DORSET BUSINESS FOCUS / BUSINESS PARTNER NEWS
Teenage cybercrime: How to stop kids from taking the wrong path When we talk about cybercrime and children, it’s often in the context of protecting the young ones from online dangers. That could mean ensuring our kids’ devices have the right parental control software set up, so that the children don’t access dangerous or inappropriate content. The same goes for making sure they have anti-malware installed and privacy settings properly configured. But what if a child turns out to be the ‘bad guy’? It’s more common than you might think, including because at an early age, many kids don’t realize that their ‘black hat’ activities are illegal (as opposed to ‘white hat’, also known as ethical, hacking). The good news is that, even if you suspect your own children may be using their technology skills for nefarious ends, it’s not too late to steer them on the right path. And there are many legitimate avenues to channel their cyber-savvy and ultimately help them start a career in cybersecurity. When computer hacking is child’s play While this all sounds like the plot from a Hollywood film, the reality is more mundane. In fact, school-aged hackers are increasingly commonplace as the tools and techniques to commit cybercrime become cheaper 22
May 2022 | Dorset Business Focus
and more easily accessible. Some kids have displayed an astonishing grasp of technology and threat techniques in their attacks, while others may simply be curious to see how far they can push things. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said that data from its National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) showed a 107% increase in police reports from 2019 to 2020 of students deploying DDoS attacks. The median age for referrals to the NCCU’s “Prevent” team is reportedly 15, and a recent NCA report revealed that children as young as nine have been caught launching DDoS attacks. However, instances of children engaging in cybercrime are not confined to DDoS attacks.
tools, could actually be more than welcome. Towards more positive outcomes Parental control software downloaded to your children’s devices may help to catch the early warning signs of juvenile hacking, such as attempts to access specific cybercrime sites, hacking forums and other shady parts of the internet. But if they’ve already attained an elevated level of tech savvy, they will likely be able to hide any such activity. Most important, though, is keeping the lines of communication open. Take an interest in your kids’ hobbies. And if you’re concerned, they may be straying into illegality, remind them of the risks of doing so, and nudge them towards more positive and lawful opportunities.
How do you know something’s wrong? There are also a few signs that your children’s online activity may have got out of hand. For example, they could allude to private matters that suggest they may have been reading your emails/messages or they go to extreme lengths to protect their own privacy and refuse to share their logins. Of course, this might not indicate anything more than merely kids being kids. In fact, an early interest in some types of software, such as penetration testing
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