Your Family and Your Kids Need Cyber Security Training, Now.

Digijaks CEO Alan W. Silberberg is a subject matter expert on Cyber Security and recently helped to author the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Cyber Security for Small Business Training” online module. He built Digijaks with the concept that everyone needs access to cyber security, not just big companies and government agencies. While the company does indeed work with large companies and government agencies, we have also developed a family and small business package that is flat fee and no surprise billing. We recognize that families and small businesses need access to the best defenses too.

In October, 2016, I was invited to speak at a local elementary school about cyber security, cyber bullying and staying safe online. I have spoken at schools in the past, and one thing that always rings clearly, is how much more advanced kids are in some ways than their parents or teachers.

*Some ways* is the key phrase. While kids may know how to use a device or a program or online platform, their brains are still those of kids, and they do not understand the short and long term ramifications of their digital lives yet. Many of their parents and teachers do not fully either. Some parents may get remedial cyber security training through their workplace, but this never involves family cyber security or the cyber security needed around classrooms and schools. Most teachers are getting little to no cyber security training beyond that of the school network and school owned devices.

So kids, families and teachers are left to fend for themselves. We all need a rule of life playbook for digital lives. Kids are building the digital encyclopedia of themselves every day, and this will last with them forever. So the earlier we start reaching into schools and other places where families are, the sooner we can teach the digital version of “don’t cross the street on a red light” or “don’t take a stranger’s hand or get in a car with a stranger.”

These concepts are simple in real life, and much more complicated due to psychology and questions of real or not, online. The digital worlds we all create leave somewhere between 15,000-20,000 digital markers per week, or per day in some cases for those who are heavily online. These markers are diced and spliced into tiny micro bits that then get sold, are used to profile and used for identity theft.

Some of the questions that came up in this session included:

• How do I know if someone on a social network or game or music platform is really another kid?
• I accidentally downloaded a virus and crashed my parent’s computer, what can I do?
• Should I use a password to protect my phone/tablet/watch?
• Should I talk to my parents if there is something I don’t understand or seems worrying?
• Who do I report a bad person to? (And how)

These could have been your kids. Your grandkids. Multiply this by every school in the USA and we have a problem folks. A problem that needs to be addressed both through the schools and one that parents need to take an active role in for their families.

Digijaks has created a unique way for families, small businesses and family owned businesses to begin assessing and strengthening their cyber posture. We strongly suggest you click here and begin today.

Alan W. Silberberg is the Founder of Digijaks and can be found on Twitter @ideagov