Internet safety is one of the most important challenges faced by parents in the modern age, as with the increased access to the Internet, the road to cyberbullying, sexting (a combination of the words sex and texting - exchange text-messages) and harassment.
In fact, nearly three-quarters of parents (70%) are concerned about their child's online activity, according to a recent ESET survey of 1.000 parents of 10-18-year-olds in United Kingdom.
These risks may be easier to control on family computers or other shared devices where activity can be monitored and threats can be mitigated. However, it is becoming increasingly common for children of all ages to have their own device, with 73% of them having a mobile phone before the age of 12, which carries multiple risks.
According to ESET, these are the main dangers but also the ways to protect your child.
The beginning is half of everything
You might think that the process to make sure a phone is safe and protected in cyberspace starts as soon as you take it out of the box and start the setup process. However, where you buy your child's phone can be just as important as the steps you take to set up the device.
Buying used phones has become a popular way to save money - but it can put the new owner at serious risk.
More than a third of parents (39%) do not get their children's phones from an official reseller.
Many of these devices come from friends and family members, various websites or second-hand stores. There is a huge amount of personal data stored on phones and this information will still be available to the new user except of course if they have already been completely deleted.
In addition, even phones refurbished by experts may still contain malware (trojan or malware), leaving users at risk as soon as they start using the device. So make sure you get your child's phone from a trusted source, otherwise you may already be losing a battle.
Do not go for ... "fishing" (phishing)
Even the most knowledgeable professional can fall victim to phishing scams. Children are even more at risk of phishing attacks, as they may be less able to distinguish legitimate links or regular emails from scams.
It may seem improbable to youvisual του να είστε εσείς ή το παιδί σας ο στόχος αυτών των επιθέσεων - αλλά η αλήθεια είναι ότι αυτό συμβαίνει πολύ πιο συχνά απ' όσο νομίζετε. Στην πραγματικότητα, περισσότεροι από τους μισούς γονείς που ρωτήθηκαν από την ESET είχαν δεχθεί στο παρελθόν επίθεση ηλεκτρονικού ψαρέματος.
There are several ways to reduce this risk and help your child navigate the internet safely. The first and most important step is education. Talking to your kids about what a phishing link might look like, how to locate a trusted source, and what to do if they are not sure about a message sent to them helps you make better choices when they are online.
ESET's research also found that the average age parents got their first phone was 24 - times have changed, however, and it's important for parents today to keep an eye on their child's mobile. Information, however, is not enough. Installing security and virus protection on your child's phone can reduce the potential threats they may be exposed to, significantly limiting the risks.
You are not alone in this
It may seem scary to try to protect your children from all the online dangers on their cell phones, but you do not have to do it yourself. It is a fact that cyber security will always be based on the element of human vigilance, but installing a reliable antivirus program on your child's cell phone can reduce the risks to which they are exposed.
Keep your security program up to date, take the time to learn its features, and make sure you talk to your kids about how to stay safe online.
Remember, however, that the prevention is better than cure and make sure antivirus software is installed on the device beforehand as you never know when a malicious action could have taken place.
Although 80% of respondents said they believed the security of mobile devices was important, almost half (45%) did not have cybersecurity products installed on their phones. The ESET survey showed that more than a third of parents (34%) were or will be asked to install security software on mobile devices because they themselves have encountered a cybersecurity issue.
However, this means that the damage– financial, social or simply a blow to the user's self-confidence – will have already been done. Rather than waiting for something to happen to focus on cyber security, it's better to be proactive and make sure your child's phone is protected in the first place.
With 68% of parents concerned that their child's mobile phone activity is unsafe, these simple steps will help you relax and help your child use their device - and the internet - carefully and responsibly. security.
