Category: Internet Security

In order to understand the information in this article, you should be made familiar with the term “data subject”, which is the person to whom the data belongs. The data subject has legal rights that say how a company is allowed to use your data – for example, your address and name.

In this instance, the data subject will be your family and we will explain what counts as personal data.  In 2021, this happened 1,243 times, up from 1,120 in 2020. This resulted in 5.13 billion pieces of information containing sensitive data being accessed by people who should not see them.

Here, we explain what a data breach means, who is responsible for protecting your family’s data, and what the best steps to take are if data involving my children has been “breached” (viewed by someone not allowed to see it).

Who protects my data?

In the UK, the organisation that protects your family’s rights concerning personal data is called the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

You may have heard of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is the law that protects the data of European citizens. In the UK, the GDPR laws were largely copied and developed to protect our citizens. In UK law, this is known as the Data Protection Act 2018, and there are many similarities between them both.

The ICO states that anyone who handles personal data must follow a set of rules, which they call the “data protection principles.”

Any organisation that stores and uses personal data must make sure that the data is:

• Used lawfully, fairly and openly (which means telling you exactly how they use it)
• Used to reach goals clearly set out
• Accurate
• Not stored for longer than necessary
• Well-protected, by adopting security steps to prevent the chance of the data being lost, destroyed, or damaged

The ICO takes seriously the protection of the privacy of personal information relating to:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Political beliefs
• Religion
• Union member position
• Biometrics
• Health
• Sexual orientation

What does an organisation have to do if they notice a data breach?

If an organisation notices a breach, by law it must tell the ICO within 72 hours on the ICO website.

The 72-hour time limit begins when the organisation first notices the breach, not when the breach actually occurred. If the ICO is not notified, there is very little chance the data will ever be recovered, meaning that it will be lost forever.

If you find out that there was a breach in an organisation that stores your family’s data, asking for expert help from solicitors who specialise in data breaches can make sure that the breach of your data is fully investigated and that the necessary steps were taken to react to the breach. Often, if the organisation was found to not have protected data well enough, or used someone’s personal data inappropriately, they may owe compensation to the data subject affected.

How can you prove that your data was used unfairly?

Proving that an organisation used your family’s data unfairly is possible. However, you can keep a log of the events surrounding the breach, as it could help to build your case that your data was used unfairly.

Keeping a log should include a timeline of the following:

• What happened to the data (for example, did you or your children send it to the organisation or fill in a form?)
• Who was involved in the data sharing?
• How did you find out the data was breached? (Did your child have a credit card?)
• What has been done since finding out?

The “data controller” – the organisation storing your family’s data – will also have to keep a similar log. If the ICO has a complete picture of the facts surrounding the breach, it can react better and more efficiently.

Contain the data breach

Finding out what happened to breached data is essential and can limit any spread. The data controller must follow security steps to protect anybody who could be exposed to future security breaches.

In some cases, you can also take action to minimise the damage of the breach. For example:

• If your family’s sensitive data was accidentally sent to someone, you can simply ask that they delete it or send it back safely.
• Trace your or your child’s steps to pinpoint where the breach began
• If you can remotely delete data or erase a device of its data, do so immediately.

Why you should know your rights

As a data subject, you should get in touch with the organisation that stores your family’s data directly if you believe it has been used unfairly or not kept secure, so they can respond appropriately. If you are unhappy with the business’s response or think that more should be done to respond to a breach, you should get in touch with the ICO.

Do I have a claim for damages following a data breach?

The organisation in charge of maintaining the data may be held liable and ordered to pay compensation. Usually, this involves the sharing of private information that is not already in the “public domain” (it is available to the public as a whole), such as sensitive financial or medical data.

The ICO has the authority to look into data breaches and try to identify the parties legally responsible. An ICO ruling that finds that the data controller unfairly used or stored data can result in the victim being paid compensation.

A data subject does not have to go through the ICO or wait for the results of its investigation to make a data breach compensation claim.

Often, organisations at fault for a breach might try to minimise their responsibilities to recover the data they have lost or share details of the breach. This is another reason why many families who are victims of a personal data breach find that getting help from legal experts with knowledge of data breaches makes sure that their legal rights are respected.

By Stuart Snape, Managing Partner at Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors

Parenting allows you to look at life from a different perspective. When you have kids, you start noticing the details in everything! While the danger of the online world and the importance of internet safety may have never occurred to you, becoming a parent has changed you!

After all, it’s a dangerous world out there! Of course, keeping your kid safe is your responsibility, but it’s possible when you have the knowledge. It’s also important to equip your child for online safety as well.

According to the FBI, taking the right security measures can prevent online crimes.

Internet Safety Tips for Parents And Kids

Whether you use the internet or your kids, you must follow safety precautions. It’s always best to be on the safe side.

Consider the following;

1.   Never Share Passwords

While you want to keep easy passwords, you must not share them with others. It’s best not to tell your kids. You never know if they innocently share it with friends or other family members. So, keep the passwords safe and change the email password regularly, especially if you feel something isn’t right!

Tell your kids not to share the wifi password. You never know who can use the internet and visit websites that are not safe! Also, avoid using financial accounts when you are using public wifi.

Talk to your kids about how to create strong passwords and keeping those passwords safe. If your children have accounts on any website, tell them not to share the information with anyone.

2.   Don’t Post Kids And School Image Online

You don’t want the predators to know where your child studies. It’s best to avoid posting your kids’ images on social media. If kids are attending a party, let the parents know that you don’t allow sharing your child’s image on social media.

It’s all about keeping yourself and your kids safe in the online world. So, when using social media, make sure you are not sharing information about your kid’s school.

3.   Don’t Discuss Your Private Life Online

Keep your private life private! While there is a trend of sharing each detail online, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Some people prefer privacy and don’t want to discuss their private life publicly.

Why share family matters online when you can discuss them peacefully at home? Keep your friends list private on social media. Don’t add everyone who sends a friend request.

Suggest the same to your kids. But, of course, they also must not share their private life on social media or gaming platforms!

4.   Consider Privacy Settings And Parental Control

If you haven’t yet, it’s time to consider the privacy settings and parental control. Look into the settings and make sure you switch on the privacy settings on your laptop and other smart devices. Installing parental control apps on mobile devices, especially iPad and tablets is equally important. Tools like these can monitor, filter, and track your child’s phone activities. Learn how to use the privacy settings if you are unsure. There would be YouTube tutorials to guide you, or you can ask someone for help!

5.   Never Share Personal Information

Teach your kids not to share personal information online. When kids play games at the beginner level, they may not be aware of the rules and regulations.

You never know who is on the other side of online games. So, talk to your kids about the importance of protecting personal information.

The kids must inform you if a stranger asks for a name, date of birth, or information about the bank details, and even the home address.

6.   Keep Yourself Updated About Online World

It’s best to educate yourself about the online world. For example, Artificial Intelligence is an exciting topic, and there is talk about Web 3.0. People are talking about the virtual world!

You have noticed how the world has changed in the past few years. Businesses are moving online. So, you need to educate yourself about the current world to keep pace with the fast-changing world.

With proper knowledge, it’s easier to differentiate right from wrong.

7.   Have An Open Discussion About Internet Safety

Establish internet rules at home. Use a common laptop or smart device. Everyone must use the internet on this device. Print the rules for using the internet, which would act as a reminder for the child and the parent.

Discuss the pros and cons of the internet with your children. When you have a strong relationship with your kid, discussing the dangers of the online world will be easy.

Wrapping It Up

Parents and kids must responsibly use the internet. Never share passwords, personal information, address, school, or kid’s image online. Have an open discussion about internet safety, and never discuss your private life online. Consider privacy settings and parental control. And keep yourself updated about the online world!

School administrators consider safety a priority for the school’s students and staff. They ensure that students have a safe environment to grow, learn, and thrive. Similarly, teachers must feel safe while at work. That’s because emergencies can happen in schools even during school hours.

Unfortunately, there’s no way one can predict when fires, earthquakes, or intrusions can occur. As such, the best thing school administration officers can do is to implement stringent safety and security measures.

While it’s considered a standard to have security measures up in place in many learning institutions, it’s still worth taking a look at how else you can improve your school’s safety. That said, here are seven security measures you can consider:

Streamline School Access Process

While you want to keep intruders out of the school, you must also ensure authorized individuals can quickly gain access to the premises. This means students, teachers, other school staff, and authorized visitors don’t need to jump through hoops just to enter or exit the school grounds. You can easily police the flow of people by limiting access to the designated entry and egress points.

For example, you can issue digital cards in personalized lanyards to authorized people so they have access to entry points or areas that needs to be secure. These access control cards can also serve as school identification and can log students, staff, and visitors’ attendance and the time they entered the premises.

Install a Monitoring System

Aside from limiting access to only authorized individuals, it’s also a good idea to monitor all access points through security cameras. Installing security cameras in entry and exit points and secured areas provides you with visual references of who comes in and out of the building. Also, be mindful of the placement of security cameras so you can fully take advantage of them.

Place the security cameras at all entry points to the school whether they’re high-traffic or low-traffic areas such as main entrances, fire exits, and other access points. Then, have a security staff member monitor the videos and keep the video recordings for at least 30 days. The recordings can be reviewed in case of incidents.

Enhance Communication System

Having a public address (PA) system in place is very useful for regular and emergency communications. It’s easier to call the attention of specific individuals during busy class hours as well as announce important reminders to everyone in school. During emergencies like fires and earthquakes, the PA system can help guide staff and students on what to do.

Aside from the PA system, you also need to consider how students or teachers in classrooms can communicate with other staff during a crisis. If, for example, there’s a medical emergency, the staff’s mobile phones can be very helpful in getting immediate assistance. Alternatively, distress alarms can be just as handy. These aren’t like fire alarms that inform the fire department but are silent alarms that call for help. If this is something you’re considering, factor in where the alarm will be heard and who will be the responders. It’s also a good idea if the distress alarm can communicate where the emergency is happening so responders will be able to reach the location quickly.

Keep the School’s Exterior Well-Lit

Another way to improve school security is keeping the exterior well-lit. It can maintain the visibility of students and school staff during school hours. Additional illumination can also help identify individuals who are on the school premises. As such, it’s important to switch on basic exterior lights in the evening, especially at the different access points. It can help deter potential intruders and make them more identifiable in security videos should they do anything malicious.

Secure the School’s Perimeter

One additional way to protect your students and staff is to secure the school’s perimeter. Schools may consider enhancing their perimeter fencing with durable materials such as Western Red Cedar for improved safety. For instance, utilizing quality fencing options like those available at Big Tex can contribute to a secure and visually appealing school environment.

Ensure gates to the playground are secure and install security doors and windows on the school.  Security screens on windows make it more difficult for potential intruders to break the glass, while maintaining visibility outside.

Image by pch.vector on Freepik

Train the Students and School Staff about Emergency Procedures

Another method to improve school safety is by educating students and school staff about the different emergency procedures you have in place. Informing them of plans for various scenarios such as earthquakes, fires, or in case of attacks can help everyone know what to do during such an event. School staff also become aware of their responsibilities should emergencies arise.

It’s also a good idea to conduct training and emergency drills so everyone can practice the necessary procedures and be more familiar with them. Additionally, regularly review the emergency plans and remind everyone. You can either choose to educate them at the start of each semester as this is the time you may have new students or staff joining.

While it not mandatory in many jobs, learning first aid skills and even CPR can save lives until professional help arrives. Consider offering free instruction for teachers who wish to learn these techniques, not only for the children in their schools, but their loves ones at home.

Implementing security measures ensures that your school is a safe place for students and teachers alike. But you shouldn’t just stop there. Continuously look for improvements so you can be prepared for different emergencies and potential threats. Consider the suggestions mentioned above and prioritize the safety and welfare of every person inside its premises.

Does Your School Have an Emergency Plan?

Watch the video on emergency preparedness:

Internet safety becomes more important year by year due to rampant threats to cyber security and explicit online content. To educate everyone about online security and keep them protected, Safer Internet Day (SID) is held annually on the first Tuesday of February.   The day is commemorated globally to promote a safer and more responsible use of the internet.

The next Safer Internet Day will be observed on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024.  Let’s briefly discuss the history of Safer Internet Day and its current activities.

Background of Safer Internet Day

Millions of people join Safer Internet Day events and activities each year organized by SID supporters. It was initiated by the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 by Insafe a European network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs). In 2009, the day was first observed outside Europe.

More than 200 countries celebrate the event worldwide, and over 150 global SID committees are working to make the day successful. The main committee of the SID is based in European Union in Brussels.

Each SID committee consists of leading actors who are involved in the online safety arena like researchers, industry, and NGOs. There are SID committees in most of the country in the world. If your country hasn’t a SID committee, you can form one by contacting the proper authority.

Previous Versions of Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day has been taking place annually since 2004. Here I’ll talk about several previous editions of SID.

Proposed Activities for Safer Internet Day

SID Committee organizes various activities on Safer Internet Day to make the day fruitful and increase its reach across the world. Some of the common activities that they plan for Safer Internet Day are;

• Awareness campaigns in media using video clips, social media campaigns, songs, posters, and many more
• Television programs
• Radio announcement
• Competition for children
• Press conference inviting the celebrities who support SID
• Session on internet safety involving governments, lawmakers, educators, parents, researchers, children, and so on
• Publication of recent research and results on online safety
• Visiting schools to make students and teachers aware of internet safety
• Free resources to be safe online

Note: The activities may vary a bit depending upon the decision of the SID committee in your country.

What Type of Cyber Security Does Safer Internet Day Promote?

Safer Internet Day provides lots of beneficial content to ensure online safety for everyone. Some of the best ways how SID helps us to extend cyber security are;

Educating Others about Online Safety

This annual event comprises different presentations, workshops, or campaigns that educate people about how to stay safe online. These include many of the topics we cover within our own categories on Safe Search Kids.

Encouraging the Use of Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are an essential part of online security. Safer Internet Day will encourage people to use complex passwords and to change them regularly.

Promoting Online Privacy

SID helps to understand the importance of protecting personal information online and encourages everyone to be aware of what they share online.

Encouraging Responsible Social Media Use

Social media is now a widely used platform to connect with others, but it’s important to use it responsibly. Safer Internet Day encourages people to think before they post and to be respectful of others online.

Promoting Cyberbullying Prevention

Cyberbullying can have serious consequences, so it’s important to educate people about how to recognize and prevent it.

Encouraging Responsible Gaming

Online gaming can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to use it safely, sensibly and to be aware of possible addiction issues.

Conclusion

Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of online safety. This annual event will help to educate and promote internet safety for all. Hopefully, Safer Internet Day will bring some good prospects. Be prepared for the upcoming Safer Internet Day.