In the wake of this digitally connected environment and amidst burgeoning smartphone usage, cyber attackers have devised several new methods to encroach your private data.
While a total of 113 million Indians (48 per cent of India’s online population) have already been attacked by hackers in 2015, it has been revealed that the vulnerable baby boomers (55 years+) appear to be savvier than the millennials and children, as pointed out by Norton Cyber Security.
The Family Edition of the Norton Cyber Security Insights Report revealed that children form the weakest link in a family’s cyber security.
“Nearly all parents surveyed worry about their children’s safety online – and in particular, how their actions will have repercussions on the family. Since they are the early starters of various online platforms, its impact can be overwhelming in absence of appropriate precautions and guidance,” the report said.
As today’s households have an abundance of devices that are being shared with multiple family members, it is difficult for parents to monitor what their kids are doing at all times; an unsuspecting child can inadvertently make mistakes that can cost you.
For instance, downloading a fake app that looked like a new version of a game, which was actually malware in disguise is the most common bait kids easily fall for.
In fact, the same report highlighted that 57 per cent of Indian parents actually worry about children making the whole family vulnerable through their online activities, explained the report.
Here are 10 tips to ensure that your families, especially children stay protected from the blight of fast-increasing cyber-attacks:
- Educate yourself about social media. Ask your children which sites they are interested in getting an account with. If you don't have a social media account for that site already, get an account for yourself. Teach yourself the ins and outs of the site that your kids want to use, so you know exactly what they can and cannot do.
- Never give away your personal information such as your telephone number, address, etc. At the same time, do not lie. It is one thing to not disclose some information and it’s another thing to spread false information and rumors.
- Understand that most online relationships start offline - if your child is being bullied online, it is probably happening offline too.
- Be careful how you word sentences. There is no body language online. What you write will be taken in the literal sense.
- When posting pictures make sure they are appropriate. Once something is out there it is permanent. Even if you delete it, it has the potential to resurface later.
- Be mindful of who you tag in photos online. Put yourself in the place of the person you are tagging and decide if they would want that picture in their social media feed.
- Stand up for what is right but do it in a dignified way. There is no need to use profanity to get your point across.
- When online don’t make friends with people you don’t know. Social networking should be taken for what it is – a means to stay current and in touch. It’s not a competition of who has more friends.
- Consider free parental control technologies, such as Norton Family, that helps to set and enforce the ground rules and can limit the sites that can be accessed and the type of information that can be shared online.
- Overall, trusting your child is the best prevention for children doing the wrong thing!
