With simple steps and proactive strategies, you can safeguard your loved ones’ privacy, devices, and personal information from cyber threats.
In today’s digital world, protecting your family online is more important than ever. From social media to gaming platforms, and everything in between, cyber threats can put your personal information, devices, and privacy at risk. By taking proactive steps to reduce cyber risks, you can create a safer online environment for your loved ones. Below, we’ve outlined practical tips and actionable strategies to help you safeguard your family’s digital presence and stay one step ahead of potential threats.
Regular checks on social media, apps, and privacy settings can help protect your family.
✔ Conduct regular audits of all family members' social media accounts
✔ Review and update friend/follower lists to remove any unknown or suspicious contacts
✔ Check tagged photo settings to require approval before posts appear on timelines
✔ Verify that location sharing is disabled on social media posts
Review and update custom privacy settings
✔ Consider implementing controls on who can send friend/follow requests
✔ Enable notifications for login attempts from new devices
✔ Download apps only from legitimate stores (Apple App Store, Google Play)
✔ Review all installed applications on mobile devices and computers
✔ Audit app access to camera, microphone, and location data
✔ Revoke unnecessary permissions from apps
✔ Delete unused applications to reduce security risks
✔ Review third-party app integrations with social media accounts and remove if not required
✔ Monitor privacy policies within apps as they frequently change
✔ Configure app update settings to prevent automatic permission changes
✔ Review and update your Google Account privacy settings
✔ Check and configure privacy settings on smart home devices, e.g., security cameras
✔ Configure backup email addresses and recovery options in case of account compromise
✔ Consider implementing network protection such as CISCO Umbrella to limit exposure to risky websites
✔ Search and remove old posts containing personal information
✔ Delete outdated accounts on unused platforms
✔ Remove geotags from historical photos
✔ Archive or delete sensitive documents shared online
✔ Review and clean up old email attachments
✔ Remove personal information from public directories
✔ Delete or update old blog posts and forum contributions
✔ Request privacy for director home addresses through ASIC if applicable
✔ Select a reputable password manager service
✔ Create strong master passwords using recommended guidelines
✔ Generate unique passwords for all accounts (minimum 16 characters)
✔ Share necessary credentials securely within family
✔ Secure storage of recovery codes and backup methods
✔ Enable MFA on all critical accounts (email, banking, social media)
✔ Use authenticator apps instead of SMS where possible
✔ Configure biometric authentication on supported devices
✔ Review and update recovery phone numbers
✔ Configure precise location sharing with trusted family members only
✔ Use private location-sharing apps instead of social media (Life360, Google Family Link, or Apple's Find My) and consider setting up geofencing alerts for designated boundaries eg, school, home, friends home.
✔ Review location history settings on Google/Apple accounts
✔ Configure emergency location-sharing protocols
✔ Create a schedule for regular security updates
✔ Enable automatic updates where appropriate
✔ Maintain inventory of all family devices
✔ Document operating system versions and support status, noting older devices may have more vulnerabilities
✔ Configure automatic backups
✔ Implement device encryption
✔ Create unique gaming accounts separate from primary email
✔ Enable MFA for gaming platforms (Steam, Epic, Xbox Live, PSN)
✔ Use strong, unique passwords for each gaming account
✔ Regularly review connected apps and services
✔ Monitor for unauthorised account access
✔ Keep payment information secure using virtual cards
✔ Configure privacy settings on gaming platforms
✔ Limit personal information in gaming profiles
✔ Use generic usernames without personal identifiers
✔ Disable automatic game activity sharing
✔ Review and configure voice chat settings
✔ Disable direct messages from unknown users
Consider configuring friend request restrictions
✔ Consider conducting periodic home security assessments
✔ Keep software and systems updated
✔ Create clear rules for sharing personal information
✔ Consider defining acceptable content types for different platforms
✔ Establish guidelines for sharing family photos
✔ Conduct regular reviews of posted content
Online safety isn’t a one-time setup; it’s an ongoing process. Regular reviews, updates, and open communication with your family are key to staying ahead of cyber threats.