The Internet can be a dangerous
environment for children and adolescents. From cyber predators to social media
posts that can haunt them later in life, the dangers can be terrifying.
Additionally, children can inadvertently expose their family to online risks,
for example by accidentally downloading malware that allows cybercriminals to
access their parents' bank accounts and other confidential information. The
protection of children on the Internet is first and foremost a matter of being
aware, that is, of knowing the dangers and knowing how to protect yourself from
them. A total
security software product known as parental control can offer protection
against threats, but the most important security measure is communication with
your children.
Here are the seven most important risks children face online:
1 Online harassment
90% of adolescents who
participate in social networks have ignored the cases of bullying they have
witnessed and a third have been direct victims of online bullying. Today,
social media and online games are a virtual playground and this is where most
of the online bullying occurs. For example, children can be teased on social
media. Or, in the case of online games, they or their "characters"
can come under constant attack, turning a playful adventure into an immense
humiliation.
The best measure to help your
children protect themselves against bullying online is to talk with them about
what is going on in their lives and how to defend themselves against bullies.
2 Cyber predators
Sexual and other predators can
harass children online, preying on their innocence, abusing their trust, and
perhaps ultimately, urging them to have a personal encounter that can prove
extremely dangerous. These predators lurk on social media and games that
attract children - the same virtual playgrounds where most incidents of online
bullying occur. In this space, they can take advantage not only of childlike
innocence, but also of their imagination. "Let's pretend we're other people"
is a common and healthy component of online games and interactions, but
predators can use it as a lure to attract children.
The FBI offers guidance to
protect yourself from predators and other children's safety risks online.
However, we reiterate that the best protection measure is that you talk with
your children about what is happening in their lives.
3 Publication of private information
Children do not understand social
limits. They can post personal information online, for example on their social
media profiles, which should not be exposed to the public. This information can
range from photos of personal awkward moments to your home address.
If your children share
information publicly, you can see it too, and you should remind them that if
Mom and Dad can see it, everyone else can. Do not spy, talk with your children
about the limits of what should be public and what not.
4 Phishing
This phenomenon is how
cybersecurity professionals call the use of emails to trick people into
clicking malicious links or attachments. ("Hi, I think this may interest
you!") Phishing practices can also occur through malicious text messages
(this is known as "smishing").
Phishing emails and smishing text
messages can appear at any time, but the cybercriminals who create them monitor
sites popular with children and collect information such as email addresses and
names of friends to use in their scams. Teach your children not to click on
emails or text messages from strangers and to pay attention to messages that
claim to be from their friends but do not contain a genuine personal message.
5 How to avoid being a victim of scams
Children may not fall for the
trap of Nigerian princes offering a million dollars, but they can fall prey to
scams that offer things they value, such as free access to online games. Young
people are easy victims of scams because they have not yet learned to be
cautious. As with phishing, cybercriminals can use sites popular with children
to identify potential victims and then promise them something in exchange for
what they want, such as their parents' credit card information.
For young people and adults, the
best protection against scams is knowing that if an offer seems too good to be
true, it is probably false. Teach your kids to be suspicious of offers that
promise too much and using the best internet
security can keep you safe in this situation.
6 Accidental malware download
Malware is computer software
programs that are installed without the victim's knowledge or authorization and
that perform harmful actions on the computer. These include stealing personal
information from your computer or hijacking your computer for use in a
"botnet", slowing it down. Cybercriminals often trick people into
downloading malware. One of the tricks to achieve this is phishing practices,
but there are others (such as convincing victims to download alleged games)
that can be particularly attractive to children.
As in the case of scams, the best
protection measure is to educate your children, but the implementation of a total
security software product and related security measures can help protect
your child's computer against the infiltration of any type of malware.
Additionally, many Internet security products include specific parental
controls that you can use to set up a secure perimeter for your children's
online activities.
7 Posts that will haunt a child later in life
The Internet does not have a key
to delete. Everything that your child publishes on this network is practically
impossible to delete later. Teens, in particular, don't think about what a
future boss (or perhaps a future spouse) might think of "funny"
images or other personal content they post on their social media profiles or
other sites.
Explain to your teens that they
can change the way they present themselves online, but the Internet won't allow
it.
The Internet can pose risks for
children. However, it can also open up a wonderful universe that previous
generations never even dreamed of. Make sure your kids enjoy the positive
aspects of cyberspace without putting themselves at risk.
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