill—or worse. When in doubt, ask a parent.
They most likely are, and you or your parents could end up with an unexpected bill—or worse. When in doubt, ask a parent.
Additional Steps for Parents
- Enable parental controls on all devices. Use built-in features or third-party apps on IoT gadgets like phones, tablets and gaming consoles. Set up content filters for web browsing and streaming services.
- Set up unique profiles. If your children use a shared device, set up separate user accounts for them with limited permissions and higher security settings.
- Ensure their antivirus software is up to date.
- Review your kids’ social media profiles. It never hurts to check in to ensure they are not at risk.
- Consider disabling in-app purchases or requiring a password to prevent unauthorized transactions, and review permissions to restrict access to unnecessary personal data.
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