You've got a password manager for yourself and you enable MFA on everything. You're a digital fortress. But what about your family? **Family cybersecurity** isn't just about protecting your own accounts; it's about building a secure digital environment for the people you care about most, especially kids.
It's a Team Sport: Why Family Security Matters
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If your partner or child uses a weak, reused password for an account on your shared Wi-Fi network, it can create a potential entry point for an attacker to get into your home network. Securing your family is about protecting everyone.
Your Practical Cybersecurity Guide for Parents
This isn't about locking everything down. It's about creating smart, safe digital habits together.
1. Get a Family Password Manager
This is step one. A family password manager like RoboForm Family is essential. This lets everyone have their own private vault for passwords, but you can also have a shared vault for household accounts like Netflix, Wi-Fi, etc. It teaches kids good password habits from the start, following modern security practices.
2. Set Up Accounts for Kids Properly
When setting up a new device or account for a child, do it with them. Use their own email address (you can manage it), not yours. Enable safety features and parental controls from the beginning. For social media, review privacy settings together and talk about what's okay to share and what isn't.
3. Have "The Talk" (About Phishing)
Just like you talk to them about stranger danger in the real world, you need to do it for the online world. Teach them to be suspicious of messages from people they don't know, and to never click on strange links or download unexpected files, even if they seem to come from a friend. Show them what a phishing email looks like and explain how it's a form of social engineering.
It's an Ongoing Conversation
Technology and threats change. The most important thing you can do is foster an environment where your kids feel comfortable coming to you if they see something weird or make a mistake online. Frame it as a partnership in staying safe, not as a set of restrictive rules. For more tips on talking to your kids about online safety, resources like Common Sense Media can be very helpful. Building that trust is the most powerful security tool you have.