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In my world of middle-aged mums (mams), Instagram is by far the most popular social media platform. While many of us still have Facebook, Instagram is where it all happens: messaging, sharing, and yes, of course – shopping!! So, when one of my gal pals discovers that her Instagram account has been hacked, there is understandably a lot of panic!
Believe it or not, Facebook is still hanging onto the top spot as the most popular social media platform with just over 3 billion active monthly users, according to Statista. YouTube comes in 2nd place with 2.5 billion users. Instagram and WhatsApp tie in 3rd place with 2 billion users each. Interestingly, TikTok has 1.5 billion users and is in 4th place – but watch this space, I say!
Despite Facebook having the most monthly users, it isn’t where the personal conversations and engagement take place. That’s Instagram’s sweet spot. Instagram messaging is where links are shared and real personal interaction occurs. In fact, a new report shows that Instagram accounts are targeted more than any other online account and makeup just over a quarter of all social media hacks. So, it makes sense why hackers would expend considerable energy in trying to hack Instagram accounts. They’ll have a much greater chance of success if they use a platform where there is an appetite and trust for sharing links and personal conversations.
But why do they want to get their hands on your account? Well, they may want to steal your personal information, scam your loyal followers by impersonating you, sell your username on the black market or even demand ransoms! Hacking Instagram is big business for professional scammers!!
So, you reach for your phone early one morning to do a quick scroll on Instagram before you start the day, but you can’t seem to log on. Mmmmm. You then see some texts from friends checking whether you have in fact become a cryptocurrency expert overnight. OK – something’s off. You then notice an email from Instagram notifying you that the email linked to your account has been changed. Looks like you’ve been hacked! But please don’t spend any time stressing. The most important thing is to take action ASAP as the longer hackers have access to your account, the greater the chance they can infiltrate your life and create chaos.
The good news is that if you act quickly and strategically, you may be able to get your account back. Here is what I suggest you do – fast!:
1. Change Your Password & Check Your Account
If you are still able to log in to your account then change your password immediately. And ensure it is a password you haven’t used anywhere else. Then do a quick audit of your account and fix any changes the hacker may have made eg remove access to any device you don’t recognise, any apps you didn’t install, and delete any email addresses that aren’t yours.
Next, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) to make it harder for the hacker to get back into your account. This will take you less than a minute and is absolutely critical. Instagram will give you the option to receive the login code either via text message or via an authentication app. I always recommend the app in case you ever lose control of your phone.
But, if you are locked out of your account then move on to step 2.
2. Locate The Email From Instagram
Every time there is a change to your account details or some new login activity, Instagram will automatically send a message to the email address linked with the account
But there’s good news here. The email from Instagram will ask you if you in fact made the changes and will provide a link to secure your account in case it wasn’t you. Click on this link!! If you can access your account this way, immediately check that the only linked email address and recovery phone number are yours and delete anything that isn’t yours. Then change your password.
But if you’ve had no luck with this step, move on to step 3.
3. Request a Log-In Link
You can also ask Instagram to email or text you a login link. On an iPhone, you just need to select ‘forgot password?’ and on your Android phone, tap ‘get help logging in’. You will need to enter the username, email address, and phone number linked to your account.
No luck? Keep going…
4. Request a Security Code
If the login link won’t get you back in, the next step is to request a security code. Simply enter the username, email address, or phone number associated with your account, then tap on “Need more help?” Select your email address or phone number, then tap “Send security code” and follow the instructions.
5. Video Selfie
If you have exhausted all of these options and you’ve had no luck then chances are you have found your way to the Instagram Support Team. If you haven’t, simply click on the link and it will take you there. Now, if your hacked account contained pictures of you then you might just be in luck! The Support Team may ask you to take a video selfie to confirm who you are and that in fact you are a real person! This process can take a few business days. If you pass the test, you’ll be sent a link to reset your password.
So, you’ve got your Instagram account back – well done! But wouldn’t it be good to avoid all that stress again? Here are my top tips to make it hard for those hackers to take control of your Insta.
1. It’s All About Passwords
I have no doubt you’ve heard this before but it’s essential, I promise! Ensuring you have a complex and unique password for your Instagram account (and all your online accounts) is THE best way of keeping the hackers at bay. And if you’re serious about this you need to get yourself a password manager that can create (and remember) crazily complex and random passwords that are beyond any human ability to create. Check out McAfee’s TrueKey – a complete no-brainer!
2. Turn on Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication adds another layer of security to your account making it that much harder for a hacker to get in. It takes minutes to set up and is essential if you’re serious about protecting yourself. It simply involves using a code to log in, in addition to your password. You can choose to receive the code via a text message or an authenticator app – always choose the app!
3. Choose How To Receive Login Alerts
Acting fast is the name of the game here so ensure your account is set up with your best contact details, so you receive login alerts ASAP. This can be the difference between salvaging your account and not. Ensure the alerts will be sent to where you are most likely to see them first so you can take action straight away!
4. Audit Any Third-Party Apps
Third-party apps that you have connected to your account could potentially be a security risk. So, only ever give third-party apps permission to access your account when absolutely necessary. I suggest taking a few minutes to disconnect any apps you no longer require to keep your private data as secure as possible.
Believe it or not, Instagram is not just an arena for middle-aged mums! I can guarantee that your teens will be on there too. So, next time you’re sharing a family dinner, why not tell them what you’re doing to prevent yourself from getting hacked? And if you’re not convinced they are listening? Perhaps remind them just how devastating it would be to lose access to their pics and their people. I am sure that might just work.
Till next time
Stay safe online!
Alex
The post My Instagram Has Been Hacked – What Do I Do Now? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
What if I told you that the most important thing you need to keep your kids safe online doesn’t come in a box or via a download? And that it doesn’t require you to be monitoring or supervising their every move. And even better – it doesn’t cost any money!! Yep – you’d be interested, I’m sure. After almost 13 years as Cybermum, I’ve experienced plenty of ‘aha’ cybersafety moments. But, without doubt, one of the biggest learnings for me is that creating a family culture where there is calm, honest, and truly open communication is the best way to protect your kids online. In fact, it’s likely far more powerful than the latest apps or software, and here’s why…
I’m a big fan of trying to minimise the amount of time kids spend in front of a screen for so many reasons. There is a plethora of research to support how ‘too much’ screen time can adversely affect kids’ behaviour. A 2022 US study of K-12 educators in the US showed that 80% of educators believed that increased screen time worsened children’s behaviour. There are studies that show excessive (and early) screen time can potentially affect a child’s cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional growth. And even some research shows that the effects of excessive screen time can be similar to the symptoms of autism.
But the reality is that screens aren’t going anywhere soon. We live in a digital world where you actually can’t go about your business without a device and a screen. When was the last time you tried going into a bank branch??? Instead, I believe we need to think of screens a little like we think of sugar. We know it’s not great for us, so we try and minimise our intake.
But how good would it be if our kids understood this perspective, so they also realised that too much screen time wasn’t ideal? Well, they can – weave it into family conversations!
When ‘digital parenting’ became a thing about 15 – 20 years ago, we were all told that we needed to constantly monitor our kids to ensure they weren’t visiting inappropriate websites or speaking to strangers online. I remember trying so hard to stay across the online movements of four kids – I’ve got to admit it was quite time-consuming and exhausting!! Full credit to those parents who put in the hours to keep their kids safe.
Fast forward to 2024 and there is now a comprehensive range of ‘parental control’ apps and software that can act as another set of ‘eyes and ears’ for parents. And while they can be great tools to have in your digital parenting toolbox, they are not the silver bullet. What happens when your child is visiting at another family’s house that doesn’t have parental controls set up? What happens if your child uses a friend’s device while travelling home on the bus to ‘get around’ the parental controls at home? And what about, if they work out how to turn them off?? Remember, are digital natives are quite savvy!!
But if you regularly talk online safety with your kids at home then you have a big head start here. In fact, your stress levels should be relatively low. When you make it a priority to talk to your kids about what they do online – in a non-judgemental way – and share your stories, the latest trends and risks then you are in a good place. If your kids know you understand their digital life, know that you can handle the tough stuff, and know with 100% confidence that you are NOT going to go berserk if they come to you with a problem then you do not need to worry about monitoring their every move. You’ve empowered them with knowledge and offered them a safety net – perfect!
Before I share my top tips with you I want to make it very clear that this is not an exercise in being a perfect parent. There is no such thing as a perfect parent – we are all on a journey and learning as we go. So, please don’t feel psyched out or worry that it’s too late. We’re all doing the best we can to raise our kids – so just keep on keeping on!
There are a few key things that I believe contribute to creating a top-notch communication culture in a family. Here are my top recommendations.
I learnt pretty early on in my parenting career that if you’re not being an active listener, you’re not really getting the full story. Active listening happens when you’re fully engaged with your child and is one of the best ways to communicate that you care and that you’re interested which in turn encourages them to open up more. Perfect! Here’s what I suggest:
Let’s be honest, very few of us are calm or relaxed 365 days of the year! But if you’re keen to maximise the chances that your kids will come to you if they do find themselves in a tricky situation then you need to ‘fake it till you make it’ my friends!
Conflict and heated discussions with teens are inevitable – I’ve definitely had my fair share! But it’s how you work through it that’s important. If you want a truly open and honest relationship with your child where they feel safe to talk about awkward things like sex, alcohol, cyberbullying, and even pornography, then you need to be ready to manage your own feelings and reactions when you hear things that you don’t expect or simply don’t like.
If you’re struggling to remain calm and deal with emotions from conversations with your teen then why not take some time to invest in yourself? Hit the road and walk it off, find some breathing exercises or a meditation on YouTube, or pick up the phone and call a friend. By role-modelling honest conversation and a calm approach, you’re teaching your children how to be respectful and calm and have open and tough conversations. What a life skill!
And if you can’t manage to remain calm and you lose your cool – simply apologise, give them a hug, and commit to doing better next time.
When I was growing up, I had a few friends who had very open relationships with their parents. Everything was discussed – nothing was off-limits! These friends all had a certain confidence, a knowing that they had someone in their corner who had their back, wouldn’t judge, and would be their ‘come what may’ for any situation. I was a little jealous!
Talking to your kids about sex, pornography, and cyberbullying can be really stressful. But there is so much research that shows that proactive conversations about tricky topics such as sex can be really beneficial. A review of research on British parents’ involvement in sex education found that they often felt embarrassed about broaching the subject with their kids. The same review compared this to countries such as Sweden where parents talked openly to their children about sex from an early age. It attributed the difference in approaches to the higher rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in England and Wales. Fascinating!
Start by teaching them the correct names for body parts. When they start preschool or school, you can teach them about respecting others and also about how to express their feelings. This will set them up for open and honest conversations and relationships.
Own the fact that it may feel really embarrassing or awkward when chatting to your kids about these topics. Perhaps make a joke of it. But assure them you’re going to do your best to help them navigate these issues and that you can absolutely handle it.
Why not break it up into small regular chats and take the pressure off? One big talk is overwhelming and could feel really awkward and pressured. A little bit of chatter often will feel more natural. Why not use films, books, or movies as a trigger for a conversation? The more natural and less contrived it feels, the more relaxed and receptive everyone will be.
Expressing disapproval or shock when your kids are sharing something tricky with you is the fastest way to shut down communication. So stop yourself! And if they do share something that surprises you, make sure you thank them and suggest you both talk about it more so you can better understand.
Now, if you have tweens or teens and you regret not prioritising your family’s communication culture earlier, do not stress. It’s never too late to make a difference! Yes, there might be a whole lot of awkwardness, but it will absolutely pass. Share stories of your online life, and news stories that you will start a conversation, ask them questions about their online life, and most importantly, be calm and don’t be critical or negative when they start sharing. Otherwise, it will be over ASAP.
You can absolutely handle this!
The post Top Strategies For Keeping Your Kids Safe Online appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Scams are big business for cybercriminals. In 2023, Aussies lost a whopping $2.7 billion in scams. Barely a week goes by without yet another brave story of someone who shares their own scam story in the hope that it will alert others to the calculating ways of cyber criminals. While the hefty financial losses are often the stories that catch our eye, the impact on a victim’s confidence and mental health can’t be underestimated.
As a mum of 4, one of my greatest concerns is that my boys don’t end up losing their hard-earned money to online scams. So, in the spirit of parenthood, I want to share with you some of the scam protection tips I share with my beloved boys.
Teaching your kids to be cautiously suspicious and question what they see online may feel like you’re bursting their bubble but I’m all about keeping it real and protecting them. As soon as your kids are old enough to interact online, I would start weaving in messages such as
And as they get older, make the messages more targeted and pose questions that will get them thinking:
And when your kids hit the teenage years and they are operating independently online, there is no point sugar-coating anything about being online. I regularly share news stories and social media posts about the latest scams with my crew as well as the brave stories of scam victims.
Sometimes it can be the little things that can cause us to become unstuck like not updating software or downloading an app without checking the reviews. In an ideal world, we’d all get an A++ with our cyber hygiene basics but, we are all human – so mistakes will be made, and routines will go awry. This is an example of someone who would get an A++ for cyber hygiene – I’m about to share this with my boys!
Ensure the software on all your devices is up to date. And yes, that includes your gaming console too! Remember, software updates are usually designed to address security weaknesses.
Every online account needs to have its own unique password. I’m a big fan of password managers to make this process easier to manage. Check out TrueKey – McAfee’s free password manager – not only will it help you generate humanely impossible passwords, but it will remember them also. All you need to do is remember one ‘master password’ – a complete no-brainer!
Only visit websites that are secure and start with a ‘https’. Simply look for the closed lock icon in the URL bar. Install top-notch security software on your devices. I’m clearly a fan of McAfee+ – McAfee’s full ID theft protection and premium security software. Not only does it include antivirus but identity monitoring, scam protection, social privacy manager as well as unlimited VPN usage too!
Only ever download apps from trusted marketplaces such as the AppStore or Google Play. Apps collect data so you want to ensure it is safe, so you don’t become a victim of identity theft. Dodgy apps, particularly banking apps, are a particularly lucrative way scammers try to get their hands on your money. So, always read the reviews and do your due diligence before downloading.
Never answer calls from a number you don’t know. Some phones will allow you to silence calls from unknown numbers. There are also some apps that have been developed to identify scam numbers but make sure you do your homework before downloading!
At the risk of stating the obvious, the less you share online the less information there is for scammers to find and use. Sharing too many specific details on your social media platforms or your dating profiles can help a scammer to build a profile. This is often known as the ‘mosaic effect’ and can be how scammers can successfully steal identities. Here’s what I suggest:
All social media profiles need to be set to private. Some platforms will also allow you to limit the viewing of your past posts – definitely do this. And always turn off live location.
Only accept follow or friend requests from people you know and trust. Teens may be tempted to accept requests from anyone in order to boost their ‘numbers’, but this is a dangerous game and no different than sharing details of your private life with complete strangers who may in fact be scammers.
All photos contain metadata that can give the precise location where the pic was taken. So, be cautious and post pics of events, gatherings, and holidays post-event.
Phishing scams are by far one of the most successful ways scammers can make their way into our lives. Quite simply, this is when a cybercriminal poses as a legitimate institution and ‘tricks’ an unsuspecting user into sharing personal information. The stolen identifying information is then used to access accounts and can result in identity theft and potential financial loss.
Now, this can happen via telephone however email, text, and social media messaging platforms are the most common routes. Commonly, cyber criminals will encourage potential victims to click on fraudulent links to access special deals, check account balances, or view receipts. Here are my top tips to avoid becoming a victim:
Links could contain malicious or nasty software so avoid clicking on them if possible. You can always hover over the link to see the actual web address it will take you to.
If a link is fraudulent and you’ve clicked on it and then shared personal information, you may be at risk of having the details you shared stolen. So let’s avoid that! Instead, always manually type the website address into your browser and make sure you are visiting the legitimate website.
If you’ve received an email from someone that contains a link that has piqued your interest, contact the person directly and verify they sent it. This is particularly relevant when making a payment.
One of the best ways to stay abreast of scams is to commit to staying informed. Scan the news headlines daily and subscribe to relevant tech newsletters and social media groups. With so many people affected by scams, tech journalists will often cover the latest scams. And pay it forward – if you hear of a scam doing the rounds, share the intel with friends and family members.
Whether it’s a romance scam, toll scam, or a false delivery scam, there’s no disputing that scammers are trying very hard to infiltrate every aspect of our lives. And yes, it can feel overwhelming but taking just a few simple steps will ensure that you (and your family) are in the best possible position to shut down those scammers!
The post The Top 5 Ways To Protect Your Family From Scams appeared first on McAfee Blog.
There used to be a saying that ‘nothing is certain except death and taxes’. Well, I now think it needs to be amended – and ‘data breaches’ needs to be added on the end! Regardless of where you live, not a month goes by without details of yet another data breach hitting the news headlines. This year has seen some of the biggest, most damaging breaches in recent history. According to the US Identity Theft Resource Centre, over 1 billion people were impacted by data breaches in the first 6 months of 2024. Up to 560 million people worldwide were affected by the Ticketmaster data breach, 30 million in the Ticketek breach and all AT&T’s cell customers had call and text records exposed in a massive breach. And that’s just a few quick examples.
A data breach happens when there is unauthorised access to sensitive, private, or confidential information. This could include account details, purchase histories, customer identities, payment methods, or confidential private data, for example, medical records.
There are a few different ways that a data breach can happen. Firstly, hackers may exploit weaknesses in systems, networks, applications, or even physical security to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. These hackers may be acting alone or be part of a larger ring. Secondly, it could happen by a ‘malicious insider’ – a disgruntled or recently sacked employee who wants revenge by hurting the company or, an employee who wants to profit off the company’s data by selling it online. And lastly, it can happen accidentally – when an email containing sensitive data ends up in the wrong hands, a laptop with sensitive data gets stolen or even a USB drive with confidential data is lost.
It’s hard to really know whether there has actually been an increase in data breaches or if the new reporting laws mean we are now aware of new breaches. For years, data breaches have likely been occurring without our knowledge. In Australia, there has been a consistent rate of data breaches since 2020 – about 450 every 6 months. And while this is higher than when the mandatory reporting laws were brought in in 2018, this could be explained by an increased vigilance by the companies themselves.
Over the last 2 years in Australia, we have had some significant data breaches that have affected more than 10 million Aussies each time. In 2022, the Optus and Medibank breaches each affected around 10 million Aussies, in 2023 the Latitude Financial breach affected 14 million consumers and the recent Medisecure breach in May 2024 affected close to 15 million customers. And who can forget the Canva data breach in 2019 that affected 139 million customers worldwide? And that’s only the large ones! It’s now widely accepted that most Aussies would have been affected by a data breach with some affected on multiple occasions.
So, I believe the time has come when we need to accept that data breaches are part of modern, digital life and redirect the energy we could use worrying into protecting ourselves so that the fallout will be minimal. Here are three areas where I suggest you spend some energy.
Ensuring you have a unique, long, and complex password for each of your online accounts is the ABSOLUTE best way of protecting yourself in case of a data breach. Let me explain. It’s pretty common for hackers to steal customer’s personal data as part of a data breach and this will include login credentials. Hackers will then use bots to test the stolen email and password combination to see where else they could possibly get entry. So, if you’ve used the same password elsewhere then you could be in for a world of pain.
But let’s keep it real. Many of us don’t have a separate password for every online account. It takes a lot of work to reorganise your digital life. Most folks have a handful of passwords they use on rotation. But as you can see, this isn’t ideal.
And remember, if you find out a company you have an account with was hacked, change your password immediately. And of course, if you have used that password, or even something similar, on any other accounts then you’ll need to change it too.
The best way to get on top of this whole situation is to invest in a password manager like McAfee’s free software TrueKey that can both generate and remember super complex passwords. With many people having 100+ online accounts, you would need to have to be a member of Mensa to remember all those passwords on your own. A password manager takes all the stress away.
If someone has managed to get their hands on your email/password combination but you have multi-factor authentication in place then you will be protected as it will stop any unauthorised access to your account. How good!! So, if any platform or company that you have an account with offers it then PLEASE action it.
Now, there are two main types of two-factor authentication: one that sends a code via text message, and another that uses an authentication app, typically installed on a mobile device. Since phone numbers can be hijacked and text messages intercepted, I always recommend using an authentication app for added security.
Believe it or not, a company’s security breach may not be the reason that your data is stolen. All it can take is a small slip-up – and remember we are all human! Here’s what you need to do to be vigilant:
Staying up to date with the news and abreast of data breaches is a great way to stay vigilant. Services like Have I Been Pwned allows anyone to check if their email addresses or phone numbers have been involved in a data breach. Simply enter your email address on their site, and they will provide a list of breaches in which your information was compromised. Firefox also offers data breach alerts, while Apple lets you check for leaked passwords stored in iCloud.
You can also subscribe to credit monitoring services which will alert you to any major changes in your credit report that could indicate identity theft or fraud.
I also recommend taking the time to check your bank and credit card account statements for anything unusual or unauthorised. And always report anything suspicious to your bank ASAP.
I also recommend that you rethink everything you share online. Remember, anything you share online could resurface in a breach and that includes private messages, photos, and social media posts. If you do need to upload sensitive files to the cloud for storage such as a picture of your birth certificate or passport, why not encrypt the image first so that no one else can retrieve it?
Encrypted messaging services are also a great idea if you are concerned about your privacy. I’m a big fan of Signal but WhatsApp and Telegram are also good options.
So, the bad news my friends, is that data breaches are inevitable unless you are planning on dropping out of society and living off the grid – tempting, I know! But the good news is that there are steps you can take to ‘future-proof’ yourself for that moment when you will be affected. So, rethink your password strategy, turn on 2-factor authentication, limit what you share, and you’ll make it hard for cyber criminals to get entrenched in your digital life.
Till next time
Stay safe online
Alex
The post How To Minimise the Fallout From a Data Breach appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Probably like you, I’ve always struggled to find enough time to stay up to date with all my friends. So when I discovered social media in 2007 and joined Facebook, I was elated to have found a way to keep up with everyone. How I loved seeing snaps of my friends’ babies and kids. Hand on heart, it was joyous! However fast forward to 2024 and the ‘thinking’ around online sharing aka ‘sharenting’ has completely changed. No longer is sharing pics of our kids considered to be a safe and joyous past time. In fact, most experts now believe that sharing pics of our kids online may in fact be putting them in danger.
Despite the multitude of ‘mumfluencers‘ and parenting content creators on your social media feeds who normalise ‘sharenting’, some of the biggest players in the tech space have a very different approach. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, never shares pics of his daughters. In 2023, he did share a sweet family photo but he used emojis to cover his 2 older daughters’ faces. Although he doesn’t have kids of his own, Apple boss Tim Cooke has also spoken publicly about heavily encouraging his nephew to not be involved in social media. And this approach is also shared by many big names in Hollywood with celebrities like Kristen Bell, Gigi Hadid, and Orlando Bloom also blurring images or using emojis to help protect their kids’ privacy on social media.
Now, I’m not suggesting that we need to take all our parenting tips from tech giants and celebrities, but it does highlight a trend amongst high-profile individuals that I think is definitely worth noting. Could Zuckerberg’s use of emojis be a message that it is in fact the end user’s responsibility to protect themselves online? Or is it a result of firsthand knowledge of what happens when pictures of children end up in the wrong hands?
What Are The Risks With ‘Sharenting’ – Apart From Embarrassment?
While your teen may nominate embarrassment as the top reason for parents not to share pics online, the potential risks of ‘sharenting’ are far greater than simply avoiding the cringe. Here are the top ones to consider:
The minute you upload a pic online, you are effectively relinquishing ownership of it. There’s nothing to stop anyone from copying, altering, editing, or sharing any picture that you post online. You may also be surprised to know that when you share a picture on social media, you are agreeing to the site’s terms & conditions – even if you haven’t read them! These terms often include a licensing agreement which means that once you have posted an image to a social media platform like Facebook, you are granting Facebook ownership of the content through a licensing term. In short, you lose control over who sees your child and what they do with the image.
Cybercriminals are very skilled at putting together various ‘puzzle pieces’ to help steal an identity. If a parent is sharing regular happy snaps of key childhood events, it wouldn’t take a cybercriminal long to work out a child’s full name, birthday, hometown, or even school simply from the images, captions, and comments.
And once they’ve got their hands on the image and personal information, it takes little time for a skilled scammer to create fake profiles and an online identity. Once the fake identity has been created, applying for credit and setting up accounts becomes a breeze. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, identity theft of kids under 19 is a growing trend. In the first half of 2024, it accounted for 3% of all identity theft cases – up from 2% last year.
Unfortunately, there are some depraved individuals in this world who make it their life’s work to steal images of minors for sexual exploitation purposes. Images are often edited and manipulated and then shared or sold on child exploitation websites. The sophistication of artificial intelligence software now means that images can easily be easily manipulated and even animated. This is known as deepfake technology and it is a very big problem. In fact the Australian eSafety Commissioner estimates that 90% of deepfakes are explicit. Having your image manipulated and used as a pornographic deepfake would be devastating. The impact on their mental health would be profound and it could also have lasting negative effects on one’s personal and professional life.
In an ideal world, we would all follow the lead of Mark Zuckerberg and Hollywood celebs and not post any pic of our kids online. Remember, if there are no photos or personal details about your child online, then the problem goes away. But if you don’t think you can break the habit, then here’s what I strongly suggest you do from now on:
Take a moment before you upload and ask yourself whether the photo really needs to be shared on social media. Perhaps you could share it in a group chat with close family and friends instead? Think of it as a numbers game – the less you share, the less risk there is that the photo will end up in the wrong hands.
Every social media platform will have an option to allow you to only share images with your friends. Please set this up. Some will also give you the option to limit what can be shared from your posts – take this up too. And while you are at it, maybe give your friends list a once over. If you don’t even remember who someone is or have had limited contact, it might be time to delete!
Always scan your pics to ensure there are no identifying details. Your child’s name, school details, and birth date are all nuggets of gold for a cybercriminal who is trying to steal an identity. Always disable geotagging which will also get rid of any potential location data on an image. But don’t forget that all digital pics contain metadata which includes the location of the pic. This can be disabled but if that’s all too complicated, simply use a screenshot of an image instead of the original image and the problem goes away!
Adding a digital watermark to photos will make it much harder for deepfake creators to use your images. It becomes a more complicated procedure which could also possibly be traceable. There are several free apps that can easily help you add a watermark including my personal favourite Canva.
Now, if you’re reading this and feeling incredibly guilty about everything you’ve shared to date, please stop right there. Don’t beat yourself up. Parenting is a journey, and we are all learning and evolving as new information comes to light.
So, don’t panic. Instead, why not commit to rethinking your approach going forward? And if you have a spare hour or 2, go back over your social media posts and remove anything you aren’t sure about. And ensure all your settings are private!
You’ve got this!
The post Why Sharing Your Kids’ Pics Online Is Not A Good Idea appeared first on McAfee Blog.
What is our real job as parents? Is it to ensure our kids get good grades? – Maybe. Or is it ensuring we can give them the latest and greatest clothing and devices? Mmmm, not really. When all is said and done, I believe our real job is to keep our kids safe, teach them to be independent, and set them up for success – both online and offline.
As first-generation digital parents, many of us are learning on the job. While we can still glean advice from our own parents on dealing with our teenager’s hormones and driving challenges, there’s no intergenerational wisdom for anything digital. So, it is inevitable that many of us parents feel unsure about how and why to be proactive about online safety.
With four grown boys, 12 nieces and nephews, and almost 13 years in this job talking to families about online safety, I’ve developed a pretty good understanding of how families want to live their lives online, their biggest concerns, and how they value safety and security. Here’s what I’ve learnt:
I’ve often dreamt about wrapping my boys in cotton wool and keeping them away from the real world. But unfortunately, that’s not how it works. The internet definitely has some hugely positive features for teens and tweens but there are some challenges too. Here is what parents are most concerned about:
1. Social Media
Without a doubt, tween and teen social media usage would currently be the biggest concern for most parents. In Australia, there is currently a move to delay children using social media to 16. The Prime Minister is a fan as are many state and territory leaders. There’s no doubt parents are concerned about the impact social media is having on their children’s mental health. Whether dealing with followers, friends, or FOMO (fear of missing out), harassment, or exposure to unhelpful, or even dangerous influencers, parents are worried and often feel helpless about how best to help their kids.
2. Bullying
Parents have every right to be concerned. Cyberbullying does happen. In fact, 1 child in 3 reports being the victim of cyberbullying according to a UNICEF study. And in a study conducted by McAfee in 2022 that does a deep dive into the various types of bullying, there’s no doubt that the problem is still very much a reality.
3. Inappropriate Content
There really isn’t anything you can’t find online. And therein lies the problem. With just a few clicks, a curious, unsupervised 10-year-old could access images and information that would be wildly inappropriate and potentially traumatic. And yes, I’m talking sex, drugs and rock and roll themes! There are things online that little, inexperienced eyes are just not ready for – I am not even sure I am either, to be honest!
4. Screen Time
While I think many parents still find the word screen time a little triggering, I think some parents now realise that not all screen time ‘was created equally’. It’s more about the quality and potential benefit of screen time as opposed to the actual time spent on the screen. For example, playing an interactive, good quality science game as opposed to scrolling on Instagram – clearly the game wins!
However, parents are still very concerned that screen time doesn’t dominate their kids’ lives and adversely affects their kids’ levels of physical activity, face-to-face time with family and friends, and their ability to sleep.
While there is no silver bullet here, being proactive about your family’s online security is THE best way of protecting your family members, minimising the risk of unpleasant interactions, and setting them up for a positive online experience. And it will also reduce your stress big time – so it’s a complete no-brainer!!
Here are 5 things you can kick off today that will have a profound impact on your family’s online security:
1. Talk, talk, talk!!
Yes, that’s right – simply talk! Engaging with your kids about their online lives – what they like to do, sites and apps they use and any concerns they have is one of the best ways to keep them safe. As is sharing your own stories. If your kids know that you understand the digital world, they will be far more likely to come to you if they experience any issues at all. And that’s exactly what we want!!
2. Parental Controls and Monitoring
Parental controls can work really well alongside a proactive educational approach to online safety. As well as teaching kids healthy digital habits, they can also help parents monitor usage, set limits, and even keep tabs on their kids’ whereabouts. Gold!! Check out more details here.
3. Social Media Safety
Undertake an audit of all family member’s privacy settings to ensure that are set to the highest level. This will ensure only trusted people can view and interact with your kids’ profiles. Also, remind your kids not to overshare as it could lead to their identities being stolen. And check out McAfee’s Social Privacy Manager which can help you manage more than 100 privacy settings on social media accounts in seconds.
4. Make a Plan In Case of Aggressive Behaviour
As a cup-half-full type, I’m not a fan of negativity but I am a fan of plans. So, I do recommend creating an action plan for your kids in case they encounter something tricky online, in particular bullying or aggressive behaviour. I recommend you tell them to take screenshots, disengage, tell someone they trust (ideally you), and report the behaviour to the relevant social media platform or app. In some cases, you could involve your child’s school however this obviously depends on the perpetrator.
5. Passwords please!
I know you have probably heard it before, but password management is such a powerful way of staying safe online. In an ideal world, every online account should have its own unique password. Why? Well, if your logins get stolen in a data breach then the cybercriminals will not be able to reuse them to log into any of your other accounts.
And while you’re at it, ensure all passwords are at least 8-10 characters long, and contain random symbols, numbers and both upper and lowercase letters. If all is too hard, simply engage a password manager that will both generate and remember all the passwords for you. What a relief!
And of course, it goes without saying that a big part of being safe online is having super-duper internet protection software that will give you (and your family members) the best chance of a safe and secure online experience. McAfee+’s family plans not only give you a secure VPN, 24/7 identity and financial monitoring and alerts but AI-powered text scam detection and advanced anti-virus that will protect each of your family members from fake texts, risky links, viruses, malware and more. Sounds like a plan to me!!
Till next time
Stay safe everyone!
Alex
The post What Security Means to Families appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Falling in love in the internet age is a whole different ball game to the social-media-free ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Awkward calls on the home phone, sending cards in the mail, and making mixtapes were all key relationship milestones back in the days of roller skates. But fast forward to the new millennium and dating is a whole different sport.
No longer are teens relying on their friends and family for introductions to new love interests, it’s all doable online thanks to the plethora of available dating apps and social media platforms. So it’s no surprise that research confirms that meeting online has officially displaced the traditional ways romantic partnerships were formed.
But how does it actually work? How do teens really connect online? Is it just about the dating apps? What about Instagram? Don’t they also use messaging apps to meet? And what does ‘benching’ and ‘beta-testing’ mean?
Ah, yes I know it can feel overwhelming but don’t stress – I got you! I’ve put together all the key information you need to know if you have kids who are starting their online dating journey.
When many of us think about online dating, we think about the major dating apps like Tinder and Bumble however that’s actually not where it all happens. In fact, many teens inform me that it really is all about Instagram, Snapchat, and increasingly, TikTok. I am reliably informed that these social media platforms give you a more authentic understanding of someone – great! But, in my opinion, there are potential safety issues with using social media to attract a mate. Particularly, if you have a young, inexperienced teen on your hands.
In order for people to be able to follow you on these platforms (and send you messages), you need to have your profile set to public. So, if you have a young, naïve teen who has their social media accounts set to public to ramp up their love life, then I consider this to be a safety concern. They can receive messages from anyone which is not ideal.
In 2024, chances are your teens will not meet a potential mate in real life (IRL) – it all happens online. But even on the rare chance they do first meet in person, or they eyeball someone they fancy across the school playground, the relationship will develop online. That’s where the magic happens!
So instead of multiple landline telephone calls to friends to ‘suss out’ their crush, they spend multiple hours researching their crush online. They’ll check out and dissect their photos and posts, find all their social media accounts, and then, depending on their level of courage, they may follow all their accounts. Colloquially, this is often referred to as ‘social media stalking’.
Once they’ve built up the courage, teens may start liking the posts of their crush. Some may even go back over old social media posts and photos from several years back to demonstrate their level of interest. This is known as ‘deepliking’. Some teens think this is an effective strategy, others consider this to be off-putting – each to their own!! But the goal here is to put yourself on the radar of your crush.
Now, once the ‘likes’ have gathered some momentum, the teen may decide it’s time to ‘slide into their crush’s DM’s’. Ah – there’s that expression. All it really means is that your teen will send a direct message to their love interest – usually on a social media app such as Instagram or TikTok.
But they may not even need to ‘slide into the DM’s’. I am reliably informed that if you like a few posts of a potential love interest and then, they like a few of yours, you’re flirting and there’s definitely a spark!! The love interest may then just be the one initiating interest.
Now, if there is a spark and the crush has replied, the next phase is messaging – and a lot of it! Potentially 1000’s of messages. I have first-hand experience of paying a telephone bill for someone (no names) who was super smitten with a girl in the days before unlimited data. All I can say is ouch!!!
Now this messaging may take place on a social media app, a messaging app such as WhatsApp, Messenger, or even via text. Or possibly even a combination of them all!! The key here is to keep the messaging going to suss out whether there is a vibe!
But the messaging stage is where it can get messy and confusing. It’s not unusual for teens to be messaging with several potential love interests at once – essentially keeping their options open. Some refer to this as ‘beta-testing’, I would refer to it as disrespectful and probably exhausting – but hey, I’m old school! But this is often a reality for many teens, and it can be quite demoralising to feel like you’re being ‘managed’.
Now, this is a big moment. When your teen and their crush have decided they are exclusive and officially a thing, the next step is to let the world know and make it official. So, they may choose to update their status on their social media platforms to ‘in a relationship’. But if they are after a softer launch, they may simply post a pic of each other, or even together.
Believe it or not, some teens may never actually meet in real life (IRL) but still be in a relationship. If this is the case then it’s more likely that sexting will be part of the relationship. Research shows that 1 in 3 Aussie teens (aged 14 to 17) have some experience with sexting ie sending, receiving, being asked, and asking for nude pics however I think in reality, it is likely more – not everyone answers surveys honestly!
So, yes sexting does happen and while I wish it just didn’t, we can’t put our heads in the sand. So, I encourage all parents to remind their kids that once they send an image they lose control of it, that not all relationships last forever, and that they should never be coerced into doing something they are not comfortable with. Stay tuned for further posts with more sexting tips!
At the risk of being a cynic, chances are your child’s teen relationships will probably not last a lifetime. So, how do you break up when you’re a digital native?
Well, before the break-up phase, ‘benching’ can occur. This happens when one partner no longer wants to meet up with the other in person. It may also be the moment when your teen’s messages are no longer returned – this is called LOR – left on read. Most of us would call this ghosting. But regardless of what you call it, it’s not a nice feeling.
Call me old fashioned but I am a big fan of breaking up with your love in person and my boys know that. Tapering off contact or telling someone that the relationship is over via text is disrespectful, in my opinion.
Helping kids through heartache is tough – I’ve been there!! If your teen is finding life post-relationship hard, why don’t you suggest they delete their social media apps for a week or 2? It’s hard to move on from someone when you are still receiving messages and/or seeing their notifications. It may even be worth unfriending or unfollowing the ex as well.
So, even though the landscape has changed, and the mixtapes have gone, please don’t forget that dating and romance can be super tricky when you are a teen. Not only are you dealing with matters of the heart but in the world’s biggest public forum – the internet. So be kind, gentle, and supportive! And be grateful for the simplicity of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
Alex xx
The post How Teens Date in the Digital Age appeared first on McAfee Blog.
I often joke about how I wish I could wrap up my kids in cotton wool to protect them from all the challenges of the real world. When they were little, I would have loved to protect them from some of the trickier kids in the playground. But as they got older, it was all about the internet and of course, alcohol, drugs and fast cars!
Unfortunately, I don’t have solutions for all of the above parenting challenges but with over 12 years of experience as Cybermum, I know a thing or two about keeping kids safe online.
The CEOs of the world’s largest social media platforms were recently summoned to a Senate Judicial Committee hearing in Washington. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is still being heavily debated and representatives from Meta, Discord, TikTok, Snap and X, the company formerly known as Twitter, were invited to participate in the hearing. Designed to regulate social media and better protect children, the proposed bill has a lot of support but there is still a way to go before it takes its final shape and potentially becomes law.
In my opinion, there’s no question that governments worldwide need to play a bigger, more vocal role in this arena and insist on better protections for all social media users, particularly our kids. In 2019, Australia passed its own Online Safety Act and the UK did the same in 2023 with its Online Safety Law. And while these are all very important steps forward, I honestly believe that the role families play in teaching their kids about online safety is even more important.
I totally understand that teaching kids about online safety can just feel like another task on a never-ending to-do list. I’ve been there! But think of it like this. Haven’t you been talking to your kids about sun safety and road safety along the way? You know, dropping in little reminders and tips as you drop them at school or pick them up from a play date? Well, this is how you need to think about online safety. Focus on breaking it down into little chunks so it doesn’t feel hard.
Now that we have our mindset sorted, let me share my top tips for helping your kids stay safe while they are online.
As soon as your kids can pick up a device, your conversations about online safety need to start. Yes, I know it might seem ridiculous, but it is THE best way to help ‘mould and shape’ your offspring’s mind in a cyber-safe way. If your 2-year-old likes to play games on your iPad, it could be as simple as:
And when your kids get older, weave in more age-appropriate messages, such as:
Spending time online with your child from an early age is another great way of helping them understand the difference between good and bad content. And modelling good digital citizenship while you are online with your kids will help ‘mould and shape’ their understanding of how to interact safely and positively.
I’m a big fan of ensuring kids have clarity on boundaries and expectations, particularly when it comes to all things online. Your easiest fix here? A family technology agreement. I love a family technology agreement because it can be tailored to your kids, their ages and maturity levels. Check out my previous blog post on how to develop one for your family here. One final piece of advice here – don’t start introducing tech contracts during a family blow up. Please wait till everyone is calm otherwise I can assure you, you’ll encounter resistance from some family members!
There are a few key fundamental basics that I think every child needs to know to keep themselves safe online. Here are my top 5:
I would also include these basics in your family technology contract.
As your kids get older, it becomes harder to monitor their every move online. Yes, you can create bookmarks with ‘approved’ sites and install parental controls however it is inevitable that there will be an opportunity for unsupervised internet usage. But if you have helped your kids develop critical thinking skills then it is far more likely that they will be able to navigate the internet is a safe and responsible way.
Where to start? Always encourage a healthy scepticism and encourage them to not accept that everything they read online is true. When it is age-appropriate, help them to identify reliable sources, spot less reliable websites, and question the underlying purpose of the information that has been shared.
Taking some time to understand how your child spends their time online is the best way of truly understanding the risks and challenges they face. And when you understand the risks they face, you can help them prepare for them. So, join ALL the social media platforms your kids are on, play their games and download their messaging apps. Not only will you develop a better understanding of how to manage the privacy settings on each of the platforms, but the often very specific language used and the online culture can often form a big part of your child’s life. And the best part – if they know you understand their world, you will develop a little ‘tech cred’ which means that they will be more likely to come to you with any issues or problems that may face online. Awesome!
A set of good-quality parental controls can be a wonderful addition to any digital parenting toolkit. Many will allow you to filter the content your child sees, block certain websites, and even track your child’s browsing history and location. But please remember, no parental controls will ever replace an invested parent! Check out McAfee’s website for more information.
Now, I know that might feel like a lot but please don’t stress. Simply chunk it down and give yourself a new task every week such as joining a new social media platform or playing your child’s favourite online game. The most important thing to remember is to keep talking to your kids. Why not start the conversation by asking them for advice or, sharing something you saw online? Remember, your goal here is to get yourself some tech cred! Good luck!!
Alex xx
The post How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online appeared first on McAfee Blog.
My mother recently turned 80, so of course a large celebration was in order. With 100 plus guests, entertainment, and catering to organise, the best way for me to keep everyone updated (and share tasks) was to use Google Docs. Gee, it worked well. My updates could immediately be seen by everyone, the family could access it from all the devices, and it was free to use! No wonder Google has a monopoly on drive and document sharing.
But here’s the thing – hackers know just how much both individuals and businesses have embraced Google products. So, it makes complete sense that they use reputable companies such as Google to devise phishing emails that are designed to extract our personal information. In fact, the Google Docs phishing scam was widely regarded as one of the most successful personal data extraction scams to date. They know that billions of people worldwide use Google so an invitation to click a link and view a document does not seem like an unreasonable email to receive. But it caused so much grief for so many people.
Emails designed to trick you into sharing your personal information are a scammer’s bread and butter. This is essentially what phishing is. It is by far the most successful tool they use to get their hands on your personal data and access your email.
‘But why do they want my email logins?’ – I hear you ask. Well, email accounts are what every scammer dreams of – they are a treasure trove of personally identifiable material that they can either steal or exploit. They could also use your email to launch a wide range of malicious activities from spamming and spoofing to spear phishing. Complicated terms, I know but in essence these are different types of phishing strategies. So, you can see why they are keen!!
But successful phishing emails usually share a few criteria which is important to know. Firstly, the email looks like it has been sent from a legitimate company e.g. Microsoft, Amex, or Google. Secondly, the email has a strong ‘call to action’ e.g. ‘your password has been changed, if this is not the case, please click here’. And thirdly, the email does not seem too out of place or random from the potential victim’s perspective.
Despite the fact that scammers are savvy tricksters, there are steps you can take to maximise the chances your email remains locked away from their prying eyes. Here’s what I suggest:
Never respond to an unexpected email or website that asks you for personal information or your login details no matter how professional it looks. If you have any doubts, always contact the company directly to verify.
Make sure you have super-duper internet security software that includes all the bells and whistles. Not only does internet security software McAfee+ include protection for daily browsing but it also has a password manager, a VPN, and a social privacy manager that will lock down your privacy settings on your social media accounts. A complete no-brainer!
Avoid using public Wi-Fi to log into your email from public places. It takes very little effort for a hacker to position themselves between you and the connection point. So, it’s entirely possible for them to be in receipt of all your private information and logins which clearly you don’t want. If you really need to use it, invest in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which will ensure everything you share via Wi-Fi will be encrypted. Your McAfee+ subscription includes a VPN.
Public computers should also be avoided even just to ‘check your email’. Not only is there a greater chance of spyware on untrusted computers but some of them sport key-logging programs which can both monitor and record the keys you strike on the keyboard – a great way of finding out your password!
Ensuring each of your online accounts has its own unique, strong, and complex password is one of the best ways of keeping hackers out of your life. I always suggest at least 10-12 characters with a combination of upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numbers. A crazy nonsensical sentence is a great option here but better still is a password manager that will remember and generate passwords that no human could! A password manager is also part of your McAfee+ online security pack.
Even if you have taken all the necessary steps to protect your email from hackers, there is the chance that your email logins may be leaked in a data breach. A data breach happens when a company’s data is accessed by scammers and customers’ personal information is stolen. You may remember the Optus, Medibank and Latitude hacks of 2022/23?
If you have had your personal information stolen, please be assured that there are steps you can take to remedy this. The key is to act fast. Check out my recent blog post here for everything you need to know.
So, next time you’re organising a big gathering don’t hesitate to use Google Docs to plan or Microsoft Teams to host your planning meetings. While the thought of being hacked might make you want to withdraw, please don’t. Instead, cultivate a questioning mindset in both yourself and your kids, and always have a healthy amount of suspicion when going about your online life. You’ve got this!!
Till next time,
Stay safe!
Alex
The post How To Prevent Your Emails From Being Hacked appeared first on McAfee Blog.
I think I could count on my hand the people I know who have NOT had their email hacked. Maybe they found a four-leaf clover when they were kids!
Email hacking is one of the very unfortunate downsides of living in our connected, digital world. And it usually occurs as a result of a data breach – a situation that even the savviest tech experts find themselves in.
In simple terms, a data breach happens when personal information is accessed, disclosed without permission, or lost. Companies, organisations, and government departments of any size can be affected. Data stolen can include customer login details (email addresses and passwords), credit card numbers, identifying IDs of customers e.g. driver’s license numbers and/or passport numbers, confidential customer information, company strategy, or even matters of national security.
Data breaches have made headlines, particularly over the last few years. When the Optus and Medibank data breaches hit the news in 2022 affecting almost 10 million Aussies a piece, we were all shaken. But then when Aussie finance company Latitude, was affected in 2023 with a whopping 14 million people from both Australia and New Zealand affected, it almost felt inevitable that by now, most of us would have been impacted.
But these were the data breaches that grabbed our attention. The reality is that data breaches have been happening for years. In fact, the largest data breach in Australian history actually happened in May 2019 to the online design site Canva which affected 137 million users globally including many Aussies.
So, in short – it can happen to anyone, and the chances are you may have already been affected.
The sole objective of a hacker is to get their hands on your data. And any information that you share in your email account can be very valuable to them. But why do they want your data, you ask? It’s simple really – so they can cash in! Some will keep the juicy stuff for themselves – passwords or logins to government departments or large companies they may want to ’target’ with the aim of extracting valuable data and/or funds. But the more sophisticated ones will sell your details including name, telephone, email address, and credit card details, and cash in on the Dark Web. They often do this in batches. Some experts believe they can get as much as AU$250 for a full set of details including credit cards. So, you can see why they’d be interested in you!
The other reason why hackers will be interested in your email address and password is that many of us re-use these login details across our other online accounts too. So, once they’ve got their hands on your email credentials then they may be able to access your online banking and investment accounts – the possibilities are endless if you are using the same login credentials everywhere. So, you can see why I harp on about using a unique password for every online account!
There is a plethora of statistics on just how big this issue is – all of them concerning.
According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, there were over 16,000 reports of identity theft in 2022.
The Department of Home Affairs and Stay Smart Australia reports that cybercrime costs Australian businesses $29 billion a year with the average business spending around $275,000 to remedy a data breach
And although there has been a slight reduction in Aussies falling for phishing scams in recent years (down from 2.7% in 2020/1 to 2.5% in 2022/3), more Australians are falling victim to card fraud scams with a total of $2.2 billion lost in 2023.
But regardless of which statistic you choose to focus on, we have a big issue on our hands!
If you find yourself a victim of email hacking there are a few very important steps you need to take and the key is to take them FAST!!
This is the very first thing you must do to ensure the hacker can’t get back into your account. It is essential that your new password is complex and totally unrelated to previous passwords. Always use at least 8-10 characters with a variety of upper and lower case and throw in some symbols and numbers. I really like the idea of a crazy, nonsensical sentence – easier to remember and harder to crack! But, better still, get yourself a password manager that will create a password that no human would be capable of creating.
If you find the hacker has locked you out of your account by changing your password, you will need to reset the password by clicking on the ‘Forgot My Password’ link.
This is time-consuming but essential. Ensure you change any other accounts that use the same username and password as your compromised email. Hackers love the fact that many people still use the same logins for multiple accounts, so it is guaranteed they will try your info in other email applications and sites such as PayPal, Amazon, Netflix – you name it!
Once the dust has settled, please review your password strategy for all your online accounts. A best practice is to ensure every online account has its own unique and complex password.
A big part of the hacker’s strategy is to ‘get their claws’ into your address book with the aim of hooking others as well. Send a message to all your email contacts as soon as possible so they know to avoid opening any emails (most likely loaded with malware) that have come from you.
Yes, multi-factor authentication (or 2-factor authentication) adds another step to your login but it also adds another layer of protection. Enabling this will mean that in addition to your password, you will need a special one-time use code to log in. This can be sent to your mobile phone or alternatively, it may be generated via an authenticator app. So worthwhile!
It is not uncommon for hackers to modify your email settings so that a copy of every email you receive is automatically forwarded to them. Not only can they monitor your logins for other sites, but they’ll keep a watchful eye over any particularly juicy personal information. So, check your mail forwarding settings to ensure no unexpected email addresses have been added.
Don’t forget to check your email signature to ensure nothing spammy has been added. Also, ensure your ‘reply to’ email address is actually yours! Hackers have been known to create an email address here that looks similar to yours – when someone replies, it goes straight to their account, not yours!
This is essential also. If you find anything, please ensure it is addressed, and then change your email password again. And if you don’t have it – please invest. Comprehensive security software will provide you with a digital shield for your online life. McAfee+ lets you protect all your devices – including your smartphone – from viruses and malware. It also contains a password manager to help you remember and generate unique passwords for all your accounts.
If you have been hacked several times and your email provider isn’t mitigating the amount of spam you are receiving, then consider starting afresh but don’t delete your email address. Many experts warn against deleting email accounts as most email providers will recycle your old email address. This could mean a hacker could spam every site they can find with a ‘forgot my password’ request and try to impersonate you – identity theft!
Your email is an important part of your online identity so being vigilant and addressing any fallout from hacking is essential for your digital reputation. And even though it may feel that ‘getting hacked’ is inevitable, you can definitely reduce your risk by installing some good quality security software on all your devices. Comprehensive security software such as McAfee+ will alert you when visiting risky websites, warn you when a download looks ‘dodgy’, and will block annoying and dangerous emails with anti-spam technology.
It makes sense really – if you don’t receive the ‘dodgy’ phishing email – you can’t click on it! Smart!
And finally, don’t forget that hackers love social media – particularly those of us who overshare on it. So, before you post details of your adorable new kitten, remember it may just provide the perfect clue for a hacker trying to guess your email password!
Till next time
Alex
The post What to Do If Your Email Is Hacked appeared first on McAfee Blog.
How do you manage your Facebook friends? Do you keep your list really tight and only include ‘active’ pals? Or do you accept everyone you’ve ever laid eyes on? I’m probably somewhere in between. But… if I have never had a personal conversation with them or ‘eyeballed’ them in the flesh, then they are not on my friend list!
On the average week, I usually receive a few friend requests. Some are from people who I may have just met or reconnected with when I’ve been out and about – lovely and totally acceptable! But I do also receive requests from people whom I have never met and then, even more bizarrely – requests from people who I am already friends with. Weird, yes, I agree! Now, my gut (and experience) tells me that these are fake accounts. Why? Well, I have never eyeballed any of these ‘new friends’ and, to top it off they have very little personal info on their profiles so that’s suspicious! And the requests from friends I already have? Well, unless I have heard directly from a friend that they are setting up a new Facebook account (very rare), these are likely fake accounts that scammers have set up to try and lure people known to the account holder to share private information. I recently mentioned my Facebook friend situation to my 20-year-old son who informed me he gets about 10 a week!
And while it can be annoying being harassed by randoms – as my kids would say – the issue is far bigger than that. Fake Facebook accounts are usually designed by clever cyber criminals who are trying to extract personal information from unsuspecting naive types – often kids and less tech-savvy types. And why do they want our personal information? It allows them to put together a profile that they can use to steal our identity so they can apply for loans, mobile phone plans, etc – but we’ll get to that later.
According to reports, Facebook deleted a whopping 27.67 billion fake accounts between October 2017 and mid 2023 – which is 3.5 times more than the total population of the entire planet! In early 2023, Facebook estimated that fake accounts represent approximately 4-5% of all active monthly users. Now, as of late 2023, there are over 3 billion active Facebook users which means there are around 150 million fake Facebook accounts. So, it’s highly likely that you (and your kids) will have been affected.
Experts believe that fake accounts fall into two categories, being operated either by a bot (aka web robot) or by an ill-intentioned human. But irrespective of type, there are several warning signs that an account is fake. If the account in question displays any of these signs, then avoid it at all costs:
Beauty
Bots and scammers will use beauty to lure in ‘friends’ and will often feature a pic of a gorgeously attractive girl or handsome guy on their pages. Why? We are only human – an enticing photo dramatically increases the chance of having a friend request accepted.
But remember, ‘real people’ aren’t flawless and perfectly formed. But if you still aren’t sure, why not use Google Image search to verify the pic? As soon as you upload it to Google, you’ll quickly find if there is someone else that belongs to that image.
However, AI image generators are also making this a little more complicated. These easy-to-use tools make it super easy for scammers to create alluring vaguely realistic images within minutes. And as these images are new, it’s very hard to find any data about the image making it harder to identify that the photo is not of a real person. All the scammer needs to do is provide 3 or more photos and the tool quickly generates an often appealing. So, please lock down your personal social media platforms so that cyber hackers can’t get their hands on your pics!
Not Many Pics But Too Many/Not Enough Friends
Bots and scammers tend not to post lots of photos. Their aim is to use minimum effort to create the illusion that a real person is behind the account, so they don’t bother too much with fleshing out a personal life.
But often, they will put a lot of effort into developing a fake friend list. This is always worth looking at. ‘Real’ Facebook users will usually have between 200 and 350 friends, so if the account in question has just a handful of friends, or instead several thousand then proceed with caution!
Weird (or No) Bio Information
If the biography information on the account seems fanciful or just plain unrealistic, then it’s likely not to be a legitimate account. I recently received a request from a US marine who had fought in every recent war, was a professional athlete, and had visited 30-plus countries in the last year! This fanciful detail had my alarm bells ringing and a reverse image search proved just that!
A lack of information in the About section is another red flag. ‘Real people’ usually like to enter their accomplishments and the schools/universities they attended in detail so they can connect more easily with old friends.
Sometimes scammers might attempt to flesh out this section by simply repeating a theme or city. For example: Works in Sydney, went to The University of Sydney, Lives in Sydney. And while it’s not a crime to work, live and study in Sydney – I did! – this coupled with an alluring picture and no friends does start to make you question the validity of the profile.
The Account Doesn’t Message
Bots can easily accept friend requests but can’t respond to messages. So, if you are unsure this is a great little test – just send a message and see what you get back!
Blank Wall
Blank walls are a dead giveaway for a fake account. If your possible ‘new friend’ has either no activity or just a few likes – then be suspicious!
The Account Name Doesn’t Match the URL
If the account name and URL don’t match then this is another red flag. When a genuine person’s Facebook account is hacked, a scammer (or new owner) may change the name on the account to better suit their new intentions. It’s important to note that stolen Facebook accounts can be bought and sold. For example, an account could be taken over by a scammer and then sold to someone who wants to become an influencer. The new owner, the influencer, has no need for the previous identity but simply wants the legitimacy (and friend list) of an established account.
As mentioned earlier, cyber hackers (or scammers) create fake Facebook accounts with the aim of trying to friend people and get access to their personal information. Identity theft is their motivation. They can profit from this private information by personally taking out loans or credit cards in someone else’s name. Or – and this is more likely – they on-sell the information so others can do so.
But fake Facebook accounts can also be created just to make money. Buying and selling Facebook fans is a multimillion-dollar business, as both companies and individuals pay big money to get fans and likes on their pages. And with the software to create these fake Facebook pages costing no more than $200, you can see how easily profits can be made.
What To Do If You Are Sure A Facebook Account Is Fake
Lastly, do NOT insist your kids delete their Facebook accounts because of the threat of fake accounts. Managing fake accounts is just part of living in our digital world. Our job is to teach our kids how to think critically so they can navigate the challenges of being online. Our biggest job as parents of digital natives is to teach them how to assess risks and navigate the challenges and obstacles. Whoever thought discussing a fake Facebook account could have so many benefits!
Take care.
Alex xx
The post How To Spot A Fake Facebook Account appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Deepfake technology has certainly made everything far more complicated online. How do you know for sure what’s real? Can you actually trust anything anymore? Recently, a Hong Kong company lost A$40 million in a deepfake scam after an employee transferred money following a video call with a scammer who looked like his boss! Even Oprah and Taylor have been affected by deepfake scammers using them to promote dodgy online schemes. So, how do we get our heads around it, and just as importantly, how do we help our kids understand it? Don’t stress – I got you. Here’s what you need to know.
Deepfake technology is essentially photoshopping on steroids. It’s when artificial intelligence is used to create videos, voice imitations, and images of people doing and saying things they never actually did. The ‘deep’ comes from the type of artificial intelligence that is used – deep learning. Deep learning trains computers to process data and make predictions in the same way the human brain does.
When it first emerged around 2017, it was clunky and many of us could easily spot a deepfake however it is becoming increasingly sophisticated and convincing. And that’s the problem. It can be used to create great harm and disruption. Not only can it be used by scammers and dodgy operators to have celebrities promote their products, but it can also be used to undertake image abuse, create pornographic material, and manipulate the outcome of elections.
When deepfakes first emerged they were clunky because they used a type of AI model called Generative Adversarial Network (or GAN). This is when specific parts of video footage or pictures are manipulated, quite commonly the mouth. You may remember when Australian mining magnate Andrew Forest was ‘deepfake’ into spruiking for a bogus ‘get rich quick’ scheme. This deepfake used GAN – as they manipulated just his mouth.
But deepfakes are now even more convincing thanks to the use of a new type of generative AI called a diffusion model. This new technology means a deepfake can be created from scratch without having to even manipulate original content making the deepfake even more realistic.
Experts and skilled scammers were the only ones who really had access to this technology until 2023 when it became widely available. Now, anyone who has a computer or phone and the right app (widely available) can make a deepfake.
While it might take a novice scammer just a few minutes to create a deepfake, skilled hackers are able to produce very realistic deepfakes in just a few hours.
As I mentioned before, deepfakes are generated to either create harm or cause disruption. But a flurry of recent research is showing that creating deepfake pornographic videos is where most scammers are putting their energy. A recent study into deepfakes in 2023 found that deepfake pornography makes up a whopping 98% of all deepfake videos found online. And not surprisingly, 99% of the victims are women. The report also found that it now takes less than 25 minutes and costs nothing to create a 60-second deepfake pornographic video of anyone using just one clear face image! Wow!!
Apart from pornography, they are often used for election tampering, identity theft, scam attempts and to spread fake news. In summary, nothing is off limits!
The ability to spot a deepfake is something we all need, given the potential harm they can cause. Here’s what to look out for:
There are two main ways you could be affected by deepfakes. First, as a victim e.g. being ‘cast’ in a deepfake pornographic video or photo. Secondly, by being influenced by a deepfake video that is designed to create harm e.g. scam, fake news, or even political disinformation.
But the good news is that protecting yourself from deepfake technology is not dissimilar to protecting yourself from general online threats. Here are my top tips:
Be Careful What You Share
The best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim is to avoid sharing anything online at all. I appreciate that this perhaps isn’t totally realistic so instead, be mindful of what and where you share. Always have privacy settings set to the highest level and consider sharing your pics and videos with a select group instead of with all your online followers. Not only does this reduce the chances of your pictures making their way into the hands of deepfake scammers but it also increases the chance of finding the attacker if someone does in fact create a deepfake of you.
Consider Watermarking Photos
If you feel like you need to share pics and videos online, perhaps add a digital watermark to them. This will make it much harder for deepfake creators to use your images as it is a more complicated procedure that could possibly be traceable.
Be Cautiously Suspicious Always
Teach your kids to never assume that everything they see online is true or real. If you always operate with a sceptical mindset, then there is less of a chance that you will be caught up in a deepfake scam. If you find a video or photo that you aren’t sure about, do a reverse image search. Or check to see if it’s covered by trusted news websites, if it’s a news video. Remember, if what the person in the video is saying or doing is important, the mainstream news media will cover it. You can always fact check what the ‘person’ in the video is claiming as well.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Adding another layer of security to all your online accounts will make it that much harder for a deepfake creator to access your accounts and use your photos and videos. Multi-factor authentication or 2-factor authentication means you simply add an extra step to your login process. It could be a facial scan, a code sent to your smartphone, or even a code generated on an authenticator app like Google Authenticator. This is a complete no-brainer and probably adds no more than 30 seconds to the logging in process.
Keep Your Software Updated
Yes, this can make a huge difference. Software updates commonly include ‘patches’ or fixes for security vulnerabilities. So, if your software is out of date, it’s a little like having a broken window and then wondering why people can still get in! I recommend turning on automatic updates, so you don’t have to think about it.
Passwords Are Key
A weak password is also like having a broken window – it’s so much easier for deepfake scammers to access your accounts and your pics and videos. I know it seems like a lot of work but if every one of your online accounts has its own complex and individual password then you have a much greater chance of keeping the deepfake scammers away!
So, be vigilant, always think critically, and remember you can report deepfake content to your law enforcement agency. In the US, that’s the FBI and in Australia, it is the eSafety Commissioner’s Office.
Stay safe all!
Alex
The post How To Teach Your Kids About Deepfakes appeared first on McAfee Blog.
‘Ensure your privacy settings are set to the highest level’ – if you’ve been reading my posts for a bit then you’ll know this is one of my top online safety tips. I’m a fan of ensuring that what you (and your kids) share online is limited to only the eyes that you trust. But let’s talk honestly. When was the last time you checked that your privacy settings were nice and tight? And what about your kids? While we all like to think they take our advice, do you think they have? Or it is all a bit complicated?
Research from McAfee confirms that the majority of us are keen to share our content online but with a tighter circle. In fact, 58% of social media users are keen to share content with only their family, friends, and followers but there’s a problem. Nearly half (46%) do not adjust their privacy settings on their social media platforms which means they’re likely sharing content with the entire internet!
And it’s probably no surprise why this is the case. When was the last time you tried to check your privacy settings? Could you even find them? Well, you are not alone with 55% of survey respondents confessing that they struggled to find the privacy settings on their social media platforms or even understand how they work.
Well, the good news is there is now a much easier way to decide exactly who you want to share with online. Introducing McAfee’s Social Privacy Manager. All you need to do is select your privacy preferences in a few quick clicks and McAfee will then adjust the privacy settings on your chosen social media accounts. Currently, McAfee’s software works with more than 100 platforms including LinkedIn, Google, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. It works across Android and iOS devices and on Windows and Mac computers also. The software is part of the McAfee+ suite.
Well, once you’ve got your social media privacy under control – you can relax – but just for a bit. Because there are a few other critical steps you need to take to ensure your online privacy is as protected as possible. Here’s what I recommend:
1. A Clever Password Strategy
In my opinion, passwords are one of the most powerful ways of protecting yourself online. If you have a weak and easily guessed password, you may as well not even bother. In an ideal world, every online account needs its own unique, complex password – think at least 12 characters, a combination of numbers, symbols, and both lower and upper case letters. I love using a crazy sentence. Better still, why not use a password manager that will create a password for you that no human could – and it will remember them for you too! A complete no-brainer!
2. Is Your Software Up To Date?
Software that is out of date is a little like leaving your windows and doors open and wondering why you might have an intruder. It exposes you to vulnerabilities and weaknesses that scammers can easily exploit. I always recommend setting your software to update automatically so take a little time to ensure yours is configured like this.
3. Think Critically Always
I encourage all my family members – both young and old – to always operate with a healthy dose of suspicion when going about their online business. Being mindful that not everything you see online is true is a powerful mindset. Whether it’s a sensational news article, a compelling ‘must have’ shopping deal, or a ‘TikTok’ influencer providing ‘tried and tested’ financial advice – it’s important to take a minute to think before acting. Always fact-check questionable news stories – you can use sites like Snopes. Why not ‘google’ to see if other customers have bad experiences with the shopping site that’s catching your eye? And if that TikTok influencer is really compelling, do some background research. But, if you have any doubts at all – walk away!
4. Wi-Fi – Think Before You Connect
Let’s be honest, Wi-Fi can be a godsend when you are travelling. If you don’t have mobile coverage and you need to check in on the kids then a Wi-Fi call is gold. But using public Wi-Fi can also be a risky business. So, use it sparingly and never ever conduct any financial transactions while connected to it – no exceptions! If you are a regular traveller, you might want to consider using a VPN to help you connect securely. A VPN will ensure that anything you send using Wi-Fi will be protected and unavailable to any potential prying eyes!
Keeping you and your family safe online is no easy feat. It’s time-consuming and let’s be honest sometimes quite overwhelming. If you have 3 kids and a partner and decided to manually update (or supervise them updating) their privacy settings then I reckon you’d be looking at least half a day’s work – plus all the associated negotiation! So, not only will McAfee’s Social Privacy Manager. ensure you and your loved ones have their social media privacy settings set nice and tight, it will also save you hours of work. And that my friends, is a good thing!
The post How Do You Manage Your Social Media Privacy? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Got any ‘rizz’? Did you ‘slay’ that dinner? Is the ‘cozzie livs’ stressing you out?
If you do not comprehendo, then you wouldn’t be alone. As a mum of 4, I can attest that understanding teenage slang can be quite the feat – as soon as you finally understand a few terms, there’s more! And while you don’t want to seem too intrusive (or uncool) and constantly ask your kids to translate, you probably want to keep a handle on what’s going on – in case you need to get involved!!
Where Does Slang Come From and Why Do We Use It?
Nothing ever stays the same and that includes language. Slang happens when we shorten words. Think fab instead of fabulous; or when we combine words think chill and relax = chillax. It can also ‘evolve’ when we give words new, unexpected meanings eg cheugy – a term to often describe older generations when they make an effort but fail – harsh!!
And more often than not, words that end up becoming slang will become part of our everyday language. Did you know that the word ‘mad’ was in fact a slang word for angry that became popular around 100 years ago?
Emily Brewster, senior editor at Merriam Webster Dictionary believes that ‘slang can be used to have a special form of communication with a subset of people.’ And ‘by using words that are only understood by the small group of people there’s an intimacy that can develop.’ So, really it’s a type of bonding tool!!
What Slang Do You Need To Know Now
While slang can sometimes be geographic based, the rise of platforms like TikTok have meant that its far more universal than it was in pre-social media days. So, if you’re keen to know the top words your kids are using so you ensure all is well, then here’s your go-to guide with the top 20 slang words. Apologies in advance for the potentially lewd references!!
1. Addy – address
‘Can you send me your addy? I’ll be there soon.’
2. Based – when you agree with something; or when you want to recognize someone for being themselves
‘You’re going to that party? Based.’
3. Ate that – to successfully achieve something
‘I love that dress. You totally ate that look’ (the dress looked great on you)
4. Basic – average
A word to describe someone who is predictable or bland. It’s an insult.
5. Cappin – lying
‘He’s so cappin’ (he is so not telling the truth)
6. Cheugy – basic, out of date or trying too hard
‘My older brother still wears his uggs, that’s so cheugy!’
7. Cozzie Livs – the cost of living crises
An Australian slang expression that was nominated as Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year in 2023.
‘I can’t go out tonight. Especially with the cozzie livs and all that jazz.’
8. Ded – so funny or embarrassing!
‘OMG. That pic has me ded’
9. Delulu – a short-hand term for delusional. It’s often used to describe someone in a humorous way who chooses to reject reality in favour of a more interesting interpretation of events.
‘She’s so delulu. She thinks she’s going to marry the lead actor in her favourite movie.’
10. Gas Up – to encourage or hype someone up.
‘My sister was feeling down so I gassed her up and reminded her just how great she is.’
11. Low key – The opposite of high key, it can mean slightly, occasionally, or even secretly.
‘I low key want a Poke bowl right now!’
12. High key – the opposite of ‘low key’. The term is used to when you really like something like something or want to emphasise it.
‘I high key love that brand’ (you’re a fan!)
13. IFKKYK – if you know you know.
It means if you weren’t there, you wouldn’t know. It could also refer to an inside joke.
‘Last night’s concert was amazing! IFKKYK’
14. No Cap – a term to emphasise that you’re not lying. A modern way of saying ‘I swear’
‘I saw him take the last biscuit. No cap’
15. Pop Off – when someone is doing well – often used in gaming.
‘Look at Ninja (streamer). He’s popping off on Fortnight’
16. Rizz – charisma. It can also describe one’s ability to attract a partner.
‘She’s got rizz!’
17. Roman Empire – something you love and think about all the time.
‘Visiting Paris is my Roman Empire’ or ‘America Ferrera’s Barbie monologue is my Roman Empire.’
18. Salty – annoyed or upset.
‘I don’t know why he is so salty’.
19. Simp – someone who tries too hard or goes above and beyond to impress the person they like.
‘He got her a ring after four dates. He’s such a simp!’
20. Slay – to do something exceedingly well.
‘He slayed that performance’.
So, next time your teen drops a phrase or acronym they think you can’t decipher, you will have NP (no problem) understanding what’s happening in your kids’ lives and absolutely no FOMO (fear of missing out)!
Good luck!!
Alex x
The post Teen Slang – What You Need To Know To Understand Your Teen appeared first on McAfee Blog.
‘So, what is the ultimate goal of all of our parenting?’ When I asked this question to a group of mum friends during the week, the answers were all quite mixed. ‘To raise kind humans’, one offered. ‘To have someone look after me when I’m old!’, said another. But after a few minutes of heavy debate, we all agreed on one thing – our goal is to create responsible citizens who are independent and self-sufficient.
Now, clearly, this is a project that takes place over at least 18 years!! Quick fixes do not cut it when trying to mould and shape little humans into responsible adults. And of course, this also includes raising responsible digital citizens too – no room for quick fixes here!
We’ve all heard the term but what does it really mean?
Digital citizenship is all about safely and responsibly navigating digital environments and participating in a respectful fashion. In short, it means being responsible, respectful, and intentional in all your online activity.
In my opinion, a child’s emotional intelligence is intrinsically linked to their ability to be an effective digital citizen. So, I understand why some experts prefer the term digital intelligence to digital citizenship. It does a much better job of explaining that effective digital citizenship requires a set of social, emotional, and cognitive skills that are essential for navigating the digital world.
In my opinion, teaching kids about digital citizenship needs to happen as soon as a child can pick up a device. Yes – your child might only be 18 months old! But the earlier you start weaving in messages about responsibility and safety – the more automatic it will be for them to adopt a positive digital citizen mindset.
You’d be hard-pressed to find many parents who don’t worry about the risks of their kids being online. Whether it’s scams, online predators, or cyberbullying, unfortunately, there will always be some level of risk. And while many of us would love to remove our kids’ devices or better still, wrap our babies in cotton wool, this is just not a reality. So, in my opinion, the best way to protect them is to prepare them. I believe that if we take the time to help them develop into responsible and effective digital citizens then they are far more likely to make safe and responsible choices! A complete no-brainer!
This is one lesson you don’t want your kids to learn the hard way! When tweens and teens are in the moment, it is easy to forget to think of the consequences of what they post. But one’s online presence is a significant part of their identity and can often be the first place that someone forms an impression of you. The manager of our local supermarket regularly tells me how he will first assess potential applicants with a quick ‘Google’ before he even offers an interview. And if your child is keen to be considered for a leadership position at school or university, it is imperative that they think about how they conduct themselves online too. Intentional, respectful interactions are the name of the game!
Respect is at the core of all healthy relationships and that absolutely includes online interactions. So, encourage your child to extend the same level of respect to their online friends and acquaintances as they would to those they meet face-to-face. This means not creating or forwarding hurtful content and or getting involved in negative online discussions or gossip about anyone – no exceptions!
I’m a big fan of teaching your child to speak up if they experience or witness bullying. While they may think they can handle it on their own, having input from a trusted adult will make the situation feel more manageable and less overwhelming. Advise your kids to block anyone who does not treat them respectfully online – but always take screenshots first! Being proactive will help create a positive and supportive online experience.
3. Master Healthy Digital Habits
There are a few essential basic digital habits that are not negotiable, in my opinion. Ensuring your kids have these down-pat will mean that they are maximising the chance of a safe and positive online experience. Here are my top 5:
Kids love creating content, but it is essential that they don’t copy or plagiarise the work of others. Using others’ work without obtaining their permission is both unethical and technically, against the law. This encompasses all forms of online content (aka intellectual property) including texts, images, and music. As parents, we need to foster digital citizenship in our kids by reminding them to appreciate the efforts and originality of fellow digital creators. In my opinion, giving credit when using others’ work is a ‘best practice’.
The ’do not copy’ rule also extends to piracy – the illegal downloading of digital content e.g. music or movies. Many kids dabble in piracy, but it really is no different to stealing someone’s work. Encourage your kids to treat the creative work of others with the same respect you would want for your own. And yes, that includes Taylor Swift!
One of the hardest lessons some kids learn online is that not everyone is who they say they are. It can be a crushing moment. So, getting ahead of the game and teaching your kids to be cautiously suspicious about people, platforms, organisations and offers they come across online will hold them in great stead.
Exercising caution when sharing information with strangers and unfamiliar organisations is an important way to protect yourself. Always do your due diligence before ‘trusting’ someone you connect with on a dating site, always request a legitimate way to transfer money when buying goods online and never just enter personal information on a site without doing your research.
We’ve all heard the expression ‘when something is too good to be true, it usually is’. This needs to be the golden rule when navigating the internet. Whether it’s early access to snippets from a yet to be released movie, a compelling discount on an iPhone or weight loss supplements, scammers know how to hook us in! Scamwatch is a great resource for identifying and reporting scams here in Australia.
If your child is uncertain about a website’s credibility, they can pose critical questions to themselves, such as “whose interests does this site serve?” or “how accurate and reliable is the information I’m reading?” This can guide your child in distinguishing between questionable sites and those providing accurate news and content.
But let me share one final piece of advice. We can encourage and educate our kids all day long about being a responsible digital citizen but unless we are modelling the behaviour we are trying to foster, it’s just not going to work. So, when you’re sharing a new post on Facebook, or commenting on a news article, ensure you are considerate and responsible with your word choice. Show your kids how to have kind and respectful interactions online and always fact-check any information you choose to share – because they are always watching and learning!!
Happy parenting digital citizens!!
Alex
The post How to Raise Responsible Digital Citizens appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Inquisitive, curious and fiercely independent. These are the three words that come to mind when I remember my boys as tweens and teens. Now, these are all wonderful qualities but when you’re trying to teach your kids to navigate the internet, these ‘wonderful’ qualities can often make things a little harder!! Curious types want to discover and investigate – that’s natural! But it also makes our job as parents even more challenging, particularly when it comes to protecting them from the slew of inappropriate content that can be found online.
In short, inappropriate content is anything your kids may find online that they find disturbing or are not yet ready for, developmentally. It may be an image, a video or written text that is offensive and upsetting. Now, this could happen accidentally but also deliberately.
Many of us immediately think of sexually explicit material when we think of inappropriate content but there is, unfortunately, more. It can also include material that promotes extremism or terrorism, violent imagery or copy, hateful or offensive sites or posts as well as false or misleading information.
As you can imagine, it’s hard to find accurate data as to how many kids have seen inappropriate content. Many kids would loathe to admit what they have seen, feel embarrassed or are simply too distressed to report their experience. So, it’s likely that the real statistics are higher than the reported data. Research undertaken by our eSafety Office shows that a high proportion of Aussie kids aged 12 to 17 have seen inappropriate content. Here are the details:
Is it inevitable that you will see something inappropriate online? I wish I could answer no, but the reality is that at some stage it is likely that your kids will see something that they find confusing or upsetting. So, the aim of the parental game here is to ensure this happens as late as possible and that they are ready for it. Here is where I suggest you put your energy into making this happen:
I am a big fan of a family tech agreement that outlines your expectations of your kids’ online behaviour and the family’s ‘rules of engagement.’ This should be age appropriate but if your kids are young enough then please include a list of the sites they can visit, the apps they can download and the information they can share – nothing personally identifiable. I would also include rules about device usage – no devices in bedrooms overnight!! Check out my post here that will help you tailor an agreement for your family.
A clear and detailed agreement means that every family member has clarity on the rules that will keep them safe. I find sharing the ‘why’ with my kids so important – so ensure they know you’re your goal here is to keep them safe and set them up for a positive online experience.
Go out of your way to create a home environment when your kids feel comfortable talking and sharing about all aspects of their lives without judgement. Once you have this, then you will be able to have regular conversations that will help them better understand the online world and most importantly, keep them safe! The goal here is to have genuine 2-way conversations without them feeling like they are being lectured at. For example, you can explain that anything they share online creates their own ‘digital footprint’ so they need to be mindful of how they conduct themselves, You could also talk them through the dangers of spreading rumours online or sharing hurtful photos or jokes.
And if your kids know they can talk to you about anything and that you won’t overact, then they are more likely to tell you if they have seen something online that has worried them. Now, we all hope that doesn’t happen, but we all want to be able to help our kids navigate challenges if and when they arise.
Parental controls can be a really helpful tool that allows you to monitor and manage what your child sees and does online. Of course, using parental controls is not a silver bullet – you still need to remain vigilant and invested however it can be a great thing to have in your toolbox. Here’s what I Iike:
Check out more information about McAfee’s parental controls here.
As we all know, the sky is the limit when it comes to finding anything online. So, young curious minds have ample opportunity to have their every question answered. However, this is not ideal when your kids have neither age nor experience on your side. So, let me introduce you to some child-friendly search engines that will ensure there are healthy boundaries for inquisitive minds!
This is a search engine that’s designed to produce safe results for kids so it will produce quite limited results – perfect! It has been designed to block swear words and ‘rude’ language but a Commonsense Media trial found that some violent content could be generated using it.
This search engine uses Google’s strict filtering software to produce up-to-date results without the risk of anything inappropriate. Their advanced keyword filtering system monitors for alternate and modified spellings which is great for youngins!
Also using Google’s SafeSearch, KidRex promotes kid-friendly pages in its results. It also has an additional database of inappropriate keywords and sites and blocks social media results. How good!
But, if you just want to stick with Google and turn on the SafeSearch filters, you absolutely can. Just remember, that you’ll need to activate it on every device that your kids might use – including their phone!
How often do you hear yourself saying or doing something your mother does? I do all the time! Our parents are our biggest influence and are our biggest role models. And this also applies to how we engage with technology. Make sure your kids see you enjoying tech-free time, so they ‘normalise’ this. Leave your phone at home when you walk the dog, never have phones at the dinner table and always turn your phone on do not disturb when talking with your kids. The less time spent on technology means the more time for real in-person human connection.
Being open is also an imperative way to protect your kids. In fact, the more open and communicative you are with your kids, the less reason they will have to undertake their own ‘research’ online. So, if you’ve created an environment where talking about puberty, hormonal changes and teenage relationships is normal, chances are they won’t need to turn to Google for answers – and risk seeing inappropriate content.
So, if you have a tribe of curious tweens or teens, then I’m sending you my very best. It’s not an easy task protecting them from some of the more challenging content that the internet can offer. But having come out the other side – and survived – I can assure you that the more proactive you are, the easier the ride will be.
Good luck!!
Alex XX
PS If you’re thinking about parental controls, don’t forget about enabling these on your streaming services too. Netflix, Amazon Prime and Stan all offer parental controls which can restrict the content that your kids can view. It’s definitely worth the effort.
The post How to Protect Your Kids From Inappropriate Online Content appeared first on McAfee Blog.
If you had to count the number of social media platforms your teen uses, I wonder what the score would be? 2, 5 or maybe even more? Well, surprisingly research from our Aussie eSafety Commissioner shows that Aussie kids use an average of 4 social media services. I bet you thought it would be more. I did! So, maybe this means we don’t need to worry too much about joining and understanding these platforms? Surely their skills must be quite polished if there are only using four platforms? Wrong!! Being a good digital parent means we need to take the time to understand our kids’ digital world – even when we think they have a handle on it.
Over the last 12 years in my job as Cybermum, I’ve shared an abundance of advice. But if I had to pick the most important piece it is this – the absolute best way to keep your kids safe online is to commit to understanding your kids’ online world, particularly when they are starting out on their digital journey. So, if they are on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok then you need to sign up, and spend time understanding how it works. If they love Minecraft, Fortnite or Among Us – then you now do too! I’m sure you’re figuring out the pattern by now…
I’m not sure how it works for you but one thing that does NOT work for me is listening to advice from someone who has no relevant experience. To be honest, it really grinds my gears!! So, isn’t it logical that our teens would feel the same? I honestly don’t think we can expect them to take advice from us about online safety if we have no lived experience. In my opinion, experience = credibility.
So, when you join Snapchat or Instagram not only are you learning about your child’s digital life but you’re also developing credibility which may just be the most important ingredient in keeping your kids safe online. Because if and when your kids find themselves in tricky situation online, they will be far more likely to come to you with a problem if they know you understand how it all works.
Taylor Swift fandom is massive in Australia right now. With many taking days off work to secure tickets to her upcoming shows and a hot movie release, you’d be hard pressed to find many young girls who don’t think she is the ‘bees knees’. And if your sons are made keen Le Bron, Tom Brady or Nathan Cleary fans then they wouldn’t be alone – my sons are all in awe of these spectacular athletes. But despite all the hype and the potential influence from these celebrities, I need to remind you of one very important thing – you are the most important role model for your kids. You hold the greatest influence in their decision making and value setting.
If your kids see you using the same platforms they use in a healthy, balanced way – then you really have a tonne of ability to help them develop positive digital habits. Your ‘tech cred’ will mean they are even more likely to pick up on your habits. So, make sure you have a healthy mix of digital and non-digital activities into your life. Consider:
Remember, they are watching and learning!!
Now, I don’t want to force you to do anything that you are not comfortable with, but I do want you to understand how best to support your kids in their digital life. To me, it’s quite simple. Whatever platform your kids spend the bulk of their time online then that’s where you need to spend your time too. You’ll develop credibility which means they are more likely to come to you if they have an issue online. It also gives you an opportunity to model health digital habits which can be really powerful. So, if your kids use Snapchat then yes – you need to join!!! All the ‘know-how’ you amass while using it will absolutely help make you a great digital parent.
Till next time
Alex
The post Do I Really Need to be on Snapchat to be a Good Digital Parent? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
In the 80’s, train stations and church groups were the key places to meet boys. And despite the fact I tried very hard to keep this side of my life well away from my parents, I know for a fact that they worried!! Well, some things have clearly changed with social media and dating apps providing unlimited opportunities for teens to connect with romantic partners across the world. But one thing definitely hasn’t changed – parents are still worrying!!
Despite what we may think, school is still the main place teens find their romantic partners according to a fascinating research study entitled: ‘Adolescents’ Partner Search in the Digital Age: Correlates and Characteristics of Relationships Initiated Online’. But second to this is the internet. The internet (including social media) even trumps ‘friends, parties and neighbourhoods’ as the 2nd most common place where adolescents meet their significant other.
Interestingly, the report also highlights the different types of kids who gravitate towards online dating. According to the research, girls who find it harder to fit in at school were more likely to initiate and find romantic relationships online rather than pursue them in person. This was the same for teens looking to pursue same-sex relationships. Overall, there were multiple examples of how the internet has become a ‘social intermediary’ for teens who may struggle with in-person social connection.
I want to make it very clear that this post isn’t designed to scare you or have you immediately remove all devices from your teen – although I get why it’s tempting! Instead, I want to help you, help your kids navigate online dating.
By now, we all know that there are both challenges and risks being online. Some of us navigate these with ease while others don’t. In my opinion, a teen’s ability to think critically, pick up social cues and manage conflict will have a direct impact on their ability to navigate their online life and that includes online dating.
So, yes there are risks – your teen may experience harassment, discrimination, sextortion, scams or cyberstalking. And of course, these are big heavy possibilities that no-one wants their child to experience. But you have to remember that for our kids, meeting someone online is just as normal as it was for my friends and I to meet boys at the local train station. In fact, it may even be less overwhelming as they can ‘google’ potential love matches and find friends of friends who can vouch for them or warn them away.
Instead of being worried, focus on helping your teen have a positive and safe online dating experience.
It’s completely natural to be hesitant about your teen dating online – I’ve been there! And yes, talking about their budding love life may be a bit uncomfortable. But, when there are some pretty large risks at play, you’re just going to have to push through on the awkwardness. Here are my top tips:
Take some time to research the various dating sites. Read the reviews, browse the community guidelines and understand how they verify users. The larger dating sites are for over 18s – think Hinge, Bumble and Tinder however let’s keep it real – it’s not that hard to ‘fudge’ your age. So even if your teen is under 18, I’d still do some due diligence here. In recent years, under 18 dating sites have cropped up. Mylol, the self-proclaimed “#1 teen network in the world”, is probably the most popular platform followed by Skout.
But traditional dating sites are not the only way teens meet potential love interests online. It’s not uncommon for kids to start messaging other kids whose profile they may have come across on Snapchat, Discord or even while gaming on Fortnite. You may have heard the expression ‘slide into your DMs’ – that means that someone has sent you a direct message on social media, most commonly for romantic purposes!!
Once you understand how it all works – you’ll be able to speak with more ‘weight’ to your teen. So, push through the awkwardness and start talking. If there is a lot of pushback from your teen, you might need to go slow. Why not share articles about online dating? Or, relay stories and experiences from your friends and their kids? Always reserve judgment and stay calm and neutral. Why not help them work out what they want by asking open and non-judgemental questions e.g. Is it a committed relationship or just a ‘fling’? This may help them work out the best platform and also manage their expectations.
Once the awkwardness has gone, you should start talking about healthy relationship boundaries. It’s important they understand how to set parameters, so they are safe and respected. They need to know that:
There are also some key safety measures that will help protect them when they embark on online dating. I love reminding my boys of these – fingers crossed they listen!!
I’m a big believer that being proactive is a very worthwhile parenting strategy. So, ‘ripping off the bandaid’ and helping your teens with their online dating strategy is a great way to set them up for a safe and positive experience. We all know from experience that the path to true love isn’t always linear, so there might be a few heartbreaks or dramas along the way. So, remind your teen that you are always available to listen to their concerns and help them troubleshoot a situation. Remember, the more you keep the lines of communication open, the more likely they will be to come to you if there is an issue.
Happy digital parenting!!
Alex x
The post How to Help Your Teens Stay Safe When They Start Dating Online appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Imagine this. You’re 15, feeling unsure about yourself in the world, possibly even a little lonely. One day, a pretty girl starts messaging you on Instagram. She’s kind and funny. She has pets and several happy snaps of her friends and family on her profile – so she looks ‘normal’. Messages are running pretty hot for a few days and you’re loving it. You’re getting on well and are so pumped that someone likes you for you. But then she asks for a nude pic of you, including your face. You’re unsure what to do but don’t want to lose the vibe with this great girl. So, you send it. But there’s a big problem. The ‘normal’ looking girl is in fact a scammer.
In 2022, the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) averaged more than 100 reports of sextortion every month in 2022. But Australian law enforcement authorities believe the real statistics may in fact be much higher with many estimating than less than 25% of cases are reported. Australian Federal Police Commander Hilda Sirec said that data showed more than 90% of victims were male and aged predominantly between 15 and 17 years of age. Police have seen victims as young as 10 years old.
Sextortion or sexual extortion is a form of blackmail where someone threatens to share a nude or sexual image of yourself unless you meet their demands. Often the victim is tricked or coerced into sending the images. Offenders may demand money, more images or in-person sexual favours. Sexual images may also be captured while a young person is on live stream or video. This is known as ‘capping’.
At the risk of stating the obvious, this can be an incredibly stressful process for the victim. Many offenders have mastered the art of manipulation and can make the victim feel like there is no way out of the situation. The constant threat of sharing content with family and friends coupled with the relentless demands can understandably, send many young people into a mental health tailspin. The shame and embarrassment are all consuming. Many victims feel like they have done something wrong and will be punished by parents and/or prosecuted by police if anyone finds out.
The sextortion trend is not isolated to Australia. There is currently a global trend of sextortion targeting teenage boys to send sexual images and threatening to share them unless they pay up. Organised crime syndicates are believed to be behind the trend, having diversified from just targeting adults.
In December 2022, the Australian Federal Police revealed that more than 500 Australian bank accounts, financial services and digital currency accounts linked to sextortion syndicates targeting Aussie teens had been shut down.
If your child is a victim, praise them for being brave and coming to you for help. And be grateful that you have an opportunity to help them! Here is what else I suggest:
The most important thing to do is commit to supporting your teen. Reassure them that you will help them, that they are not in trouble, and that you’ll protect them.
Help your teen collect as much proof as possible. Take screenshots of all interactions. These will be essential to help identify the perpetrator.
Contact your local police station or the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and report the incident. Please reassure your teen that they will not be prosecuted despite the fact they shared intimate content. Reporting the crime could prevent other teens becoming victims.
All contact with the person blackmailing your teen needs to stop ASAP.
Under no circumstance should you pay the blackmailer, give them more money or more intimate content – despite their demands.
The ACCCE has developed an online blackmail and sexual exploitation response kit. You can access a copy here.
In my opinion, the best way to get ahead of this disturbing trend is to focus on prevention. So, why not take the time to ensure your teens have the privacy settings on all their social media accounts set to ‘friends only’ or ‘private’? That way, they can’t be contacted by anyone they don’t know. Also, remind your kids that friends they meet online can’t be trusted like real ‘in-person’ friends so no sharing of personal information.
And keep the communication open and regular. If your kids know you are genuinely interested in all aspects of their life – both online and offline – and that you have their back, then they are far more likely to come to you if and when there is a problem. And isn’t that what we are here for? To help them navigate the tricky stuff.
Happy digital parenting
Alex
The post Sextortion – What Every Parent Needs To Know appeared first on McAfee Blog.
I have a confession to make – I so wish ChatGPT was around when my kids were younger. I realise that it’s not perfect but in my opinion, it’s like having a personal digital assistant to help you wade through those super heavy parenting years. Imagine how helpful it would be to have your ‘assistant’ develop a personalised bedtime story for your 6-year-old or, work out what you can cook with just the ingredients in your fridge!! I am so sure I would have been a more relaxed mother if I had ChatGPT working for me!!
How Does ChatGPT Work?
ChatGPT is an amazing website that allows you to have human-like conversations with a chatbot that is driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The chatbot can answer your questions, compose emails and essays, translate text, develop code and more. At the time of writing, there is a free version of ChatGPT available which gives the user unlimited access however the paid premium version of $US20 per month gives priority access during peak times, faster response speeds and exclusive access to GPT-4 – a smarter and more capable chatbot!
If you’d like to know more about it, check out my Parents’ ChatGPT Guide which will help fill in the blanks.
How ChatGPT Can Make You A Better Parent
There are so many ways ChatGPT can reduce the stress of parenting and give you some much-needed head space. Here are my top 5:
1. What’s For Dinner?
If I look back at the super intense parenting years when I was working full-time with 4 kids, one of the greatest causes of my stress was dinner. I often wouldn’t have the physical energy to read a recipe book or stop at the shops after an afternoon of school and extra-curricular pickups so I would be scrambling to feed a bunch of ravenous boys. Imagine how good it would be to have your digital assistant, aka ChatGPT, devise a recipe based on what you have in your fridge and pantry? Nothing short of life-changing, in my opinion. And it can even factor in dietary restrictions! So clever!!
2. Can You Tell Me A Bedtime Story
My boys loved bedtime stories – preferably personalised! I know, very demanding!! Now, with 4 separate stories to deliver every night, you can only imagine how much mental energy this required. But if I had ChatGPT working for me, this would take just seconds to solve. Simply enter the name and age of the child (no surnames), the setting, the names of other characters that should be included, and then a theme e.g. hero’s journey, determination, friendship, and wham bam – you’ve got something ready to go!
3. Your Next Holiday – Sorted!
When things are so hectic, it is often the thought of a vacation that can keep you going. However, let’s be honest, successful holidays take quite a bit of planning to get right. Well – that’s where your digital assistant can help. If you ask, ChatGPT can develop itineraries with activity suggestions. It can also recommend hotels – simply ask it for suggestions within a specific location e.g. close to the Eiffel Tower. And it can also tailor its recommendations based on your budget. After planning and managing family holidays for my clan of 6 for well over 20 years, this is a life-changing feature!
4. The Best Birthday Party Checklist Ever
Far out, birthday parties can be stressful experiences. Invitations, themes, venue, entertainment, kids’ food, lolly bags, parents’ food, parents’ drinks, the list goes on and on. But if you haven’t already put ChatGPT to work as a party planner – then you’re missing out. Simply type in the age of the child and it can give you an entire plan. It will also give you 20-25 top tips that I guarantee will ensure you have everything covered!
5. Homework Help
If you’ve got a tribe of kids who are all at various levels and need homework help, then staying up to date with maths and science can be quite exhausting – particularly after a long day at work! Simply entering ‘explain’ or ‘explain so a 10-year-old can understand’ into ChatGPT will provide you with enough smarts to get that homework done. Of course, fact-checking ChatGPT is essential but what it will provide is some momentum in the right direction.
But A Word of Caution
ChatGPT can absolutely make your life easier as a parent but there are a few things to remember before you start typing into that chat box.
1. It Doesn’t Always Get Everything Right
It’s important to double-check everything. Ensure your kids also appreciate that everything online needs to be double-checked.
2. Be Mindful of Your Privacy When Using It
For a full explanation of its impact on privacy and how you can protect yourself, check out my recent blog post about . But to summarise: be careful what you share in the chat box, stay anonymous, and consider deleting your chat history.
3. Consider How You Use It With Your Kids
One of the biggest negatives of ChatGPT is its potential impact on creativity and thinking skills. Some schools and universities have banned its use while others have specialised programs that supposedly can detect whether a student has used it. While it does sadden me that our kids won’t need to struggle over complex maths questions or English essays like we did, I am a realist and believe that whether we like it or not – it is here to stay. My prediction is that the school and university systems will adapt because generative AI will be a part of our kids’ world. Our role as parents and educators is to teach them how to use it safely and with a critical-thinking mindset.
So, if you’ve dreamed about hiring a personal assistant (I do regularly!) then you so need to check out ChatGPT. It will help you get through your ‘to-do’ list, save you so much time and energy which means you’ve got more time to spend with your kids – or by yourself under a tree. You choose!!
Till Next Time
Stay Safe Online
Alex
The post Could ChatGPT Be The Best Thing That’s Ever Happened To Your Family? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Let’s be honest, talking to your kids about identity theft isn’t probably top of your list. There’s a long list of topics to cover off when you are a parent. But if you take a minute to picture someone stealing your child’s identity or using their personal information to take out a loan for a shiny new car then you’ll probably want to move it closer to the top of your parenting to-do list!
Identity theft occurs when a person’s personal identifying information is used without their permission, usually to commit fraud by making unauthorised purchases or transactions. Identity theft can happen in many ways, but its victims are usually left with significant damage to their finances, credit score, and even their mental health.
Most people associate identity theft with data breaches – think Optus, Latitude Financial, and Medibank – however, there are many more ways that scammers can get their hands on your personal identifying details. They can use ‘phishing’ emails to get information from you, do a deep dive on your social media accounts to find identifying information in posts or photos, hack public Wi-Fi to access any information you share, or simply, steal your wallet or go through your trash!!
In short, it’s a big problem – for both individuals and organisations. And here are the statistics:
One of the biggest issues with identity theft is that you often don’t immediately know that you’re a victim. In some cases, it might take weeks before you realise that something is awry which unfortunately, gives the thief a lot of time to wreak havoc! Some of the signs that something might be wrong include:
The key here is to act as soon as you believe you are affected. Don’t stress that there has been a delay in taking action – just take action now! Here’s what you need to do:
1. Call Your Bank
Your first call should be to your bank so they can block the affected account. The aim here is to prevent the scammer from taking any more money. Also remember to block any cards that are linked to this account, either credit or debit.
2. Change Your Passwords
If your identity has been stolen then it’s highly likely that the scammer knows your passwords so change the passwords for the affected accounts straight away!! And if you have used this same password on any other accounts then change these also. If you can’t remember, you can always reset the passwords on key accounts just to be safe.
3. Report It
It may feel like a waste of time reporting your identity theft, but it is an important step, particularly as your report becomes a formal record – evidence you may need down the track. It may also prevent others from becoming victims by helping authorities identify patterns and hopefully, perpetrators. If you think your personal identifying information has been used, report it to the Australian authorities at ReportCyber.
4. Make a Plan
It’s likely you’re feeling pretty overwhelmed at what to do next to limit the damage from your identity theft – and understandably so! Why not make a contract with IDCARE? It’s a free service dedicated to assisting victims of identity theft – both individuals and organisations – in Australia and New Zealand.
If there is one thing I have learned in my 20+ years of parenting, it is this. If you want to get your kids ‘onboard’ with an idea or a plan, you need to take the time to explain the ‘why’. There is absolutely no point in asking or telling them to do something without such an explanation. It is also imperative that you don’t lecture them. And the final ingredient? Some compelling statistics or research – ideally with a diagram – my boys always respond well to a visual!
So, if you haven’t yet had the identity theft chat with your kids then I recommend not delaying it any further. And here’s how I’d approach it.
Firstly, ensure you are familiar with the issue. If you understand everything I’ve detailed above then you’re in good shape.
Secondly, arm yourself with relevant statistics. Check out the ones I have included above. Why not supplement this with a few relevant news stories that may resonate with them? This is your ‘why’.
Thirdly, focus on prevention. This needs to be the key focus. But don’t badger or lecture them. Perhaps tell them what you will be doing to minimise the risk – see below for your key ‘hot tips’ – you’re welcome!
There are a few key things that you can do today that will both minimise your risk of becoming a victim and the consequences if you happen to be caught up in a large data breach.
1. Passwords
Managing passwords for your online accounts is one of the best risk management strategies for identity theft. I know it’s tedious, but I recommend creating a unique and complex 10+ digit password for each of your online accounts. Tricky passwords make it harder for someone to get access to your account. And, if you use the same login details for each of your online accounts – and your details are either leaked in a data breach or stolen – then you could be in a world of pain. So, take the time to get your passwords sorted out.
2. Think Before You Post
Sharing private information about your life on social media makes it much easier for a scammer to steal your identity. Pet names, holiday destinations, and even special dates can provide clues for passwords. So, lock your social media profiles down and ensure your privacy settings are on.
3. Be Proactive – Monitor Your Identity Online
Imagine how good it would be if you could be alerted when your personal identifying information was found on the Dark Web. Well, this is now a reality! McAfee’s latest security offering McAfee+ will not only protect you against threats but provide 24/7 monitoring of your personal details so it can alert you if your information is found on the Dark Web. And if your details are found, then advice and help may also be provided to remedy the situation. How good!!
4. Using Public Computers and Wi-Fi With Caution
Ensuring you always log out of a shared computer is an essential way of keeping prying eyes away from your personal identifying information. And always be super careful with public Wi-Fi. I only use it if I am desperate and I never conduct any financial transactions, ever! Cybercriminals can ‘snoop’ on public Wi-Fi to see what’s being shared, they can stage ‘Man in The Middle Attacks’ where they eavesdrop on your activity, or they can lure you to use their trustworthy sounding Wi-Fi network – designed purely to extract your private information!
5. Monitor Your Bank Accounts
Why not make a habit of regularly checking your bank accounts? And if you find anything that doesn’t look right contact your bank immediately to clarify. It’s always best to know if there is a problem so you can address it right away.
With so many Aussies affected by data breaches and identity theft, it’s essential that our kids are armed with good information so they can protect themselves as best as possible. Why not use your next family dinner to workshop this issue with them?
Till Next Time
Stay Safe Online
Alex
The post How to Talk To Your Kids About Identity Theft appeared first on McAfee Blog.
I’m such a fan of RUOK? Day. Started in 2009, it’s an Australian non-profit suicide prevention that is all about having conversations with others to address social isolation and promote a sense of community. What I love the most, is that RUOK? Day has become quite an event on the Australian calendar. You’d be hard-pressed to find a workplace that doesn’t host a morning tea or a retailer that’s not selling a ribbon or badge in support of the day. In my opinion, it has given many of us the confidence to talk about mental health and that, my friends, is a very good thing!
You wouldn’t be human if you hadn’t ever felt a little down or anxious. It’s the natural ebb and flow of daily life. However, if these symptoms are hanging around and are affecting your ability to ‘do’ life then, it’s time to take some action.
Remember, it is incredibly common for someone to experience a dip in their mental health. Recent research shows that over 2 in 5 Aussies aged 16 to 85 will experience a mental disorder at some time in their life, with 1 in 5, experiencing a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.
If you’re not feeling OK, the most important thing to remember is that you do not need to deal with this all by yourself. Sometimes when you’re feeling really low, the thought of leaving the house and facing the world can feel too much. I totally get it! And that’s where the online world can play a huge role. There is an abundance of resources available online for anyone who needs mental health support which makes it so much easier to get the help you need when facing the world just feel a bit much.
Here is a list of organisations that offer online mental health services here in Australia. This list is not exhaustive however these are the most commonly used, and hence best funded, support services. If you are based in the US, please find details at the end of the post for organisations that can provide mental health support.
So, if you are not just yourself at the moment and are feeling really low – or you know someone that is – please know that there is help available online 24/7. So, make yourself a cuppa and get started because you are not alone.
Alex xx
P.S. For my US friends:
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline provides 24/7 free and confidential support and crisis resources for people in distress, and their families. Simply text or call 988 to access help.
The Crisis Text Line is a free and confidential 24/7 support service for anyone who resides in the US. Support can be accessed by text message (text HOME to 741-741) and online chat.
The post RUOK Day – How to Get Help Online When You’re Not Feeling OK appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Love it or hate it, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT in particular have become one of the most talked about tech developments of 2023. Many of us have embraced it with open arms and have put it to work by tasking it to ‘assist’ with assignments, write copy for an ad, or even pen a love letter – yes, it’s a thing. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with it. As someone who writes for a living, it does ‘grind my gears’ but I am a big fan of its ability to create recipes with whatever I can find in my fridge. But like any new toy, if you don’t use it correctly then there could be issues – which may include your privacy.
ChatGPT is an online software program developed by OpenAI that uses a new form of artificial intelligence – generative AI – to provide conversational, human-style responses to a broad array of requests. Think of it as Google on steroids. It can solve maths questions, translate copy, write jokes, develop a resume, write code, or even help you prepare for a job interview. If you want to know more, check out my Parent’s Guide to ChatGPT.
But for ChatGPT to answer tricky questions and be so impressive, it needs a source for its ‘high IQ’. So, it relies on knowledge databases, open data sources and feedback from users. It also uses social media to gather information and a practice known as ‘web scraping’ to gather data from a multitude of sources online. And it is this super powerful combination that allows ChatGPT to ‘almost always’ deliver on tasks.
Your privacy can be affected in several ways. While I discuss some specifics on ChatGPT, similar concerns apply to other generative AI programs. Some of these ways may not concern you, but I’m quite sure some will. Here’s what you need to know:
When ChatGPT (along with many similar tools) absorbed the enormous amount of data it needed to function from sources like books, articles, and web pages, they did so without seeking case-by-case permission. As certain data can be used to identify us, our friends and family or even our location, this can present privacy concerns. Some authors have already filed complaints for usage of their content without compensation, despite ChatGPT offering users a premium package for US$20/month. Recently, many online news outlets have blocked OpenAI’s crawler which will limit ChatGPT’s ability to access their news content.
Every time you share a piece of information with ChatGPT, you are adding to its data bank, risking that the information ends up somewhere in the public domain. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) recently issued a mandate for Western Australian doctors not to use ChatGPT after doctors at a Perth hospital used it to write patient notes. These confidential patient notes could be used to not only further train ChatGPT but could theoretically also be included in responses to other users.
In addition to collecting the information users share, it also collects detailed information about its users. In the company’s privacy policy, it outlines that it collects users’ IP addresses and browser types. It also collects information on the behaviour of its users e.g. the type of content that users engage with as well as the features they use. It also says that it may share users’ personal information with unspecified parties, without informing them, to meet their business operation needs.
One of the biggest risks to using ChatGPT and similar generative AI is the risk that your details will be leaked in a data breach. Between 100,000 ChatGPT accounts credentials were compromised and sold on the Dark Web in a large data beach which happened between June 2022 to May 2023, according to Search Engine Journal.
But here’s another potential problem – as ChatGPT users can store conversations, if a hacker gains access to an account, it may mean they also gain access into propriety information, sensitive business information or even confidential personal information.
Now please don’t misunderstand me, ChatGPT is taking action to protect users but it may not be enough to truly protect your privacy.
ChatGPT does make it very clear that all conversations between a user and ChatGPT are protected by end-to-end encryption. It also outlines that strict access controls are in place so only authorised personnel can access sensitive user data. It also runs a Bug Bounty program which rewards ethical hackers for finding security vulnerabilities. However, in order to remain protected while using the app, I believe the onus is on the user to take additional steps to protect their own privacy.
As we all know, nothing is guaranteed in life however there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of your privacy being compromised. Here are my top tips:
Never share personal or sensitive information in any of your prompts. By doing so, you increase the risk of sharing confidential data with cybercriminals. If you need a sensitive piece of writing edited, ask a friend!!
One of the most useful ways of safeguarding your privacy is to avoid saving your chat history. By default, ChatGPT stores all conversations between users and the chatbot with the aim of training OpenAI’s systems. If you do choose not to save your chat history, OpenAI will store your conversations for 30 days. Despite this, it is still one of the best steps you can take to protect yourself.
As mentioned above, ChatGPT can collect and process highly sensitive data and associate it with your email address and phone number. So, why not set up a dedicated email just for ChatGPT? And keep your shared personal details to a minimum. That way, the questions you ask or content you share can’t be associated with your identity. And always use a pseudonym to mask your true identity.
Whether it’s ChatGPT or Google’s Bard, it’s imperative that you stay up to date with the company’s privacy and data retention policies, so you understand how your data is managed. Find out how long your conversations will be stored for before they are anonymised or deleted and who your details could potentially be shared with.
So, if you’re looking for a recipe for dinner, ideas for an upcoming birthday party or help with a love letter, by all means get ChatGPT working for you. However, use a dedicated email address, don’t store your conversations and NEVER share sensitive information in the chat box. But if you need help with a confidential or sensitive issue, then maybe find another alternative. Why not phone a friend – on an encrypted app, of course!!
The post ChatGPT’s Impact on Privacy and How to Protect Yourself appeared first on McAfee Blog.
When my boys were in the thick of their teen years (pre pandemic), bad mouthing their seeming gaming obsession was almost a sport amongst my mum friends. And it would sound something like this:
‘They just waste so much time on those stupid games’. ‘No matter what I try, I just can’t seem to get them off that silly Xbox’. ‘Can you believe they want to spend all their pocket money on the new version of COD?’ ‘I am so close to throwing all their gaming stuff in the bin!!’
Fast forward to life post pandemic and I think it’s fair to say that most of us have changed our attitude around gaming. There is no doubt that gaming helped many of us survive the incredible loneliness that resulted from protracted quarantine periods and seemingly endless lockdowns. It took just a few days of lockdown for things to change real fast in our house: daily gaming time caps were scrapped; screen time limits became a thing of history as survival became our top priority!
But now that life has returned to our ‘new normal’, have our gaming habits and attitudes really changed? Well, a 2022 report, entitled Digital Australia, has done a deep-dive into the gaming lives of Aussies and the insights are quite fascinating. Here are the most interesting takeaways:
So, there’s no doubt that gaming has become both a more regular and widely accepted part of our daily lives. But that doesn’t mean that we can take our eye off the ball. While there is a lot to love about gaming, there are still steps we should all take to ensure the experience is safe and positive for everyone, particularly our kids. Here are my top tips:
If you read my blog regularly, I have no doubt you’re rolling your eyes! Yes, I’m talking about passwords again!! And here’s why – if you (or your kids) use the same password for each of your online accounts and one of those accounts get hacked, then you risk losing control of your entire digital life. Yes, I know it sounds dramatic but that is the reality. The easiest way of avoiding this scenario is by ensuring each of your online accounts, including your gaming accounts, has its own unique password. Now remember, passwords need to be at least 10 characters, have a combination of numbers, symbols and upper and lower-case letters and have no connection to anything about you at all. I’m a fan of a long, nonsensical sentence but, I’m an even bigger fan of a password manager that can both create and remember these unique passwords for you. Check out McAfee+ – it will make your life so much easier!
Keeping your location on the ‘down low’ when you game online is an important way of securing your privacy and a Virtual Private Network (or VPN) can do that. When you connect using a VPN, your location is concealed making it impossible for hackers or stalky types to find you. A VPN can also protect you against DDoS attacks which can be used by gaming opponents when the competition stakes are high! McAfee’s True Protection security software offers a VPN, check it out here.
‘Yes please’ needs to be the answer if your online gamer is offered 2-factor or multi factor authentication from a game or distributor. This adds another layer of security by adding an additional stage to the login process. Usually, a code will be sent to an email address or mobile phone number that needs to be entered before the user can access their account. And it appears as though distributors are getting behind player security with some games even offering in-game rewards to those who sign up for it. How good!
Scammers know we love gaming, so they have spent much energy creating websites that offer free downloads of the most popular online games. But unfortunately, visitors to these websites won’t be getting free games anytime soon as these websites are all about extracting vital personal information from gaming hungry types. So, ensure your kids understand this and that it is essential that they only download games, third-party add-ons, or cheat codes from reputable sites otherwise they risk introducing viruses or game malware into their beloved machines.
If you’ve got kids, then helping them choose the right games to play is essential. Instead of taking an authoritarian approach here, why not think of it as a collaboration? Ask them to do some research on the games they would like to play and ask them to include the recommended age, an overview of the content & whether there are privacy settings available. I then suggest reviewing the list together to see whether the potential games are good for problem solving skills, creativity, or purely social interactions. I also recommend checking out the Australian Classification Board’s review of potential games plus top notch digital parenting sites like Common Sense Media before making your final decision.
Without doubt, the best way you can keep your kids safe while online gaming is to ensure the lines of communication are open and clear. If they know they can come to you if they experience an issue while gaming (and that you won’t immediately punish them and ack away the Xbox) then you’re ahead. Not sure how to kick start the communication? How about a family session on the Xbox. I promise, it will be time well spent!
Happy digital parenting!
Alex
The post The Best Way to Stay Safe While Gaming appeared first on McAfee Blog.
If you’ve got teens, then no doubt you’ve received the SOS texts. ‘Mum, I need a haircut, can you just spot me $30?’ or ‘I’ve just finished footy and I’m starving, can you transfer me some money?’. Where would the modern parent be without online banking? How did our non-digital forefathers ever cope??
Online banking is just so convenient and basically a necessity of modern life. If you’ve recently tried to conduct a transaction at a branch, then you’ll know exactly what I mean. One of my boys recently tried to set up a new account at a local banking branch and they were told to come back the following day. Instead, we went home and did it online in less than 20 minutes!
Aussie banks are world class at implementing a range of security measures to keep our banking safe however there are still things we can do to avoid our banking details getting into the hands of hackers. But many of us just assume that ‘all is well’ – our banking apps work seamlessly, so why do we need to worry? And that’s where many come unstuck. If it doesn’t appear to be broken, why do we need to fix it? Well, being ahead of the risks is how you keep yourself safe, my friends. So, here are my top tips to ensure all your family members are banking online in the securest way possible.
If you’re changing banks or helping your child set up their online banking, it’s essential that you download your bank’s official app. Imitations do exist! Ideally, download the app from the bank’s website however if this isn’t an option use a genuine app store like Apple’s AppStore or Google Play for Android devices. And always verify the app is legitimate by checking the developer details and reading the reviews.
Budgeting or financial management apps are an incredibly popular way to help manage finances, but you need to be cautious here too as many will require you to share your banking logins. Always check the app’s reviews, its history of data breaches and its security policies before you download.
Using the name of your puppy, your kids or worse still, your birthday, is one of the fastest ways of getting your banking details into the hands of hackers. Passwords need to have no connection to any part of your life, should never be stored in your banking app or anywhere on your phone and NEVER, EVER written on the back of your debit card!! Here are my top tips:
Make them long – choose a phrase instead of just 1 word. I love a nonsensical sentence with at least 10 characters.
Always include lower and uppercase letters, a number or 2 and a few symbols.
Every online account needs its own unique password – no exceptions.
Put a reminder in your calendar to update your passwords regularly – at least every 3-6 months.
All sounds too hard? Try a password manager that will not only create complex passwords that no human could ever think of, but it will also remember then for you. Check out McAfee +, complete no brainer!
Geez, public Wi-Fi is convenient, particularly if you are travelling. But, using it to undertake any banking or financial dealings is just too risky in, my opinion. Why? I hear you ask. Well, there are many ways hackers can hack public Wi-Fi, let me share a few:
‘Evil twin’ attack. This is when hackers set up malicious hotspots with seemingly logical and trustworthy names eg ‘Free Café Wi-Fi’. But as soon as you connect, they can easily get their hands on your data.
Man-in-the-middle attack (MitM). This is when hackers break into a network and eavesdrop on data as it travels between connected devices and the Wi-Fi router. For example, your online banking password!
Password cracking attack. Scammers use software that automatically tries a huge volume of usernames and passwords so they can control the router. And once they’ve gained control, they can dupe you into downloading malicious software (that could steal your identity) or redirects you to a webpage that phishes for your personal information.
If you don’t think you can possibly survive without public Wi-fi then you need to invest in a VPN that will ensure everything you share is protected.
If your bank offers two-factor authentication to its customers, then your answer needs to be ‘yes please’! Two-factor authentication or multi factor authentication adds another layer of verification to your banking which minimises the chances of hacker causing you harm. If you’ve activated it, you’ll be asked to provide another piece of information after you’ve entered your login details. Usually a special code, this may be delivered to you via an app, text message or even an automated phone call.
It will take just a few minutes to ring your bank and request to be notified when an activity occurs on your account. Every bank will manage this differently, however most banks can alert you on request via email or text if the following occur:
And if anything at all seems a little fishy, contact your bank immediately!
Unfortunately, few things are guaranteed in life and that includes your online safety. And whether you’re an online banking fan or not, opting out isn’t really an option. So, take some time to tighten up your online banking. Only use legit apps; change your passwords so they are long, strong and complex; invest in a VPN so you can use public Wi-Fi and say yes to two-factor authentication. You’ve got this!
Happy banking!!
Alex
The post Online Banking – The Safe Way appeared first on McAfee Blog.
The time has come. Your kids are chafing at the bit to get on social media and you can no longer hold them back. But you’re terrified. ‘What if they say the wrong thing? What if they meet some unsavoury types or worst case, what if they get bullied?’ I hear you – everything you are concerned about is completely normal and totally valid. But this is not the time to put your head in the sand people, tempting as it is.
So, make yourself a cuppa. I’m going to run you through the basics so you can get your offspring (and yourself) through this quite significant moment in the best shape possible.
Ah, such a tricky question!! While there is no specific Aussie law that dictates the minimum age kids need to be to join social media, most social media platforms require their users to be 13 years old to set up an account. This is a result of a US federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) , which affects any social media platform that US citizens can join. So, therefore it affects nearly all social media platforms worldwide.
But let’s keep it real – most kids join before they are 13. Some do with the consent of their parents, but many don’t. So, if your kids are consulting you on their move into social media, then pat yourself on the back. You’ve done a great job of keeping the lines of communication open and staying relevant. But if yours just charged ahead without involving you (like some of mine did) then it’s still not too late to be part of their journey.
In my opinion, there is no simple answer. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work here. Some kids mature faster than their peers, others may have a bigger dose of emotional intelligence and instinctively understand the ramifications of poor online behaviour. Some kids are more resilient and robust while others are more sensitive. There are so many things to consider when advising but ultimately, this is your call as a parent.
This is where many of us can come unstuck because it can feel so overwhelming knowing where to start. But don’t worry – I’ve got you. I’m going to give you 5 things that you can action that will make a huge difference to your kids’ online safety. And these strategies are relevant to all of us parents – regardless of whether your kids are new to social media or old hands!
I can’t stress enough just how important it is to have real conversations with your kids about all aspects of their lives, including the digital part. Asking them what they do online, why they like a certain app, and who they play online games with are just some of the ways of starting a conversation. I am also a fan of sharing details of your online life with them too. Whether it’s sharing new apps with my kids, funny posts, or relevant news articles, I think if I regularly demonstrate that I get social media then I generate a little ‘tech cred’. And when you’ve got ‘tech cred’, they are more likely to come to you when things aren’t going swimmingly. And that’s exactly what we want as parents!
I love the idea of a clear contract between parents and kids that details your expectations about their online behaviour and technology use. It’s a great way of developing a set of guidelines that will help them navigate some of the risks and challenges associated with being online. Now, this agreement should be a family exercise so ensure your kids are invested in the process too. If you want a starting point, check out McAfee’s Family Device Agreement.
Without a doubt, one of the most powerful ways to stay safe online is to ensure you have super duper passwords for each of your online accounts. So, take some time to ensure your kids have got this covered. Every online account needs its own individual password that should have no link to your child’s name, school, family, or favourite pet. I’m a big fan of a crazy sentence – I find they are easier to remember. If you include at least one capital letter, a few numbers, and symbols then you’re doing well. Password managers can be a great way of remembering and also generating complex passwords. These can be a godsend when your list of online accounts grows. All you need to do is remember the master password. How good!
And ensure they know to NEVER share passwords. Tell them that passwords are like toothbrushes – never to be shared! That always worked with my boys!
Unless you are proactive, privacy settings on social media platforms will remain on the default setting which usually means public. Now, this means that anyone who has access to the internet can view the posts and photos that you share whether you want them to or not. Now, this is not ideal for anyone but particularly not a young tween who is trying to find their feet online.
So, take some time to help your kids turn activate the privacy settings on all their online accounts. Turning their profile to private will give them more control over who can see their content and what people can tag them in.
There is some amazing technology that can really help you, help your kids stay safe. Installing security software on your kids’ devices is essential. McAfee+, McAfee’s new ‘all in one’ privacy, identity, and device protection is a fantastic way to ensure all your family members are protected online. It features identity monitoring and a password manager but also an unlimited VPN, a file shredder, protection score and parental controls. A complete no-brainer!
My absolute hope is that your kids’ social media career is smooth sailing. However, with four kids of my own, I know that curveballs and challenges are often inevitable. But if you’ve developed an open line of communication with your kids and possibly even generated a little ‘tech cred’, then it is likely they will reach out to you if things go awry.
Depending on the issue they are experiencing, you may just need to talk them through the situation. Perhaps they need help understanding they should have expressed something in a less inflammatory way or that they may be over-reacting to a comment. It may be helpful for you to work with them to develop an action plan or formulate a response to someone who is perhaps being a bit tricky.
But if they have experienced behaviour that you consider to be unacceptable, then you may need to take further action. I always recommend taking screenshots of concerning behaviour online. These may be important if you need to take further action down the track. Once you’ve taken screenshots, then block the person who is causing your child grief. You can also report the behaviour to the social media platform. If the perpetrator goes to the same school as your child, then I would approach the school and ask them to assist. If the situation is super serious, you can always report it to the Office of our ESafety Commissioner in Australia or the Police who can both work with social media platforms.
Congratulations! You have completed the basic course in social media parenting. I know letting them go can feel quite terrifying, but I know that if you cover off the basics and keep talking to them, then you’re setting them up for success online.
Over to you now, mum and dad!
Good luck!
Alex
The post 5 Minute Parent’s Guide to Social Media appeared first on McAfee Blog.
If you were to ask me what I consider to be the most attractive attribute in a person, it would be kindness but only closely followed by a sense of humour. There’s something about somebody who can tell a funny story that I just love. And humour can be a great bonding experience for us humans. Laughing over a funny video or sharing a hilarious story is pure friendship gold! But humour can often be murky territory online.
One of my favourite things about being a mum of boys is the jokes. My boys can make me laugh till I cry. And the jokes and banter they share amongst themselves warms my heart. Sometimes it feels like slapstick comedy other times its brutal and direct and often a little cheeky. Over the years, ‘safe’ boundaries have been developed for their banter so that no-one gets hurt. But it hasn’t always been perfect. It takes a certain level of maturity and a healthy dose of empathy to know where to draw the line with your humour and, unfortunately, not everyone gets this right.
All friends will joke around with each other, and our tweens and teens are no exception. Whether it’s sharing comments on funny memes or TikTok’s or leaving witty comments on each other’s online posts, online banter can be quite the demonstration of friendship and connection.
But sometimes it is hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to ridicule or make fun of another online. Without being able to see someone’s face and read their body language in person, the joker’s intention can often be ambiguous. It may be laughed off with a ‘just kidding’ or ‘relax, you’re too serious’. And so, here we are in the grey area. One of the most common questions I am asked by parents is how to differentiate between jokes and cyberbullying online. And my answer is simple.
If you feel hurt by a joke or think others are laughing at you (instead of with you) then the joke has gone too far. Yes, we all have different levels of sensitivity but if you are offended then it’s time to take some action. Now, if it continues after asking for it to stop and you are still feeling upset then this is bullying.
It really is simple – a joke is intended to be humorous without causing harm whereas bullying is intended to cause harm to others. And, of course jokes can sometimes go too far but in most cases an apology and an explanation can remedy any hurt.
Navigating friendships when you’re in thick of being a teenager can be really tough for some kids particularly those who aren’t as mature or worldly as others. Kids who are a little younger or less experienced with life may feel that they are on the outskirts of their social group. And in my experience, this can be a tough place to be. Regardless of how many times we tell our kids that being popular or accepted doesn’t matter, when you’re 15 it really can. So, if your shy 15-year-old receives a joking message from a kid at school (who he’d like to be friends with) that upsets him, do you need to take action? Or will it jeopardise any chance your child might have to be friends with this child?
I always like to give a person the benefit of the doubt. So, my advice here would be to continue to monitor the situation. If your child receives additional messages that upset him, then he needs to ask the ‘joker’ to stop. Some kids would be OK to manage this themselves while others might need some help. If they need help, I suggest contacting the school or sporting club that your kids have in common and asking them to intervene. Do not contact the child directly yourself.
One of the best things you can do for your kids is ensure they know what to do if they are on the receiving end of behaviour online that they find upsetting. Even if it doesn’t qualify as cyberbullying, having an action plan can empower them. Here’s what I suggest:
It’s often hard to know when to get involved in your teens’ battles. At the end of the day, our job is to help our kids grow into independent adults. But when your gut tells you things are not right then it’s time to start investigating. Insomnia, anxiety, refusing to go to school and a change in the way they use their devices, are all signs they maybe on the receiving end of aggressive online behaviour. And remember, you know your kids better than anyone!
Till Next Time
Stay Safe Online
Alex
The post Is My Child Being Cyberbullied Or Is It Just Banter? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
I’m betting you have WhatsApp on your phone. Or, if you don’t – I’m quite sure a member of your family would. As the most popular messaging app in the world with 2 billion active monthly users, it’s clearly a favourite for many of us who want to keep in contact with both our Apple and Android friends in a safe and encrypted fashion.
My relationship with WhatsApp was a slow burn. I discovered it a few years back when it became apparent that group messages to a close cluster of girlfriends weren’t being received by my Android pals. WhatsApp solved that problem instantly. But then over several years, I realized it solved quite a few other pesky problems namely expensive and tricky phone calls when travelling overseas and my frustration at not being able to send a message to a large group of people. I became a fan girl!
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for WhatsApp users, over the years there have been scams including the 10th birthday scam where users were offered the chance to win 1000GB of free data and most recently the ‘mum and dad’ scam. There was also a wave of controversy in 2021, when new WhatsApp owner, Meta, introduced a new Privacy Policy which had a swathe of users concerned that it would share data with Facebook. Many of us threatened not to sign however if we didn’t – we couldn’t use it! So, we all agreed, somewhat reluctantly in the name of convenience and moved on.
WhatsApp’s default end-to-end encryption sets it apart from other messaging apps and is another one of my favourite features. But what does that actually mean? In short, it means that your messages can only be read on the recipient’s phone. Likewise, video and audio calls can only be answered by the intended receiver. WhatsApp encrypts every message sent on its platform which means the only people who can decode it are the sender and the receiver. WhatsApp can’t access anything you share and nor could a hacker if they were to intercept a message. Love end-to-end encryption!
But this doesn’t mean that there are no risks using WhatsApp. Like all online platforms, staying ahead of the risks is the smartest way of ensuring you have the best experience. And there are several steps you can take to stay ahead of the threats on WhatsApp. Here are my top tips:
Keeping your WhatsApp software up to date is essential as updates will almost always include fixes or ‘patches’ for new vulnerabilities and threats. Why not automate them to ensure that this happens? This means you won’t be at risk if you forget to update the software yourself.
Never ever share personal data or crucial financial information on the app, in case your device ends up in the wrong hands or it becomes infected with spyware or malware. And this goes for any app – keep your personal information nice and tight.
To prevent your device from becoming compromised by malicious software, ensure your device has some super-duper mobile security software. McAfee’s Mobile Security software, available for both iOS and Android, will protect devices of all types from cyberthreats.
As anyone can message anyone on WhatsApp, it’s inevitable you may receive some random or suspicious looking messages. Always err on the side of caution and do not respond to direct messages from people you don’t know. If you receive a promotional offer from a company that is quite tempting, go directly to their website to confirm. Scammers will often send out 1000’s of emails with a tempting offer and link to a malicious website in the hope that someone will ‘bite’. Don’t be caught in a phishing scam!
Enabling 2 factor authentication is one the best ways to secure your WhatsApp account and ensure a hacker can’t download your account on their phone. Without your 6-digit pin number, a hacker can’t get into your account, even if they get their hands on the SMS code they need to activate your account on another device. And it takes 30 seconds to set up!
If you haven’t set up your 6-digit pin, then you are at risk at being ‘socially hacked’. This is how it works: a hacker, who has hijacked one of your friend’s accounts, will message you asking for the 6-digit code that’s just been sent to your account. They will say it’s meant for them. And as you ‘know’ this person, you are likely to send that code straight through without even questioning them. But in fact, the 6-digit code in question has been requested by the hacker for your account, so the minute you share it – you will be immediately locked out! So, never ever share your 6-digit code with anyone. No-one will ever have a legitimate reason to request it.
But please don’t let these risks put you off this fantastic messaging app. I’m a big believer in understanding the challenges so you can prepare yourself, go ahead and enjoy! And I haven’t even touched on some of the more fun aspects of the app – the stickers & the status updates – they can be quite the conversation starter! So go ahead and enjoy but just make sure you’ve done your homework!!
Stay safe everyone!
Alex
The post How To Be Safe On WhatsApp appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Social media platforms often get a hard time by us parents. But a recent announcement by TikTok of industry first screen time limits might just be enough to win you over. On March 1, the social media platform announced that it will automatically impose a 60-minute daily screen time limit to every account belonging to a user that is under the age of 18. How good??
I hear what you’re thinking – maybe we can cross TikTok off our list of social media platforms that we need to get our head around? But no, my friends – not so fast! Tik Tok’s new screen time limits are all about parental involvement – which is why I am a fan! So, buckle-up because if you have an under 18 on TikTok (and you’re committed to their digital well-being) then my prediction is that you’ll soon know more about this social media platform than you even thought was possible!
Over the coming weeks, every account that belongs to an under 18-year-old will automatically be set to a 60-minute daily screen time limit. Once they’ve clocked up an hour of scrolling, teens will be asked to enter a passcode, which TikTok will supply, to keep using the platform. TikTok refers to this as an ‘active decision’.
So, clearly this isn’t quite the silver bullet to all your screen time worries as teens can choose to opt out of the 60-minute limits. But if they do choose to opt out and then spend more than 100 minutes a day on the platform, they will be prompted to set a daily screen time limit. ‘Will that actually do anything?’ – I hear you say. Well, in the first month of testing this approach, TikTok found that this strategy resulted in a 234% increase in the use of its screen time management tools – a move in the right direction!
But here’s the part I love the most: TikTok offers Family Pairing which allows you to link your child’s account to yours. And as soon as you enable Family Pairing, your teen is no longer in control of their own screen time.
Now, don’t get me wrong – I am not a fan of the authoritarian approach when it comes to all things tech. I do prefer a consultative ‘let’s work together’ vibe. However, TikTok’s move to involve parents in making decisions about their child’s screen time means that families will need to talk digital wellbeing more than ever before and here’s why…
Within the Family Pairings settings, parents are able to set screen time limits based on the day of the week which means homework and holidays can be worked around. There is also a dashboard that shows your child’s screen time usage, the number of times the app was opened plus a breakdown of time spent during the day and night. Now, with all this control and information, you’ll be in quite the powerful position so be prepared to be sold hard by your teen on many the benefits of TikTok!
For years I have been a fan of creating a Family Digital Contract which means you get to outline your family’s expectations around technology use. Now the agreement can include time spent online, the sites that can be visited and even the behaviour you expect of your child when they are online. So, if your kids are avid TikTok users then I highly recommend you do this ASAP. Check out the Family Safety Agreement from the Family Online Safety Institute as a starting point but I always recommend tailoring it to suit the needs of your own tribe.
But let’s keep it real – your kids are not always going to comply, remember how you pushed the boundaries when you were young?? And that’s OK if they understand why their actions weren’t ideal and you have a suitable level of confidence that they will get back on track. However, if you have concerns that they need an additional level of structure to ensure their digital wellbeing remains intact then that’s when TikTok’s Family Pairing can work a treat!
It’s no secret that social media can be incredibly captivating, possibly even addicting, for so many. And it’s not just TikTok – Instagram, Facebook even Twitter has all been designed to give us regular hits of dopamine with each scroll, like and post. And while I know that parental controls are only one part of the solution, they can be very handy if you need to bring your tween’s usage under control.
But when all is said and done, please remember that the strength of your relationship with your child is the best way of keeping them safe online and their wellbeing intact. If your kids know that they can come to you about any issue at all – and that you will always have their back – then you’re winning!!
So, be interested in their life – both online and offline – ask questions – who do they hang with? How do they spend their time? And remember to share your online experience with them too – get yourself a little ‘tech’ cred – because I promise they will be more likely to come to you when there is a problem.
‘Till next time – keep talking!!
Alex
The post What Parents Need To Know About TikTok’s New Screen Time Limits appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Social media platforms often get a hard time by us parents. But a recent announcement by TikTok of industry first screen time limits might just be enough to win you over. On March 1, the social media platform announced that it will automatically impose a 60-minute daily screen time limit to every account belonging to a user that is under the age of 18. How good??
I hear what you’re thinking – maybe we can cross TikTok off our list of social media platforms that we need to get our head around? But no, my friends – not so fast! Tik Tok’s new screen time limits are all about parental involvement – which is why I am a fan! So, buckle-up because if you have an under 18 on TikTok (and you’re committed to their digital well-being) then my prediction is that you’ll soon know more about this social media platform than you even thought was possible!
Over the coming weeks, every account that belongs to an under 18-year-old will automatically be set to a 60-minute daily screen time limit. Once they’ve clocked up an hour of scrolling, teens will be asked to enter a passcode, which TikTok will supply, to keep using the platform. TikTok refers to this as an ‘active decision’.
So, clearly this isn’t quite the silver bullet to all your screen time worries as teens can choose to opt out of the 60-minute limits. But if they do choose to opt out and then spend more than 100 minutes a day on the platform, they will be prompted to set a daily screen time limit. ‘Will that actually do anything?’ – I hear you say. Well, in the first month of testing this approach, TikTok found that this strategy resulted in a 234% increase in the use of its screen time management tools – a move in the right direction!
But here’s the part I love the most: TikTok offers Family Pairing which allows you to link your child’s account to yours. And as soon as you enable Family Pairing, your teen is no longer in control of their own screen time.
Now, don’t get me wrong – I am not a fan of the authoritarian approach when it comes to all things tech. I do prefer a consultative ‘let’s work together’ vibe. However, TikTok’s move to involve parents in making decisions about their child’s screen time means that families will need to talk digital wellbeing more than ever before and here’s why…
Within the Family Pairings settings, parents are able to set screen time limits based on the day of the week which means homework and holidays can be worked around. There is also a dashboard that shows your child’s screen time usage, the number of times the app was opened plus a breakdown of time spent during the day and night. Now, with all this control and information, you’ll be in quite the powerful position so be prepared to be sold hard by your teen on many the benefits of TikTok!
For years I have been a fan of creating a Family Digital Contract which means you get to outline your family’s expectations around technology use. Now the agreement can include time spent online, the sites that can be visited and even the behaviour you expect of your child when they are online. So, if your kids are avid TikTok users then I highly recommend you do this ASAP. Check out the Family Safety Agreement from the Family Online Safety Institute as a starting point but I always recommend tailoring it to suit the needs of your own tribe.
But let’s keep it real – your kids are not always going to comply, remember how you pushed the boundaries when you were young?? And that’s OK if they understand why their actions weren’t ideal and you have a suitable level of confidence that they will get back on track. However, if you have concerns that they need an additional level of structure to ensure their digital wellbeing remains intact then that’s when TikTok’s Family Pairing can work a treat!
It’s no secret that social media can be incredibly captivating, possibly even addicting, for so many. And it’s not just TikTok – Instagram, Facebook even Twitter has all been designed to give us regular hits of dopamine with each scroll, like and post. And while I know that parental controls are only one part of the solution, they can be very handy if you need to bring your tween’s usage under control.
But when all is said and done, please remember that the strength of your relationship with your child is the best way of keeping them safe online and their wellbeing intact. If your kids know that they can come to you about any issue at all – and that you will always have their back – then you’re winning!!
So, be interested in their life – both online and offline – ask questions – who do they hang with? How do they spend their time? And remember to share your online experience with them too – get yourself a little ‘tech’ cred – because I promise they will be more likely to come to you when there is a problem.
‘Till next time – keep talking!!
Alex
The post What Parents Need To Know About TikTok’s New Screen Time Limits appeared first on McAfee Blog.
When I started my job as Cybermum – over 10 years ago – it was quite common to strategise ways to prevent your private information appearing online. But those days have long gone. Unless you have been living off the grid and opted out of life completely, having an online presence is now essential. Whether you’re paying bills, booking appointments or renewing your insurance premiums, many companies have made it almost impossible to conduct your business in person, forcing even the most reluctant of us online.
Now, many of us consider ourselves to be proactive in managing just what we share online by using VPNs, not always setting up accounts with online stores and ensuring our social media privacy settings are nice and tight. But unfortunately, managing your privacy online is more complicated than that. In fact, most of us maybe sharing our private information online every day without even knowing. So, in the spirit of keeping you safe – here are three different areas that I suggest you focus on to ensure you know exactly where you are sharing your private information
Every time you visit an online site, send an email, search for information or basically do anything online, multiple parties collect this information. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP), Wi-Fi network administrator, operating system e.g. Windows or iOS, search engine plus the websites and apps you use will all keep a record of what’s you’re up to – even if you are in Incognito Mode!
This information is often gathered using cookies – small files that are placed on your device by the website that you visit. These are created whenever you visit a website, and they contain data about your visit. Some websites are required by law to advise you if and when they use cookies but if you choose to reject cookies, your browsing experience can become really clunky.
What each of these parties does with your private information varies. Your ISP, for example, can easily put together a pretty accurate profile based on your searching, location and downloads and link this to your IP (unique) address. This data can be held for years – subject to your country’s laws and could potentially be used for surveillance, policing and even advertising.
Now I appreciate that my ISP is required to collect information for the greater good but I am far less comfortable when search engines, websites and apps collect my private data. Since the Cambridge Analytica Scandal of 2018, the industry has definitely had a shake-up however this can still be a risky business.
You know those annoying pop-up adds that just randomly appear on your devices? Well – that’s adware, software that is designed to generate revenue through advertisements. Many of us download it without knowing – you may have downloaded a free program or app without realising it contained bonus adware software. Alternatively, hackers can insert it into your system by exploiting a vulnerability in your software – that’s why you need to keep all your software updated!
And while those pop-ups can be super irritating what you really need to worry about is that adware can compromise your online privacy. Adware is designed to track your search and browsing history so it can display ads that are most relevant to you. And once the adware developer has your location and browser history, they are likely to sell this info to a third party, making themselves a nice, tidy profit – all without you even knowing!!
When I first discovered autofill, I was hooked! No need to tediously enter your name, address, telephone number- even credit card – every time you need it! How good?? But I have since learnt that having autofill enabled on your computer means your personal information is at risk of being hacked. Cybercrims have mastered the art of capturing our credentials by tricking browsers to share our personal details and here’s how: unsuspecting people are lured to a compromised website that has an invisible form. Autofill identifies that there is a form on the site and then gives up your private information allowing the hacker to collect your credentials.
Not sure whether it’s worth the effort? Well, let me make it simple – if you want to lock down your online identity to ensure your financial health and reputation aren’t compromised then you need to do something very soon! Imagine losing your hard-earned savings or having your Instagram account hacked and your reputation compromised? Not fun at all – so it’s time to take action, my friends.
Stay Safe
Alex
The post How You May be Sharing Private Information Online Without Even Knowing appeared first on McAfee Blog.
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