Safer Internet Day 2019: Staying Safe Online with the 4Rs

The internet can be a scary place, particularly if you’re a parent in 2019. Kids are so at ease with the online world, taking to it as intuitively as a duck takes to water, and yet they can be completely oblivious to dangers lurking just beneath the surface. This mixture of confidence and vulnerability can make them a very appealing target for cybercriminals, whose attention can have very serious consequences.

Aussie parents are aware of this and it causes great concern, yet many don’t know how best to deal with it. In fact, more than half of Australian mums and dads raising digital natives confess they are unsure of the correct way to raise them in our digital world.

At Norton, we’re dedicated to giving parents back the power to help keep their kids safe in a digital world. That’s why Norton Security Premium includes parental control features, providing parents with tools to help manage what their kids see and do online and encourage healthy digital habits.

We’re also aligning with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner to promote online safety and digital wellness among Australian families. With Safer Internet Day 2019 on today, now is the ideal time to remind parents that one of the best ways to ensure their home is internet-safe is by practicing the 4Rs of cyber safety: Respect, Responsibility, Reasoning, and Resilience.

 

Doing so will help protect Aussie kids and give parents peace of mind – something our recent findings have revealed they get precious little of. One of the biggest contributors to this is the threat of online bullying, something that plays on the minds of three quarters of Aussie parents, while seven in ten fear their children will find themselves in dangerous online situations and not know how to respond.

In addition to this, almost six in ten parents agree that technology does not generally encourage positive behaviour in their children, and seven in ten claim that technology isolates children in the home and limits the amount of time families spend together.

Fortunately, by adopting our strong digital wellness habits and implementing cutting-edge products like Norton Security Premium, Aussies can start to build 4R skills in themselves and their children, helping to ensure their home is always internet-safe:

1. Educate your child about online safety.

Don’t just tell them to be careful, show them why they should be cautious online. One of the best ways to approach this is to regularly do something with your child online that they enjoy doing (e.g. play a video game together or search online for something that interests you both). Enjoy the time together but also use this as a time to explain where the risks are as you see them (e.g. advertising, video game chat rooms, social media risks). Use a tool such as Norton Family Premier to monitor usage while having these positive and educational experiences. Parents can also visit the Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s iParent portal for educational resources on online safety.

2. Focus on screen time quality.

Often, we think of healthy technology use in terms of time, but quality screen time is just as important. Thirty minutes spent creating artwork on screen could be more valuable than thirty minutes spent playing a video game. Aim for quality and guide your child to use technology in positive ways.

3. Protection against cybercriminals via the latest software updates.

Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new threats, so you need to be conscientious about ensuring all your operating systems and apps are up to date with the latest versions and patches to help address any security vulnerabilities that could expose you to a cyberattack.

4. Teach your kids about phishing.

You may be sophisticated enough to know not to click on a suspicious link that’s supposedly from your bank or a friend, but does everyone in your household? Tell your kids about phishing and warn them not to click on URLs from an email or social network message. Get a security program that recognises and blocks dodgy URLs, like Norton Security Premium.

5. Use a password management system.

Passwords are the primary defense against hackers for most people and it’s no secret that it’s often a flimsy one. Bolster your defense with a password management program, like Norton Password Manager. Best of all, this way you only need to remember one password.

6. Keep social networks secure.

There’s a good chance that at least one person in your house is on a social network. Unfortunately, social networks have become a draw for cybercriminals. If a friend posts something or sends you a message or link that seems out of character or too good to be true, then be wary. Your friend’s account may have been hacked.

7. Identify and avoid potential Wi-Fi threats.

Wi-Fi networks are another possible entry point for hackers. At home, make sure your Wi-Fi network has a hard-to-crack password that you change regularly. Also stress the importance of avoiding public Wi-Fi networks to your kids or utilise a virtual private network (VPN) to help protect your privacy when using Wi-Fi on the go.

8. Don’t forget mobile devices.

Your phone and tablet need as much security protection as your PC. Make sure you’ve got a full security solution that covers your mobile devices as well. Put a passcode on your tablets and phones, too.

9. Ensure you have the latest cyber security software in place to help protect your devices in and out of the home.

Protect all your digital devices with comprehensive security software like Norton Security Premium. It can help you get peace of mind without sacrificing your family’s ability to learn and stay connected. It’s your single solution that helps protect multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets.