How to Keep Children Safe on the Internet | Antivirus Software

Other sections We live in the internet age which is great for learning new things or communicating with other people. While you may know what to avoid online, your children may stumble across dangerous sites and people without even knowing it. We know

We live in the internet age and it is great for learning new things or communicating with other people. While you may know what to avoid online, your children may stumble across dangerous sites and people without even knowing it. We know it's scary to think about what your children find, but there are so many things you can do to protect them. As long as you know and communicate with your children, you can keep them safe online.

Method 1 of 4: Set Internet Limits 

1. Warn your kids about the inappropriate content they might find. Unfortunately, there are a lot of websites that contain explicit or violent content that is not appropriate for your children. When your kids first start surfing the web, ask them to steer clear of sites with pornographic or graphic images. You should also point out signs of bad websites, such as misspellings, pop-up ads, and unusual URLs, as these can lead to viruses or malware.

For example, you might tell a younger child, “You will find a lot of useful sites on the Internet, but there will be some insecure places to go. It's hard to tell the difference sometimes, so just ask me before you go to a website you haven't visited before. ".

If you have an older child or teen, you can say something like, "I know you know a lot about the internet, but there are some people who might try to fool you if you are not careful. I just want you to stay safe, so I expect you to listen to my rules.".

If your children are old enough to search for and share news articles, tell them to check the sources to see if they are reliable.

2. Discuss the risks of sharing personal information and passwords. Explain to your children that some people online may use personal information to take advantage of it or steal it. Tell them that it is important to keep their information private, such as their date of birth, full name, address, and phone number. Have them come to you if they come across a site or person requesting personal information so that you can know if it is safe or reliable.

For example, you could say something like, "I know you want to tell new friends more about you, but you have to keep some things secret so that no one steals your account or hurts you. Only give information if you get my permission."

3. Tell your kids about the people pretending to be someone else online. Even if your child thinks he can trust people online, tell him that some people are not what they say. Warn them against talking to strangers and sharing information with other people over the Internet unless they fully know who they are talking to. Ask them to talk to you if they need help determining if they can trust someone.

For example, you could say, "Some people lie on the Internet and may say they are your age even if they are adults. Please check with me before adding a new friend just so we can see if they are safe."

4. Explain that photos posted on the Internet may be saved forever. Your children may be eager to share pictures with their friends, but they may not understand some of the consequences. Tell your kids that it's okay to post the right pictures, but they shouldn't post anything revealing or suggestive. Warn them about how cyber-crooks are sharing the image, using it to blackmail or bully them.

For example, you could say, "I respect your choice of what you do, but please don't share your nude or revealing photos. Once they are posted or posted, you can never get them back and others may see them."

Ask your child to come to you if he feels pressured to share a picture. You might say, "I'm here to support and help you as much as I can. If you feel uncomfortable, please come to me."

We know it's hard to tell if your baby is sharing a revealing image, but don't shout or get upset about it. They are probably just as anxious as you are and just need reassuring advice.

5. List rules and guidelines for your children. Talk to your child and ask them about the sites they think are appropriate and discuss how they can safely browse. Give them a list of the expectations you have about what they are allowed to do and what to do if they encounter a problem. Some of the rules that must be enforced may include:

Ask before sharing any personal information.

Only add people you know as friends.

The files don't download unless you give them permission.

No clicking on ads or free offers

Method 2 of 4: Change device and account settings 

1. Keep your computer and devices updated. Although updates are annoying to deal with, they may add security measures for added protection. When you see a software update pop up on your computer, phone, or tablet, start as soon as possible. Check your devices for updates frequently so that they use the most secure version.

Some updates may take a while to install on your device, so don't initiate them when you are working or trying to be productive.

You might be able to turn on automatic updates for your device so that you don't have to manually check them every time.

2. Turn on parental controls to block websites. If you are concerned about your kids finding adult content online, you can set which sites they can access. Open the parental control settings on your device and set up a passcode so that your children cannot change it. You can usually restrict access to certain websites, apps, and content so that your children can only use specific sites.

Examples of sites you might want to block include pornography, Reddit, Omegle, and 4Chan.

Some kid-friendly sites include YouTube Kids, SafeSearch Kids, PBS Kids, and Nick Jr. And Disney.

Parental filters might not capture all malicious sites, but they will block most of them.

If you are able, create a separate user profile on your computer for your children in Control Panel or System Preferences. This way, you don't have to worry about them accidentally accessing or deleting any important files. You also don't have to turn on parental blocking for your profile when you want to use the computer.

3. Change their social media settings to private. Lots of social media posts are public, but this becomes dangerous if your kids post something personal online. Sit with your kids and log into their accounts to check their privacy settings. If you notice that they are posting publicly, explain how to set their accounts for privacy. This way, they can still share a lot with their friends without other strangers finding it.

The privacy settings you use vary according to the sites and apps you use. For example, on Facebook, you can set posts to public, private, or friends of friends can access them.

4. Extinguish determine the geographical location data to hide your site. Some sites automatically add location tags to posts, but this may allow strangers to know exactly where your kids are. Go to the website settings on the website or app and turn it off so that you don't publicly use or share the information. Let your children know their location is not publicly shared in any posts to keep them safe.

Some social media sites add metadata to photos when someone uploads them. While some sites hide information, others may not.

5. Bookmark websites so that your children can access them easily. Lots of malicious websites are only a few letters from trusted sites, so a simple misspelling could expose your kids to dangerous content. Instead of having them type in the URL every time, save the pages and show your kids how to access them. This way, you can customize a list of your kids' favorite sites to visit.

If you have other bookmarks on your browser, create a new folder named "KIDS" or use your child's name so that they can find the locations easily.

6. Cover the webcam if your computer has one. Although it may sound silly, some viruses can access your webcam even when you are not using it. When not using your webcam, tape a piece of paper or stick a sticky note on it in anticipation.

You can also purchase sliding web camera covers that attach directly to your computer so that you can open and close them easily.

Method 3 of 4: Monitor computer activity 

1. Check posts and photos for personal information before your child shares it. Your kids probably won't understand the risks of sharing personal information, so ask them to ask you before posting. Check for any information such as names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses that may affect your family's privacy. If you notice any of these in the post, let your child know and ask them to change the post.

Ask your kids to add you as a friend on their social media account so you can keep up with their posts.

Ask your child to ask himself if he will share the same post or photo with a stranger. If they answer in the negative, they should not publish the post.

2. Place the appliances in an open area so you can see what your children are doing. It's always a good idea to have a home office, but it also makes it easier for your children to hide their online activity. Keep your computer in a public place or limit devices to public areas of your home so you can supervise your children. If you notice them entering apps or websites that they are not supposed to access, you can easily intervene.

If your child has his own phone or computer, do not allow him to bring it into his room when he sleeps. Instead, let it charge elsewhere so that they are not tempted to use it unsupervised.

3. Check files and locations before your child downloads anything. Lots of unknown files can contain malware or harmful viruses, so it is extremely important to make sure your kids don't download them. If your child wants to install or download a program, check the site where they found the file to see if it is reliable. If you don't feel comfortable or are questioning the site, you just have to avoid the file being on the safe side.

Your computer might also have extra security measures when trying to open a downloaded file.

Download files only from sites and people you trust.

4. Browse the internet with your children to teach them safe computer use. If you are concerned about what your child is doing on their own on the computer, plan some activities where you can use the computer together. Find vacation spots, find a hobby or project together, or write a family newsletter. While you are online with them, show them how to use the internet properly so that they can practice computer etiquette.

This works well for younger children who cannot navigate the Internet on their own.

5. Set time limits for computer use. While the internet can be beneficial for learning, your children may develop bad habits if they stay always in front of the screen. Allow your kids to go online for 30 minutes at a time and set a timer. Once the timer goes off, tell them that it is time to end regardless of what they have been doing. Try to limit the total time to devices by about two hours.

Try to be screen-free some days during the week so that your kids don't always use technology.

Choose a time at night to turn off your router or modem so your kids don't tend to be online late.

Method 4 of 4: Address common issues 

1. Learn the signs of cyberbullying. Unfortunately, it is really easy for people to make mean and offensive comments online. If you notice that your child is not connected to the internet much, is having an emotional response to what is happening on his device, or is starting to act more withdrawn, this could be a sign that he is being bullied. Talk to your child openly about what is happening and try to get as much detail as possible.

For example, you could say, "I noticed you looked really upset when you were looking at your phone earlier. Is there something going on that you want to talk about?"

If your child continues to be bullied online, you may need to report the website or even law enforcement.

2. Be careful if your kids try to hide what they are doing online. If your kids are doing something online that they shouldn't be doing, they might try to cover it up as much as possible. Instead of getting upset, ask your child what he intends to do. Try to keep your conversations open so that your children don't feel the need to hide things from you.

If your child also starts spending long hours on the internet, behaves hesitantly talking about his computer activities, or starts getting phone calls from people you don't know, chances are that a fraudster is targeting them. We know it's very scary if this happens, but reach out to your child and ask him what is happening right away. Calm them down and tell them that you are not upset, but that you are only concerned for their safety.

3. Comfort your kids if they post or share something inappropriate. We know it can be frustrating when your kids are hiding something from you, but they might think they're getting into trouble. Instead of being upset or frustrated, keep calm and have a discussion with them. Ask them questions about what happened and don't blame them. Inform them of the risks of their behavior and how to manage the problem in the future.

For example, instead of asking the question "Why did I do that?" Alternatively, you can say, "What happened?"

Showing that you are supportive and loving builds confidence and helps your children open up to you more if they have problems in the future.

4. Report any suspected illegal activity to law enforcement. It's really scary for your kids to be targeted by someone online, but there are ways that you can manage the situation. Contact local law enforcement over the phone or send advice online to explain the situation. Law enforcement officials will address your concerns and let you know how to proceed.

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