Kids Online Safety: How to Keep Your Childrens Data Secure

Introduction

As a parent, keeping my children safe online is one of my top priorities. Their privacy and security are extremely important, especially in today’s digital age where data collection is rampant. In this article, I will provide tips on how to keep your kids’ data secure online.

Use Strong Passwords

• Teach your kids to create complex passwords – they should be long, use upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Never use personal info or common words.

• Use different passwords for each account. Using the same password everywhere makes accounts vulnerable if one is compromised.

• Use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and store strong passwords. This also helps avoid re-using passwords.

• Change passwords regularly, at least every 6 months. This limits the damage if a password does get stolen.

Limit Personal Info Online

• Avoid sharing full names, birthdays, addresses, phone numbers, or school names publicly. This info can be used to compromise accounts or steal identities.

• Check privacy settings on all social media and gaming accounts. Set them to maximize privacy when possible.

• Teach kids to be wary of sharing personal info with people they don’t know online, no matter how friendly they seem.

• Regularly google your child’s name to see what info comes up publicly so you can limit it.

Use Secure Connections

• Ensure your home WiFi uses WPA2 encryption and a strong password to prevent snooping.

• Use a VPN (virtual private network) when connecting to public WiFi to encrypt traffic. Many free VPN options exist.

• Remind kids to only visit sites using HTTPS – this means traffic is encrypted. Look for the padlock icon.

• Avoid using public computers or networks for sensitive tasks like shopping, banking, or accessing accounts.

Install Security Software

• Use antivirus software like Avast, AVG, or Malwarebytes to scan for malicious software.

• Enable firewalls on your router and devices. Firewalls filter incoming and outgoing traffic.

• Consider using parental control software like Qustodio, Net Nanny, or Circle to monitor activity and limit access.

• Keep software updated to ensure patches for the latest security flaws are installed.

Educate Your Kids

• Explain why good security matters and how their actions affect safety for the whole family.

• Discuss what information is appropriate to share online and what should stay private.

• Teach critical thinking regarding online offers, communications, and sources. Scams abound.

• Lead by example – model good security practices like using strong passwords yourself.

• Let kids make some mistakes in low-risk settings so they can learn from experience.

Set Some Ground Rules

• Agree on appropriate gaming and social media accounts, and review their settings together.

• Establish screen time limits and designate media-free zones like bedrooms.

• Use content filters to limit access to inappropriate or risky sites and apps.

• Agree on rules for downloading apps, games, or software. Get parental approval first.

• Discuss cyberbullying. Encourage speaking up if they or someone else is being harassed online.

Monitor Activity

• Keep computers in common rooms to make supervision easier.

• Enable parental monitoring features on your child’s devices to review histories.

• Occasionally check in on gaming and social media activity. Co-play games, have them show you their profiles.

• Search browsing histories for suspicious or risky activity. Discuss concerns openly.

• Encourage openness if kids are uncomfortable about online interactions or content. Work through issues together.

Have an Action Plan for Problems

• Bookmark the cyber Tipline (https://report.cybertip.org/) to quickly report online exploitation.

• Know how to freeze credit reports if identity theft occurs.

• Research parental monitoring and filtering tools so you’re ready to increase supervision if needed.

• Identify trustworthy cybersecurity professionals in case you need help recovering from a data breach or hacking incident.

• Consider counseling if kids are traumatized or severely impacted by something that happens online.

Conclusion

Keeping kids safe online requires an ongoing commitment as parents. By taking proactive security measures, establishing good practices, educating kids, setting ground rules, monitoring activity, and having a plan if issues arise, we can help protect our children’s data and give them room to explore the digital world safely. With open communication and teamwork, families can face cyber challenges together.