One of the biggest challenges of being a parent in the modern world is that of internet safety. Your children gave a whole world of information and interaction at their fingertips. This can be a good thing when it helps them more effectively with their studies or enables them to keep in touch with friends and family around the globe, for example. However, it can also pose a very real threat to their safety too!
From cyberbullying to online predators and identity thieves, there are so many worrying things going online that it is really important you understand the issues and do everything that is in your power to keep your family safe from online threats. Here are some tips to help you do just that:
Know what you’re up against
It is going to be almost impossible to protect your kids from the various threats on the internet if you do not even know what they are, So, before you do anything else, read up on the internet and the various dangers that can befall anyone who uses it from phishing scams to catfishing, and where appropriate, discuss them with your children and the rest of the family so that they are aware too.
Keep personal information private
You, and the rest of your family members should always aim to keep personal information private, It’s fine to use first names, but you should impress upon your family members never to share addresses, full names, phone numbers, social security numbers, bank accounts or any other identifying information online even with people who claim to know them and who they trust., It’s really easy for hackers to take over your family member’s Facebook account, for example, so even if they say they’re granny and they’re using her account, it doesn’t mean that it actually is here and you should verify that information offline before even thinking about sending any private details. Oh, and it goes without saying, you should not post anything private to your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts, for example.
Monitor them
When it comes to your kids, it is really important that you monitor what they are doing online, Of course, how you do this will differ depending on their ages and how much independence they need, but there are software packages and apps that will block all of the worst websites you can imagine, which will make it difficult, if not impossible, for children to access, and you should use them, Older kids should also be fine to let you spot check their phones. Internet history once in a while so you can get a better idea of what they are up to too But, of course, so sit down and discuss it all with them to make sure they understand why it is necessary instead of just enforcing it on them blindly.
Avoid unsecured websites
One of the easiest ways for would-be scammers to get access to your family’s information is for you to visit an unsecured website which they can then use to place spyware or other nasties onto your device.
Usually, secured websites have a padlock in the corner of the address bar, which is in the locked position. Websites that are not secure will normally throw up a warning like “your connection is not private chrome mac” giving you the opportunity to click away from them. Of course, installing security software onto your devices, which will automatically block or alert you to unsafe sites and prevent hackers from gaining access to your devices, is also a pretty sensible measure to take.
Discuss stranger danger
In the past, parents would tell their kids not to talk to strangers in the street or not to go with the man asking them if they would like to see some puppies, for example. Today, although we still have to teach our kids about the dangers of the people they may meet in the street we also need to think about protecting them from strangers online.
As soon as they are old enough to be using the internet to connect with people, you need to drum into them the importance of protecting their identity online, You also need to make sure they know that people on the internet are not necessarily who they say they are so it is important to keep online interactions online, and not to go off on their own to meet someone who may claim to be a young boy their age, but who is actually a fully grown man. Obviously, this is something that needs to be handled sensibly but it is not something you can avoid talking about if you want your kids to be safe and internet-savvy.
Use strong passwords
When using passwords online, whether for your social media accounts or your online banking apps, you need to ensure that you all choose passwords that are unique and as unbreakable as possible. Long strings of numbers, letters, and characters tend to be best. Use a password manager to keep them all straight and hopefully you can avoid being hacked in this way.
Turn on the privacy settings
Every social media app has privacy settings that let you choose who can see the various things you are posting, you and your children should all be using these settings to ensure that only people you know, and who you are comfortable with seeing your photos and posts, are able to do so. This is one of the best ways to avoid being contacted by random people online who may not always have the best motives, while also ensuring that your private life stays as private as possible, even if you do want to share some of it online.
Keeping your family safe online may seem like a tough task, but if you’re open and honest and take as many of the above precautions as possible, you will vastly minimize your risk of all kinds of online nasties and ensure that your family are as protected as possible.
Leave a Reply