As we all adjust to life during a pandemic, the majority of us are spending more time at home, and thus, more time on our devices. You may be working from home, the kids may be schooling from home, and you’re probably all using your devices pretty regularly whether it be for work, education, or entertainment. While we know you’re probably dying for ideas to get the kids away from their screens, its just not always that simple in times like these. Because of the uptick in device usage for the whole family, we have created some tips to help keep your kids safe while online.

Having a conversation with your family about being aware of what they’re doing online is a great start.  This is the part where our teens roll their eyes and say ‘Mom, Dad, we know already”. While some things may seem obvious, its better to be safe than sorry and have a talk about it.

Emails

Most of us have at least one email address, if not a few of them that we are checking regularly for sales, newsletters, news updates, shipping confirmations, and more and the bad guys know it.  Because of this, this is one of the most common places you could be targeted. Watching out for misspellings, strange links, urgency to act now, unfamiliar contacts and anything else that might seem a little off are all things to be very cautious of when going through emails.

Social Media

While sites like Facebook or Instagram may seem safe and reliable, they also provide the opportunity for many online risks. These sites allow users to share a wide variety of content, some of which may be questionable for younger eyes. This content can also be linked to dangerous websites that could try to take over your account or your computer. Be aware of what you and your family are clicking on, and only visit sites you are familiar with and trust. Never input any personal information to these sites unless you are absolutely sure that it is necessary. It’s easy to be tricked into something suspicious.  Social media is a great way to connect with old friends, but it also opens the door for predators. Be aware of who you and your family are adding as friends. A good rule of thumb is to only add people you know, and to check with those people first to be sure their account is real before accepting a friend request.

Information Sharing

One of the main ways that hackers will try to trick you is by asking for your information. When doing anything online, be very cautious when sites ask you for any personal information.  Do not fill out any forms that include this information unless you know for sure that the site is safe and that this information is necessary to continue.

Gaming

Gaming, whether it be on a gaming console or through an app on your devices, can be a great way to pass time and have fun. However, when connecting to games online, there are some added risks. Many games now include ads and pop ups that can be not only annoying, but also potentially dangerous. Avoid clicking on any pop ups or ads. If you are interested in the content presented, it is safest to visit the app store and read reviews before downloading anything new on your devices. Gaming can also be used for social purposes. Make sure you and your family know the people you are playing games with online. If you do not know them, be careful about accidentally sharing too much information about yourself or your family or you could become a potential target.

Links

Links are another major way the bad guys try to come after us. Its easy to be in a rush and accidentally click on a link you shouldn’t have. While doing anything online, always be sure the content is from a source you know is safe before clicking links. Or better yet, visit the site manually after the content is presented to you if it is something you are interested in. By going to the site on your own instead of clicking links that are presented to you, you are more likely to avoid potential scams.

Astrea Juice Powered by Plume

Astrea now provides a tool that can help make all of this a little bit easier on you and your family. Astrea Juice powered by Plume allows you to place parental controls on specific devices. This aids in blocking potentially harmful content that may come about when going online. Once you have Astrea Juice, its as easy as downloading the app and extra protections are at your finger tips. To learn more about Astrea Juice visit us here.