Worried about how exposed your family is in the digital age we live in? Between smartphones, social media, and other smart devices – companies, advertisers, and sometimes even hackers are constantly collecting bits and pieces of information about your family’s life, habits, and preferences.
It is more important now than ever before to protect your family’s privacy and make sure that personal information is kept out of the wrong hands. Want to know how to do that? Here’s a few practical ways to lock down your privacy while still enjoying the perks of modern tech:
1. Encrypt Your Connection
Encryption can scramble data so it is unreadable to anyone without the correct key. To fully secure your family’s connection, you should set up WPA3 encryption (or at least WPA2) for WiFi on your home router, and also consider using a VPN provider or VPN extension for Chrome.
The WPA3 encryption will secure your home router, prevent unauthorized access, and protect data transmitted via WiFi. On the other hand, the VPN will encrypt internet traffic and prevent it from being intercepted by your ISP or other less savoury parties.
2. Strengthen All Passwords
Weak passwords will leave your accounts vulnerable, which is a potentially huge breach of your privacy. That’s why you need to use passwords that are long (12+ characters), random, and unique for each and every account.
If you’re worried you can’t remember so many complicated passwords, use a password manager such as Keeper, LastPass, or Bitwarden. Make it a point to teach your kids how to create strong passwords, and emphasize why it is important they do.
3. Lock Down Social Media
Social media is a bigger privacy risk than people realize. Every post you make could be seen by millions of people, and may unintentionally reveal lots of personal information. For example, a post of your child on their first day of school could expose the school’s name, location, and the time when you’ll be there to pick up or drop off your kids.
To lock down social media, you need to think long and hard about what you choose to share online. Avoid anything that could reveal full names, real-time locations, or sensitive details such as your address. If you have teenagers, talk to them about what’s safe to share and what isn’t.
The privacy settings on social media platforms can help control who sees your posts, and what information is shared. Spend a few minutes reviewing them on every platform you use.
4. Teach Kids the Basics
Although kids nowadays are extremely digitally-savvy, many are unaware of privacy risks and why they’re so dangerous. For younger kids you can limit screen time and stick to platforms with strong parental controls, but as they grow up you need to teach them how to protect themselves.
Start by explaining the risks of sharing personal information online, such as identity theft, fraud, and cyberstalking. Also discuss phishing emails and how they shouldn’t click on any link that looks suspicious. There are lots of great cybersecurity resources for kids you can use to make explaining these concepts easier.
Conclusion: Use Tech Thoughtfully
Notice how you don’t need to become a digital recluse to protect your family’s privacy. Instead, all you need to do is use tech thoughtfully and make sure that your family does the same.
Make online privacy a topic that you discuss as a family. Set rules for everyone to follow, and lead by example by adopting safety-first online habits in your own life. Starting now and taking small steps will quickly add up and help protect your family’s privacy in this digital age.
