Every family member faces different digital threats. This guide covers how to protect children, teenagers, and elderly relatives — with practical steps tailored to each group.
Protecting Children Online
Under 13
- Use parental controls to limit app access and screen time.
- Keep devices in shared family spaces — no screens in bedrooms.
- Teach them never to share personal information (name, school, address) online.
- Use family-safe DNS services (like OpenDNS Family Shield) to filter harmful content.
- Freeze their credit to prevent identity theft.
Teenagers
- Open conversations about online predators, romance scams, and social engineering.
- Discuss the permanence of what they post online.
- Teach them to recognize phishing — show them real examples.
- Monitor for signs of cyberbullying or inappropriate contact.
Protecting Elderly Relatives
- Have a direct conversation about scam tactics — especially grandparent scams and tech support fraud.
- Establish a family code word for emergency verification.
- Set up a trusted contact on their financial accounts.
- Consider identity monitoring with alert notifications to a family member.
Family-Wide Security Practices
- Use a password manager — many have family plans (1Password Families, Bitwarden).
- Enable 2FA on all accounts, especially email and banking.
- Have a family emergency plan: what does everyone do if the family is targeted by a scam?
- Conduct an annual "digital safety check" — review passwords, permissions, and shared accounts.
Sources: FTC; Internet Safety Labs; Common Sense Media; FBI.