Help kids protect their devices

Online safety starts with protecting your kids’ devices from hackers and scammers.

Here are some steps to keep kids safer while they’re on a phone, tablet, or laptop. Consider taking these steps on your kids’ behalf and, as they get older, teaching them how to secure their devices and build good online habits.

• Set automatic updates on phones, tablets, and laptops to protect your kids’ apps, web browsers, and operating systems.
• Use strong passwords. Make sure your kids’ accounts and devices are protected by unique passwords. Consider helping teenagers set up and use a password manager, or the device’s password generator — and remind them not to leave devices unattended in public places.
• Secure your home wi-fi network. To protect your home network — for your own benefit and your kids’ — change your router’s default name and password. Turn off remote management, and log out as the administrator once the router is set up.
• Use parental controls to help reinforce good online habits and create safer spaces for kids to learn and play online. And, to have a better handle on what kids might be spending online, consider using parental controls to disable in-app purchases or require a password for all purchases on phones or tablets.

Learn more information about protecting kids online while enhancing their safety, privacy, and healthy development at ftc.gov/KidsOnline.