Kids have access to more information than any previous age. Tablets, laptops, and smartphones are commonly used for virtual learning at school and at home. And since the devices aren’t going away anytime soon, it’s important for families to talk about online safety and cybersecurity.
5 Cybersecurity Rules you can teach your family at home
The internet contains a wealth of knowledge that can help us live better lives. It can also cause harm to us and those we care about. You want your kids to be able to use it, but you also want them to stay safe online. What’s the best way to acquire both?
This is the difficulty of living in a globalized world. Although the bad guys are clever, you and your children can outsmart them. To keep your entire family safe online, refer to these five (5) cybersecurity rules you can teach your family, most especially your kids, at home.
1) Take your Passwords Seriously.
Your password is the first line of defense when it comes to safeguarding your online identity. Unfortunately, 86 percent of passwords are deemed “bad.” Cybercriminals can test millions of passwords in minutes using brute-force techniques. This means that if you use a password from the massive list of half a billion hacked passwords, you’re putting yourself in significant danger.
The recommended practice is to never use the same password on multiple websites. Create a password ‘formula’ that assures you use a combination of characters from the website’s name to create your password. This procedure assures that you can establish a new password for each website without the concern of forgetting them all.
2) Spend time, money, and effort to improve your awareness.
You can’t fight what you don’t understand. At a rapid rate, the cybersecurity world is moving and changing. Assess your risks, determine the level of expertise required, and be ready to invest your resources appropriately.
Enroll in specialized cybersecurity training, awareness, and readiness programs if you’re a business owner or corporate decision-maker. If you’re a freelancer, student, or web enthusiast, sign up for cybersecurity blog newsletters to stay up to date on the latest risks.
3) Always use a VPN while browsing the web using public WiFi.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) conceal your online identity, allowing you to surf the web while remaining safe from cybercriminals.
VPNs have a number of other advantages:
- They ensure that your data is encrypted, which protects you from data theft.
- VPNs allow you to bypass content filters and unblock websites that are blocked due to your geographic location.
- A VPN can assist you in obtaining an IP address from a specified country. Take NordVPN, for example, which has multiple servers in different countries, and allows you to view material from any country.
You don’t even need to spend a lot of money. Use tried-and-true methods to save money when surfing the web while being completely safe. Several VPN service providers provide free trials, allowing you to try out a variety of options before paying once you’ve discovered something suitable and cheap.
4) Never download anything from a website or content provider you don’t know.
There’s simply too much on the line! Ransomware attacks are carried out using malware that is installed on the victim’s computer terminal and disguised as a seemingly harmless and safe program. Phishing assaults, which try to trick end-users into installing malware on their computers, are becoming more common.
- Always download executable files from the software developer’s official page or a reputable app store when downloading computer programs.
- Streaming services are preferable to sketchy web databases of downloaded files when it comes to media.
- Make sure your anti-malware software is up to date and operating at all times.
5) Be cautious about what you post.
Cybersecurity legislation aims to provide Internet users with more control and ownership over their data and content. The golden rule for avoiding online bullies and blackmailers is to never post anything that could expose more than you intended or come back to haunt you years later.
Even though it is feasible (and required) for all online channels to erase your content if you so desire, you have no control over the copies made by others.
During times of uncertainty like the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, it is not only the health of the community that is at risk. Personal data and confidential information are also taken advantage of by scammers and hackers for their manipulative gains. That is why it is time to decide on cybersecurity strength.
Hacking, phishing, and malware attacks are the leading causes of security breaches. What’s more concerning is that these hacking attempts are in some manner the product of human error. In the battle against cybercrime and the prevention of security breaches, education and awareness are vital.
ALSO READ: Why business cybersecurity is at risk when employees were transitioned to working from home
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