The internet is a huge part of our world and lives now. We teach our children how to be safe in the real world so it's also important to teach them how to be safe online, and there is definitely lots that us adults can still learn too. Read on for some great online general safety tips for adults and children that you might find useful.
Did you know that 400,000 kids per year are victims of identity theft? Or that literally millions of people lose their money, privacy and sense of security every year due to online scams? I am constantly getting scam emails, text messages and phone calls and it's important to know how to deal with them and recognise them.
There are many things you can do to keep yourself, your kids and your senior loved ones safe online. Here are just a few.
Online Safety Tips for Adults & Seniors:
New Device Safety - Change the default password and disable photo geotagging.
Online Shopping - Use a credit card, not a debit card, because you then have more fraud protection. Don't store your credit card number on the websites. Use 'https' when visiting websites. Create strong, unique passwords.
Avoid Phishing Scams – Learn how to identify and avoid bogus emails from trusted brands that aim to collect your private information to open new accounts—or invade your existing ones.
Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Secure - Rename routers and networks. Use strong passwords. Turn on encryption. Use a VPN (virtual private network).
For Kids:
New Device Safety - Change the default password, disable photo geotagging and set up non-administrative accounts. Remind your kids not to share any personal information. Set up a charging station away from the child’s room to limit screen time at night.
Gaming - Encourage your kids to have private in-game chats only with their in-real-life friends, set rules for time limits and allowed games and implement restrictions in the app store to prevent downloading any questionable apps.
Social Media - Require parental approval of social groups and networks and 'friend' or 'follow' your children to check in on their social media activity. Ensure your child's profile is set to private. We have a deal that I am allowed to check their phones and text messages every so often.
Cyberbullying - Teach your children to immediately report offensive and harmful comments. Talk with them about cyberbullying, including unintentional bullying, recognising signs of cyberbullying. Act swiftly and help your children take action.
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