When it comes to cybercrime, hackers have proven they will exploit any vulnerability they can find. And today kids, with their boundless curiosity, seem to have become potential targets for cybercriminals.
Let us understand why these young ones seem to be such innocent targets, how simple incidents can quickly snowball into a cyberthreat, and how adults can exercise caution to prevent any mishaps.
Innocent clicks, not-so-innocent consequences
Who is more innocent than a kid? They will excitedly click on any bright, pop-up banner if it promises to play the next episode of their favorite cartoon. Hackers know this. They also know kids don’t understand the concepts of phishing, malware or data privacy. To a child, it’s just another step toward watching that episode. All they need is one click, and bam! That device could be loaded with spyware or malware.
Children’s content on platforms like YouTube is often targeted through malvertising, where malicious links are disguised within ads, comments, or video descriptions. According to Avast Q1/2024 Threat Report, YouTube experienced a surge in threats in 2023, with malicious links redirecting users to harmful websites and scams.
Children might not have bank accounts or credit cards (yet), but their personal information is valuable. A name, an address, a birthdate, or even a social security number — hackers can piece together these small bits of information to create a digital profile. From there, it is surprisingly easy to compromise identity, often without being immediately detected. As a matter of fact, children under 19 are increasingly becoming victims of identity theft, accounting for 3% of all reported cases across the world in the first half of 2024.
The thought of a child’s identity being stolen is honestly terrifying. The worst part is that child identity theft often goes unnoticed for years, only surfacing when they apply for their first loan or college account.
Five effective ways to protect your child’s data and your own
What do you do to keep your kids safe from random strangers on the street? Usually, the first rule you teach them is to not to talk to strangers. The same principles should apply online. Tell them never to share personal information, not even with a funny-looking cartoon character, and definitely not with sites or games that look suspicious.
Beyond having this talk with your kids, it is also essential to set up restrictions and actively manage their online footprint.
Here are five practical tips to keep your kids safe online:
- Enable parental restrictions on the devices your children use. That means adding kid-safe browsers, filtering out questionable sites, and setting up limits on downloads and apps.
- Skip oversharing on social media, and avoid posts with your child’s full name, school, age, or location. The less hackers know, the safer they are. Share the cute photos with family directly or through safer, more private channels.
- Customize privacy settings on apps to limit data collection, restrict permissions like location or microphone access, and control who can see your child’s profile. Revisit these settings periodically, as apps and platforms often update privacy policies.
- Use a password manager to generate and save unique, complex passwords for every family member. You can also consider using two-factor authentication that requires not just a password but a secondary verification method, like a code sent to a parent’s phone.
- Install dependable and robust security software on all devices that your child can access. A good antivirus program can detect malware early and protect your devices.
Lessons in cybersecurity from our kids: yes, we can learn too
Kids are natural explorers, especially when it comes to new technologies. They are curious and quick to figure out new apps, workaround solutions and technical fixes, much faster than us at least. Their penchant for exploring and discovering are actually good habits that they can inspire in us, especially in areas where adults tend to fall behind.
First, children are always learning, whether it is at school or with their friends while pursuing their hobbies. They are constantly adapting to new technologies and can develop awareness of new cybersecurity best practices, even in basic ways.
Then, they ask a lot of questions and it’s a great habit, especially online. As adults, we sometimes take tech at face value, assuming we already know enough. In reality, asking questions like, “Who owns this app?” or “Is this site really secure?” is key to staying safe online.
Nowadays, children aren’t afraid to set boundaries when they don’t like something. This is actually a great instinct that adults lack. Practicing boundary-setting (whether it’s limiting app permissions, being selective with social media, or simply saying “no” to sharing personal data) can help keep your digital spaces secure.
Protecting your family from cyber risks
Our kids are growing up in a hyper-digital age, where everything happens online and hackers are getting smarter about who and what they target. We owe it to our children to be proactive and make sure that our family’s devices, data, and digital lives are safeguarded. It might seem like a hassle now, but peace of mind is worth every second spent clicking through parental controls.
So, next time you let the kids watch their favorite programs and cartoon episodes during a family dinner, just make sure you’re on guard. After all, hackers don’t take a break, even during family time!
