It’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month. You may have noticed, October is the month in which news reporters, government agencies, non-profits and security companies work together to remind consumers that security is a huge deal and that it’s everyone’s responsibility. Take an inventory of your devices and online practices this month. Ask yourself: How can I improve my digital security?
- You can filter content from your kids’ mobile devices. You blink and technology advances—we can relate! Today, filtering software isn’t just for the home computer. There are powerful apps that can guard your child’s cell phone from objectionable content; including videos, texts and social networks.
- Personal technology is becoming the norm in schools. More and more middle schools and high schools now allow students to access their mobile devices for learning during school hours. Protecting your child’s devices outside the home is becoming more critical.
- Your kids are online—way more than you think. Teens spend a considerable amount of time online, even more than their parents realize. Studies show that on average, teens spend about five hours a day online, while parents think their kids spend only two hours a day online. This makes those candid conversations on cyber bullying and cheating all the more critical.
- Insecurity is the norm. Insecure about online safety? You are not alone. A recent study shows, 90% of us do not feelcompletely safe from viruses, malware and hackers while on the Internet.
- SMiShing is on the rise. SMiShing is a version of phishing in which scammers
send text messages rather than emails, which appear to have been sent by a legitimate organization. In the text message you can click on a link or provide credentials in a text message reply. The term is a condensed way of referring to “short message service phishing,” or “SMS phishing.” - QR codes can contain viruses. While a relatively new scam, QR codes can carry infections. A QR scam works because the link destination is obscured by the link itself, via a shortened URL. Once scanned, a QR code can take the link to a malicious website or download an unwanted application or mobile virus. How do you stay safe? Don’t click QR codes from unfamiliar sources. Stick to codes provided by known advertisers or vendors.