Internet Security: College Bound!

As your son or daughter heads off to college, he or she is packing a smartphone, and undoubtedly one or more other devices such as a laptop or tablet that are essential to getting their schoolwork done. While your kids are probably more tech-savvy about those devices than you are, their knowledge can’t prevent misfortune from happening when they’re hundreds or thousands of miles away.

So as they head off to college, here’s a checklist to make sure all bases are covered. (Have younger kids? Make sure they’re protected, too, with our checklists for elementary schoolers and middle/high schoolers.

• Install security software. Your college-aged students are likely financial adults, with bank accounts, charge cards and social security numbers for cyber-thieves to target. Full-featured security software can keep them safe from viruses, ransomware, identity theft and other online threats—and relieve a ton of worry for you.
• Protect their schoolwork. Big projects like term papers take hours of effort, but a ransomware attack or drive failure can wipe them out in seconds. Invest in a removable drive, high-capacity USB stick or online backup service (as well as security software that protects against ransomware, like ESET Internet Security).
• Secure Macs, too. Apple users used to think that their devices were inherently safe. It’s true that there are fewer threats overall targeting those platforms; but Mac malware has been steadily rising over the years, and it can damage an unprotected Mac.
• Keep tabs on their stuff. Leave a laptop in the library for a short bathroom break and it might disappear.  Consider software with anti-theft functionality, which senses the device’s location and allows the owner to quickly find the misplaced device through an online portal.
• Guard the webcams. They’re sharing a network with mischievous college students; and it’s possible to install software that can take control of a webcam. Remind them to keep their cameras covered (like Mark Zuckerberg), and spare them from embarrassment—or worse.

What’s the best way to protect them? Send them off to college with a care package that includes security software for all their devices, which adds data encryption and password management tools.