March 30, 2015

Internet safety has come up as a major concern for parents. While internet offers so many advantages, there are many threats like identity thefts, credit card frauds, wrong influence through social networks etc. that kids are exposed to.  On one hand, it is essential to introduce them to new technologies and the benefits they offer. On the other hand, it is equally important to keep them secure from the potential threats in the cyberspace.

Given here are some important tips that can help to keep your family safe in the virtual world:

  • Discuss with your family: Be open to discuss matters related to the use of technology and the consequences for its misuse. Develop a certain comfort level with your children so that they do not hesitate to come up to you in case if any guidance. This will help your family feel safe while individually exploring the internet, while knowing whom to turn to if they have any queries.
  • Discuss about websites and online services: Talk to your family members about the kinds of sites each of you likes to visit. Also, let them know if the websites they are browsing is appropriate for them.
  • Use internet together: This is the best way to teach internet safety to the kids. Browsing web pages together and addressing safety issues together will make your kids more capable of keeping themselves secure online.
  • Protect Passwords: Make sure your family is aware of the tips and tricks to create strong passwords. Let them know that they should not use the same password for multiple websites. They should also keep their passwords strictly confidential and not give it out to anyone, except parents. Also, tell them the importance of signing out everytime they access their online accounts, specifically on public computers.
  • Check age requirements: A number of websites require the users to be of certain age to be granted access. For instance, you must be 18 years or older to use some of the Google’s products. Always make sure that you read a website’s terms and conditions before letting your child use it.
  • Safeguard your computer: Install reliable anti-virus software and update it regularly to prevent yourself from online security threats. Discuss with your family about the information that you should or should not share over the internet. Also, make sure that they do not download any files or email attachments from unknown sources.

Following the above given guidelines can ensure a safe and secure online experience for your family.