How do I protect my child's identity online?

Freeze your child's credit at all three bureaus (yes, children can be victims of identity theft), limit personal information shared on social media, use parental controls on devices, teach children never to share personal details online, and monitor for unauthorized use of their Social Security number.

At what age should I teach my kids about cybersecurity?

Start with basic online safety as soon as they use devices (ages 5-7): never share personal info, tell a parent about anything uncomfortable. By ages 8-12, teach password hygiene and phishing recognition. Teens should understand privacy settings, social engineering, and digital footprint permanence.

Child Online Safety Checklist — You're Already a Target

👧 Child identity theft, sextortion, and predators are real threats. These protections must start now.

🔒 Credit & Identity Protection

Protect your children's financial identity before criminals do.

Freeze your children's credit at all three bureausUse your address and their SSN. Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. Takes 30 minutes total and costs nothing. This is the #1 protection. Set up fraud alerts on children's creditCall the bureaus and request fraud alerts specifically for your minor child. Renew annually. Monitor their credit reports starting at age 16Check AnnualCreditReport.com annually. Look for accounts you didn't open. Unauthorized accounts mean fraud.

💬 The Sextortion Conversation

Talk to your teenagers about intimate images and sextortion before it happens to them.

Have the sextortion conversation with teenagersBe direct: Never share intimate images. If threatened, tell a trusted adult immediately. This is not their fault. No image is worth silence. Explain that sextortion is a common scamCriminals threaten to share non-existent images unless money is paid. The images don't exist. Tell them to tell you immediately. Create a safe reporting mechanismMake it clear your child can come to you without punishment. You're on their team. No judgment, just safety.

🎮 Device & App Management

Monitor and control what apps your children use and what they can access.

Set up parental controls on all children's devicesApple Screen Time, Google Family Link, or Microsoft Family Safety. Set app restrictions, screen time limits, and content filters. Review installed apps and permissions monthlyCheck which apps are installed. Delete apps designed to hide from parents (fake calculators, hidden messaging apps, VPNs). Enable content filtering on all devicesBlock adult and dangerous content. Use DNS filtering (1.1.1.3) on home WiFi to filter network-wide. Know their passwords and social media accountsYou don't need to spy daily, but you should know what accounts exist and be able to access them if needed.

👀 Deepfakes & Online Threats

Teach children to recognize and report online threats and fake content.

Teach deepfake awarenessExplain that videos and images can be faked. If something looks weird, it might be. Don't share or believe deepfakes of anyone. Explain grooming tacticsOnline predators build trust slowly. Nice strangers who want to move to private chat, ask for photos, or meet in person are red flags. Create a reporting protocolKnow how to report predators on each platform. Save evidence (screenshots) before reporting.

This checklist is from You're Already a Target by Corey White.

Take the Security Scorecard → Back to Master Checklist →