Happy Internet Connected Xmas

This Christmas might as well be called iChristmas. The amount of internet connected toys and gadgets for sale increases every year. Perhaps you want to gift your child a smart speaker, or an interactive doll that talks with your child, answering their questions. Maybe you’d like to contact your child through a smart watch or fit your wandering dog or cat with a location tracker.

Anything in your family home that connects to the internet, including appliances, toys or wearables like watches, may be at risk of being hacked or transmitting unsuitable content. Identity theft, where criminals can hack your personal data including your name, birthdate, address and passwords in order to steal from you, is the fastest growing online crime. Internet connected gadgets often require those details in order for you to activate it. Is the manufacturer trustworthy with this private information?

Protecting your family’s personal data is also important for privacy. You think Facebook is listening to our private conversations via the app on your phone? Well, maybe it was your family drone, or the doll or fridge you just bought! So what can you do to protect your family if you do decide to buy the latest digital gadget for Christmas?

• Do some research. Don’t impulse buy and check reviews.

• Check that the manufacturer is well known and has a privacy policy on their website.

• Limit the amount of personal information you provide.

• Check age ratings to find out if the device is suitable and age appropriate for your family member.

• Consider enabling parental controls to prevent your child from shopping through the device.

• Check whether the device has access to adult content. If so, can it be disabled or filtered out?

• Check whether it meets Australia’s safety standards and, in other words, won’t blow up. Remember those exploding hoverboards?

• Read the manual that comes with the device.

• Change the default passcode to a more secure combination to prevent hacking.

• Enable extra two factor authentication via an extra code sent to your app or phone, if it is available.

• Set firewalls to ON via your internet modem.

My manual “Keeping Kids Safe Online” has step by step instructions on setting parental controls and security on Apple and Android devices, Smart TVs, Video Game Consoles, Smart Speakers and Smart Watches. •

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jürgen Schmechel is the founder of Inspiring Relationships where he supports people to create and maintain a loving, intimate and respectful relationship. www.inspiring-relationships.com.au | 0415 509 275 InspiringRelationshipsAU inspiring_relationships www.thecybersafetylady.com.au www.keepingkidssafeonline

TheCyberSafetyLady

@LeonieGSmith

Christmas Edition

Christmas is quickly approaching us this season! Bring the taste of Harbord Growers to your home this Christmas with a variety of beautiful delicacies on offer like Antipasto platters, shortbread biscuits, gingerbread houses and chocolate advent calendars. Make this Christmas easy, and shop at Harbord Growers for all your Christmas needs.

Platters

Using only the freshest produce, Harbord Growers creates a variety of platters from Antipasto cheese or fruit. Making celebrating and partying this silly season easy, so you can focus on having fun and partying the night away. Growers will sort you out with all the yummy treats for your guests.