As Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes to an end, we wish to remind everyone the importance of cybersecurity and taking proactive steps to protect all of your digital assets. 

Keep Your Personal Information Private

• For Kids and Teens - Personal information like your full name, address, school name, phone number, and location. Sharing these details online can put you at risk. Be mindful about the photos you post, especially if they reveal where you live or go to school.
• How Parents Can Help - Sit down with your child and review privacy settings on their social media accounts and apps. Explain why it's important not to share too much personal information online. Encourage them to come to you if they’re unsure about what is safe to share.

Create Strong, Unique Passwords

• For Kids and Teens: A strong password helps protect your accounts from being hacked. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, and avoid using easily guessable words.
• How Parents Can Help: Teach your child the importance of keeping their passwords private, even from friends. Consider using a family-friendly password manager to help them create and remember strong passwords. Make sure they understand why passwords should be different for various accounts.

Think Before You Click

• For Kids and Teens: Scammers often try to trick people into clicking on fake links that look like they come from real websites or companies. These could show up in emails, text messages, or even social media posts. If a message asks for your login information, personal details, or money, it’s probably a scam.
• How Parents Can Help: Discuss common signs of phishing and scams with your child, like unexpected messages from unknown contacts or offers that seem too good to be true. Encourage them to ask for your help if they’re unsure about a link or message they’ve received.

Be Kind and Respectful Online

• For Kids and Teens: Cyberbullying using technology to hurt or embarrass someone is harmful and can have serious consequences. Treat others the way you want to be treated, even online.
• How Parents Can Help:  Keep an open line of communication with your child about their online experiences. Let them know they can come to you if they see or experience cyberbullying. Discuss how to use features like reporting and blocking on social media platforms to manage negative interactions.

Be Careful with Online Friends

• For Kids and Teens: Not everyone online is who they say they are. Never agree to meet up with someone you only know from the internet without checking with your parents. Be cautious about sharing details like where you live, your daily routine, or private photos.
• How Parents Can Help: Monitor your child’s online interactions, especially with people they don’t know personally. Set ground rules about who they can communicate with online and help them understand the risks of chatting with strangers. Consider using parental controls to limit contact with unknown users on social media and gaming platforms.

Secure Your Devices

• For Kids and Teens: Make sure your apps, games, and devices are always updated, as updates often include security fixes. Use antivirus software if available and remember to log out of shared devices.
• How Parents Can Help: Set up automatic updates on your child’s devices to ensure they have the latest security patches. Install reputable antivirus software and explain how it helps protect against malware. Remind them to log out of shared devices, especially those used in public spaces like schools or libraries.

Protect Your Privacy with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• For Kids and Teens: Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second step to log in, like a code sent to your phone.
• How Parents Can Help: Help your child set up 2FA on their accounts that offer it. Explain why this extra step is important for keeping their accounts secure, even if someone tries to guess their password.

Know Where to Get Help

• For Kids and Teens: If you ever feel uncomfortable or worried about something that happens online, talk to a parent, guardian, teacher, or school counsellor. There are also online resources that can provide support.
• How Parents Can Help: Reassure your child that they won’t be in trouble for telling you about something that happened online, even if it involves a mistake or a bad decision. Being approachable and non-judgmental encourages kids to seek help when they need it. 

The internet offers kids and teens a world of opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection, but it’s important to navigate it safely. 

Parents, you play a crucial role in guiding your children through the digital world. By setting rules, having open conversations, and teaching them about the risks and best practices, you can help your kids enjoy the internet safely and confidently. 

Contributed by Helen Setsikas, Information Technology Director