Social media and online games, as well as the Internet in general, make our daily lives easier and are being used by more and more people. However, they are not entirely safe, and for that reason, there are some precautions you should take to avoid falling into traps that could harm you. In this Cybersecurity Guide for Children and Teenagers, you will explore valuable tips to prevent this from happening.
Take a few minutes to read this article and apply the recommendations I share with you. You’ll see that the risk of being attacked or scammed will decrease significantly.
And the best part is that with many of these recommendations, you only need to apply them once to become immediately more protected.
What is personal data?
Personal data is information that allows someone to identify you, such as:
- Your name (especially your full name);
- Your home address;
- Your mobile phone number;
- Your photographs;
- Your citizen card details;
- Your passwords;
- Etc.
As a rule, you should not share this information. If you do, you should take some precautions, including doing so under the supervision of your parents or guardian.
This is because, with your personal data, some people can do bad things, such as identity theft. In other words, they can impersonate you in front of your acquaintances or even other people or services.
If this happens, they can say things you didn’t say or do things in your name that you don’t want to be done.
For example, nowadays, Artificial Intelligence can quickly create a manipulated photo of you, placing you in a place you’ve never been or next to someone you’ve never been with. Fake documents with your data can also be created, among many other situations that could become unpleasant.
Therefore, your personal data belongs to you and you should protect it by sharing only what is absolutely necessary for each situation, ensuring that you are certain that the person asking for it is indeed who they claim to be, and that sharing your data is truly required for that situation. For example, your school needs to know your name, address, and the contact details of your guardian, among other elements essential for the proper functioning of the relationship between the School, Student, and Parents/Guardians. But someone you just met on Instagram doesn’t need to know your exact address, how many people live with you, or what time your family leaves or arrives home.
In case of doubt, once again, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the adults who are close to you.
It is important to maintain a good online reputation
Everything you post on the Internet stays on the Internet. This means you should always think about maintaining a good reputation, which means not posting anything online that could harm you in the present or in the future. This is called a “digital footprint” and it means your actions on the Internet can affect your future. For example, if you don’t have a good online reputation, you may have more difficulty finding a job when you’re an adult. On the other hand, a good online reputation can help with a job application process.
How to create secure profiles on social media?
Quando crias uma conta numa rede social, a primeira coisa que deves fazer antes de a começar a utilizar, ou seja, ainda antes de criares posts, é protegê-la. A proteção da tua conta começa com a colocação de uma password segura, que deve conter, no mínimo, 14 carateres. Não precisa de ser uma password complexa e difícil de memorizar, podes simplesmente pensar numa frase ou três palavras, colocar algumas das letras em maiúsculas, adicionar alguns números e carateres especiais e rapidamente tens uma password bem segura. Por exemplo, se pensarmos que a lagosta é comida no prato que está em cima da mesa, e que são quatro lagostas para quatro pessoas e uma mesa, isto pode resultar na password “LagostaPratoMesa441#”, que é uma password fácil de decorar e que, segundo o site https://bitwarden.com/password-strength/ demora séculos a descobrir.
When you create an account on a social media platform, the first thing you should do before using it – before even posting anything – is to secure it. Securing your account starts with setting a strong password, which should be at least 14 characters long. It doesn’t need to be a complex and difficult-to-remember password; you can simply think of a phrase or three words, capitalize some of the letters, add numbers and special characters, and quickly create a strong password. For example, if we think that lobster is food on a plate that is on the table, and there are four lobsters for four people and one table, this could result in the password “LobsterPlateTable441#,” which is easy to remember and, according to the website https://bitwarden.com/password-strength/, would take centuries to crack.
Next, you should enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). This is an option you’ll find in the security settings of your account, and what it does is ensure that if someone somehow discovers your password, they won’t be able to access your account because there’s a second step in the authentication process. Depending on the method used, this second step could involve entering a code on the website or app (which is generated in an Authenticator app or sent via SMS or email), or approving the login on another device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, which could be yours or your parents’.
Finally, you should review all the settings of the social media platform to protect your account and data as much as possible.
When you post text, photos, or videos, you should remember that what you share about yourself can be used for both good and bad purposes. A typical example is sharing photos when you’re on vacation. On one hand, it’s great because your friends can see the amazing moments you’re experiencing and the fantastic places you’re visiting, but on the other hand, you’re also sending the message that you and your family are not at home, and for those with bad intentions, it could be the perfect time to break in. To avoid sharing too much information, you can post those photos later, after returning from vacation, or ensure in the security settings that only those you’ve added as friends can see your posts, and that you don’t add people you don’t know as friends.
When you message people you’ve just met, remember that they are still strangers. When you were younger, you probably heard that you shouldn’t talk to strangers. The same applies when using social media. In other words, you should be careful:
- With what you share about yourself or your family;
- With what the person shares with you, especially links to websites or files, as they may infect your device with viruses, which could damage your computer, steal your files, or even spy on you;
- With what they ask of you, such as asking you to send photos of yourself.
Always ask yourself, “Is this person really who they say they are?” And always be cautious, even if you’ve been talking to the person for a few days or if they’ve already sent you photos of themselves.
You should also not agree to meet up. If someone tries to arrange a meeting with you, never make the mistake of going without informing your parents or guardian.
What to do if something goes wrong online?
If something goes wrong while you are using the Internet, such as receiving inappropriate messages or attempts to deceive you, you should immediately share the situation with your parents or guardians, or even with your teachers.
This will help keep you safer, but it can also help prevent the same situation from happening to other boys or girls.
How to play online safely?
The same tips for creating profiles on social media apply to online games. Create a secure password, enable MFA or 2FA, check the account settings, and now you’re ready to play.
Just like on social media, you should also avoid sharing personal data in online games, and be vigilant about what you’re being asked for to avoid falling for scams.
When purchasing games or making in-game purchases, you should never enter the bank card details of the person paying. Instead, virtual cards should be created, and the details of these virtual cards should be entered during the purchase. This is because, if someone somehow obtains the details of the physical card, those are all the details they need to make unauthorized purchases, stealing money from your family. By using virtual card details, you have greater control because, when creating the virtual card, you can specify whether it will be used for a one-time purchase, multiple purchases, or a monthly subscription, as well as set a maximum limit for the card. Click the button below to read my article on this topic.
Parental control
Computers, tablets, and smartphones, as well as the apps installed on them, have parental control tools that your parents or guardian should set up. These tools are not meant to harm you; on the contrary, they will ensure that the content you view is age-appropriate. This means you will see more content you enjoy and less content that could harm or scare you. They will also allow your parents to monitor your online activity. This doesn’t mean they will know everything you do or write, but they will have data on how much time you spend online, which apps you use most, and so on.
