Help Protect Children’s Devices With Online Safety Tips From Federal Trade Commission

ensure all devices have auto updates enabled

(FTC) – As more children use phones, tablets, and laptops for schoolwork, entertainment, and communication, families are being urged to take proactive steps to safeguard young users from hackers, scammers, and other online threats.

National online safety experts emphasize that protecting kids’ devices is an essential first step in fostering safe and healthy digital habits.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to ensure that all devices have automatic updates enabled. This measure keeps apps, web browsers, and operating systems up to date, reducing the vulnerabilities that cybercriminals often exploit.

Strong, unique passwords are also recommended for every device and account. Families are advised to help older children and teens set up password managers or use built-in password generators while reinforcing the importance of not leaving devices unattended in public places.

Security professionals also highlight the importance of securing home wi fi networks. They recommend changing a router’s default name and password, disabling remote management, and logging out as the administrator once the setup is complete.

These steps help protect the entire household’s data while also safeguarding children’s online experiences.

Parental controls are another valuable tool for reinforcing safe online behavior. These settings can create more secure digital environments where children can learn, play, and explore with reduced risk.

Parents may also use parental controls to limit or disable in-app purchases, or require password approval for all transactions, helping families maintain better oversight of spending on mobile devices.

Families seeking additional guidance can explore resources from the Federal Trade Commission, which provides detailed information on enhancing online safety, privacy, and healthy development for children.

More information is available at ftc.gov/KidsOnline.

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