Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is becoming more and more prevalent in schools.
Around 20 – 30 per cent of schools are moving towards BYOD each year, which means Kiwi kids are more likely than ever before to own their own device and have access to the internet from as young as seven or eight years old. On average, the BYOD device is required from mid-primary school.
So how do parents ensure their kids are safe online?
Gone are the days where families shared one computer and kept it in a communal space. Now, with every family member possibly owning their own device it’s harder for parents to monitor their kids’ online use and protect them.
The good news is that Noel Leeming Tech Solutions services not only offer technical support. Families can also get guidance on how to use their product and protect themselves online.
Here are some of Noel Leeming Tech Solutions’ top tips on how to keep you and your family safe online:
Noel Leeming Tech Solutions can help parents keep their kids safe online.
Password protect all of your family’s devices
Make sure all home desktop computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones have their own passwords – and then talk to your child about not sharing their password with anyone else.
To create a strong password include a range of upper and lower case letters, numbers and punctuation.
It’s also important to change passwords regularly.
Secure home computers
Install adequate fire walls and keep anti-virus software up to date.
Ensure your operating software is up to date.
Make sure all information on your computer is safely backed up, and if you dispose of a computer, make sure you have removed all personal data.
Teach your children to be cautious on social media
It’s imperative that you teach your children to be wary online, and in particular on social media.
Just as they wouldn’t talk to a stranger in the street, they should not be talking to people online that they don’t know.
Remind them to not share personal information (such as their surname, phone number, address or which school they go to) on social media, and show your child how to set their privacy settings on social media sites to ‘friends only’.
It’s worth knowing that you need to be 13+ to go on social media platforms that are popular with older kids such as Snapchat and Instagram, however many kids are introduced to social media at a younger age through kids’ games sites such as Roblox and Minecraft, which have a message board component.
Tell your child not to open links from unknown email addresses. A secure and authentic website will have two e-security symbols: a closed padlock and https:// in the address bar.
For more information go to noelleeming.co.nz/byod
