8/29/16 Reprinted from an August 25, 2016 post on Credit.com by
Adam Levin, Co-Founder of Credit.com and IDT911 For adults, home
is a refuge, but for children it is a never-ending treasure hunt. While you’re
out — you know, paying for the place — it’s a safe bet your kids are getting
into your stuff, and when it comes to things digital, that can be a serious
problem. As a seasoned
parent, you’ve had that shock a thousand times, looking up from your phone,
tablet or computer to the sight of a child holding something you thought was
hidden or well out of reach, or wearing an old college hat you haven’t seen
since you packed your dorm room on graduation day. The fact of the
matter is that while home may be where you hang your hat, it’s your children’s
habitat and finding things in it, for them, is, well, old hat. Depending on the
child, you may be living with someone who knows every single item in the house,
even the unmentionables. But at issue here is not the hidden stuff. What matters
is your mindset. The
Bottom Line If you have
something that is not supposed to get into your child’s paws, whether that item
is jewelry, a financial statement or a digital storage device, it needs to be
kept behind lock and key, or preferably (since keys can be found and copied) in
a safe that requires a biometric data point, such as a fingerprint, to
disengage the lock. Sound extreme? At
a time when a few errant clicks or taps can cause an incredible amount of
damage — either by exposing you to identity-related
crime or compromising
the security of a financial account — there are more ways your kid can get you
got than ever, and some of them can put you in near-extinction-level trouble
that takes a long time to sort out. (You can keep an eye out for signs of
identity theft by pulling your credit reports for free each year at
AnnualCreditReport.com and viewing your credit scores for free each month on
Credit.com.) Here are five
items that could cause you headaches when shared with your kids — and ways
circumvent any issues. 1.
Access to Your Computer & Other Devices If you pay bills or buy things online, or use social media, your computer is a
gateway to really complicating your already complicated life if your child gets
in there. The same goes for your smartphone and tablet. While it is an
easy toy/pacifier to otherwise engage a toddler, it is an even easier way for
things to get messed up if the wrong app gets activated, an email gets accidentally
forwarded or some other
mishap of random tapping or clicking occurs. While there is no
easy fix for smartphones and tablets, there is for computers — even for
families that have only one device. Set up different user accounts for each
family member, and make sure no other member of the clan knows your password. 2.
Login Information Your children —
and pretty much everyone else in your universe — know half your login
information if you are like most and may even use your email address as a user
ID. Get in the habit of designating a different user name known only to you,
when given the option, and never share your password with anyone. It’s also good
practice to change your passwords frequently. If you feel that creates too much
margin for error, consider using a passphrase or password manager. 3.
Access to Your Data Storage You use some form
of encrypted data storage, right? If the answer is
no, you’re not alone. That said, it is a best practice to store all your most
sensitive information — medical, taxes, employment, insurance — in an encrypted
format on an air-gapped device (a storage device such as a flash drive or other
external drive). Air-gapped simply means that it is not connected to the
internet. You get extra
points for storing the device in a safe or behind lock and key. 4.
PIN Numbers & Combinations What’s the point
of having a safe if your children know the combination or passcode to open it?
The same goes for PIN codes. This is a simple one. Do not share this
information with your children. 5.
Answers to Your Security Questions This is another
tricky area, because security questions are meant to be the kinds of
information that close family members can answer. Mark Twain is
famous for saying, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember
anything.” Mark Twain also never did any online banking. When it comes to
security questions, you need to do something that is morally wrong to do it
right — lie. Step two:
Remember your lies. Step three: Don’t tell your kids. |