Tips For Keeping Kids Safe Online

Kids today have more access to information than any generation before. Computers, tablets, and smart devices are common at both school and home. Because of the risks associated with the internet, including identity theft and cyberstalking, talking about personal online security is a conversation that you should often have with your child.

Talk to Your Kids About:

• Limiting online friends to people they actually know. Connecting with “friends” through text, social media, or video games might be fun - but some people aren’t who they say they are online. And your child might share personal information with a stranger.
• Protecting their personal information. Remind your kids to never share personal information, such as their Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, to anyone they interact with online. Even little bits of information, such as a birthday, home address, or telephone number can be enough to steal data, account information, or even identity.
• Downloading free stuff. Free games or other downloads can hide malware. Warn your kids not to download anything unless it is from a trusted source that you approve and one that has been scanned with security software.
• Approving app access to their device. Some apps request permission to access information or features they don’t need, like your contact list, camera, storage, location, and microphone. Review the app’s privacy policy to see how your data will be used and if it will be shared. Then decide what items you should allow access to on your device.
• Phishing. Teach your kids about Phishing and warn them not to click on links or download attachments in emails or messages they receive, regardless of who sent them. They should also not reply to text, email, or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. Some kids like to share music and games using P2P file sharing software. P2P file sharing comes with risks. Kids can accidentally provide access to your computer’s private files. Shared files could also contain spyware, or other malware designed to harm your computer or steal your personal information.
• Using strong passwords. Teach your kids to use different passwords for every online account they have to help prevent others from accessing their personal information. Strong passwords include a combination of numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters, and should not include names or words that are easily guessed.

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself and your children from falling victim fraud. For additional information, please visit ftc.gov/KidsOnline.

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