Cyber security is an important part of daily life, whether you’re connecting to public WiFi hotspots or scrolling through social media at home. As such, it’s important to learn all that you can.
Learn how to keep your family secure with expert articles and guidance on cyber security topics.
Cyber security means protection in the online space. Therefore, it can refer to the security settings you use on your online social and video gaming accounts or the software you use on your family’s devices.
Good cyber security means the risk of your family’s personal information falling into the wrong hands is less likely. As such, it’s important to implement security measures that protect your devices.
Explore this guide to learn about the different types of cyber attacks and the protections you can put in place to keep your family safe.
An interactive guide to help secure children’s online accounts.
Learn about cyber attacks, phishing and ransomware.
Discover how strong passwords protect from data breaches.
Learn about identity theft, how your child might be targeted and what you can do.
Learn how to help your child protect their private information.
Learn about the risks of digital piracy and how to take action.
Learn about encryption and how it might affect your child.
This is closely related to cryptocurrency and results from clicking on suspicious links or online ads. When this happens, malware gains unauthorised access to your device and uses it to mine cryptocurrency. Mining cryptocurrency uses a lot of energy and power, so you will notice your device slowing down. However, it is otherwise undetected.
Make sure all software your family uses is the latest version, install ad blockers where possible and talk to your child about the dangers of clicking on mysterious links or ads.
Password-sharing is common among children who don’t understand the importance of cyber security. In some cases, friends misuse each other’s accounts, which results in trouble for the account holder. However, password breaches can also happen in other ways.
When you register to new websites, there is always a risk of poor data security which result in data breaches. These breaches could result in passwords being released and used by third-parties. If you use the same password for every account, this creates more vulnerability. Unfortunately, many children use the same password across accounts.
Use password managers to create secure passwords and check websites like Have I Been Pwned? to see if your data has been breached and where. Reset passwords on any accounts that have been compromised and delete discontinued accounts.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, MITM attacks became more frequent because of the use of virtual meeting software. When two parties communicate (i.e, the client and the host), an attacker might take over the session to steal information.
While many virtual meeting platforms increased security to stop these cyber attacks, using vulnerable WiFi connections leave users open to harm.
Avoid connecting to public WiFi where possible or check that it is reliable and safe.
Phishing can lead to the installation of malware on your device or theft of sensitive information. It is often associated with emails from unrecognised senders but can also use established contacts. For example, they might use a contact’s first and last name but use a different email. Alternatively, your contact’s email could be hacked and used to phish.
When you or your child receives an email, it’s important to think carefully about the content:
Teach your child to delete such emails or ask you if they’re unsure. They should never click on links when they don’t know where they lead. This is true on social media, across different websites and through online video game chats as well.
You might have heard of malware but do you know what it is? In short, malware (or malicious software) is a software designed to gain access to a computer system without permission. Once malware is on a computer, it can damage files or disrupt personal cyber security. A computer virus is a type of malware.
Someone might use malware to steal personal information, financial details or anything else that could benefit them but harm your family.
Install software on your computer to fight malware. In addition to this, make sure your children understand how attackers might target them.
A type of malware, ransomware blocks access to a computer system for financial gain. This is called ‘locker ransomware’ and disallows any use of the computer.
However, sometimes a computer is still usable but the files are encrypted and inaccessible. This is called ‘crypto ransomware’. Cyber criminals continue to block access until the owner pays a sum of money to release it.
Ransomware can end up on your computer through phishing emails with infected attachments or through vulnerabilities in cyber security. Additionally, clicking on mysterious links or going to untrustworthy websites can lead to infected devices. Teach your children to think before they click and ask you if they’re ever unsure.
See how one teen, Hannah, became the target of cyber security threats on a school laptop and how she got help.
The following products are the most popular cyber security software for families based on ratings from all over the web. They all offer their own unique elements for network security. Therefore, we have outlined the benefits and drawbacks to help you make the best choices for your family’s online safety.
Explore highly rated antivirus software for home and devices. From essential security to premium, choose from a variety of options to suit your family.
VISIT ESETIf you have the budget for quality cyber security software, using one of these paid services is a great place to start.
Norton 360 Advanced is an all-in-one cyber security software. As such, it provides a range of security features, including protection from viruses and malware. Additionally, it provides a secure VPN service along with social media monitoring and identity theft support. This software provides protection all year long for up to ten devices.
Cost: £39.99 for the first year
Norton 360 also has less expensive options available to best suit your family’s needs. Some of the above benefits are not available on all versions.
While users love the level of protection from Norton, the biggest complaint is the price. While £39.99 per year seems reasonable to most, automatic renewal is £149.99 per year. Therefore, many users report cancelling and repurchasing, which can cause some headaches.
Alongside, McAfee leads the market as a popular antiviral software for families. Total Protection offers more than just antiviral services though. It also provides families with a firewall, secure VPN, parental controls and great technical assistance from the McAfee team. At the Premium level, you can add up to 10 devices to Total Protection.
Cost: £49.99 for the first year
McAfee also has less expensive options available to best suit your family’s needs. Some of the above benefits are not available on all versions.
Bitdefender Premium Security is an all-in-one software for enhanced cyber security. As such, it offers protection for your data and passwords as well as against spam, fraud and phishing. Additionally, it offers protection for up to 10 devices, which is a great option for a multi-device family.
Cost: £54.99
A tight budget does not mean cyber security is impossible. While the paid software above may also have free versions, the below are some of the most popular among free software available.
Avast One Essential is a popular software for protection against cyber security threats. It offers similar features to paid-for options such as malware protection and an optional VPN, but the free option makes it a good option for money-conscious families.
Millions of users around the world use AVG AntiVirus Free. Just like paid options, it offers regular scans and protection against a variety of online threats without costing you anything. It is also specifically designed for personal and family use rather than business, which means it offers the right protection.
Microsoft Defender is automatically installed on Windows operating systems. If you have no other virus protection or cyber security software, Microsoft Defender does a decent job of protecting users.
See advice and resources to help children stay safe online.
