Islamabad: Experts from Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, discuss some of the important cybersecurity trends that parents should be aware of and offer advice on how to protect their children’s online activity.
According to a UN report, about 80% of young people claim to interact with AI many times per day. With the advancement of AI, various obscure apps with seemingly innocuous features have appeared. AI apps, particularly chatbots, can readily give age-inappropriate content when pushed.
According to latest online statistics, 91 percent of children aged 3-15 play games on any device. Unmoderated voice and text chat are important components of several games’ experiences. With more young people online, criminals can virtually establish trust in the same way that they would in person. Firstly, cybercriminals gain the trust of young players by luring them with gifts. Once they win the confidence of a young player, they next get their personal information by recommending that they click on a phishing link.
The growth of the FinTech business for youngsters has also resulted in the rise of new risks. A growing number of banks are offering customized products and services for youngsters, including banking cards created for children as young as 12. However, the introduction of banking cards for minors makes them exposed to financially motivated threat actors as well as conventional scams. Cybercriminals may use social engineering techniques to gain children’s trust by acting as peers and seeking card details or money transfers to their accounts.
According to Kaspersky, the frequency of smart home threat incidents including children as possible targets would increase. Despite the growing number of threats to smart home devices, manufacturers are not racing to develop cyber-immune technology that can prevent possible exploits of vulnerabilities. This also indicates that youngsters can be used as instruments by cybercriminals during an assault.
As children grow older, they gain more self-awareness, which includes an understanding of their personal space, privacy, and sensitive data, both offline and online. This is why parents must now be able to discuss their children’s online experiences, as well as the significance of using parenting digital programs to ensure online safety while maintaining personal space.
If an app is not available in your region, young users will hunt for alternatives, which are frequently harmful copies. Even if they use official app stores such as Google Play, they remain vulnerable to fraudsters.
“As we can see, many of the issues that are taking place in society are influencing children, making them possible targets for attackers. This covers the evolution and popularity of AI and smart homes, as well as the growth of the gaming and FinTech industries. As a result, it is critical to teach children the principles of cybersecurity from an early age, how to avoid falling into the trap of cybercriminals, what cyberthreats can occur when gaming, and how to adequately safeguard.
Kaspersky researchers believe that protecting children from cybersecurity dangers in 2024 will require proactive actions from parents. By remaining educated about the latest threats and constantly monitoring their children’s online activity, parents can establish a safer online environment for their children. Kaspersky experts created the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet using fundamental principles from the cybersecurity business. This book will teach your child about modern technology, the most important cyber hygiene standards, how to avoid online hazards, and how to spot fraudsters’ methods. The book is available for download in PDF format. To keep youngsters from downloading harmful files, Kaspersky recommends that they install a trustworthy security solution on their device.
