We hear in the news that companies get hacked all the time, but we rarely hear about when it happens to people like us. Trust me, it happens a lot! Ransomware is more common than people realize, making its way into a device, such as a laptop, phone or tablet. Its name comes from the demand from the hacker to have their victim pay a fee to regain control of their device. For private citizens, the...
Kik is one of the more popular messenger apps used by tweens and teenagers. Parents should learn about this app because it has a history of being a breeding ground for online predators, spammers, hackers and more. Worse yet, I’ve spoken with local law enforcement officers who report that the company has been very reluctant to help them with cases involving cyberbullying and harassment where other...
Last updated on June 12th, 2021 at 01:03 pmWhisper is an anonymous app, launched almost 10 years ago, where people post things that they might not want to admit to in public. While maybe not as well known by parents as some others, it has over 900 million accounts, according to the Washington Post and many of them are teens. According to the Whisper’s own terms and conditions, users must be at...
Last updated on April 3rd, 2021 at 03:02 pmThe most popular social media app used by kids is YouTube, followed by Instagram. Owned by Facebook, its popularity has been steadily on the rise, as Facebook continues to work towards attracting a younger audience. So, what should parents be concerned about when it comes to Instagram? Do you know what problems can exist online? Cyberbullying is the most...
Last updated on November 8th, 2020 at 02:47 pm**Editors Warning**: several of the pictures in this article contain adult content. Reader discretion is advised. One of the biggest complaints from parents about technology is the amount of nudity that is available online. This is particularly true when it comes to many popular social media apps used by teens and even pre-teens. If there was ever a...
Last updated on November 8th, 2020 at 02:53 pmParents often are worried about the apps that their kids may be using and for good reason. The problems can come about because of cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, online porn or a handful of other problems. In an article for Pediatric Safety back in 2019, I shared ways that parents can help keep an eye on what their kids are doing online. Those methods...
