Cyber safety facts for kids and adults aren’t necessarily all that far apart from one another when you consider adults do the same things kids do online.
They both go on social media, and sometimes talk with strangers they may not know in those same places.
They also deal with placing personal information online that could easily be compromised if not careful.
Just how much more similar are kids to adults in the cyber world and their vulnerability to cyber safety? Take a look at these facts and keep your own kids and company employees safe.
Posting Personal Information Online
Kids frequently go on social media and perhaps say or do things parents aren’t even aware they’re doing. It’s why parents should supervise their underage kids on social media to see what they’re saying to strangers. While you also want to respect some of their privacy when talking to friends, knowing what they’re saying publicly is imperative. You don’t want them giving out your personal address or giving your family’s last name to someone they don’t know.
The same goes in your company with your employees. As a supervisor, you should be aware of what your adult employees are doing on social media. Unfortunately, some people can act worse than kids when posting things anonymously online. This could include private information about your company you don’t want seen by the public. Evidence suggests we frequently give out far more private information online when we think we’re safe under an anonymous name.
Dealing with Predators in Chat Rooms
Chat rooms are still around, even if Twitter usually fills in under the same concept. Kids are also still targets from pedophiles who scan chat rooms and social media looking to communicate with them. You should always be aware of who they’re talking to while creating a careful balance of not intruding on conversations with their true friends. If you see evidence of a name they’re talking to that isn’t familiar, you should investigate who they are.
Your adult employees may be doing the same thing. In the world of trade secret theft, you also have people who fish for information through your employees. This could happen in a social media conversation where your employee may give away more information than they even realize. They should be cognizant to every word said online or risk giving away things potentially endangering your company.
Your employees can also be the targets of online predators, or perhaps do link-ups that become dangerous.
Avoid Clicking on Links from Strangers
The most common way to get a virus on your computer or for thieves to gain access to your personal info is through phishing links. On social media, kids are going to see hundreds of links from people that look legitimate. If you don’t recognize the name, your kids should be educated not to click any unknown links. With just one click, it could send personal info to a hacker who can hack your computer to steal identities.
Of course, shared phishing links can happen with people you know. It’s best to learn how to scan the link with a virus software to make sure it’s safe. Unfortunately, it’s a warning even adult employees in companies don’t heed. In that regard, you need to have a policy in place to make your employees aware of phishing links.
All told, more viruses and computer issues are created by being fooled by phishing scams in the workplace.
Here at AE Technology Group, we can help bring a strong level of cyber safety to your company. With our comprehensive IT services, we’ll use preventative measures to make sure these threats never happen to retain your peace of mind.
Contact us so we can tell you more about our IT services and provide security in a time when all of us are sitting ducks without the most thorough protection.
