Help kids protect their devices

Online safety starts with protecting your kids’ devices from hackers and scammers. Here are some steps to keep kids safer while they’re on a phone, tablet, or laptop. Consider taking these steps on your kids’ behalf and, as they get older, teaching them how to secure their devices and build good online habits. Set automatic updates on phones, tablets, and laptops to protect your kids’ apps, web browsers, and operating systems. Use strong passwords. Make sure your kids’ accounts and devices are protected by unique passwords. Consider helping teenagers set up and use a password manager, or the device’s password generator — and remind them not to leave devices unattended in public places. Secure your home wi-fi network. To protect your home network — for your own benefit and your kids’ — change your router’s default name and password. Turn off remote management, and log out as the administrator once the router is set up. Use parental controls to help reinforce good online habits and create safer spaces for kids to learn and play online. And, to have a better handle on what kids might be spending online, consider using parental controls to disable in-app purchases or require a password for all purchases on phones or tablets. Learn more information about protecting kids online while enhancing their safety, privacy, and healthy development at ftc.gov/KidsOnline.