How to Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet

The Internet might seem safer and more user-friendly than ever before, but there are still plenty of dangers to be found online. Children are still frequent targets of online attacks, so you still need to work to keep your kids safe on the internet.

Use a Virtual Private Network

Using a virtual private network or VPN is a good idea even if you don’t have kids who like to go online. A VPN connects your device to a secure offsite server while encrypting your connection. This hides your IP address and makes it nearly impossible for someone to track your physical location online, but it also prevents any data that is sent over public networks to be intercepted. You might not be able to get a VPN for every device in your home, but getting one for your main computer and smartphone can definitely help keep your kids safe on the Internet.

 Follow Basic Security Guidelines

Simply following basic security guidelines for all of your devices can help keep them and your kids safe. Always use the most recent version of your operating system, keep your malware and antivirus software updated, and use strong passwords to protect your accounts.

Know Your Kids’ Skill Level

If your children have always been around computers and smartphones, there’s a good chance that they are savvy with these devices. Unfortunately, this also means that they won’t think twice before doing potentially dangerous things online. Even if you trust your kids to be responsible with their devices, check-in with them to see what they are doing and how they are doing it.

Know Who They Talk To

People have been telling kids not to talk to strangers for decades, and that advice still applies to the Internet. If you let your kids use social networks or any other services that let them chat with people, take some time to learn who those people are. Since your kids will almost certainly come across someone online they don’t know, remind them that they are never to share any personal information such as their real names and addresses.

Limit Screen Time

If you’re really concerned about keeping your kids safe on the Internet, you can always put limits on their screen time. You don’t have to ban them from going online entirely, but you can limit their time to one or two hours a day, or make it a rule that you need to be in the room with them when they use a computer or smartphone.

For more information about how you can keep your family and your devices safe, contact Tuckersmith Communications. We do our best to keep our services safe and easy to use, and we will be happy to provide any advice to improve your home’s cybersecurity.