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Online Safety and Privacy

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Protecting Children’s Online Privacy In The Digital Age

Online surfing offers a wealth of information which is readily available at one’s fingertips. But in the case of children, the web can just as easily become a dangerous space. There are various laws in the U.S. to help protect children online, though whether the laws are doing enough, is debatable.

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), for instance, ensures schools use online filters to prevent children from accessing harmful content over the web, as well as monitor online chats. The Children’s Online Privacy Act (COPPA) also set certain guidelines for sites which target children.

But as often happens, kids can easily lie about their age and register for sites they are too young for. Facebook, for instance, require users to be age 13 and up to create an account, yet, according to ComScore, 3.6 million Facebook users in the US are under the age of twelve.

Another concern is the fact that identities can be hidden online, so if one does interact with a dangerous cyber predator, there is a lack of accountability.

For parents, keeping informed on the trends and changes taking place in the digital are the best way to empower your young ones to keep safe online.

Here are some tips:

KEEP INFORMED

New platforms emerge regularly with different ways for users to exchange information online. Read up on the popular apps and look out for any dangers. While SnapChat, for instance, hangs on to images for ten seconds on its platform, users can take a screenshot of the image to make it available permanently.

PRIVACY SETTINGS

Continue to check, and accordingly adjust, the privacy settings on the sites your child uses. To acquire more traffic, some users may be more lenient with their privacy on photo-sharing sites like Instagram. Before sharing those selfies, however, remember that it too is a public space. Stolen photo reports like this one have made some parents think twice before sharing their child’s images online.

WEBCAM SPIES

Webcam-hacking stories have been emerging more and more as of late. This Canadian couple were recently spied on in their bedroom while streaming a video on Netflix. Webcam hacking is a scary reality.

OPEN DIALOGUE

Of course, there are plenty of apps available to track your child’s digital actions. But having an open discussion about online safety rules, such as knowing how much is too much information to be sharing on social media, is the best way to ensure your child is equipped to keep smart on the web.

Law-makers are still grappling with how to keep their policies up to date within the changing digital-scape. Some school boards, for instance, are only now discovering that student information can be unknowingly shared with marketers. Legislators still have a long way to go, but meanwhile, parents can take their own proactive steps to be informed and help their children keep safe online.

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Keeping Your Business Safe Online

Sadly, the main constant in the ever-changing cyber world is the security threat individuals and businesses face on a daily basis. As criminals grow more tech-savvy, even companies like Microsoft and eBay have fallen victim to hackers compromising their privacy. I recently weighed in on US health insurer Anthem’s cyber attack, where “Anthem admitted personal information of as many as 80 million Americans had been compromised.” It is critical for businesses to pro-actively tackle cyber-security head on.

Here are some tips to get you started:

COMMUNICATE

Ensure that your employees are all on the same page when it comes to following basic online safety guidelines. Explain the risks involved with certain actions, such as, downloading music from unknown websites.

KEEP TRACK

Have a policy set in place to track who has access to which computer system, data, servers, routers, etc. Also set up access regulations as seen fit.

PASSWORDS

Assign a separate log-in for each employee. Select less complex passwords to prevent it from being scribbled down somewhere. A simple combination of words with numbers will do. Another recommendation I give clients is to avoid using any personal information in your selected password. If you want to store your passwords, use a secure app like Last Pass.

ENCRYPT

Your files can be stored in various places, the cloud being one of them. While iCloud was given a bad rap after the public leak of various celebrity photos last year, in reality, those celebrities Apple ID passwords had been compromised in phishing attacks.

Still, it’s better to be on the safe side. To lessen the risk of a data breach, use the option to auto-encrypt sensitive files, or, encrypt them manually before saving it in storage. Free tools are available to do this. Try to limit employee access to only those encrypted files which they will need.

BACK UP. BACK UP. BACK UP.

In a recent phishing scheme, emails were sent to the public from a seemingly legitimate account, offering a “Windows 10 upgrade” (timely, since Microsoft did launch Windows 10 on July 29). For users who clicked on the link, however, a fake software was installed, after which, a ransom was demanded in exchange for the files on the individual computers.

For those who have reserved the legitimate upgrade, Microsoft 10 will automatically install to one’s system. In the meantime, do not make your files so vulnerable that it could be held hostage. Back up your data daily.

UPDATE TECHNOLOGY

Choose a security technology package that will meet your company’s requirements and then ensure it is kept up to date. Anti-virus software, firewalls and more, are needed on all devices, including smartphones. Inexpensive options are available to choose from. Budget-permitted, have a cyber-security expert help to design your defence plan.

THE DREADED ‘H’ WORD

In the case where you have been hacked or infected by a virus, disconnect your device from the internet immediately. Have a specialist scan and clean your system. If you suspect a hacking crime has taken place, report it immediately.