Cyber Savvy Mom

How to keep kids' data private during remote learning

While we are more comfortable this time with online learning, that doesn't mean we can let our guard down when it comes to student privacy. BY JOAN GOODCHILD, academic information, and CYBER SAVVY MOM their location, just to name a few. Young said all of it can be

By now, we are several exploited. weeks into the school "Although it may not always year and your student is be obvious, the small bits of data hitting their stride when people generate with online it comes to distance learning. activities can paint a vivid picture For most of us, this is our second about who they are and what time around with this experience they care about. We've seen and we are taking the lessons we large-scale examples proving how learned last spring to help our just portions of this information kids succeed this year. could be leveraged to manipulate

But as students dig deeper into adults. It is scary to think about the experience of remote school how much more effectively our work, it is important to consider children can be manipulated if the unique questions about child we do not figure out effective data privacy and how to protect ways to regulate the industry." students' personal information. That is why it is critical for Mitigating the risks around parents to understand what your kids' data should not be information is being collected overlooked, even if we have on their kids and how it is used. begun to feel more comfortable It is also vital to understand with distance learning efforts. the threats posed by each Parents should still be helping tool. Knowing this can help their kids understand technology you make informed decisions and should be involved in their about safeguarding kids online online activities. now and in the future. This is Assume the camera and mic passwords provided with Know what data is being "The pandemic has pushed particularly true for younger are on devices. And advise them to collected our kids to be more reliant on students who need parental When using a provided device, never share a password with What kind of information does the Internet for their social guidance to navigate online students should assume that the anyone, said Renee Tarun, the district need to collect on and academic interactions. education. camera, microphone, location deputy CISO, with security students in order for them to Technology and privacy policies sensors may be remotely company Fortinet. participate in online classes? related to online services in Keeping distance learning activated at any time and that Will it be attendance, progress, schools has been a growing safe and private browsing/usage history may also Keep devices up to date grades, something else? Knowing problem for years and the There are many best practices get reported. Use a camera cover Tarun also cautions that parents what is collected helps you pandemic has been like gas families can put in place to and turn off the system when not need to take an active role to understand the risks associated on a flame," said Craig Young, try and minimize the chance in use for extra privacy. ensure devices and applications with that data. a researcher with security that their student will face are updated with patches, and that firm Tripwire. "Parents must exploitation or attack by a cyber Don't assume school-issued any antivirus/malware software is Understand attack techniques choose between accepting criminal. The professionals we means secure current and operational. Unfortunately, cybercriminals third-party privacy policies for spoke to made the following Security can be severely lacking evolve annually with new ways their children or risk excluding recommendations. on school-issued devices. Many Don't download unvetted of fooling people. Children are their children from class districts simply don't have the applications particularly vulnerable. Talk participation. It is especially Use a dedicated system for funds for best-in-class security. Ensure your student is not openly with kids about the kinds critical that technology used in remote learning Young said some third-party downloading apps for their of scams criminals use to trick the classroom or for distance Young advises keeping the software installed by universities schoolwork that haven't been online users into clicking on learning have strict rules limiting system students use to learn and K-12 institutions will also approved by the school. If malicious links and divulging what data can be collected and separate from personal install custom SSL trusted CA you do want to allow them to personal information. Some great how it may be used." technology use. The system certificates which might weaken download certain apps, you can resources include staysafeonline.

The technology K-12 students should not be used to check the overall security of the device. get information about online org and safekids.com. are using for distance education personal email, social media, or tools and privacy ratings at comes with several security anything else other than school Protect and use Common Sense Media or Dr. and privacy threats. These work and it should be turned off strong passwords Trust's website, which are both Do you have a story suggestion concerns include the exposure and stored when not in use. Ensure students use strong great sources on educational or question for Cyber Savvy Mom? of personally identifiable passwords that are not obvious, technology like knowledge and Contact me at joangoodchild@ information, biometric data, like a birthday, or default assessment tools. cybersavvymedia.com.