Children are often exposed to malware attacks online. People that make malware especially target children because children believe almost everything they see.
But don’t worry and don’t be scared, you can protect your child from malware attacks in several ways, such as:
- Educating your child on safe online practices;
- Installing anti-malware software;
- Keeping devices and software up-to-date;
- Enabling firewall protection;
- Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN);
- Monitoring your children’s online activity;
- Encouraging safe download practices;
Understanding Malware Attacks
We’ve mentioned the word ‘malware’ in this article a few times already. But what does malware mean? Imagine malware as a virus. Just like viruses infect people, malware infects digital devices. Malware also comes in forms. The 4 most widespread types of malware are:
- Spyware- used to steal usernames, passwords, and other personal information;
- Viruses- slow down your device;
- Ransomware- used to steal (encrypt) data. The people that create this malware ask for a ransom to bring back the data;
- Trojans- works like the real-life trojan horse and is used to slow down your device or steal and delete data;
Statistics show that about 2.8 billion people were affected by malware attacks in 2022!
Installing Anti-Malware Software
Anti-malware software is software that helps fight malware attacks. When picking anti-malware software it is important to keep three things in mind:
- Price range;
- Compatibility with your computer;
- The features of the app;
To pick the most suitable anti-malware software for you, you need to align these three factors to your liking. Some of the best anti-malware apps are:
- AVG Antivirus, Malwarebytes, ZoneAlarm (free);
- Bitdefender, Norton Antivirus, McAfee (paid);
Keeping Devices and Software Up-to-Date
An updated device means you also have updated malware protection software. So, it’s crucial to keep devices and software up-to-date when preventing malware attacks.
To update your device, or set automatic updates, just check the device’s Settings. Almost all devices have the option for automatic updates
Enabling Firewall Protection
Do you remember in biology class when you studied that the plasma membrane in a living cell can only let useful matter in the cell?
Well, the firewall has a similar role. It allows safe data to enter your device or network but doesn’t let dangerous data in. If your child uses a Windows device, follow this path to enable firewall protection: Start-> Control Panel ->System and Security-> Windows Defender Firewall
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
As the name says, a VPN essentially is your own protected private network. VPNs are useful because they make it tougher for malware to invade your device. The best VPNs are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, IPVanish and such.
Monitoring Your Child’s Device and Internet Activity
Children often don’t listen to our advice. So if you’re afraid that your children might be exposing their devices to malware attacks, you can use parental control apps to monitor their activity.
Some of the best parental control apps are mSpy, Google Family Link, Norton Family, etc. They offer countless features that can help you block suspicious sites and restrict your children’s access to potential malware.
Encouraging Safe Download and Installation Practices
Malware is often made to look attractive to children, so they download it. So, it’s crucial to teach your children to download apps only from trusted sources. Tell them to come to you if they aren’t sure whether to download an app from that link.
Ensuring Safe Browsing Practices
Children can often encounter malware when browsing online. It’s good that most search engines block sites that don’t have a secure connection. So, if your child gets a warning from their search engine not to open a site, then they shouldn’t open it.
Conclusion
Malware attacks are a threat to our children. So, you might ask yourself: “How to protect your child from malware attacks?”. Combine the methods we discussed in the previous paragraphs, and your child will be safe from malware attacks.
