TORONTO, April 16, 2020 – The Internet has brought the wealth of human knowledge to devices that can fit into our pockets.
That is an incredible advantage at this time as families are being asked to rely on e-learning tools to homeschool their children until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed and the spread of the virus has been contained. Of course, that also brings it with a series of safety concerns and challenges as young children who are not fully aware of the risks start surfing around the World Wide Web.
To help navigate through the potential pitfalls, ESET offers the following advice for homeschooling kids under 10 years old:
- Be Hands On — Sit with your child and teach them good Internet habits, including how to navigate through web pages and use search engines. Set parameters on what they should do, where they can go and what they should — and should not — be clicking on. It would also be a good time to show them that a record is kept of everything they do online, and that at no time should they be offering up any personal information.
- Protect Against Malware — Malware is one of the most prevalent threats in cyberspace, and also the sneakiest. A security solution with proactive detection capabilities will protect your child’s devices from infections while using social networks. Antispam and firewall tools will enhance their safety online and minimize the risks they could potentially face.
For parents that are looking to try security software, ESET has a free 90 day trial to help provide peace of mind for consumers during the pandemic.
- Use Parental Controls — Typically available through your web browser or anti-virus software like ESET Smart Security, they can help keep your kids out of some of the darker and more dangerous corners of the web.
- Set Conditions — Even if the Internet is being used as an educational tool, your child should be working with a pre-set framework of limits on its use, particularly the how many hours a child can be online, and at what times. For example, the hour for bedtime should be spend offline. Early afternoon, on the other hand, is a good time to allow Internet use.
- Educate Against Misinformation — It is easy to fall into the trap of believing what we read online. But the reality is there is a lot of opinion masquerading as fact and social media discussions that throw out “facts” without any evidence or verification. Early on, work with your kids to identity and assess the source of the material. Further, check out other media outlets to see if they are reporting similar news. Can it be identified if a person or organization paid for the “news” spot? These skills will help kids first identify “fake news” and then dismiss it.
For more tips, please visit welivesecurity.com
About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint and mobile security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give consumers and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D centers worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
