Kaspersky predicts top cybersecurity threats targeting children in 2024
Kaspersky experts shared a list of the top cybersecurity
trends parents should be aware of this year, and provided tips on how to
safeguard children's online activities.
With most children able to access or own a smartphone or
tablet, the age at which they begin their acquaintance with the digital world
and technology keeps decreasing. Therefore, it’s crucial for parents to stay
informed about the latest cybersecurity threats targeting kids to better
protect them from potential harm. Kaspersky experts shared the following
threats that will face children in 2024:
1. Children will
increasingly use AI tools that, so far, are not ready to provide the necessary
level of cybersecurity and age-appropriate content
According to UN research, about 80 percent of young people
claimed they interact with AI multiple times a day. With the development of AI,
numerous little-known applications have emerged with seemingly harmless
features, such as uploading a photo to receive a modified version. However,
when children upload their images to such applications, they never know which
databases their photos will ultimately remain in, and whether they will be used
further.
AI apps, specifically chatbots, can also easily
provideage-inappropriatecontentwhen prompted. For instance, there is a
multitude of AI chatbots that are specifically designed to provide an “erotic”
experience. Even though some require a form of age verification, this is
dangerous since some children might opt to lie about their age and the
prevention of such cases is insufficient.
2. The growth of
malicious actors’ attacks on young gamers
According to the latest online statistics, 91 percent of
children aged 3-15 play games on some kind of 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. Cybercriminals sometimes lure young players with gifts or the
promise 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.
3. The development
of FinTech industry for kids marks the appearance of new threats
An increasing number of banks are providing specialized
products and services tailored for children, including banking cards designed
for kids as young as 12. But this makes kids susceptible to financially
motivated threat actors and vulnerable to conventional scams such as phishing.
Using social engineering techniques, cybercriminals might exploit children’s
trust by posing as peers and requesting the sharing of card details or money
transfers to their accounts.
4. The number of
smart home threats targeting children will increase
Despite the increasing number of cases of threats to smart
home devices, manufacturers are not rushing to create cyber-immune tech that
preemptively prevents potential exploits of vulnerabilities. However, this also
means children can become tools for cybercriminals in an attack. For instance,
if a smart device becomes a fully functional surveillance tool and a child is
home alone, cybercriminals can contact them through the device and request
sensitive information such as their name, address and times when their parents
are not at home — or even their parents’ credit card numbers. In such a
scenario, beyond just device hacking, there is also a risk of financial data
loss or even a physical attack.
5. Children are
eager to download apps that are unavailable in their country, but stumble upon
malicious copies
If an app is unavailable in your region, young users will
sometimes look for alternatives, which are often a malicious copy. Even if they
turn to official app stores like Google Play, they still run the risk of
falling prey to cybercriminals. From 2020 to 2022, Kaspersky researchers found
more than 190 apps infected with Harly Trojan on Google Play, which signed up
users for paid services without their knowledge. A conservative estimate of the
number of downloads of these apps is 4.8 million, but the actual figure 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,” said Andrey Sidenko, security and privacy expert at Kaspersky.
“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.”
To learn more about cybersecurity threats targeting kids in
2024, read the full post on KDaily.
Kaspersky experts suggest protecting children with the
following proactive measures:
· By staying
informed about the latest threats and actively monitoring their children’s
online activities, parents can create a safer online environment for their
kids.
· It’s crucial
for parents to have open communication with their children about the potential
risks they may encounter online and to enforce strict guidelines to ensure
their safety.
· To help
parents introduce their children to cybersecurity amidst the evolving threat
landscape, Kaspersky experts have developed the Kaspersky Cybersecurity
Alphabet with key concepts from the cybersecurity industry. In this book, your
kid will get to know new technologies, learn the main cyber hygiene rules, find
out how to avoid online threats, and recognize fraudsters’ tricks. After
reading this book together, you’ll be sure that your kid knows how to distinguish
phishing website, how VPN and QR-codes work, and even what honeypots and
encryption are and what role they play in modern cybersecurity. You can
download the pdf version of the book for free and go through the basics of
cybersecurity with your child, building their cybersafe future.
· To secure your
child from downloading any malicious files during their gaming experience, we
advise to install a trusted security solution on their device.
· With the right
tools such as Kaspersky’s digital parenting app Safe Kids, parents can
effectively safeguard their children against cyber threats in the digital age.
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