We realize the need for security, both online and offline, now more than ever. Millions of families throughout the world have been forced to embrace social distance and rely on internet-connected gadgets to interact with the rest of the globe, friends, and family due to the epidemic.
Students were compelled to attend online lessons and contact classmates in various ways because schools were closed for the remainder of the school year. Not only did parents have to adjust to the changing work environment at home and the new danger scenario, but they also had to adjust to the changing work environment at work and the new danger scenario.
The Internet may provide children with a variety of entertaining activities and instructive information. Still, when children’s technological expertise grows beyond their parents, their digital profiles can quickly become targets of cyber attackers.
Age differences and cybersecurity
Learning the fundamentals of cybersecurity should be accessible to people of all ages. It’s simple to keep track of the apps and games your child uses, but things get more tricky when it comes to teens.
Spending more time in front of the screen might have negative implications. That’s why it’s critical to teach your children about their digital profiles and how to keep them safe while online and the sooner you start, the better.
According to statistics, three out of every five youngsters use internet-connected gadgets at home. Those aged 8 to 18 spend approximately 45 hours a week online-rates that have most certainly grown due to following the advice to stay at home.
Think twice before posting anything on the Internet.
We live in the age of social media, when adults and children alike share their everyday activities, likes and dislikes, opinions, selfies, and videos on the Internet.
In your child’s view, posting or sharing anything online may appear to be a harmless pastime. You should, however, explain how the internet world works to him. Remember that once a photo is uploaded to the Internet, it will be there indefinitely. Advise your children to be cautious when sharing anything online and to adjust their profile settings so that only their friends can see it.
“Attention, strangers!”
The new trend, especially among teens, is online popularity and having the most significant friends. On the other hand, the digital world may provide anonymity, which is frequently used by hackers posing as trustworthy individuals or acquaintances.
It’s critical to teach your youngster how to recognize warning signs in any online connection with strangers. Although it is ideal to disregard message requests, it is all too easy to forget about this step. Advise him to be wary of the individuals he befriends on the Internet and show him some of the dangers he faces.
According to the Center for Security and Cyber Education report, 40% of students in grades 4 through 8 engaged with a stranger online. Even more concerning is that 53% provided their phone number, 30% chatted through text, and 15% attempted to meet the stranger.
Cyber abuse
A child’s psychological well-being can be severely harmed as a result of cyberbullying. Posting negative comments, spreading rumors, threatening, and even taking the identity of another individual via a false account are all systematic strategies used to smear your online reputation.
Aggressors on social media may cause havoc, and your child should feel free to tell you about anybody who is bullying him or her online. Assist your kid in maintaining an alert attitude and reporting aggressors to internet platforms or local authorities as soon as possible.
Excessive online exposure and cyber theft
Your youngster should be cautious about more than just online accounts. According to TransUnion research, almost 20% of children aged 13 to 18 have a credit card. You can protect kids from being victims of identity theft or fraud if you make sure they purchase sensibly and only from reputable websites.
When purchasing online or making in-game transactions, tell kids not to keep their credit card information. If your child has access to his or her numeric code, say that he should NEVER share such information online.
Theft of a child’s identity is no laughing matter. According to a survey done by Javelin Research in 2017, over 1 million children’s identities were stolen, with 66 percent of the victims being under eight. Cybercriminals are more interested in children’s identities. What is the reason behind this? Because they allow fraudsters to start new credit lines that may go unnoticed for years. Your child will be unable to qualify for a student loan or rent an apartment when he or she grows older owing to worsening creditworthiness.
Securing online accounts
The majority of teens already had an email account, so there was no need to instruct their parents on setting one up. Please encourage your child not to click on strange links or open attachments received from email addresses, because you should be aware of the hazards of phishing emails and how vital it is to safeguard your personal information.
As a result, you secure the account holder’s personal information and ensure that any devices used by other family members are not harmed.
It is critical to safeguard internet accounts using strong passwords. The majority of youngsters engage in online gaming and create accounts that enable them to communicate with other gamers. On the other hand, security breaches are not confined to banking accounts; cybercriminals can exploit any user database.
Instruct your kid to avoid using the same password for several accounts and, if feasible, to use two-step authentication.
In the digital era, protecting your child’s online identity is critical, and it’s not simple to ensure that your family is cautious online. The long-term gains, on the other hand, are well worth the effort. Maintain your devices with the most up-to-date security solutions and share your expertise with friends and family.