Cases of social media accounts being hacked has been on the rise in the recent past. You will know that your social media account has been hacked if you find activities that you didn’t initiate in your account. These could be posts, private messages, following or unfollowing people and sent friend requests.

You could also get notifications of changes to your profile or password. Depending on how much private information you have shared on your accounts, you risk your identity being stolen, or the hackers getting access to your financial accounts. If you notice such malicious activities, here is what you should do.

1. Scan your device

One way hackers could have gotten their hands on your password in order to hack your social media is by injecting malware to your device. That is why the first thing you should do is to run a full virus scan on your computer. If you find any malware, make sure you remove it. Restart and rescan your computer to be sure that it is safe. This is the only way to ensure that hackers do not have access to your device any more.

2. Enhance the security of your account

After cleaning your computer, change the password to the compromised account. If you have used the username and password on other accounts, be sure to change there too. The new strong password should not be anywhere near the old one. Make it stronger by including lower case letters, capital letters, numbers and symbols. Enhance the security of the accounts by enabling the 2-Step Verification. This will ensure that you receive a unique code to your phone whenever there is a change to your accounts settings. This locks out suspicious people from your account since they can’t access the special code sent to your phone.

3. Connect through a VPN

Another way social media hackers get your information is by spying on your activity over the internet when you connect through a public Wi-Fi. You should close up this loophole by installing a VPN in your device. Ensure that you use it to connect to the internet whenever you are browsing.

So, what is VPN? This is a virtual private network that works as a safe tunnel between your device and the sites you visit. This means that your browsing history is kept private and third parties can’t spy on it, limiting chances of hackers getting your information.

4. Notify your family and friends

Your family and friends might notice the messages that they received weren’t from you. However, you shouldn’t assume this; ensure you inform them that your social media was hacked so they stay wary of clicking on suspicious emails. There are cases where hackers ask money from your contacts, warning them will ensure that they don’t send their hard-earned cash to criminals. Besides warning them, go ahead and pull down any posts that were sent by the hackers. Delete the suspicious messages and report them to the compromised social media site. If there are games or third-party apps downloaded to your account, ensure that you delete them too, including any other that you do not use.

5. Check the settings to your email account

Hackers could have changed your email settings in order to gain control of the email activities. Ensure that you check these settings and change them accordingly. Change your signature and turn off auto-responder if they have activated it. As a preventive measure, always make sure to lock your computer while you are away from your desk. In that way, having a password-protected laptop will ensure that even if you are away from your computer, other people will not be able to access your data.  

6. Update the apps on your devices

Whenever apps and software developers release an update, there are enhanced security features that usually come with the update. That is why you should ensure that the apps in your devices are updated to the latest versions. There could be a notification feature whenever someone tries to log into your account from an unfamiliar location that you could miss if your app is not updated. Take advantage of enhanced security fixes to ensure that you are notified of malicious attempts to your accounts. Be sure to set your devices to auto-update so that apps are updated automatically in case you forget to update them.

Social Media Hacked! Conclusion

Do not panic if your social media is hacked as this happens to a lot of people. However, to limit the amount of information that hackers can steal from you, avoid posting your private information in your social media accounts. Too much information about you gives the hackers an easy time guessing your security question. If you notice any suspicious link or message, do not click on them, instead report them to the site so that they can stop the spread. Finally, educate yourself and your family about the importance of cybersecurity. From adults to kids, if someone is able to manage a social media a account they are also able to protect it.

The time we used to spend outdoors, in cars, shopping malls, or just hanging out with friends, we now spend indoors watching TV or using smartphones much of the time. Adults have a hard enough time as it is to limit their screen time, so what about the children?

Such a routine is not ideal for young eyes. Their screen use has increased drastically. Online sessions have replaced classrooms, and the time they used playing in the grounds is now spent watching online videos, playing games, or Face-timing with friends.

Although it is understandable that parents currently have their hands full with remote working, homeschooling, and running the household, they are sometimes guilty of using digital devices as a babysitter. And although parents need a break too, they must establish limits regarding acceptable limits regarding screen time.

Reducing your child’s screen time can significantly lessen digital eye strain symptoms that include blurry vision, tired eyes, and headaches. Here are some ways you can take control and reduce screen time during times at home.

1. Reduce your Screen time first

Yes, it has to start with you. Kids look up to parents, and if you don’t reduce your screen time, you cannot make your children do so. There are some software and apps that you can install on your phone, and monitor how much time you spend on your phone and other digital activities. Some phones come with inbuilt features and monitor the overall usage and time you spend on individual apps.

If you spend two hours on an app every day, reduce it to one hour and then gradually, into half an hour. Once you do that, you would be surprised to see how much time you have for other activities. But it’s not about your screen time in the first place; you are doing this for your children.

Enjoy screen-free meals

The idea should be to enjoy meals. It has become a norm to eat meals in front of a TV or using cellphones that results in distracted eating. You are more focused on what is happening on the screen than what we are putting in our mouth.

Mealtimes are great for social interaction. And these days have provided both parents and children to spend more quality time with each other. So, tell your children that no phones will be allowed on the table during meals. Make them leave their phones in another room away from the table.

Call your friends and family

Traditional phone calls have become a thing of the past now. If you notice, you would prefer to send a text message or a voice mail than answering a call. But phone calls are important. And psychologically beneficial too. Direct voice communication can even save relationships, which has become crucial when families and friends are living in isolation.

Call up a friend or family member. Make your children call their friends or grandparents. And then assess how you feel after hanging up the phone. Phone calls are a great way to connect when you cannot be together physically. Video calls are great as well. At least your child won’t be tapping away on the screen, texting or scrolling down Facebook.

Read at least one chapter every day

Why one chapter? Well, if you haven’t read books in a while, you cannot finish an entire book in a day. If not one, go for at least two. Reading is one of the best hobbies, and you should urge your children to read more. Also, if the book is unable to capture their interest or attention, they can always pick up another one.

Ebooks and audiobook rentals are available at local libraries easily. Indulge in reading with your children. You can do various activities. Choose books to read for the week, and then ask your children what they learned from it. Also, you can take turns reading as a family.

Take a break from digital devices

The key is to gradually reduce screen time and cut it down as much as you can. But as said earlier, doing it in quarantine gets a bit difficult. You can start with short breaks and encourage your children to give their eyes and their devices some rest. Make a timetable for your children that they have to take a short break every hour. You can go outside in the backyard or garden. Do some chore, solve a puzzle or anything that does not involve screens.

With short breaks, the focus gets better. And eventually, you would find these habits becoming addictive. When you step away from the screens for 10 minutes, it will slowly increase to 20 minutes. You would find yourself doing other things and getting accustomed to it. Now, this might be easier with young children but not with teens. Excessive screen use not only harms the eyes but spending too much time on social media has negative impacts on psychological health. Social media is addictive, and if you think that your teen is not going to break free anytime soon, you need to take some strict measures. Get the Xnspy monitoring app designed for parents to keep a check on your teen’s digital activities.

The app monitors text messages, call logs, emails, locations, web browsing history, and a lot more. There are numerous remote functionalities too. If you think your teens are not following rules and using screens when they are supposed to be taking a break or doing something else, you can learn how to remotely shut or lock the device.

Indulge in a new hobby

Everyone person wants to learn something or know something they have been interested in for a long time. Now maybe the best time to experience or learn new things. Help your child finding a new hobby. It can be growing a veggie garden, a DIY project at home, beginner cooking skills, organizing, or anything else. Children are using tablets and phones excessively due to the monotonous routine during the quarantine. When there is something new to do, they are going to distance themselves from the screens on their own.

And even if you use screens to learn a new craft like YouTube. See that you watch the tutorial and then get to work.

The occasional laziness is okay

While all of the above tips work and bring results, you cannot spend the entire quarantine self-improving. Leave some room for relaxation. And it is alright if your child spends an hour more on-screen once a week. Do not feel guilty about it.

We all have a lot of time on our hands that we can use to reflect upon ourselves or relax. Enjoy nature and your surroundings. Plan a lunch or breakfast in the backyard/garden. Ask your children to come up with ideas for décor. And also the menu. You have to make use of what you have and feel blessed.

Mindfulness and meditation do not require physical activity but can boost your mental health and give you a new perspective. There are many ways you can practice these things with children and make them feel more attuned to their surroundings away from the digital world.

Try out these, and gradually, you will see great results!

We share our details whenever using the internet without knowing it: websites track our geolocation, credit card or phone numbers, search, and purchase histories. Imagine what would happen if frauds will get such data! We will tell you why you must disable third party cookies or install reliable antivirus.

Most of all social connections take place on the Internet. We chat with friends, publish photos, or look for new sneakers. So if it matters for you that your correspondence and private files don’t leak into the public domain, then you should think about privacy issues.

What’s so special about Internet privacy?

Privacy on the Internet reflects in which way the site or company gathers and stores our data, and how they transfer or sell it. Based on received data, they form a broad customer base, that includes details such as telephone number, home address, or even clothing preferences.

Why we should care about such things as privacy on the Internet? Data leakages may result in stealing money from our credit card, appearing of annoying ads that are based on our purchase history, and receiving tons of spam emails.

Here’s some advice on how you may protect your privacy. They’re really simple, so both children and adults will manage to use them.

You can secure your details by such means:

1. Disable tracking cookies

If you want to prevent websites from monitoring your activity, you need to block third party cookies. It will help you deal with annoying ads, formed by your search history, and prevent your confidential data leakages. Here’s a guide that explains how easily block cookies in any browser.

2. Use a VPN

Another way to protect your info is to download and turn on the VPN. The major benefit of this method is that your data remains encrypted. Even your ISP won’t be able to find out which pages you’ve visited. VPN allows you to visit blocked sites and bypass filters on work or school computers. We suggest taking a look on top free VPNs.

3. Don’t share your private details with suspicious websites

 If you find yourself on a suspicious site that asks you to enter private data, credit card numbers, or other intimate details, be extremely careful! These websites preserve data, create huge databases, and sell them to advertising companies. Therefore, we recommend you think twice whether a coupon for a free burger or participation in suspicious sweepstakes is worth intimate information leakage.

4. Turn on the private browsing mode

If you turn on the private browsing mode, you prohibit websites to gather and preserve your actions and data. On the contrary, this method won’t give full protection. ISP, smart tracking, and websites will still see your private data. This guide explains how to turn on private browsing mode.

 5. Set up a verified antivirus

Antivirus is a great helpmate when we talk about data security. Top antiviruses suggest such services as web protection, antispam, online payment’s security, and parental control. Scammers can steal people’s intimate files to extort money in exchange for deleting stolen data. However, if you have installed antivirus, no one will get your sensitive files, correspondence, and photos. Here you can find a list of the top reliable antivirus programs.

If you are concerned about the security of your private details, you can avoid scammers, stealing money from credit cards, or annoying spam. With our tips, you will easily maintain confidentiality at the right level. Just remember to be extremely cautious during an Internet session, and your data will be safe.  

Finding the ideal college for your son or daughter isn’t as easy as it may sound. Most children find themselves in the wrong college just because their parents fancied them, they know someone who attended them and succeeded, or they are basically big name colleges.

While such a criterion is valid when looking for a college, it isn’t the best. The right research will help you find a college that is a good fit. This article is a simple guide on how to research colleges.

Why Is Researching Colleges Important?

Every learner is different. The learning community that your child grows in determines their future. The implication is that it is not enough to choose a college based on its past or popularity. Carrying out extensive research will help you find a college that has what it takes to grow your child to what they want to become in the future.

The United States of America has more than 5,000 colleges. Such a large number implies that regardless of the number of colleges you hear about, visit, or even read from college rankings, the chances are high you will still miss some prominent colleges. While asking family members, mentors, and friends about the best college for your child is a great strategy, you need to put more effort behind the search.

5 Factors to Consider When Researching Colleges

It takes a combination of many elements for you to find the most suitable college for your children. From determining the learner’s goals to deciding on the college budget. If this sounds confusing, here are a few factors that will help you settle for the right college.

1. Learner Resources

The access to different campus resources is an important aspect to consider when looking for the right college. Does the college you are about to settle for have an extensive research library, computer and IT resources, or a diverse students’ community? Every learner has a need that their college should meet. So, make sure that your college of interest today or in the future has all the necessary student resources.

2. Academics

Most colleges admit learners who have a certain average grade. As you begin the search for the best college for your children, ascertain whether their test scores match those of the students in the college of your choice. This strategy helps you rule out colleges whose selectivity and admission criteria is higher than what your child has.

Also, review the academic performance of the college. No parent would wish to enroll their children in a college because it has the resources and it is affordable. You need to think about the value the child will get from the college academically. Therefore, research and compare the performance of various colleges. Is it pleasing and consistent?

3. Cost

Finances play a substantial role in most decisions about the best college to join. Start with evaluating the amount of income available for college education. Also, weigh in aid packages and scholarships available for each of the colleges you intend to consider. This consideration will help you focus on the colleges that you can afford without much strain.

4. Programs Offered

The ultimate goal of any learner when joining any higher education institution is to get prepared for the future. The program that your child intends to pursue should inform your choice of the colleges? Are the majors he or she is interested in offered at your preferred college. The best strategy here will be to focus on the long term goals, then work backwards to establish the college that offers programs that can help them achieve such future goals.

5. Security Risk

The number of cybercrimes is rising nowadays, and according to the New York Times, institutions of higher learning are highly targeted. it is your duty to ensure your child’s security. This extends to the college they are joining. For example, how does the college manage permissions and access to student records?  According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), colleges ought to have the right policies on privacy, security, and access to learners’ personal data.

In addition, the standard policy laws, such as the GDPR, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and HIPAA, apply to all persons in a college’s database. Your ideal college should comply with FERPA’s access restrictions and privacy protections on the students’ data. You wouldn’t want to enroll in a college where the personal data of everyone in their database, including yours, is not protected in any way.

Start Your College Research Today

With the rise in the number of colleges available nowadays, taking enough time to research can help you find the most suitable college. The ideal college for your child should not be necessarily the best there is in your area. It only needs to have the right resources, be affordable, secure, and offer programs that your child aspires to pursue. Following the above tips will increase your chances of finding a college that will guarantee your child the best.