Kaspersky predicts that the most sensible cybersecurity threats will target young people in 2024
Kaspersky experts explore some of the most sensible cybersecurity trends that parents should be aware of and provide tips on how to protect their children’s online activities.
Since most young people can access or own a smartphone or tablet, the age at which they begin to become familiar with the virtual world and generation is steadily decreasing. Therefore, it is imperative for parents to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats affecting young people. to better protect them from potential dangers. Kaspersky experts explore some of the most sensible cybersecurity trends parents should be aware of and provide tips on how to protect their children’s online activities.
According to a UN study, about 80% of young people say they interact with AI multiple times a day. With the advancement of AI, many little-known apps have emerged with likely risk-free features, such as uploading a photo to get it. an edited version. However, when kids upload their photos to such apps, they never know which databases they will remain in at the end or if they will be used later.
Additionally, AI applications, especially chatbots, can seamlessly deliver age-inappropriate content when requested. For example, there are plenty of AI chatbots specially designed to provide an “erotic” experience. Although some require some form of age verification, this is harmful because some young people might lie about their age and the prevention of such cases is insufficient.
According to latest online statistics, 91 percent of children aged 3-15 play games on any device. For some games, unmoderated voice and text chat is a large part of the experience. With more young people online, criminals can virtually build trust in the same way they would in person. Firstly, cybercriminals gain the trust of young players by luring them with gifts or promises of friendship. Once they have the confidence of a young gamer, they then obtain their personal information by suggesting that they click on a phishing link, which downloads a malicious file onto their device disguised as a game mod for Minecraft or Fortnite, or even grooming them.
An increasing number of banks are offering specialized products and services for children, adding bank cards designed for children as young as 12. However, with the advent of youth bank cards, young people also become vulnerable to threatening and financially motivated conventional scams. , such as promising a loose PlayStation five or other valuable goods after entering the card’s main points on a phishing site. Using social engineering techniques, cybercriminals can exploit young people’s acceptance as true by impersonating their peers and asking for the main points of their card to be shown. Shared or cash transfers to your accounts.
Despite the increasing number of cases of threats to smart home devices, brands are not rushing to create a cyberimmune generation that preemptively prevents the potential exploitation of vulnerabilities. However, this also means that young people can become equipment for an attack by cybercriminals. For example, if a smart device becomes a fully functional tracking tool and a child is home alone, cybercriminals can tap on them through the device and ask for sensitive data such as their name, address, and time, when their parents are not home, or even their parents. • Credit card number. In such a scenario, beyond simply hacking into devices, there is also the threat of monetary unconsciousness or even a physical attack.
As children get older, they develop greater self-awareness, adding an understanding of their private space, their privacy, and their sensitive information, whether offline or in their online activities. So, when a parent strongly communicates their goal of installing a virtual parenting platform, app on a device, not every child will take it in stride. That’s why parents now want to be able to talk about their children’s online experience and the importance of virtual parent apps for online protection while respecting private space. Transparent barriers and expectations and discuss the reasons for the application with any child.
If an app is rarely available in their area, young users will look for alternatives, which are sometimes a malicious copy. Even if they turn to official app stores like Google Play, they still run the risk of falling victim to cybercriminals. From 2020 to 2022, Kaspersky researchers discovered more than 190 apps infected with the Harly Trojan on Google Play, which registered users for paid installations without their knowledge. A conservative estimate of the number of downloads of these applications is 4. 8 million, so far the real number of victims may be even higher.
“As we can see, many of the trends that are playing out in society are also affecting children, making them potential targets for attackers. This includes both the development and popularity of AI and smart homes, as well as the expansion of the world of gaming and FinTech industry. Therefore, it is crucial to teach children the basics of cybersecurity from an early age how not to fall into the trap of cybercriminals, what cyberthreats can occur during gaming, and how to properly protect your personal data. All this is now a must-have knowledge not only for adults, but also for the youngest users,” comments Andrey Sidenko, security and privacy expert at Kaspersky.
To learn more about cybersecurity threats targeting kids in 2024, read the full post on KDaily.
Kaspersky experts are convinced that protecting children from cybersecurity threats in 2024 requires proactive measures from parents:
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About Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and virtual privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep expertise in risk intelligence and security is constantly transformed into state-of-the-art security solutions and installations to protect enterprises, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the world. The security portfolio includes industry-leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and installations to combat complicated and evolving virtual risks. More than 400 million users use Kaspersky technologies, and we help 240,000 business users protect the topics that matter most to them. Learn more about www. kaspersky. com.
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