Cybercrime

More and more, people's everyday lives revolve around wireless networks, whether it's through mobile devices or home and work computers. Criminals are always coming up with new ways to access your information and accounts for profit.

Take the time to safeguard your devices against any possible threats by educating yourself and your family about cyber safety.

Use these quick tips to help safeguard you and your family:

• Have secure settings on your computer. Whether it's for Wi-Fi access, social media sites, or email, using strong passwords and using website and software protection features will help protect you
• Learn about what online platforms your kids use and familiarize yourself with them
• Don't let children have computers in their rooms. Keeping the computer in a public space will allow you to monitor their online activity
• Stress the importance of never sending or sharing inappropriate pictures or messages. This can negatively affect their future when applying to college or university or when looking for employment opportunities, and could potentially be a criminal offence
• Talk to your children about inappropriate content and how to deal with it
• Never give out personal information such as name, address, date of birth, computer passwords, banking information, etc. as

The key to safeguarding your child's online safety is to encourage an open dialogue and be involved in their online activity. Visit Canadian government website GetCyberSafe for more online safety tips.