By 2025, there could be over 30 billion devices connected to the internet (source: statista.com). Whilst that brings great innovation and convenience to our lives, it also brings new and unprecedented risk.
How do you avoid becoming a victim and keep your whole family safe online?
We’ve put together a list of 10 practical steps you can take to help bring cyber resilience into your world, including what to do when the worst happens.
10 practical tips for keeping your family protected online:
- Be alert – Teach your family members about online safety, such as avoiding suspicious links and downloads, creating strong passwords, and keeping personal information private.
- Use parental controls – Many devices and apps come with built-in parental controls that can help you restrict access to inappropriate content and set usage limits.
- Install antivirus software. Install reputable antivirus software on all devices to help protect against malware and other online threats.
- Stay up-to-date. Make sure all devices are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Read our advice on how to secure your home and systems if you use smart devices.
Further information – Are we being outsmarted by our smart devices?
- Use secure connections. Encourage family members to use secure connections when accessing sensitive information, such as banking or shopping sites. This means connecting to secure Wi-Fi networks and using HTTPS websites.
- Top tip – look for “HTTPS” and the lock icon in the address bar of the website you’re using.
- Use privacy settings. Encourage members of your family to use privacy settings on social media accounts to limit who can see their posts and personal information.
- Monitor online activity. Keep an eye on your family members’ online activity, especially for younger children. This can help identify potential risks and allow for early intervention if necessary. Limit access to social media until they are mature enough to understand as well as handle the potential risks.
- Communicate openly. Encourage family members to communicate openly with you about any online concerns or incidents, and make sure they know they can come to you for help or advice.
- Encourage positive online behaviour. Talk about the importance of being respectful and kind online and to think before posting or sharing anything that may be hurtful to others.
To read more about how to protect your family against specific cyber threats check out our pieces below:
To understand more about your personal or business cyber risk, or contact us today by phone +03300 940177, or by email contact@partnersand.com.
If you already have a dedicated Partners& adviser, feel free to reach out directly and they will be more than happy to support you with any questions you might have.
