Introduction
Quite recently, your correspondent was shocked to learn that over 50% of parents do not enable any protective controls or antivirus software on their child’s personal devices. Since most young kids aged 3-12 now have a mix between a tablet, laptop, phone, apple watch, (etc.), it's a little crazy for them to lack so much protection. While it would be easy to point the finger and call these people out for “bad parenting”, we have to consider the fact that most adults don’t even enable antivirus for themselves, more or less for their children. However, due to the rise in cybersecurity threats specifically targeting minors (because awful cybercriminals always go after the most vulnerable), we at silicon think it's time for a much needed crash course on child device protection. Just know that these are all recommendations made by full-time security professionals and you can choose to do whatever you believe is best for your child's safety, but enabling just some of these controls will make a big difference. Let's get started on how to make your child's digital profile less of a security threat.
How To Be Smart With SmartPhones
Average Age Range: 9-13 (North America & Europe)
Recommended Age Range: At least 13 years old (7th-8th grade)
If you have decided to grant your child a dedicated smartphone for communication purposes, we believe a solid age to give them one would be at least 13 years old (7th-8th grade). We say this not just because of mental health and social responsibility reasons, but also in awareness of the multitude of mobile phone security threats. According to Verizon, mobile phones make up more than 30% of security compromises across the industry, which is a big piece of the pie. We also have to keep in mind the level of exposure that comes with a child using a smartphone. If you are worried about what or who your child may encounter when they get an iPhone or Android, definitely enable some of these following security features:
DOs:
1. Add Parental Controls
While some people may view adding Parental Controls as an abuse of privacy for their children, trust us when we say it is necessary. You cannot hand over a highly complex and digitally intuitive device to a child and trust that they have the responsibility to use it appropriately. We acknowledge the fact that some kids are mini-adults with freakishly amazing insight, but they are still kids and they can make mistakes. The most basic parental controls that you should enable on your child's device includes the following:
Set Content & Privacy Restrictions- Limit screen time with a set password that requires your child to spend time not glued to their phone. You can also prevent other people from changing your child's privacy settings by making yourself the sole controller of screen time by authenticating with your Apple ID.
Prevent iTunes & App Store Purchases- Prevent your child from breaking the bank on in-app purchases (a horrible habit that even your correspondent gets into) and prevent them from installing apps that are not completely kid-friendly.
Prevent Web Content- Block malicious websites or purely x-rated adult content from accessing your child's device by enabling the iOS automatic filter. Trust us when we say this is a necessary feature because many cybercriminals will try to create websites targeting children and send them links to get them to click on malicious content (a phishing attack).
2. Sync Their Phone To Family Cloud
If your child has an iPhone, you may want to sync it to your family cloud in order to keep an eye on any suspicious activity that they may encounter. By syncing your child's smartphone to family sharing, you will be able to see all the data coming from their device and you can enable message syncing so that you can watch who they are communicating with at all times. While this can be a little extreme, it is very useful for protecting your child from predators or other malevolent actors targeting children. Just be sure to use it with discretion and out of consideration for your child's privacy. Read here how to enable family sharing.
3. Configure A Smart Password
While we love the natural creativity of children, please do not let your young child choose their own password, and PLEASE do not make the password their birthday. Although the default passcode on Apple devices is 6 digits, you can configure a stronger password by clicking on "Face ID & Passcode" in Settings > Change Passcode > Passcode Options, and either picking a numeric or alphanumeric combination. At silicon, we always recommend passwords to be at least 13 characters long, include several upper/lowercase and special characters and numbers.
4. Turn on location sharing (find my/enable location sharing app)
If you ever doubt your child's safety at any time, location sharing is the number one BEST safety feature that allows you to be present and monitor your child's well-being 24/7. Although location-sharing can sometimes be viewed as an abuse of privacy, when it comes to the parent/child relationship, you simply need to have it. If anything should happen to your child when you aren't around, you can track their phone even if it's turned off or run out of battery using the Apple "Find My Network" feature or Android's "Find My Device". Life360 is also a great option because it includes a built-in panic button inside the app, allowing for immediate emergency response when "SOS" is activated. Location tracking is also the first thing that authorities or law enforcement ask to see in the event of a crime or missing person's case, so although GPS apps can sometimes be a nuisance, they can save lives. Read here about how to enable location-sharing on iPhone and Android.
5. Install Antivirus
If your child has an Android phone, you must have some form of antivirus downloaded. Just as a cybersecurity rule of thumb, Android phones do not come with as much security as iPhones so you need to ensure that you are getting double the coverage. Some great Android antivirus apps include Norton360, McAfee, and BitDefender Mobile Security. Even if you have an iPhone, we still recommend downloading a mobile security antivirus just in case. You can never have too much protection! Read more about the top antivirus software platforms for mobile security.
6. Install a VPN
While it is our special belief that every single person should have a VPN downloaded on their device, your smartphone especially needs one. Considering how many places they travel, it is a good idea to always have a VPN ready to go in order to protect your data. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tunneling device that encrypts your message traffic, so whenever it is turned on, no one can try to listen in on what you are doing (man-in-the-middle attack). Your correspondent always turns on their VPN whenever I am working at a coffee shop, waiting at the airport, using public transportation, etc. because you never know who could be trying to listen in these days. Teach your child to do the same, especially whenever they are in a highly public place and they need to use the Internet. While there are a lot of mobile phone VPNs out there, here is the Forbes list of the top VPNs to download.
DON'Ts:
1. Do not turn on cellular data roaming
Many mobile phone cyber attacks involve the use of cellular data roaming because it exposes you to users outside of a safe and established network. Cellular data roaming is the use of cellular services outside of the coverage of a protected wi-fi network. Teach your kids to always use safe and certified public wi-fi networks when they are out and about, and as a bonus, you don't be wasting so much money on cellular data! Read here how to disable cellular data roaming.
2. Don't let them download more than 2 social media apps
As much as your kids may beg for them, you really should not be letting them use a million different social media accounts. Take this from someone who has dealt with several cases of kids misusing social media and having to see them deal with highly unfortunate consequences. At silicon, we would rather parents not even let children touch these dangerous apps. This is mainly because of the numerous opportunities that social media platforms offer up to bad actors to infiltrate your child's identity or manipulate them into performing their evil bidding. Think about it this way: For every social media account your child downloads, they are giving away 100 PAGES of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) about themselves.
While we cannot promote that kids stay off social media completely (because it's all that is "cool" nowadays), we beg parents to please think about the implications of your child being so exposed online. Since they are so young, they really don't need so many outlets, so 2 or less platforms should be enough. If your child thinks that they deserve more than 2 social media apps, practice having an open dialogue about cybersecurity and come to a reasonable compromise before you download. Help them understand the extent and importance of their cyber footprint by making them research the app they want and then talking about the advantages and disadvantages that comes with downloading it. All we ask is that parents prepare their children to practice discretion with social media, and to be more open about the security risks that come with using it.
3. DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS TALK TO WHOEVER THEY WANT
After establishing the previous rule, it's only natural that we direct the conversation towards "stranger danger" and the fatal mistake that parents are making by not discussing this with their children. In recent years, your correspondent has personally noticed a disturbingly wide gap in educating children how to be safe online and on social media, and THAT we can say is bad parenting. We suppose that in modern times for the sake of "privacy rights" and a fear of not wanting to impose strict authority on your kids, that these conversations often get left behind, but as a parent you cannot let this happen. The reality is that your kids are growing up in a world where bad actors have more access to them than ever before, and technology is the easiest avenue for adversaries to reach your children.
Please, please, please do not let your children talk to whoever they want online or on social media. Watch your kids in cyberspace as much as you would in-person at a crowded park or mall. If you think we are being paranoid, just look at the statistics. More missing children's cases are being traced back to conversations started on social messaging apps or online forums where bad people congregate in droves. Have more open, honest conversations about online safety and let your kids know that the Internet is not all fun and games.
How To Be Smart With Tablets
Average Age Range: 3-12 (North America & Europe)
Recommended Age Range: At least 10 years old
This is the big one and what always causes the biggest headaches for parents, teachers, millennials, family members, and cybersecurity professionals alike. While we would love to scream,"in the name of everything that is holy and pure, do not give your child an iPad!", we can't realistically do that, so the next best thing is to teach you how to make them safer. In the US and Europe, most parents reportedly give their child an iPad at the age of 3 years old. First of all, that's really annoying considering the fact that you aren't teaching your child how to socialize and realistically, they probably would be just as happy playing with real toys. We at silicon believe you should hold off until your child is at least 10 years old so that they can truly enjoy the benefits of an iPad instead of viewing it as an emotional support crutch. Plus, you won't be giving them a highly expensive item that in the end is just going to be destroyed because they aren't old enough to take care of it properly (have you seen how many young kids have iPads with cracked screens?). Therefore, save yourself the headache and implement these important security features when your child is ready to be digital:
DOs:
1. Parental Controls > LIMIT SCREEN TIME!
As we already mentioned above with securing smartphones, you should also enable Parental Controls on your child's tablet device. You can set Content & Privacy Restrictions, Prevent iTunes & App Store Purchases, Prevent Web Content, and more in the Settings tab of your iPad device. However, the biggest benefit to Parental Controls for a tablet is limiting the amount of screen time that your child spends on it. Although it's also helpful to limit the amount of time spent on smartphones, kids tend to really get sucked into iPads because they are so susceptible for gaming purposes. Along with security reasons, it's really just not healthy for kids to always be on their tablets 24/7. Remember that they still need to go outside, play, and have fun with their friends in order to practice a balanced, positive lifestyle! Although it's easier said than done, teach your kids to live life outside of their technology and eventually, they will come to enjoy life all the more!
2. Family Sharing
Like we said before, enable family sharing for your child's tablet device in order to see everything going on with what they are doing. Again, this is a great feature that allows you to monitor what they are up to without taking their device away. Read about how to enable family sharing here.
3. Turn on Two-Factor Authentication With Your Apple ID
If your child's device gets stolen or misplaced (as it often does), obviously you wouldn't want whoever finds it to get into their phone so easily! Enable two-factor authentication so that if someone suspicious is able to access your device, you can still verify if that behavior is normal by entering your Apple ID when prompted. Read about how to enable two-factor authentication here.
4. Disable Messaging Or External Communication
Often times, you may find that it really isn't necessary to have messaging or notifications enabled on your tablet, so the same goes for your child's tablet as well. Disable messaging or communications and have peace of mind that your child will be able to enjoy their device without interference from external parties. If you purchased the tablet device for communication purposes, you may still want to have those channels open, but most of the time, we have to admit that we don't use our tablets for texting/calling. Therefore, choose to opt out of receiving notifications or messages and enjoy the bubble that comes with tablet time! Read about how to disable iPad messaging here.
DON'Ts:
1. Don't let your child bring their iPad everywhere
While this has nothing to do with technical tips, we believe that there should be some more"digital etiquette" when it comes to allowing where children may bring their devices. Everyone knows that it can be considered a little rude to constantly be on your phone, but kids often get away with being on tablets 24/7 because we just want them to be distracted while the adults do whatever we need to do. However, this behavior can have some damaging consequences as children grow up. Bottom Line: By giving your child the tablet every time they get bored or throw a tantrum in public, you aren't teaching them manners or good social skills.
In some instances, we totally get it if a tablet is needed for entertainment purposes, such as when you are on a road trip, plane flight, any sort of travel/waiting around (etc.). Kids are always going to need something to do if they have to be stationary for an extended period of time, but just as a rule of thumb, if there are people involved, teach them that they have to be present. Just some basic examples:
When you're waiting for food to come in the restaurant- NO IPAD! (let them use the coloring mats that us millennials grew up with).
When Grandma and Grandpa or other relatives are visiting- NO IPAD! (teach them to talk to people instead of hiding behind a screen).
When you're waiting to deposit a check at the bank or shopping in the grocery store- NO IPAD! (teach them to engage in normal activities).
Case In Point: Teach your kids to live life without a screen. Even if they are already used to taking the tablet everywhere, try to ease them off of it. They won't like it at first, but trust us, they will get used to it.
How To Be Smart With Laptops
Average Age Range: 10-14 (North America & Europe)
Recommended Age Range: At least 10 years old
As technology is becoming increasingly incorporated in providing children a top-notch education, it is definitely essential that you treat your child's laptop with the same "security care" that you would your own. Many public and private institutions in the United States and Europe require students to use a laptop or computer in order to complete their studies. At silicon, we are fully supportive of children using technology to further their education (especially when learning how to protect themselves digitally), and one of the best ways to streamline education is the use of a laptop to conduct open research and facilitate projects. Therefore, here is what we recommend with how to secure your child's laptop/tablet computer:
DOs:
1. Install antivirus software
The first thing that you should do when you get a brand new computer is always install antivirus software. Antivirus software prevents malware from being downloaded onto your machine from suspicious websites or sources (such as phishing emails), allowing your computer to stay safe and detect threats when they arise. Sophos Antivirus is a great option for most Macs, but we have included a list for all types of computers here. Definitely check it out!
2. Turn on automatic updates and install system patches (as required)
It is always important to turn on automatic updates for your machine because as they say, "the developers know best". Allowing your machine to automatically download patches saves you the time from manually installing them, but just get into the habit of installing updates whenever they show up in your settings.
3. Complete regular system backups
Another good security habit to get into is to perform regular system backups. Invest in a hard drive and an adaptor to manually back up your data so that in case of a cyber attack or data loss, you can recover all of your precious items! A good rule of thumb is to perform a security backup every 3 months in order to ensure that your data is timely refreshed.
4. Install a password manager
If an adult gets a password manager, then that means that your child should too! A password manager is an online extension that allows you to safely store and manage your passwords (so that you don't forget them or have to write them down). The only password that you need to remember is the master password, which is used to safely store all of the other password credentials in a vault. Nowadays, there are so many student accounts and subscriptions that kids need for their education, so it's definitely a good idea to get a password manager in order to keep track of all of that. NordPass and Keeper are great options, but also be sure to check out this list of 2023's best password managers.
Don'ts:
1. Don't let them think that their laptop is a toy: MAKE THEM TAKE CARE OF IT!
While this rule could go for any device that your child receives, it is definitely important for kids to understand that their technology is not a fun toy that they get to break. Teach them that a highly expensive machine like a laptop or chrome-book requires responsibility! Ultimately, all of the maintenance Do's that we listed above means nothing if you are doing everything for your kid and they aren't learning the basic lesson of DIY (Do It Yourself). Therefore, we recommend that whatever you do to safeguard your child's computer device (this is called security hardening), they also sit down next to you and they do it with you. Explain what you are doing and why you are doing it so that your child understands their technology is valuable and that they need to protect it. That being said, accidents happen all the time, so we also recommend getting laptop insurance when you buy your child a computer. With kids, you never know.
2. Don't sync your child's accounts with the same login credentials
Many adults are guilty of using the same email and password for multiple accounts, but that doesn't mean that your children should do the same. We know it's hard to remember login credentials for hundreds of different accounts. However, the good news is that you could avoid the potential of a large-scale cyber attack by referring to our recommendation of getting a password manager! (Read above). Don't bank all of your child's precious information by teaching them to use the same passwords over and over. Invest in a password manager and reduce their security attack surface tenfold.
Conclusion
In the end, we have to remember that kids are kids. Because of their young age, they really don't need all of the flashy bells and whistles that come with using technology or social media. Parents who let their children do whatever they want online often forget the extreme dangers that come with that responsibility, and in this day and age, we really can't afford to be so naive. Cybercriminals and bad people online do not care who they are targeting, and if anything, they will choose to target children because they are the most vulnerable. That being said, choose to protect your kids by seriously updating their security status. Have open conversations and discussions. Make good cybersecurity decisions, and teach your kids to do the same.
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