Safe And Secure Browsing For The Entire Family

When we go online using our computers or laptops, web browsers are typically our gateway to the web. Unlike smartphones or tablets, where there are separate apps for whatever we want to do online, browsers are our multi-tool for everything online. From social media activities, music, and videos, to online shopping and checking out the latest world news and celebrity gossip. All these are neatly organized in tabs or windows. It would be safe to claim that web browsers are the most used program on our laptops and desktop computers. Even our teens and young children rely on browsers for most of their online sessions outside of their smartphones or tablets.

With the amount of time they spend using our browsers, we must keep them safe and secure from online threats and attacks. Surfing unprotected is like watching TV at home with your front door wide open, you are just inviting trouble to come in and sit with you on the sofa.

Lucky for us, there are steps we can take to ensure safe browsing, for you and your loved ones. Here are some of the tricks and tips to keep in mind when we are exploring online:

• Check The Web Address. And Check Again.

One very common trick used by scammers is using look-alike domain names. They make very minimal variations on official web addresses of legitimate companies that will direct you to their fake site and have you input your personal information there.

For example, if the legit site address is phishing.com, scammers will have their own sites and name them ph1shing, phishiing, phishng, and the like. You might think these are easy to spot but that’s only because we are pointing them out to you.

It’s our brains that are being tricked, not our eyes. Because of the principle of Typoglycemia, wherein our brains see the full word, and not spelled out letter by letter.

• Look For The Lock Symbol

Many websites will have a padlock symbol just before the site address, or they have ‘https://’ at the beginning of their domain name. This indicates the site is utilizing an HTTPS connection, where the ‘S’ literally stands for secure. For ordinary people like us, this means those sites are safe for us to enter our personal information.

Do take note that not having the lock symbol on a website isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. Some sites do not need an extra layer of security, so it’s ok to visit them, but don’t input any private personal and financial data in those sites.

• Keep Your Browser Updated

New kinds of viruses and malware come out of the woodwork all the time, and developers do their best to counter them immediately and send out updates to us users. By keeping your browser of choice updated, you are doing your part in providing a safe browsing environment for your family.

• Make Use Of Parental Controls

Parental controls are our ‘eye in the sky’ when we are not around to physically monitor our kids’ online activities. This browser feature allows you to limit search results to age-appropriate content and even deny access to specific websites. Making use of this safety feature can reduce the risk of your kid accidentally landing on inappropriate or dangerous sites.

These features are usually baked into the browsers themselves and are easy to configure. Simply go into their settings and tweak what you need to keep your child safe from harm. There are, however, browsers that do not come with parental controls, like Firefox.

Mozilla Firefox is one of the most popular browsers out there. Despite not being backed by big tech companies like Google or Microsoft, Firefox has maintained its place as one of the top browsers and even has a loyal fanbase proclaiming it to be the best. That is why it’s surprising it has no parental controls built-in. You’d think a program as popular as Firefox would make sure their users are safe from the get-go.

If you are one of those who love this independent browser, you shouldn’t fret much because there are ways you can set up your own Firefox parental controls.

These are just some of the many ways you can do to ensure you and your loved ones are protected whenever the family is online. However, the best way to keep your kids safe is to be there for them and talk to them.

Phone monitoring apps and parental controls should just be secondary layers of protection. You, as a parent, should be the first line of defense. Knowing you are there to guide them as they explore the web gives them a sense of trust and security no app or program could ever give.

Make them understand that phone or computer use is a privilege and not a right they can demand. Offer screen time use as a reward for accomplishing tasks like homework and chores. Weekends and holidays are free time so they can have extended hours to spend online. Likewise, you can also set limits for screen time. But don’t make it come out as a punishment. Explain to them in detail why spending too much time on gadgets can not only be dangerous because of online threats, but that they can also negatively impact their health, both physical and mental.

If you are planning to use apps to monitor their phone usage, or activate parental controls to limit what can be accessed, it’s best to let them know you intend to do so. Explain to them you have no plans to spy on them and you are monitoring their phones for safety and security. Tell them it’s what’s around them that you don’t trust, not them. At the end of the day, your family’s safety is what’s ultimately important.