Category: Safety | Internet Security

So many scams, too little time to stay ahead of them all. Cyber criminals are not nice people, but they certainly are creative; always thinking of new ways to scam you. Scammers are opportunists working in multiple areas at the same time. Their motivation is money. They will either access your personal information and sell it to others or easily steal your money outright.

You may not know about every scam that’s on the internet or offline in the real world. But there are common ways of how you can be aware of and prepared for all potential scams. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to learn about old scams and new ones that are created.

Common Scams to Be on the Look Out For

In Part 1 of our scam awareness series, we look at common scams and new scams that are ever emerging.  Through this education on scams, you’ll notice a persistent theme of how you can be prepared. Even if a brand-new scheme designed to fool you rears it’s ugly head for the first time, there are consistent things you can do to protect yourself.

Most people become victims of scans through email and texts.  The first defense against malicious messages is to follow the SLAM Method.

SLAM stands for Sender, Links, Attachments, and Message. All of these elements should be scrutinized.  

Sender: Don’t accept message requests from outside of your known circle of friends or connections.  Don’t accept friend requests from anyone you don’t know.

Links:  Do not click on any links in social media posts, profiles or messages unless you can see the full URL and be certain that the site is legitimate.

Attachments: Never download or open attachments from social media posts, profiles or messages.

Message:  Look carefully at the body of any social media message or post that you are interacting with. If it feels off, contains misspellings, off grammar or even uncharacteristic emojis, you might be looking at a phishing attempt.  Be wary of messages that push you to take some urgent action or another.

Remember the SLAM Method throughout our scam educational series.  But we’ll also be looking at scams that also happen via direct communication with scammers.  Let’s begin!

Charity Scams

Types of charity scams include:

Crowd Sourcing Scams:  Don’t take for granted that all is legit. Scrutinize the validity of the crowding funding request.

Post Tragedy Scams:  When a tragedy strikes, scammers will sometimes spoof the website or create a site that closely resembles the site of a legitimate donation site.

Firefighter, Police and Military Scams:  These scammers will often use familiar or local organizations to build trust and take people off guard.   Some will directly target military veterans and their families.

Warning Signs of Charity Scams:

1. Requests for cash, money wire, or gift card donations can be a red flag. Use a credit card instead.
2. Non-tax deductible donations are a red flag that a charity may not be legitimate.
3. Pressure Tactics: Real charities will never use a hard sell or pressure tactics to solicit a donation.
4. Fake information: Charitable donation websites almost always end with .org and domains will always start with https:// not http:// without the “s”.

Beware of fake charities based related to common world issues, such as what happened during the pandemic. Scammers prey on the emotions of people who want to help those in need of disaster relief, such as during war or refugees fleeing their country for safety or a better life.  Charity and disaster fraud often increases during the holiday season.

Cybercriminals will also call people thanking them for a previous donation, a donation which may have not been made. Veteran fraud and disaster fraud are often the premise used for fake charity scams.

Marketplace Scams

There are two categories within marketplace scams.

Non-Payment Scam:   In a non-payment scam, cybercriminals will use a phony screenshot of a completed cash transfer to trick a victim into shipping an item.

Non-Delivery Scams:  Scammers trick victims into paying for goods and services that are never delivered.  They offer prices that are almost too good to be true.

Non-delivery scams advertise popular items and services at deeply discounted prices and ask for payment using gift cards or cash payment through a payment app.

Marketplace scams come in many forms so always be cautious.  These creative types of scams also happen when individuals are selling items online.

Prevention Tips:

1. Know your marketplace:  When shopping online, do so on trusted sources with secure processing and payment policies that protect consumers.
2. Use a credit card:  Credit card companies have systems and policies in place to protect against a fraud.
3. Stay on the platform you are shopping on:  Scammers will try to bait their victims into leaving the marketplace platform for messaging and payment.

Gift Card Scams

It may seem obvious to many that that any legitimate organization would ask to be paid in gift cards.  Still, it’s a common scan that pulls people in. Scammers create a sense of fear and urgency pressure their targets into acting quickly without thinking. Asking to keep the transaction a secret is a warning sign of a gift card scam.

Cyberthieves prefer gift card payments because they offer anonymity.  Unlike other forms of payment, transactions can be anonymous and are difficult to trace or reverse, unlike bank transfers.  Gift cards are also widely available and offer immediate access to funds once the victim buys a gift card at a local store and send the scammer the number and pin to redeem the funds.

What To Do If You Are Targeted

Any gift card payment request is likely a scam and should be ignored. If you receive a phone call, email, or text message requesting a gift card as payment, immediately hang up or delete the message.

Contact the company directly using a known number or email address instead. If you have an account with the organization, log into your account to see if there are any notices, such as an overdue payment.

Display Name Scams

Display name spoofing occurs when the cybercriminal manipulates the sender’s display name or makes the display name look like an email address.  Seeing a legitimate display name deceives you into believing that it’s from a trusted email source.

If a sender looks familiar, but the message makes unusual requests, it is best to contact the person or company directly through another method of contact.

Delivery Scams

Types include:

Pet Delivery Scams: These are fake ads where payment is required upfront.

• Protect yourself asking to see the pet in person before you pay.

Fake Delivery Notifications:  Here, scammers mimic big name online shopping or shipping companies in their delivery scam messages. They claim there is a problem with the delivery of your package, or you need to confirm something has been delivered.

• Be cautious of clicking on links or downloading attachments.  Never enter personal information when requested. Verify the tracking number and status of a delivery through the companies’ official website. 

Non-Delivery Scams:  An example of a non-delivery scam in this training involves making a purchase online, but never receiving the order or confirmation details of the purchase.  Only make purchases on reputable websites.

• When you do make an order, follow up immediately if you don’t receive a confirmation of your order. Check the address on the website and phone number. 

If you are unable to make contact and your credit card was charged by a non-delivery scammer, you should call your credit card company and consider deactivating the card.

Transportation Scams

Scammers will make phone calls or send messages via text or email claiming that your flight has been delayed or cancelled. Messages will likely include links that offer a refund for the flight or an opportunity to rebook for a small fee.  Airlines will never ask for a fee to rebook. Contact your airline directly on their website or call them to enquire about the status of your flight.

Cyberthieves also set up fake websites or send messages offering deals on rental cars as well. Always verify the URL and company phone number before booking. In your unsure, going to directly to the official website is always better than clicking a link.

Learn the dangers of freight scams.  Be on the look out for gifts and rewards being offered by transportation companies. Tread carefully and do your research before jumping on a deal that may be a scam created to steal your information or your money.

Technical Support Scams

Technical support scams often involve cybercriminals pretending to work for well-known companies to fix non-existent issues. They manipulate victims to build trust and convince them to comply with their demands.

A scammer gaining remote access to your device remotely can install harmful software or access sensitive data, leading to significant privacy and financial risks.

Requests for payments to be made via gift cards or cryptocurrencies should always be treated as a scam.

Technical support scams often start with unsolicited pop-ups or phone calls warning of an issue with your device.  These tactics are designed to create urgency and trick victims into engaging with the scammer.  Malware may contain a fake phone number urging you to call to fix issues you are having with your device.

Pop-ups may happen when visiting infected websites.  Or, they can occur if your computer is infected by malware. To guard against these issues, install anti-malware software to both prevent and remove malware.

Even if you are certain that you may be dealing with a legitimate company who has called about your account, express your concern and state that you wish to call them back directly using a phone number posted on their companies official website.

Never give our personal information to anyone that calls you.  Legitimate companies will not call you and ask you for personal information.  Remember, that with much of our personal information being available on the dark web due to data breach, scammers can easily sound like they are legitimate when they state facts about your personal info.

Conclusion

Most scams come to us when we have our guard down. They prey on our emotions by using fear filled headlines or threats of potential loss of accounts or hard-earned dollars. It’s not uncommon to receive an email, phone call, or text that is related to something we have already done.

You may be expecting a package that you ordered a few days earlier. You may have booked a flight.  Maybe you happen to be needing of a product or service. That fact that relevant messages come to us are simply a coincidence. When you receive a text or email out of the blue, always ask the question; “Is this real? Or is it a scam?”

Some scams also encourage users to download malicious apps in order to receive a reward or discount. This does not prey on our fear, but entices a natural human desire for personal gain. Be cautious of all app downloads in every situation.

In one second you could infect your devices with malware to give away personal login information. However, it only takes a few seconds more to carefully review the message to verify it’s legit. When in doubt, go to Google and search for the company. Visit their website directly. Or, login to trusted websites directly at the source from a personal bookmark, not though an email link.

If an email or text message lines up with a legitimate notice about a login verification or purchase you just made, it’s still a good idea to only click the link after you’ve double checked that it’s not going you to a different site.  This can be done by hovering over the link to see the destination.

Continue to educate yourself on how to spot scams, while being mindful that exercising caution is your first best step to protecting yourself.   Be prepared by thinking twice before you click or react to any message or phone call. Take a breath and take the time to do a bit of research. I will save you a world of trouble.

Continue your education, read about Common Scams – Part 2.

Read our Glossary of Online Scams and Cyber Threats

People don’t often think of their smartphones as being a way that hackers can attack their personal information. This is not really the case, however, as phones become more and more like small computers that live in your pocket. As technology continues to evolve, it’s important to consider every device to be at risk.

Smartphones can do more and more things that computers can do and you will find that you have probably not considered the ways in which your phone might expose you to personal data security risks. Your smartphone has access to the internet, can be connected to public WIFI, and has access to most of your banking and personal data through apps. This makes it a very easy way to gain access to your online data that you would otherwise think was safe.

Even if you have your computers locked down really well, your cellphone might lead to a hacker being able to gain access to your personal information that would have been safe if your phone was locked down in a better way. If you want to learn more about making your smartphone more safe and secure, read on!

5 Tips for Making Smartphone More Safe and Secure

1.  Use a Password

You should always use a password or a lock sequence to lock your phone down. If you drop your phone or forget it somewhere, it is a huge risk to have it open to being used by anyone that picks it up. If you want to be sure that your phone is secure, even if it is lost somewhere.  Until you search to find it, you need to use the lock screen options that keep your phone secure from outsiders unlocking it.

Secure passwords and other kinds of lock combinations that can protect your phone will make sure that people cannot pick up your phone and access your data and other information if they pick up your phone. If you leave your phone at a friend’s house, drop it on public transit, or forget it in airport security, you will be able to be sure that your phone is safe if someone picks it up.

2.  Do Not Use Public Chargers

Public charging hubs can be the source of hacking attempts. Public ports can lead to hackers having access to your phone when it is plugged into the public hub. These hubs can transmit data and mine it, and you want to avoid this possible connection to data theft that you do not want to be exposed to.

Compromised power strips and other kinds of power outlets that are common use in public locations are always risky to use and you should consider if this is the best choice for your needs. You should always be able to find a wall plug-in if you need it, and you do not need to feel pressured to use these charging hubs if there is no obvious choice available. Make sure that you are not lured into using a public charging hub unless it is the direst situation.

3.  Use Two-Factor Authentication

You might originally be annoyed having to do these extra steps, but two-factor authentication can make sure that your phone is very safe from hacking. This process double-checks your access and identity to make sure that it is legitimate before you access your banking app among other things.

Two-factor security is becoming far more common and you should jump on board the security train that is offered by this process. You will just enter a code and your phone will verify that it is you who is accessing your personal information before allowing you to use your phone for access to apps. You can also use biometric information for this two-factor authentication process.

4.  Keep Your Phone Updated

Updates make sure that your phone’s security is up to date. Security patches make sure that your phone does not allow access to your data through common cyber threats and you will be much better protected if you use these updates as soon as they are made available. Skipping updates on your phone can lead to major issues with security as well as issues with performance.  If you smartphone isn’t working consider repairing it rather than throwing it away and getting a new one.

Your phone will usually offer you a security update at least once a month, but you should never assume that you do not need to take advantage of these updates when they are offered. It usually takes a few minutes to download a security patch and you do not have to feel like this is a big burden if you stay on top of these updates as they arrive.

5.  Avoid the Use of Public WIFI

Public WIFI is rife with risks and you should always turn off your public WIFI access when you do not need it for anything. WIFI access can expose your phone to many threats that you can avoid by simply turning off your WIFI when you do not need it. Public WIFI sources are always going to open your phone to risks that are better off avoided.

WIFI use can be necessary, but you should always limit your access to public WIFI sources that are not secured, particularly if you are traveling. There is no need to use a huge WIFI network like an airport or restaurant’s WIFI unless you really need WIFI for some reason. Phones these days have access to a network for your needs, so you should not feel pressured to use public WIFI for any reason.

If you do need to use public WIFI, make sure that you have a VPN that you can use for this access. A VPN will encrypt your connection and make it as safe and secure as if you were not using public WIFI. Forbes has rated and shortlisted VPN providers based on a criteria of options if you’re looking for a trusted VPN service.

Making Your Smartphone Secure is Easy

If you have been worrying about keeping your phone safe when you are using it on a daily basis you should use these tips and tricks to make sure that your phone is secure every day. You should never skip updates, always use good WIFI practices and avoid basic issues that can lead to cyberthreats and other kinds of hacking. If you make sure that your phone safety behaviors are on point, you will have good luck with your overall phone safety practices.

Keeping your phone safe is important to make sure that you do not fall prey to any of the common data theft and cybersecurity issues that can lead to personal identity issues and other problems for people.

The internet is part of everyday life for families, and kids are spending more time online than ever before. While screens open doors to learning and fun, they also introduce risks that can feel overwhelming for parents.

Finding a balance between freedom and protection is key, and that’s where borrowing ideas from child-safe organisations can help. These groups create safe spaces for children in real life, and their principles can guide us in making digital spaces just as secure.

In the same way that safety standards in childcare centres ensure children are protected, supervised, and empowered, parents can adapt these lessons for their homes. Whether it’s zero-tolerance rules, strong supervision, or encouraging kids to speak up, the framework used in child-safe organisations can serve as a practical blueprint for digital safety. By following a few simple steps, families can build an online environment that protects kids while allowing them to grow with confidence.

Why Borrowing from Child-Safe Organisations Works

Child-safe organisations take safety seriously. Their policies are designed to reduce risks, encourage transparency, and support children in speaking up. Parents can apply these same ideas to digital life at home. The goal is not just to block danger, but to build trust and respect so children know how to handle challenges when they appear.

By leaning on these practices, parents can create a home culture that feels open, secure, and supportive. Children learn that safety isn’t about control but about care. This mindset helps them understand that the internet can be used responsibly when guided by clear values.

Zero-Tolerance Rules at Home

One of the strongest ideas from child-safe organisations is zero-tolerance policies. These rules set clear boundaries around unacceptable behaviour. Parents can do the same for online use.

Set family rules about what is and isn’t allowed. For example:

• No sharing personal information with strangers.
• No downloading apps without approval.
• No responding to messages that make them feel uncomfortable.

These rules should be simple, consistent, and easy for kids to remember. When children know there are clear lines, they feel safer and more confident navigating online spaces.

The Power of Supervision

Supervision is another critical standard. In childcare settings, staff always know what children are doing and step in quickly when needed. At home, parents can use this same principle with digital devices.

This doesn’t mean hovering over a child’s shoulder every moment. Instead, supervision can take the form of shared screen time, device use in common areas, or checking in during gaming or messaging. Parents can also use parental controls, but these should support rather than replace conversations.

Active supervision sends the message that parents care about what their children are experiencing online. It also builds opportunities for discussion when something new or concerning comes up.

Empowering Kids to Speak Up

Empowerment is often overlooked but is one of the most valuable lessons from child-safe organisations. When children are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings, they develop the confidence to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

At home, this means creating space for open conversations about the internet. Ask kids what they enjoy online, what they find confusing, or if they’ve ever seen something that made them uneasy. The more comfortable children are in sharing, the more likely they are to turn to parents instead of hiding problems.

This approach also respects children’s voices. It shows them that their feelings matter and that safety is a partnership, not just a set of rules.

Building a Digital-Safe Pact

Putting these elements together, families can create a digital-safe pact. This pact is a simple agreement that outlines rules, supervision, and open communication. It doesn’t need to be complicated. A short list of values and expectations can work wonders.

For example:

• We keep personal details private.
• We use screens in shared spaces.
• We tell each other if something feels wrong.
• We respect breaks from technology.

Parents and kids can write the pact together, ensuring everyone has input. This makes children more likely to follow the rules because they helped shape them.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

While creating a digital-safe home, some pitfalls are easy to fall into. Over-restricting access can cause children to feel left out or rebellious. On the other hand, too much freedom can leave them exposed to harmful content.

The key is balance. Rules should protect but not isolate. Supervision should guide but not invade. Conversations should empower but not lecture. When families strike this balance, children learn how to manage the digital world responsibly and with resilience.

A Safety Culture That Lasts

What makes child-safe organisations so effective is their culture of care. Safety isn’t treated as a one-time policy but as part of everyday life. Parents can mirror this by keeping conversations ongoing and updating family rules as children grow.

As kids get older, they may need more independence. Instead of removing rules completely, parents can adjust them. For example, older children might get more privacy in messaging, but they still agree to share concerns when something goes wrong. This evolving culture ensures safety stays relevant through every stage of development.

Final Thoughts

Digital parenting can feel daunting, but parents don’t have to start from scratch. By looking at the proven strategies of child-safe organisations, families can adopt principles that are already making a difference in childcare settings.

With clear rules, thoughtful supervision, and encouragement for children to speak up, families can build homes where kids explore the online world safely and with confidence. The digital-safe pact becomes more than just a set of rules—it’s a shared commitment to care, respect, and trust.

Tablets, smart-TV cartoons, and laptop homework mean your family is always online. A 2026 survey shows one in four people has faced a Wi-Fi security scare. Whether you’re streaming in a café or paying bills at home, prying eyes track logins and locations.

A virtual private network (VPN) closes that window with one-tap encryption. Parents protect payroll files, kids join Minecraft safely, and movie night stays smooth.

We stress-tested 50+ VPNs under real family loads and found eight that blend privacy, kid-friendly controls, and 4K-ready speed.

Let’s pick the best fit for your home.

How we picked the winners

Choosing a family-ready VPN is nothing like shopping for a solo traveler. We considered toddlers streaming cartoons, teens chasing Fortnite wins, and parents juggling payroll and Pinterest on the same Wi-Fi, so our test bench looked more like a living room than a lab.

First, safety. Every service in our top eight follows a strict no-logs policy and has passed at least one independent security audit. We verified encryption strength, kill-switch reliability, and leak protection on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Free VPNs rarely met that bar: 39 percent of the Android freebies we checked contained malware, according to TechRadar.

Next came kid-centric features. Built-in content filters, one-tap buttons, and plain language scored highest. If a nine-year-old could connect without asking a parent, the VPN moved forward.

We also stress-tested speed. Five devices streamed HD video and played online games while a sixth laptop ran a 4 GB file download. Any service that stuttered dropped off the list.

Device limits mattered, too. Modern homes hold at least eight connected gadgets, so we required a minimum of five simultaneous connections and gave bonus credit to plans that go higher or support easy router setup.

Finally, we weighed price against value. Unlimited connections for about two dollars a month beat slick marketing every time. We calculated cost per protected device, reviewed money-back windows, and made sure each pick offers real-person support when things go sideways.

In short, a VPN made our list only if it keeps data private, stays fast under family pressure, and feels simple enough for grandparents yet flexible enough for power users. Let’s see how those standards play out in the real products.

Family VPNs at a glance

If you want the elevator pitch before the deep dive, this grid lines up the essentials. Scan the first row that matches your biggest worry—device limits, kid filters, or sheer price—and you will know which name to short-list for tonight’s install.

VPN	Device limit	Kid-safety tool	Money-back window	Starting price*
ExpressVPN	8 (unlimited by router)	Adult-site blocker	30 days	$6.67 mo
NordVPN	10	Threat Protection	30 days	$3.30 mo
Surfshark	Unlimited	CleanWeb filter	30 days	$2.49 mo
CyberGhost	7	Content Blocker	45 days	$2.19 mo
TorGuard	8 – 30	None built in	7 days	$4.17 mo
PIA	Unlimited	MACE blocker	30 days	$2.03 mo
ProtonVPN	10 (Plus)	NetShield	30 days	$8.00 mo
Windscribe	Unlimited	R.O.B.E.R.T. filters	3 days	$4.08 mo

*Lowest effective monthly rate on a long-term plan, current as of early 2026.

Think of the table as your cheat sheet: if you juggle twenty devices, Surfshark or PIA jump off the page. Need built-in category blocks for younger kids? Windscribe adds that in one click. Looking for the longest refund cushion while you test? CyberGhost stretches the guarantee to forty-five days.

ExpressVPN: best overall family VPN

ExpressVPN app interface screenshot for families

Ease is the magic word here. ExpressVPN opens with a single on-off button, picks the fastest server for you, and steps aside. In our trial a nine-year-old connected an iPad without help, and grandma did the same on her Kindle. WizCase’s 2024 family test called the interface “foolproof,” and we agree.

Speed never stumbled. Four 4K streams and a Zoom call ran smoothly on a 300 Mbps line. The Lightway protocol and a network of more than 3,000 servers keep video crisp and game pings low.

Device coverage is generous: eight simultaneous connections per account, or blanket your whole house by installing ExpressVPN on a compatible router. The Aircove Wi-Fi 6 router even adds an optional adult-site blocker, so you get privacy and a light layer of parental control in one box.

Security stays top tier. Independent audits have repeatedly verified the no-logs policy, and all servers run on volatile RAM that wipes clean at reboot. A kill switch called Network Lock stops data the instant a connection drops.

Plans cost more than budget rivals, yet the service feels like hiring tech support on retainer. Between 24/7 chat, blazing speeds, and child-proof simplicity, ExpressVPN is the stress-free choice for families who want to set it once and move on.

Ideal for: busy households that value time over tweaking, frequent travelers, and relatives who need something they cannot accidentally break.

NordVPN: best feature set for tech-enhanced families

NordVPN feature-rich app screenshot for tech-enhanced families

NordVPN pairs raw speed with extras that satisfy both power users and casual streamers. Its NordLynx protocol kept Fortnite smooth while a 4K Disney+ marathon played in the next room without dropping below home-line speed.

You get ten simultaneous connections, enough for most households. Need more? Install the app on a compatible router and everything inside the house rides the tunnel without counting against the limit.

Security depth is where NordVPN shines. Threat Protection scrubs ads and malware before they reach any browser tab, while Meshnet links your own devices into a private, encrypted mini-network. That means you can grab a homework file from the home PC while you sip coffee at the office, no cloud drive required.

Parents who want an extra layer can turn on Double VPN or Onion-over-VPN for sensitive research projects. Yet the interface stays friendly: tap Quick Connect and you are done. The world-map view looks busy at first, but set it to auto-select and even a grade-schooler can connect safely.

Pricing lands in the middle: about $3 a month on a two-year plan, with a 30-day money-back promise. For families that want blazing speeds today and options for tomorrow, NordVPN delivers a versatile, set-it-your-way package.

Ideal for: households with mixed tech levels, gamers chasing low ping, and parents who like having a few advanced switches to flip when curiosity strikes.

Surfshark: best value for big, device-heavy families

Surfshark unlimited devices VPN app screenshot

Some homes feel like gadget jungles: phones, tablets, smart TVs, game consoles, and a stray Chromebook for good measure. Surfshark tackles that chaos with one headline feature—unlimited simultaneous connections. Install it everywhere and nobody gets bumped offline.

Despite the low subscription price, performance stays strong. WireGuard kept HD streams smooth on three TVs while two laptops uploaded picture-heavy school projects. CleanWeb blocks malicious sites and noisy ads in the background, trimming risk and distractions without extra software.

Setup is friendly. Quick Connect finds a fast server, and the bright, icon-based menu eases nerves for younger users. Parents who want extra muscle can enable Double VPN or change GPS location on Android, but the safe defaults work right away.

Unlimited devices for the cost of a coffee each month is hard to beat. If your mantra is “cover everything and keep costs low,” Surfshark is the clear pick.

Ideal for: large families, smart-home enthusiasts, and anyone sharing a subscription with relatives across town.

CyberGhost: best for effortless streaming

CyberGhost streaming-optimized VPN interface screenshot

If movie night is sacred at your house, CyberGhost makes setup simple. No buffering, just popcorn. Seven simultaneous connections cover a mid-size family without juggling logins. Install it on the living-room TV, a couple of laptops, and still have slots for phones on vacation Wi-Fi.

The interface feels like a guided tour. Modes for streaming, gaming, or torrenting explain themselves in plain English, perfect for relatives who freeze at tech jargon. Turn on the Content Blocker and CyberGhost filters known malware sites before kids click into trouble.

Speed impressed us. Local WireGuard servers averaged more than 300 Mbps, enough for twin 4K streams while Dad backs up photos to the cloud.

A generous refund window shows confidence. Sign up for a six-month plan (or longer) and you have 45 days to change your mind, the longest guarantee in this lineup.

Ideal for: families that binge shows from multiple countries, VPN newcomers who like step-by-step guidance, and anyone who wants plenty of time to test before committing.

TorGuard: best for customization and Wi-Fi road warriors

Some families tinker. They flash custom router firmware, run a shared Minecraft server, and expect fine-grained knobs for every service. TorGuard fits that mindset.

Out of the box the Standard plan secures eight devices, the Pro plan bumps that to twelve, and a quick add-on scales to thirty. Install the VPN on a travel router and the clan can roam safely through airports, hotels, or campground Wi-Fi without reconfiguring each phone. That peace of mind matters because TorGuard positions itself as an anonymous vpn provider for secure public Wi-Fi, wrapping every login in AES-256 encryption so kids can stream and parents can pay bills even on sketchy hotspots.

Privacy sits at the core. TorGuard keeps no logs, supports every modern protocol, and offers stealth modes to slip past VPN blocks. A kill switch and DNS leak protection guard against accidental exposure, and advanced users can enable port forwarding for smoother game hosting or remote-desktop sessions.

The interface shows all those settings up front. That transparency delights tech-savvy parents but may feel dense for newcomers, so plan a short learning curve. Once dialed in, speeds impress: our cross-country WireGuard test held steady near 250 Mbps, plenty for simultaneous HD streams.

Pricing stays reasonable at about five dollars a month on long deals, and there is a seven-day refund window plus a free trial week. Note that reliable access to some streaming libraries may require a small dedicated-IP upgrade.

Ideal for: households with power users, families living in RVs or frequent hotels, and anyone who wants full control over every toggle and port.

Private Internet Access: best for transparency and unlimited devices

Private Internet Access feels like an open-source safety plan for your family. Every app publishes its code so security researchers, not just marketers, can inspect the engine. Court cases in 2016 and 2018 confirmed the no-logs promise; when subpoenaed, PIA had nothing to hand over.

The service now has no device limits. Install it on every phone, tablet, Raspberry Pi, and smart TV without juggling logouts. We tested 12 devices—including in-law laptops—and saw no slowdowns on a 200 Mbps cable line.

MACE, PIA’s built-in blocker, scrubs ads and known malware domains at the DNS level. It is not a full parental filter, yet it stops most scam pop-ups kids meet while gaming or streaming cartoons.

Customization suits power users. Dial encryption from 128-bit for speed to 256-bit for maximum secrecy, choose WireGuard, OpenVPN, or forward ports for a family Plex server. Leave the defaults alone and it still works fine for less technical relatives.

Speeds sit a hair below Nord or Express but remain fast enough for two simultaneous 4K streams. Pricing is low, about two dollars a month on a long plan, and backed by a 30-day refund window.

Ideal for: privacy purists, families that collect gadgets like trading cards, and anyone who likes seeing the code behind the curtain.

ProtonVPN: best for privacy-first families

Some households want more than protection; they want principles. ProtonVPN grew out of the CERN team behind ProtonMail and operates in privacy-focused Switzerland. Independent audits keep confirming the same verdict: no logs, no compromises.

The Plus plan covers ten devices, enough for most families. Upgrade to the Proton Family bundle and six user accounts open the door to 60 device slots, secure email addresses, and 3 TB of encrypted cloud storage. One subscription, whole-home privacy ecosystem.

NetShield blocks malware, ads, and trackers in three selectable levels. Set it to the highest tier and younger kids dodge shady domains without extra apps. For sensitive sessions such as medical research or health portals, Secure Core routes traffic through a hardened Swiss server before exiting abroad, adding another veil against targeted snoops.

The interface shows real-time graphs and technical jargon that can look serious at first, yet tapping Quick Connect feels as simple as any friendly VPN. Profiles let you save one-tap modes like “Kids Safe” or “Banking Double-Hop,” handy shortcuts once you explore a bit.

Pricing sits at the premium end of our list, about eight dollars a month for Plus, but you are funding a privacy mission as much as software. If your family debates digital rights at the dinner table, ProtonVPN turns ideals into practice.

Ideal for: privacy evangelists, families already using ProtonMail, and parents teaching children why online freedom matters.

Windscribe: best built-in content blocking

Windscribe R.O.B.E.R.T. content blocking VPN screenshot

Kids explore fast. R.O.B.E.R.T., Windscribe’s cloud filter, keeps that curiosity on the safer side of the web. Toggle categories such as pornography, gambling, or social media with one click and the VPN blocks those domains on every connected device.

Unlimited simultaneous connections seal the deal for sprawling households. Install Windscribe on phones, smart TVs, a travel router, and the family Windows desktop without juggling sign-ins. The free tier offers 10 GB a month, useful for grandparents or trial runs, but the low-cost Pro plan unlocks full speed and the advanced filters most families need.

Performance surprised us. Local WireGuard servers reached 180 Mbps on a 200 Mbps line, ample for dual 4K streams and a Fortnite session. Distant hops slow more than pricier rivals yet stay watchable for occasional overseas viewing.

Tech-savvy parents get options, too. Build a custom subscription for as little as three dollars by picking only the server locations you need. Right-click any location to enable stealth protocols that work in schools or hotels.

Support runs by ticket rather than live chat, so instant answers are rare. Detailed guides and an active Reddit community fill most gaps, and the setup wizard walks beginners through first launch in under five minutes.

Ideal for: parents who want category-based blocking without extra software, budget hunters comfortable with DIY support, and families sharing one account across a parade of devices.

Do families really need a VPN in 2026

Short answer: yes, if you value the utmost in privacy and sanity online.

Our homes send a steady flow of sensitive data—school forms, medical portals, pay stubs, and late-night shopping sprees. A VPN encrypts that traffic, hiding it from hackers on public Wi-Fi and from internet providers eager to profile every click.

The benefits go beyond safety. Gamers trim ping by hopping to nearby regions, and telehealth calls stay confidential even on café hotspots.

Speed concerns linger, yet modern protocols such as WireGuard and Lightway add only single-digit overhead. In our stress test five HD streams and a Zoom meeting ran smoothly through every recommended VPN. When slowdowns appear, the culprit is almost always the base connection, not the tunnel.

Cost stays low. For roughly the price of a pizza each month you protect every phone, tablet, and smart TV in the house. Compare that to the fallout from one identity-theft incident or a compromised child account and the value becomes clear.

Could you rely on HTTPS alone and hope for the best? Maybe, but your ISP would still log where you browse, and public hotspots would still leak scraps of unencrypted data. A vetted VPN closes those gaps with one tap. Think of it as the seat belt of the internet age: quick to click, rarely noticed, and vital when trouble strikes.

Can my whole family share one subscription?

Absolutely. Every VPN in our top eight lets multiple devices log in at the same time, with some capped at eight or ten and others removing limits entirely. In practice one account blankets phones, tablets, laptops, and even a smart TV or two. If you ever hit a cap, installing the VPN on your router turns the entire home network into a single “device,” and frees up slots for travel gadgets.

Will a VPN slow our internet to a crawl?

On modern services, no. Protocols such as WireGuard and Lightway add only a few percentage points of overhead. In our stress test five HD streams, a Zoom call, and online gaming ran smoothly through each recommended VPN. If you notice lag, switch to a nearer server or check whether your base connection is already maxed.

Does a VPN replace parental-control software?

It depends on the provider and the level of control you need. Built-in tools like Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. or ExpressVPN’s adult-site block stop entire categories of sites before they load, covering broad safety. For time schedules, app-by-app locks, or activity reports, pair the VPN with dedicated parental-control apps.

Are free VPN plans safe for kids’ devices?

Most no-cost apps fund themselves by collecting data or skimping on security. That is why we feature only paid tiers, with one exception: ProtonVPN and Windscribe offer limited free plans backed by the same audited code as their premium service. Use those for light, temporary coverage, but rely on a full subscription for day-to-day family protection.

Wrapping up: pick your privacy seat belt

We covered a lot, from one-tap ExpressVPN simplicity to Windscribe’s content filters, but the goal never changed. You want every family member online, safe, and free to explore.

Match a service to your biggest pain point. Too many gadgets? Surfshark or PIA. Streaming obsession? CyberGhost. A teen who loves tinkering with settings? TorGuard or NordVPN. If household privacy is your guiding value, ProtonVPN stands out.

Whichever you choose, install it on day one, turn on auto-connect, and let the software fade into the background. Happy, safer browsing.

In today’s hyperconnected world, teenagers spend an average of 7-9 hours per day on screens, not including time spent on schoolwork. While digital devices offer incredible opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection, they also present challenges that many young people struggle to navigate.

Teaching digital responsibility isn’t about imposing strict rules or creating fear around technology—it’s about empowering teens to make informed decisions about their online behavior through awareness, reflection, and data-driven insights.

One of the most effective ways to help teenagers develop healthy digital habits is by encouraging them to track and analyze their own screen time and online activities. When teens can visualize their digital patterns through data, they gain a clearer understanding of how they’re spending their time and can make more intentional choices about their technology use. This approach transforms abstract concerns about “too much screen time” into concrete, personalized information that resonates with young people.

Digital Footprints and Online Behavior

Every click, search, post, and interaction teens make online contributes to their digital footprint—the trail of data they leave behind as they navigate the internet. While many young people understand this concept theoretically, few truly grasp the permanence and scope of their online presence. Teaching digital responsibility means helping teens recognize that their online actions have real-world consequences, from college admissions and future employment opportunities to their mental health and personal relationships.

Digital footprints come in two forms: active and passive. Active digital footprints include intentional actions like posting on social media, commenting on videos, or sharing photos. Passive footprints are created automatically through browsing history, cookies, location data, and app usage patterns. Teens often focus solely on managing their active footprints—what they choose to post—while remaining largely unaware of the extensive passive data they generate simply by using digital devices.

Responsible online behavior encompasses more than just avoiding inappropriate posts or protecting passwords. It includes understanding privacy settings, recognizing misinformation, practicing digital empathy, managing one’s online reputation, and developing healthy boundaries with technology. These skills don’t develop overnight; they require ongoing practice, reflection, and guidance from parents, educators, and mentors.

 The Challenge of Healthy Screen Time

The debate around screen time often oversimplifies a complex issue. Not all screen time is created equal—an hour spent video chatting with a grandparent differs significantly from an hour of mindless scrolling through social media. Research suggests that the quality and context of digital engagement matter far more than raw minutes spent on devices.

However, excessive or poorly managed screen time does correlate with concerning outcomes. Studies link heavy social media use to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among teenagers. The constant notifications, comparison culture, and fear of missing out (FOMO) can create a cycle of compulsive checking that interferes with focus, relationships, and overall well-being.

The challenge for parents and educators is helping teens find balance without resorting to overly restrictive measures that may backfire. Teens are more likely to develop healthy habits when they’re involved in the process of setting boundaries and when they understand the “why” behind recommendations. This is where data analysis becomes a powerful tool for self-awareness and behavior change.

 Excel to Track Screen Time

Introducing spreadsheet skills through personal data tracking serves a dual purpose: it teaches valuable technical skills while promoting digital self-awareness. Microsoft Excel and similar spreadsheet programs offer an accessible, hands-on way for teens to collect, organize, and analyze information about their own digital habits.

The process begins with data collection. Most smartphones and devices now include built-in screen time monitoring tools that provide detailed breakdowns of daily usage, app-by-app time, number of pickups, and notifications received. Teens can manually record this information in a spreadsheet, creating columns for date, total screen time, time spent on specific apps or categories (social media, games, educational, communication), number of pickups, and any relevant notes about how they felt that day or what activities they might have missed due to screen use.

After entering  data consistently over several weeks, patterns begin to emerge. A simple line chart can show trends in total daily screen time, revealing whether usage spikes on certain days of the week or during particular times of year. Bar graphs can compare time spent across different app categories, helping teens visualize where their digital attention actually goes versus where they think it goes—often with surprising results.

More advanced analysis might include calculating averages, identifying correlations between screen time and other factors like sleep quality or mood, or creating conditional formatting rules that highlight days when usage exceeded personal goals. These analytical Excel exercises transform raw numbers into meaningful insights that can inform behavior change. When a teen sees a graph showing that their screen time doubles on days when they report feeling anxious, or that they consistently pick up their phone 150+ times on school days, the abstract concept of “too much phone use” becomes concrete and personally relevant.

Safe Data Practices

An often-overlooked aspect of digital responsibility is data privacy and security—understanding not just what data teens are creating, but who has access to it and how it might be used. When teens track their own screen time in a personal spreadsheet, they should learn to store this information securely, understanding that usage patterns can be sensitive personal information.

This presents an excellent opportunity to discuss broader privacy principles: the importance of strong passwords, the risks of cloud storage versus local storage, why they should be cautious about sharing personal data with third-party apps, and how to recognize legitimate versus suspicious requests for information. Teens should understand that while built-in screen time tools are generally safe, they should be skeptical of free apps that promise to track their habits but may be harvesting data for advertising or other purposes.

From Awareness to Action

Data analysis alone doesn’t create behavior change, but it does provide the foundation for informed goal-setting. Once teens have tracked their habits for a few weeks and identified patterns, they can work with parents or mentors to establish personalized boundaries that address their specific challenges.

These boundaries might include app-specific time limits, device-free zones or times (like bedrooms after 9 PM or during family meals), notification management strategies, or designated “focus time” blocks when phones are placed out of reach. The key is that these boundaries should be developed collaboratively based on the teen’s own data and insights, not imposed arbitrarily from above.

Regular check-ins allow for adjustment and reflection. Teens can continue tracking their habits and creating updated visualizations that show progress toward goals. This ongoing process teaches persistence, self-regulation, and the scientific method—forming hypotheses about what changes might help, testing those interventions, and analyzing the results.

Critical Thinking

Digital responsibility extends beyond personal screen time management to encompass how teens interact with others online. The same analytical mindset that helps them understand their own habits can be applied to evaluating online content and considering their digital impact on others.

Encourage teens to think critically about what they consume and share. Who created this content and why? What might be the source’s bias or motivation? How might sharing this post affect others? Before commenting or posting, they might consider: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? This reflective pause, similar to reviewing data before drawing conclusions, can prevent impulsive online behavior that contributes to cyberbullying, misinformation spread, or damaged relationships.

Digital empathy means remembering that real people exist behind every screen name and profile picture. The anonymity and distance of online interaction can make it easy to forget this basic truth. Teaching teens to extend the same courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness online that they would in face-to-face interactions is fundamental to responsible digital citizenship.

The Role of Parents and Educators

Adults play a crucial supporting role in helping teens develop digital responsibility, but this role looks different than it might have in previous generations. Rather than simply imposing rules or attempting to monitor every online move—strategies that often breed resentment and circumvention—effective guides model healthy tech habits themselves and create ongoing conversations around digital life.

Parents can engage with the screen time tracking process by doing it alongside their teens, comparing notes, and discussing challenges and strategies together. This approach removes judgment and creates a collaborative problem-solving dynamic. Educators can incorporate digital citizenship lessons across subjects, using real-world examples and student-generated data to make abstract concepts concrete.

Both parents and teachers should stay educated about the platforms, apps, and online spaces where teens spend time. This doesn’t require adults to become experts on every new social media trend, but rather to maintain genuine curiosity about young people’s digital worlds and the opportunities and challenges these spaces present.

Conclusion

Teaching digital responsibility through data analysis represents a shift from control-based approaches to empowerment-based strategies. Instead of telling teens that their screen time is problematic, we give them tools to discover and understand their own patterns. Instead of creating fear around digital footprints, we help them consciously craft the online presence they want to project. Instead of setting arbitrary limits, we support them in developing self-regulation skills that will serve them throughout life.