TechKnowmad
How to Help Your Kids Understand Cybersecurity
Every day, almost 1 million cybersecurity attacks occur, and they don’t just target businesses and individuals. Every anyone who uses the internet, including your children, has the potential to become a victim of a cybercrime.
Children are the fastest-growing victim demographic in online crime, which is the US’s fastest-growing crime. Less than half of parents and guardians regularly communicate to their children about online safety, according to a new AVG survey.
Children’s Internet Usage Study, published by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, contained some startling data.
. 40% of kids engaged in internet discussion with total strangers.
. 53 percent disclosed their phone numbers
. 15% attempted to meet the stranger,
. 6% disclosed their address.
READ MORE: Cyber Threat Report: Amazon Prime Phishing Email
Pretty spooky, huh? It’s time to talk to your kids about cybersecurity if you haven’t already.
Children are targeted by cybercriminals in a different way than adults. For instance, a phishing email may deceive an adult into clicking on a dubious link, whereas a youngster may be targeted with dubious links to fan sites, amusing videos, or games.
With your youngster, approach cybersecurity the same way you would real-world circumstances. You’ve always emphasised the value of their safety and the need for them to be wary of strangers. So, to start the dialogue, suggest that kids conduct their online contact and activities with the same decorum as they would in public. For instance, just as they wouldn’t strike up a conversation with a total stranger on the street, they ought to refrain from doing the same online.
You should explain to them that there are crooks who prey on individuals online just like they would in the real world to steal their money and personal information. Since they aren’t in person, it could seem safer to do business online, yet these cybercriminals might steal your information and infect your computer without your knowledge.
Another evil that kids frequently encounter online is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying examples include spreading rumours on social media and through group texts, sending hurtful messages via chat, email, and/or text, and uploading offensive content online. 15.5% of high school students are thought to be victims of cyberbullying.
READ MORE: Cyber Threat Report: Zoom Security Exploit
Tell them these essential safety guidelines:
. Avoid using simple passwords and particularly avoid using your name as part of the password.
. Avoid downloading programmes without authorization.
. Never divulge your password to anyone (except your parents)
. Only add people you know to your social media friends or followers list.
. Maintain a private profile on each social media platform.
. Never provide any private or delicate information online, such as your home address, mobile number, or email
. Never post images of other individuals online without getting their consent.
advice on safety for parents
. Create all of your child’s accounts on social media, YouTube, and other websites, and keep an eye on them frequently. Every fifth youngster receives sexually explicit online requests from predators and cybercriminals. Make sure that their profiles and usernames don’t give away their age, gender, or place of residence.
. When using the internet, always keep your kids within sight and in common places with the family. If your child is aware that you might pass by or overhear something, they are less likely to surf dubious or suspicious stuff.
. Search on kid-friendly websites (Kiddle, KidRex, and Safe Search Kids are options). Always check your browser’s history, and use all the privacy and security options.
. To reduce the likelihood that your child will come across dubious advertisements, malware, and . . . .improper information, configure all web browsers to block pop-ups and disable Java.
. Limit the amount of free time kids spend online, and only use it after finishing any related projects or their schoolwork.
. Get knowledgeable about cybersecurity.
Continue talking with your child about their duties and internet safety to establish a secure atmosphere. They are more likely to warn you to questionable activities or online bullying the more at ease they are.