Going online can be a big risk, despite all the benefits you can get from an online world. In such a digitized world, a lot of people can be at risk, and it’s mostly the uninitiated. This doesn’t have to mean kids specifically, but they are more trusting at their age, so online safeguarding plays a big role in our society. A lot of us practically live online, and thus the online world has a mixed bag of people and software, so knowing what’s going on on the internet is necessary. So you know what your teens are texting, and you trust them to be responsible with it, but what about on the much bigger online platform?

Know What the Risks Are

We always need to know risks when it comes to all walks of life. The internet is no different, and a lot of people won’t be able to immediately spot anything out of place as the net can get pretty creative, and also weird when it comes to finding a layout.

Sort out what you do and don’t know about the internet, and there’s a lot to know! Check out blog lists on well known methods. Yet don’t just read up a single blog link about what’s out there; fact check the sources and do your own research as you never know what could be a scam.

Use some software here to do checks as you go along. Programs such as Norton’s have toolbars available to install on your web browser to enable quick verification checks.

Use Adblocking to Your Advantage

So we can agree that ad blocking was a wondrous invention, but if you have your own online business it can work against you. Hugely. But that doesn’t mean it’s all bad, especially when it comes to safety.

If you run a blog and host ads on there, you know how annoying a user with adblock can be. No possibility for pay per click or exposing your own material. Yet that’s the beauty of it: other people’s ads won’t be listed either when your kids take to the net. Use this kind of software where it matters, and have it on social media platforms. Most ad blocking programs have their own black and white lists, so set up preliminary measures.

Whilst they’re meant to be friendly places where kids can contact their friends whenever they want, social media platforms are also a great targeting platform for ads that are otherwise malicious. Even though there’s plenty of measures in place to sort the good from the bad in network algorithms and gaming stores, some nasty eggs still slip through.

Make Sure Antivirus is Everywhere

This is important for all computers, but if you have a family computer then it’s an especially crucial step. Often an antivirus won’t work because your computer’s own firewall won’t let it activate, and sometimes they conflict and cancel each other out.

Teach your child to use the settings properly, and if you have a communal computer keep an eye on it regularly to make sure no settings are accidently changed. A flipped switch could let anything through, and it doesn’t even have to be anyone’s fault.

Viruses can be disguised in any kind of format after all, whether they be normal web pages or downloads. Run everything through a checker before hand, especially any exe. files that come in the form of games your kid might want to check out.  

Something Looks Phishy?

Phishing scams can get us even as adults signing up to fraudulent websites and subscribing where we shouldn’t. Similarly, there’s a lot of facebook scams out there, and being able to pick the fact from the fiction is crucial to making sure your online life stays private. Rather than keep your kids from sites like facebook or twitter and the like, warn them about these dangers and go through how to spot them together. Limiting a teen’s freedom online isn’t going to work out well for anyone!

Most of all, trust your kids to be safe and secure online. Don’t let them believe they can’t come to you if they see something upsetting, so don’t punish them for any honesty they have with you. Your children are going to grow up and most likely find work on the internet. Teach them how to be safe online, and always bring tips and tricks to their attention; it can be a great family activity. The internet is a friend to us all!