Keeping kids safe online

AS the VP of Information Security, I work to ensure Fortinet operates securely and to protect our systems and data from harm. My other full time job (and the job I love the most!) is being “Mom” to my two kids. As a parent, I work to keep my kids safe wherever they venture, including online.

The Internet can be a truly valuable resource for kids, as it can provide educational material, fun games, and ways to connect with their friends. However, it can also be a playground for cyber bullying, malicious content, and criminals and predators who seek to prey on kids and their families for things such as identify theft, crime, and much worse.

As we go into the summer months and kids are out of school, they will have even more opportunity to spend time online.

Below are some things that you can consider doing to help keep your kids safe online:

Talk to your kids about your expectations for them online - Consider setting boundaries that may include rules about how long they are allowed to be on the computer, what sites they are allowed to visit, what software programs can be used, and what tasks or activities they are allowed to do based on age appropriateness, knowledge, and maturity.

Teach them the importance of keeping information private - Posting personal information and photos on the Internet can be dangerous, as it can be leveraged by those who want to do harm. In addition, once information is posted, it can have haunting effects later, as it can be hard to remove once it’s in the public domain. Be sure to also check their privacy settings on social media sites to prevent strangers from accessing personal information. These settings may not always be set up properly by default. Ensure that your kids understand:

Never give their name, phone number, email address, password, address, school name, or picture