When you want to make your home more secure, you lock your doors. When you want to prevent your bike from being stolen, you use a bike lock.  When you want to protect your family online, you ensure their Internet safety.

Increased use of web-based tools, downloads of new applications, and dependence on email can expose your family to unwanted information or risks that might harm your devices, personal information, or your family.  While it can be overwhelming, there are some key things that you can do to ensure a safer Internet for your family.

Top Internet Safety Rules

1. Teach your kids the dangers of the Internet and ask for help if something seems unusual. Remind them not to reveal too much information like their birthday, address, or SSN.
2. Use parental controls and content filters like the “safe search” feature that filters objectionable content or use special search engines for kids like https://www.kidzsearch.com/ and https://www.kiddle.co/. Use parental controls to limit screen time, specific app use, or block websites.
3. Create strong passwords and use two-step authentication, at least 12 characters long, and a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, but no personal information. Two-step authentication adds a second layer of protection.
4. When in doubt, delete it. Scammers often get access to your personal information when you click on their emails. Turn on spam filters for your email account to help filter suspicious messages.
5. Watch for social media scams like fake profiles, catfishing, gossip clickbait, job offer scams, and fake online scams. Never click on suspicious links or fill out online forms unless the website is legitimate and secure.
6. Share with care. Be aware of what you are publicly sharing on social media sites. Adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see your information.
7. Understand privacy policies and what information their policies allow them to share.
8. Adjust your browser safety settings for optimum security, found in the upper right corner. Clear your browsing history so you don’t leave a trail of sensitive data.
9. Use security software from a reliable source. Run anti-virus and anti-spyware software regularly. Be wary of security updates from pop-up ads or emails that could infect your computer.
10. Shop online from secure sites. Only put your information into sites with secure, encrypted connections, those that start with https: or have a padlock icon next to the address bar.
11. Spend time online together. Hold family members accountable for their Internet safety practices. Keep computers in a common area and discourage kids from playing with tablets in their room.

Safer Internet Day focuses on how everyone plays a vital role in making the Internet better.  Celebrate Safer Internet Day every day in your home with a reliable fiber Internet connection and Wi-Fi from the only local provider in Celebration. Contact Smart City Telecom at 407-828-6700 or visit https://smartcitytelecom.com/.