Security

Where the convenience of digital technology offers a wide array of benefits, achieving digital security is essential. Parents and mentors must understand both the positive and negative potential of digital devices in order to take full advantage of the technology.

For example, storing important information digitally (e.g. account numbers, phone numbers, health information, etc.) provides convenience but may also put users at risk if confidential information is accessed at the wrong time, by the wrong people, or if the device is misplaced: one in six Americans is a victim of identify theft every year.[1]

Families can work together to achieve digital security for everyone within the home.

What can parents do to achieve digital security?

Parents are the internet service providers in their homes. They are responsible for protecting data, maintaining secure networks, filtering and monitoring access shared by their children and neighbor children. Parents who leave holes in their security become a problem for the neighborhood. Open networks are an invitation for hackers and child porn users who use unsecured wireless networks to gain access to illegal pornography.

Parents are responsible for:

• Data backup
• Securing all networks and personal devices that connect to the network
• Monitoring and tracking all devices used by minors—cell phones, computers, game consoles, etc. (This is an important step in helping youth understand the public and permanent nature of digital communications.)
• Antivirus and spyware suppression
• Filtering, patching, and firewalls

What can youth do to achieve digital security?

To maximize the benefits of technology and minimize the risks, youth must protect the digital devices they own or use. The following steps will help youth protect their digital investments:

• Secure digital devices. Keep track of cell phones, ipads, laptops at all times or place it in secure a location.
• Secure the data. Use good passwords, and do not share them with anyone (except parents or guardians). According to a new analysis, “one out of five web users still decides to leave the digital equivalent of a key under the doormat: they choose a simple, easily guessed password like ‘abc123,’ ‘iloveyou’ or even ‘password’ to protect their data (3). To create a more creative password, mix letters, numbers and even symbols.
• Back up data. Microsoft research showed that nine out of ten owners do not regularly back up their files (4). Backup gives you security in case your computer malfunctions, or in case something happens to the computer itself.

Have a conversation

Here are some questions to help students and faculty/staff consider their digital security:

1. Do you password protect your phone?
2. How secure are the passwords on your phone, laptop, PC? What about your passwords for facebook, email. iTunes? How many people know your passwords?
3. Do you ever leave your computer/laptop open in class while you attend to something else? What are the risks of doing this? How can you avoid those risks?

Related Issue Articles

The following articles give further information on topics related to Security.
Cybersecurity: Digital Citizenship 101
Keeping Grandparents Safe Online
Online Commerce
Password Safety and Security

RESOURCES AND LINKS
* Schwartz, John.“When Computers Attack.” New York Times. 24 June 2007.
* Tips about teen online responsibility from MTV at http://www.athinline.org/”

WORKS CITED

1. Heard, Jermaine. “2008 Identity Theft Statistics and Several Ways to Prevent Identity Theft.” Retrieved 1 February 2010 from http://ezinearticles.com/?2008-Identity-Theft-Statistics-and-Several-Ways-to-Prevent-Identity-Theft&id=1385242

2. “The 2010 State of K-12 Cyberethics, Cybersafety and Cybersecurity Curriculum in the U.S Survey.” National Cyber Security Alliace. Retrieved 2 February, 2010 from http://staysafeonline.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=67&item=50.

3.Vance, Ashlee. New York Times. (2010, January 20). If Your Password is 123456, Just Make it HackMe. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/technology/21password.html?_r=1

4. Pogue, David. New York Times. (2006, June 29). A Microsoft Safety Package. Grit Your Teeth. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/technology/29pogue.html