Back to School – A simple guide for parents to keep your kids safe online

Trend Micro offer up some timely tips for parents with kids heading back to school this year.

It’s that time of the year again. Whilst some parents may breathe a huge sigh of relief that the kids are back at school, it also serves as a reminder to continue to maintain safe online practices. To help that Trend Micro have provided tips to help you and your children to remain safe.

Maybe its that shiny new PC that the kids received at Christmas or maybe its just that functional workhorse laptop or tablet necessary for standard school work, either way it is important that all your devices are protected with some form of internet security.

In the old days, when this particular EFTM writer was younger, viruses and then malware were the demons that we had to guard against. Whilst that is largely still true a more comprehensive suite of tools is required as more threats are created to trick you, do damage to your data or perhaps steal your identity. Nowadays security software is designed to protect you against those trying to do harm and sometimes has to do that by protecting you against yourself.

Keep devices protected

Security software is useless if you don’t install it. Trend Micro and other major security software providers don’t just offer single device protection. Most households have several potentially vulnerable devices that connect continually to your home & school networks so it is crucial they all remain protected. Multiple device licences should seriously be considered and work out to be significantly more affordable than multiple single licence options.

Now that you have your devices protected it is not a set and forget activity. These security software suites are constantly being tested by both the good guys and the bad guys so please choose automatic updates in your settings. That way you can be confident that as new, nasty attacks are devised they are detected.

Be careful with links and messages

I know sometimes we can sound like broken records but make sure your kids don’t click on links found in unexpected emails and messages. Even those that look ok can sometimes be so good of a spoof of legitimate senders (like your school at this time of year) that it is easy to be fooled.

Security software is not just anti-virus. It is designed to pick up anomalies in these messages or links and pop up warnings to alert users of potential threats and whilst false positives exist, they are rare. Let the warning be a chance for you to stop, take a moment and consider the validity of any link. The bad actors that design these threats use your propensity to just keep clicking and dismiss warnings as a key tactic.

Remember that with the recent Under 16 social media restrictions in place, your kids are actively searching for alternate messaging platforms as they head back into their peer groups.

Use strong passwords

Please encourage your children not to use the same password for everything. I know it is tempting because who wants to remember a password for every single app or login but you are asking for trouble if you use the same ones, especially if one of those applications is your email. If someone gets into your email, remember it is a gateway to have plenty of other passwords changed. Always use two factor authentication if it is available. The recent introduction of passkeys is also helping correctly identify you. Use them.

Don’t overshare personal details

A little bit here, a little bit there and before you know it someone can gather enough information to steal your child’s identity. Your kids should be taught to keep confidential or personally identifying data offline, and not share this crucial data in games or group chats

Check screen time habits

Now this one is hard. Build an agreed plan between yourself and your child regarding screentime. They need to balance learning, homework and downtime and as a parent that is really tough. Setting the rules ahead of time can avoid conflict in the future. Rules are good and go to help create trust, but only if you stick to them. “Just 30 minutes more please?” may be ok from time to time but if it is constantly relaxed, why have it in the first place? Consider a written online agreement that kids and parents sign. That way everyone knows the parameters.

Armed with these useful tips hopefully 2026 brings all you parents of school-age kids joy.