Presently, phishing attacks are one of the largest security threats affect users of the digital world. They are a means to obtain sensitive data such as the person’s identity, credit or debit card information using a variety of methods, including counterfeit emails and websites, and fake social media posts. Thus, safeguarding the privacy and security of the user is a challenge, especially when users are young. Today, phishing attacks represent one of the biggest security threats targeting users of the digital world. They consist of an attempt to steal sensitive information such as a user’s identity or credit and debit card details using various methods such as fake emails, fake websites and fake social media messages. Cybercriminals profit from the popularity of online websites games, apps and apps to develop frauds that are hard for adults, let alone kids to detect and stay clear of. Because of this, children are often vulnerable to cyber attack. There are some ways you can act as a parent to reduce your child’s exposure to scams:
Utilizing parental controls on devices, gaming websites and other platforms that your child is using.
Numerous websites, devices gaming platforms, and Internet Service Providers have tools that can help you ensure your children’s safety online. Make use of the existing security tools to manage your children’s access to the internet, which includes the type of websites they visit and who they can reach and the ways they can shop.
Inform the reader that information about your account is not public.
Inform children that they shouldn’t divulge account details to any person other than their parents, and not even their peers. Your child’s account could contain sensitive personal data, including the details of your credit card account. Gaming companies will never solicit sensitive personal data such as bank account numbers, passwords, or Social Security Numbers. Requests for private data is a indication of a scam.
Do not include Personally Identifiable Information (PPI) in the account profile.
Inform children that their actual identities, names, telephone numbers, or other school information shouldn’t be used to create a social media or gaming account. The information in a profile could be made public, which is why it is important to choose fictitious names, or to avoid the entire process of creating profiles if you can.
To teach children about the risks of opening questionable hyperlinks, even if they appear to originate via their “friends”.
Websites with suspicious links that are sent by text message or in-game chats as well as emails can install malicious software on your system and even steal passwords and login details and can lead to the sale of your personal information as well as children’s game assets. You must be aware of how to recognize a phishing email, and the message should be shared with children so they are able to recognize the phishing email too.
Security of account information.
A secure and unique password should be used for personal accounts and if appropriate, Two-factor authentication is recommended to be turned on to protect the accounts of children from unauthorised access.
Do not be fooled by fake web sites or mobile applications and only purchase on official gaming platforms.
Many games provide the option of purchasing in-game or in-app to improve your gaming experience. The huge demand for online games makes games scams extremely attractive to cybercriminals. Scam websites can appear professional but they often have malicious code or offer game currency to exchange personal data. Children should be wary of advertisements that offer “free” gaming currency through social media or chats within games.
Make them aware of the signs and provide examples.
There are several indicators that you should look out for when you’ve been a victim of an phishing scam. It could be due to misspelled words, grammar mistakes, incorrect email addresses, hyperlinks, as well as an excessively urgent tone. It is essential that your child is aware of what to look out for in order to spot the signs of a scammer. You could even provide them with some examples or even create a cheatsheet which they keep close to their gadget.
Children of all ages are on the internet. If you have children who are younger or have just begun to spell and read concentrate on the more evident visual clues. The best way to teach youngsters is to utilize devices together, and take part actively in the online world. It is also possible to have them look you up when they discover something novel or unusual when they’re on the internet.
Teach them what to do when confronted a scammer.
After teaching, children how to recognize scams that are phishing they should be taught on what they should do if they are confronted by them. If they discover a fraudulent phishing scheme, they should contact with you or a trusted adult right away. Be sure that they are aware that they shouldn’t take additional action when you or another trusted adult doesn’t assist them. Inform them about the applications they use and the way to stop or restart the device in the event that they require.
Do not let children enter any personal information in the absence of supervision. This could happen when they create an account in games or an online community. Teach your children to understand when their personal information is requested and to always consult an adult for permission.
Set a positive example.
Impersonation is the most genuine kind of compliment. Be aware of this when your children begin to fake your online activity. Even if they’re not watching, you must practice your own secure behaviors. Connect with your children online and discover the websites and apps they are using and help them make use of them in a safe manner. This can also help you stay up to date if any scams occur that target specific apps or games that your children are using.
