Children on the Internet: How to keep them safe

Tips from cybersecurity experts on how to teach your child to be safe online

Kids on the Internet: How to keep them safe

When your child was younger, you taught them basic safety rules: look around before crossing the street, don't talk to strangers, don't touch a hot stove, and so on. Now that he is a teenager, you are still concerned about his safety. But now you are paying attention to other things. For example, if he spends a lot of time online, you can teach him how to avoid online dangers. And the following tips will help you do just that.

1. Stay away from online scams

You may think your kids are too young to fall victim to cybercriminals. But cybersecurity experts tell us that cybercriminals want you to think they are. Often identity thefts, bank card details, etc., occur precisely from the accounts of children and teens.

Explain to children how important it is to keep personal data private online. Tell your child that if they need to enter their name, address, or any other personal information to register for an online game or social networking service, they should let you know. Also, install an up-to-date antivirus on the computer - this protects the personal data that is stored on the computer.

2. avoid cyberbullying incidents

Experts say that cyberbullying (or online bullying) is the most common threat children face online. Children and teens who are bullied online often feel depressed, anxious and isolated from society. Fortunately, there are various e-mail and messenger apps (such as Block Sender, etc.) that block unwanted messages from people you or your child doesn't want to correspond with. The app can also be set to block messages or emails that contain certain words or phrases. That way, if someone wants to intimidate your child by sending them messages, your child simply won't see them.

The app also allows you to block emails and messages that come from certain IP addresses. This can be useful because if the aggressor receives no response from his victim, he can try again from another account or email address.

3. avoid accidentally downloading viruses

Children and teenagers are sometimes too naive. They click on advertising links offering free game downloads or cash prizes. If your child thoughtlessly clicks such links, remind him of the saying that free cheese is only in a mousetrap. If your child is too young to understand this, teach him or her to ask your permission before clicking on links. Explain that this can lead to viruses and malware infecting your computer. They can put your computer out of commission. If your child understands that his actions could leave both him and the whole family without a computer, he will behave more judiciously on the Internet.

4. Don't be tempted.

The Internet is a good source of information and entertainment. But it also has a dark side. To prevent a teenager from visiting sites with dubious content, experts advise putting a computer in a room where someone is often present. Install parental control programs and blockers on the computer to make sure your child doesn't visit questionable sites. Tell your child what you can and can't do on the Internet. Talk to your child about rules of online behavior, and agree to follow them.

Follow these four tips to teach your child to be more thoughtful online.