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As soon as your kids are old enough to use any kind of online account, they’re old enough to learn about password safety. Here are some of the most important things kids need to know about creating strong passwords and keeping them safe from hackers and prying eyes.
Creating Strong Passwords
You can create strong passwords that are hard for hackers to guess by following these rules:
Never use personal information. Never create a password that contains any of your or your family’s personal information, such as birth dates, phone numbers, or addresses. A lot of this information can be found online and is easy for hackers to guess. You also shouldn’t use any information that should stay private, like credit card or bank account numbers. Avoid using the names of pets or family members as well.
Use a long password. Ensure that all the passwords you create are at least 6 characters long, and preferably longer. Longer passwords (like phrases) are harder to guess.
Include different types of characters. The best passwords contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (such as punctuation marks and symbols). Even if a hacker guesses the gist of your password, they likely won’t be able to get it exactly right if you include these kinds of characters.
Protecting Your Passwords
Once you’ve created a new password for an account, keep it and all your other passwords safe using these guidelines:
Don’t share your passwords with anyone other than your parents. Keep your passwords secret from everyone but your parents or guardians—including people you think are trustworthy. Even people you like may not be good at keeping passwords safe.
Never leave your passwords in a place that can easily be found. If you write down your passwords, don’t leave them lying around in a physical notebook, a notes app, or anywhere else where they can easily be found and stolen. Most apps, programs, and websites will let you reset your password if you forget it, so it may be best not to write passwords down at all.
Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. If you use the same password for multiple accounts and a hacker guesses it, they will be able to get into all of those accounts rather than just one. Make all your passwords unique.
Teach Kids Safe Tech Use With Net Positive
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens and leaders. We accomplish this by providing evidence-based programs with a focus on those that improve academic engagement, build character, and improve healthy behaviors.
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References
Hunter, Tatum. “The Ultimate Guide to Secure Passwords.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 17 Dec. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/12/16/secure-password-guide/.
“Tech Savvy Tips and Tricks: Password Tips.” GCFGlobal.org, https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/techsavvy/password-tips/1/.
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