"Take me when you arrive!" A phrase that every child probably hears from their parents, and many times in the same day - whether they go to school, to a friendly house or to visit their grandmother.
Parents are increasingly trying to know the movements and position of their children and that is why many buy their children a smart watch.
But how do you choose the right device?
The children's smartwatches (smart clocks) are becoming increasingly popular in parent circles. And it is not strange. Because smart watches, like other smart devices, can save moms and dads from a lot of trouble, since thanks to them they can know where their children are at any time or even communicate with them.
"But not all devices that detect the position of children are a good choice - and therefore you should definitely be very careful in your choices," says Amer Owaida, a security columnist at cybersecurity company ESET.
What should you watch out for? According to ESET Owaida, these are the simple steps that will help you choose the safest and easiest product to use.
Do a good market research first
User reviews can be of great help if you want to make sure that the device is reliable. Search online for it name brand, even model name, and add the words “security vulnerability” or similar word combinations to the search engine to see what security features are included.
Check the manufacturer's position on cybersecurity issues
Communication between the device and the manufacturer's server is encrypted. If not, avoid purchasing this product.
The smart clocks connected to servers. If they are not properly protected, they can be the easiest way for hackers to break into the device and gain access to information about your child: from where they are at the moment and how they say it, to phone numbers and conversations.
"This could inadvertently put your children at risk instead of keeping them safe," says Owaida. In addition, due to some vulnerabilities, cybercriminals may even be able to communicate with your child!
In 2019, the AV-TEST Institute discovered that a Chinese company that manufactures the SMA-WATCH-M2 smartwatch exposed the data of more than 5.000 children worldwide, as it did not pay due attention to server security. Thus, smartwatches turned into potential tracking devices.
Χρησιμοποιώντας τα δεδομένα που διέρρευσαν, οι χάκερς μπορούσαν να εντοπίσουν τις καθημερινές συνήθειες μιας 10χρονης Άννας από τη Γερμανία, όπως τη θέση GPS του παιδιού, καθώς και της διεύθυνσής του αλλά και των διαδρομών που κάνει. “Οι μαζικές φτηνές συσκευές IoT κινεζικής κατασκευής δεν πληρούν τα βασικά πρότυπα ασφάλειας ή protectionς της ιδιωτικής ζωής στον τομέα της πληροφορικής”, προειδοποιεί ο Maik Morgenstern της AV-TEST.
Among other things, the manufacturer's servers were not encrypted and online communication was insecure. However, this was not an isolated case. Earlier that year, the European Commission ordered a recall of the Safe-KID-One smartwatch, again due to privacy and child safety concerns.
Another good practice is to carefully read the privacy policies on the manufacturer's website and learn as much as you can about the brand and company.
Look for vulnerabilities
Were there any data breaches related to the product or company? Has the brand you are buying from faced any security issues? If so, how did the manufacturer behave? Has a solution been found to these problems? And if so, how fast?
If the company reacted correctly and transparently, there is no need to panic. Vulnerabilities are a common occurrence, but it is important to make sure that the manufacturer is ready to respond immediately. Also, check if the software can be updated and, if so, if the manufacturer makes such updates frequently. If this is not the case then maybe you want to try another product or brand.
The brand counts
Do not buy devices from unknown manufacturers if you cannot control how they secure your data or where they download it. Saving on the purchase price of a device can later cost more, such as stealing your data.
Remember to install the updates on the device
Not only the manufacturer but also you as a parent should regularly update the firmware to the latest possible version. When repairs are available, install them immediately, as their role is usually to make your device more secure.
If you do not, hackers will be able to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to your devices - something you could have prevented if you had installed the update that addresses these issues.
Decide which features you need
Do you want to communicate through the smart watch or make video calls or phone calls with your child? Then look for a device with a built-in camera, speaker or microphone. Or, maybe all you need is a smart watch with a simple SOS function that, in case of an emergency, the child will be able to contact someone from a predefined contact list? And how important is geofencing to you? This is the feature that notifies you when the child leaves a certain area.
Πριν επενδύσετε σε ένα έξυπνο ρολόι, σκεφτείτε ποια είναι τα επίπεδα ελέγχου που θέλετε να έχετε. Υπάρχουν μοντέλα που σας επιτρέπουν να ακούτε ακόμη και τις συνομιλίες των παιδιών σας και τους γύρω ήχους. Τέτοιες λειτουργίες μπορεί να είναι χρήσιμες σε περίπτωση που το παιδί σας αρχίσει να επικοινωνεί με κάποιον ξένο. Ορισμένα ρολόγια περιλαμβάνουν επίσης παιχνίδια και applications. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, όσο περισσότερες λειτουργίες έχει το έξυπνο ρολόι, τόσο μεγαλύτερη είναι η πιθανότητα η διάρκεια ζωής της μπαταρίας του να είναι μικρότερη.
Some models need to be charged almost every day, while others last for weeks.
No matter how feature-rich a device you decide to buy, always keep in mind that the more features the device offers, the more potential points of contact for hackers. If you choose a high-tech smartwatch, make sure it is properly protected.
All in all, smart watches can be a great help if one chooses with the right criteria. The more time you spend researching and not just settling for the cheapest option, the more likely smartwatches are to become your best friend and your children's best friend. Wherever they go.
For those of you who want to learn more about "child and Internet safety" you can visit the site saferkidsonline of ESET.
