How to get your kids interested in cyber security?

Getting less tech-savvy family members, especially teenagers and younger children, interested in computer security is a thankless task. It is necessary to teach them the implications of security breaches along with the importance of preventive measures.

Children and young adults are more vulnerable to security risks like viruses, phishing websites and other worms. Moreover, they are also exposed to social media risks and scams that use social engineering to convince victims to click on fake links or provide personal information. Cyberbullying is another danger of social media, as are online predators and other attackers.

We must assume that younger members in a household need greater guidance and help with security matters since it is in their nature to be curious and slightly careless. Every parent has their own way to handle such issues but one needs to ensure that such dangers are being handled in the right manner.

Implement a degree of fun in the learning process
When one involves an element of fun for youngsters, the response received is better and faster. There are multiple tools and interactive programs that can be used for this. Children love playing games so if one interlaces the learning in a gamification process, the rewards reaped are positive.

Effectively communicate the risks involved
It is crucial to talk to young individuals and to clearly explain the risks of security hazards. Children need to understand why something is wrong. If this teaching is imparted with real world examples it will be processed and understood better. This involves a fair amount of research and study by a parent, so this is something one should be prepared for.

Do not impose unreasonable rules
As children approach their teenage years, excessive rules and limitations worsen things. If a parent sets unreasonable computer usage rules that are not negotiable, the youngster will simply access the Internet from someplace else. One needs to encourage healthy communication. This involves acceptance that there is objectionable content over the web and being prepared for the day a child is exposed to such material.

Make use of appropriate tools
Quick Heal offers a Parental Control feature that must be used wisely for this very purpose. It allows the use of content filters for age appropriate content, usage controls for enforced time limits, usage management tools that embed learning with usage and various options for monitoring as well.

Here are some more points about cyber security to discuss with children:

  • Where is the Internet primarily accessed from?
  • What are the rules for web access from smartphones?
  • How much time is spent online?
  • What is the web mainly used for?
  • Are social media guidelines being followed?
  • Is there awareness about safety precautions for online financial transactions?
  • Is there awareness about pornographic and violent content?

For more information on Quick Heal Parental Control and how to configure it effectively, click on the following link:

Parenting online and Quick Heal Parental Control

Quick Heal helps you keep yourself and your family updated about the latest security threats. Internet security cannot be achieved instantly; it is a continuous and delicate process. Importantly, children should not be discouraged from sharing their online experiences.

Rahul Thadani

Rahul Thadani


76 Comments

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  1. Thanks Rahul.

    Reply
  2. Thanks Rahul

    Reply
  3. Thanks for such good information

    Reply
  4. Avatar subodh kolabkarOctober 11, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    It is very useful to update our awareness/alertness. Thanx a lot.

    Reply
  5. Avatar subodh kolabkarOctober 11, 2012 at 8:10 PM

    For parents it is very useful.

    Reply
  6. i regularly get pop-ups when i use internet.in the settings the pop-ups are ticked as blocked without any exceptions and i also have uninstalled recent downloads.What can be the possible reasons for the pop-ups and how to avoid them?

    thank you

    Reply
  7. Avatar jitendra prasadOctober 11, 2012 at 10:46 PM

    be help full to all (thanks )

    Reply
  8. Avatar jitendra prasadOctober 11, 2012 at 10:47 PM

    be Help full to all (thanks Rahul)

    Reply
  9. Its really very very kind of this Brand and its products mainly the trial versions also work as strong as paid once ….all i can say is its AWESOME!

    Reply
  10. Good One !!!

    Reply
  11. thanks for this information …
    for this reason the quick heal is leading Antivirus company in India !!!

    Reply
  12. this information is very important for parents, to handle their child to safe use of internet and explain the advantage and other things

    Reply
  13. This article is very good. Every parent should know and understand !

    Reply
  14. Avatar debdas BanerjeeOctober 12, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    need proper care & look aftering 24*7

    Reply
  15. thats very good

    Reply
  16. Thanks for your advice.

    Reply
  17. Thanks for your advice and instructions

    Reply
  18. Thanks for your advice.

    Reply
  19. Avatar Dr Avnesh SharmaOctober 12, 2012 at 10:39 AM

    Sir,
    I want something KIDS Savy software that if loaded shall always control the matters if kids have operated the computer.
    Dr A Sharma

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul ThadaniOctober 15, 2012 at 10:16 AM

      Hi Dr. Sharma,
      The Parental Control feature we provide is very versatile and has a lot of features you will find useful. To learn more about it, kindly visit the link that is provided in the post above.
      Thanks.

      Reply
  20. Avatar Universal internet centerOctober 12, 2012 at 11:06 AM

    Thanks for Kindly information …….sanju singh

    Reply
  21. Avatar khalid mehmoodOctober 12, 2012 at 1:12 PM

    thnks for your concern

    Reply
  22. Thanks

    Reply
  23. Nice and helpful article.

    Thanks

    Reply
  24. First of all, all social media sites and excessive internet savvy teachings and more computer usage by childrens should be banned. Childrens should first be allowed to study, play, grow with friends as they have time. Once they are in their colleges, then the computer education can imparted as one can easily learn computer, interest and other IT applications within few months. So it should not be necessary to push kids into computer world so early.

    Reply
  25. Avatar manju vashistOctober 12, 2012 at 2:57 PM

    thanx a million Rahul. I did not knew about it.

    Reply
  26. Avatar Vasudevachar.AOctober 12, 2012 at 3:14 PM

    Nice Advise

    Reply
  27. It is very useful to update our alertness.be carefull Thanx a lot.

    Reply
  28. It is very useful to update our awareness/alertness.be carefull . Thanks a lot.

    Reply
  29. It is very useful to update our awareness/alertness. Thanx a lot.

    Reply
  30. Avatar D D BELAMKAROctober 12, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    Dear Rahul
    Thank You very much for the Information shared by you,
    I have started using it & found wonderful, It helps me to releaved from my worries.
    Thanks to Quickheal Team,
    Regards,
    D.D.Belamkar
    CEO
    Gain Controls

    Reply
  31. nice and helpful information.

    thank you ( Rahul )

    Reply
  32. Avatar jitender singhOctober 12, 2012 at 4:22 PM

    thanks

    Reply
  33. Avatar prakash ahireOctober 12, 2012 at 4:29 PM

    It is good information & guidance

    Reply
  34. Avatar Mehul SolankiOctober 12, 2012 at 4:32 PM

    specially for parents, nice and helpful matter … good

    Reply
  35. Avatar Soumitro mukherziOctober 12, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    Thanks Mr Thadani for upgrading our awareness.

    Reply
  36. Avatar VIJAY KUMAR TIWARIOctober 12, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    Thanks for your suggesation

    Reply
  37. Avatar B.K.MallickOctober 12, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Thank U Rahul for ur guidance.

    Reply
  38. Avatar Garba SheyinOctober 12, 2012 at 6:02 PM

    This information is quite educative,implementable and sure to be rewarding. Thanks.

    Reply
  39. Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

    Reply
  40. Avatar Prakash ParidaOctober 12, 2012 at 6:50 PM

    Thanx Rahul for these good information.

    Reply
  41. nice information.

    Reply
  42. Avatar pritesh gadgeOctober 12, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    Thanks Rahul Kakau

    Reply
  43. Avatar narasimharaoOctober 12, 2012 at 8:16 PM

    you’re done a very good job. thanks & congrats

    Reply
  44. wow its awesome

    Reply
  45. Avatar MANISH BAJPAIOctober 13, 2012 at 1:10 AM

    this information is veru usefull for all of us……

    Reply
  46. It is very useful to update for all awareness/alertness. Thanx a lot for valuble information.

    Reply
  47. If this Information will be in whole world this world will be heaven.

    Reply
  48. First of all, all social media sites and excessive internet savvy teachings and more computer usage by childrens should be banned. Childrens should first be allowed to study, play, grow with friends as they have time. Once they are in their colleges, then the computer education can imparted as one can easily learn computer, interest and other IT applications within few months. So it should not be necessary to push kids into computer world so early.

    Reply
  49. I am requesting sir that take this information in all childrens and shopping website so all childrens and parents will see and woh! this called a talent I will also do this things with my childrens and write my name also there because I have given you this suggestions.

    Reply
  50. very nice RAHUL THADANI

    Reply
  51. nice and thanks RAHUL THADANI

    Reply
  52. Avatar Sohail Rasool LoneOctober 13, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    Thanks for sharing this information

    Reply
  53. Avatar N.M.Mukthar AhmedOctober 13, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    very important and very useful tips. Thanks a lot Rahul

    Reply
  54. It will be helpful for adolescents & school children .

    Reply
  55. Its really very very kind of this Brand and its products mainly the trial versions also work as strong as paid once ….all i can say is its AWESOME!

    Reply
  56. Very useful info regarding today’s senario…thanks team..

    Reply
  57. Thanks Boss …

    Reply
  58. NICE ARTICLE.. VERY HELPFUL TO NET USERS

    Reply
  59. Avatar Vijay AroraOctober 13, 2012 at 7:18 PM

    It’s great that you are providing such useful info about the cyber security. Parents and their children too are very much in lack of such info. Thanks and regards. Keep me updated like this.

    Reply
  60. Thanks a lot

    Reply
  61. Avatar krishna murariOctober 13, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    like this ouick heal

    Reply
  62. Thanks for your advice
    thank thank thanksssssssssssss.

    Reply
  63. Thanx. Very useful.

    Reply
  64. Thanks for the updation Rahul!!

    Reply
  65. Rahul, thanks for giving information on ‘how’to educate children on cyber security. But, unfortunately, there is no information on ‘what’to teach. You have given several questions in your post, answers of which I do not know. I am a parent of two young children, but I do not know on the following:
    Where is the Internet primarily accessed from?
    What are the rules for web access from smartphones?
    How much time is spent online?
    What is the web mainly used for?
    Are social media guidelines being followed?
    Is there awareness about safety precautions for online financial transactions?
    Is there awareness about pornographic and violent content?

    So please provide us the material so that we can teach our kids about the cyber security.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul ThadaniOctober 15, 2012 at 10:40 AM

      Hi Hemangi,
      Every parent has different ways of handling their children. These questions are guidelines for the topics you should discuss with your kids about cyber security. Talk to them about these things and set some flexible regulations into place. If they are open about their online activities you do not need to worry. Every parenting guide can only give you generic information because every parent has to deal with different situations and personalities.
      Regards.

      Reply
  66. it realy good.
    thanks

    Reply
  67. it is very usefull

    Reply
  68. it is very good & usefull for user.
    Thanks a lot

    Reply
  69. Avatar Kanishk SinghDecember 28, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    Quick Heal Blog should start a section on this blog where an average computer user becomes more than just “average” and learn some basic things in Cyber Security. There are many young kids and teens that see the Quick Heal News Pop-Up while surfing the internet and stumble upon your blog. If you have that section, then young minds may find that tutorials and posts interesting and will go on learning about Cyber Security more and more. You can help in developing future Software Engineers and Computer Security Experts.

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul ThadaniDecember 29, 2012 at 11:04 AM

      Hi Kanishk,
      Thanks for the suggestion. In the blogs we post here we attempt to make cybersecurity issues as simple to understand as possible. This helps users of all ages understand the way these incidents work and what to do to stay safe. If you have more suggestions for posts for us, please feel free to offer suggestions. Thanks again for your interest.
      Regards.

      Reply