ABU DHABI // Children who are unaware of “surfing safe” can expose the whole family to financial fraud by using shared family devices, according to an online financial crime expert.
Padmanabhan SV, chief technology officer at Noor Bank, said internet security is more of an issue for young adults and children than adults.
“The increase in internet usage exposes them more than adults, because of their lack of security knowledge and controls,” he said. “Using their parents’ or family devices for online activities such as social media or online games, for example, can also cause more damage by exposing the entire family - including the adults, who can be impacted financially as well.
“A lot of young adults feel responsible for keeping their internet secure and they may feel that they know enough to secure their personal data online.
“However, we often see that they are exposed to risky behaviours such as sharing passwords, accessing internet from open wifi, visiting untrusted websites, chatting or gaming with unknown people.”
This, said Mr SV, indicates a level of overconfidence in their understanding of cyber security, which is the main obstacle in creating a more secure internet for them.
“While the government, universities, schools and the industry can impose more awareness and laws, families and parents should play a vital role in monitoring and educating their children on best practices and ethics during online activities while keeping in mind the importance of their data confidentiality and exposure to online threats,” he said.
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