Christmas gifts connected to the Internet: a risk for your children
The letter of the Magi is increasingly loaded with cutting-edge technology and the holiday season is the ideal time to spend time using them. But giving a technological gift to children has its risks in terms of security, so it is better to educate them beforehand to use it with common sense.
According to Common Sense Media, in the last six years children under eight have their own tablet and have gone from using it 1% to 42%, which translated to minutes would be 5 to 48 days a day.
In light of these data it is necessary to warn the parents about the precocity with which the minors acquire this type of technological devices and it is advisable the need to apply cybersecurity measures if the minors receive presents of these characteristics.
The gifts that triumph in the Letter to the Magi
The gifts that succeed among the cards of the most technological young people are the smartwatch or smart wristbands, mobiles or tablets and dolls connected to the Internet. Many of these are designed for children from 3 to 8 years, although they have features such as camera, location services, location and transfer of data via Bluetooth that can endanger their user.
- Smartwatch or smart bracelets designed for children have utilities such as camera and data transfer. Dangerous combination if handled without supervision of an adult as these photographs can be intercepted by a third party and end up in the network.
- Mobile phones and tablets they are devices that are usually purchased in the conventional version, in most cases they are not acquired properly for children. The units designed for adults are not programmed for the use of minors. It is important to carry out checks on the search engines so that parental control, search restrictions and access to adult content are activated; as well as the importance of the installation of antivirus and protection systems against espionage or third party access to the Wi-Fi network or to the device.
Toys connected to the Internet, a rising trend
The fashion of the internet of toys continues to be an upward trend. These dolls have an internet connection, voice recognition and are linked via Bluetooth to an app that controls the dialogues and activities that the child performs with the toy.
Caution must be taken because vulnerabilities have been detected by which the remote control of the toy can be accessed by a third party who could communicate with the child and obtain all the information.
With these measures, it is intended to raise awareness of the importance of parents warning, preventing and instructing their children and family members about the dangers of improper use of devices and devices connected to the Internet.
Marta Ciruelos, spokesperson for Always On, adds that "security measures are fundamental for the protection of devices" and "in many cases children have a greater technological knowledge than their parents, who are helpless in the face of the dangers that this supposes, so it is necessary that there is a good family relationship between them to verify that the child's activity as a user is positive and does not affect third-party behavior. "
Marina Berrio
Advice: Marta Ciruelos, Always On spokesperson
