Children often use the internet for education purposes or as means of communication or entertainment. In order to ensure children remain safe while surfing the internet, it is important to discuss openly with them the best practices for surfing the internet. Few best practices are delineated hereinbelow:-

• Children should refrain from publishing personal sensitive information on any social media or otherwise;
• Content which is publicly accessible should be screened and content which is private should be secured using complex passwords,
• Any content to be uploaded by a child on internet including photos must be screened by a parent before uploading;
• Children below 13 should refrain from setting up accounts in Social Networks.Even Social networks should deploy age verification mechanism.
• The parents and school staff should use technical tools to set filters to protect them from information not meant for their age
• Parents and school teachers must discuss openly sex education and potential dangers to children while surfing online so that they are aware of and can determine if their interactions with friends, or strangers are safe for them.
• Parental supervision is required to check their child’s online activities. Computers should never be placed in bedrooms (especially with connected webcams, wifi) but should be placed in a room which is open while the computer is in use.
• Children should be told legal implications of using hate speech or abusive language and any kind of harassing speech
• It is important to provide children with the right knowledge, skills, understanding, attitude, human values and behavior to act responsibly in any social setting including internet.
• Printers, wifi, webcams and computers, should be shut down and not kept continuously open when not in use. Wifi should always be protected by a secure password
• Children should not disclose their passwords to anyone, not even their trusted friends or relatives over email, chat, phone, messaging or otherwise.
• Children should be encouraged to talk to their parents or teachers when they encounter any disturbing situation on the internet.
• Do not access the links to which an email can direct you and then ask you for personal information;
• While using net banking do not adopt google search or other search and instead typing the correct address of your bank yourself in the address bar;
• Before online shopping check if the site address shows it is https or carries an image of a lock;
• Keep complex Passwords and change them regularly. Use a two step OTP verification process to access your e-mail accounts.
• Install anti spyware and antivirus and keep them updated.
• Refrain from answering calls from strangers, visiting popup windows or unwarranted verification message that may ask you to confirm your personal information.
• While downloading plug ins to any software, screen it prior to downloading using an antivirus.
• Maintain complete backup of your system/mobile data periodically
• Avoid checking your email accounts at cyber café, and remember to sign off from your online account when you no longer want to access an account.
• Register for Mobile SMS, Email Transaction Alerts if one pays online or uses netbanking.
• Visit banks website by typing the URL in the address bar.otherwise it could be a fake website in a search result
• Make use of the virtual keyboard wherever possible for better security
• If you change a mobile number, inform the bank. If you lose your phone, don’t forget to deactivate all banking services linked to that number.
• Avoid exchanging old mobile phones with new ones as data within it can be misused to harass the phone owner or others and commit other crimes including phishing.
• Donot leave your mobile phone/laptop unattended or without a password protection with anyone.