Online Safety Starts With You

As we embrace digital technologies for their tremendous benefits, we can open ourselves up to threats.

Criminals and other malicious cyber threat actors — many of which operate outside and inside our borders — take advantage of security gaps, low cyber security awareness, and technological developments to compromise cyber systems.

Companies and major corporations are not the only ones that have to deal with this ongoing threat. The average computer user will face those threats also.

Living in a digital world is fantastic for keeping in touch with friends and family, but it comes with risks too. Strangers online can have very bad intentions when getting in touch with children and young people. It could be to scam them, steal their identity, or even groom them.

Here are six online safety protocols you can use to keep your children safe as they navigate the digital landscape.

1.??????Set Parental Controls on Your WiFi

• This is not about trusting your child or teen; this is about protection. An innocent search can quite easily go wrong – and a less innocent search can also bring up far more than your inquisitive child bargained for.

“Passwords are like underwear: don’t let people see it, change it very often, and you shouldn’t share it with strangers.” – Chris Pirillo

2.??????Talk to Your Children and Teens About their Online Activity

• Ideally, you want to have your first discussion before your child goes online. Other parents might not need to start these talks until a year or two later. The key is to watch your child closely and start the conversation as soon as he or she shows any interest in social media. This not about “Hovering” … It’s about safety.

?“Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.” ― Maya Angelou

3.??????What Apps Are Your Children or Teens Using?

• ?You don’t have to be an expert on all of Apps and programs in the digital world. With a little research, you can understand the risks of certain programs and apps to keep your children safe. Kids Safety Online offers tips and guidance to navigate these areas.

?“You are an essential ingredient in our ongoing effort to reduce Security Risk.”― Kirsten Manthorne

4.??????Keep Personal Information Private

• It’s important to protect your personal information offline, because once sensitive information is stolen it can be proliferated online. Talk to your children about keeping their personal information: Personal. Never give out information to strangers or unsecure websites. Never post or trade personal pictures over the digital landscape …. There is no delete key.

5.??????Never agree to meet anyone in person that you've met online

• Talk to your children / teens to never meet with online strangers. Strangers online have the advantage of anonymity, and can disguise themselves in chat rooms, video games, and social media, getting kids to reveal information about themselves or even set up hazardous meetings in the real world.

6.??????Cyberbullying and Emotional Harm

• While keeping children physically safe is a top priority for parents everywhere, we need to acknowledge that young people are vulnerable to cyberbullying and other forms of emotional damage from strangers online. Kids of any age can find themselves in stressful situations online where they feel under attack or singled out, even if there is no physical threat present. Be vigilant and talk to your children about Cyberbullying and if they are experiencing it.

Maintain a strong defense on all fronts, including security and parental controls technology to keep your family safe in every regard. Safety starts with you.

Visit: comkids.ca to learn more about 'The ComKids Program' and tips on Internet Safety for your children.