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Cape Town - Children are particularly vulnerable on the internet because young people are often more naïve than adults, says an online security company.
Criminals exploit those who may believe online claims at face value or who may overlook details that hide cyber attacks.
While children will no doubt find the internet and online services useful, particularly as the new school year gets underway, parents can help by ensuring that their offspring remain safe while surfing the web.
Security company Kaspersky Lab offers these tips for keeping kids safe online.
Limit the Amount of Time Kids Spend Online:
Parents should have strict guidelines about the time a child spends on a computer. Before setting these new rules up, however, it's good to have a heart-to-heart conversation with a child to explain why these time limits are important.
Control the Content:
Set clear ground-rules about what children can and can’t do online and to explain why you have put them in place. Rules should be reviewed as children grow up.
In addition to these tips, it's important that children are taught basic internet safety rules:
• Do not make your private information available to the public or send it to strangers, especially your contact details, address, and your school. "Strangers" are any people you don't know in real life.
• Don't accept any requests to meet in person from strangers.
• Don't tell anyone your phone number or e-mail, or publish it on a social network page.
• Don't click any links from unknown senders.
• Don't trust tempting messages of any sort - free stuff, discounts, increasing your reputation/likes/stars on some website, or social media page. Just delete such messages and don't click any links.
• If something happens online that makes you uncomfortable, or you start getting messages from people who worry you, tell your parents to get their help in solving the problem.
Has your family been targets of cyber criminals? Tell us your story.
