Holiday Shopping and New Gadget safety

 


All of us are probably feeling the "get ready for Christmas" rush now that December is here. We have lists to complete, gifts to buy, families to visit, and kids to entertain. In the heart of all of the busy times this month brings, is technology. In order to enjoy the holiday and also stay safe online, here are a few shopping tips:

1) Only use trusted websites:

    * If a website is advertising to you through Facebook or in a text message, or maybe it was an ad you saw on YouTube, don't click on their link! Go to your browser and type it in. Even better, if you don't recognize the business, don't use their website. There will be a lot of phishing style websites out there just to hook you into entering personal data that could end badly for you! Keep your personal information safe!


2) Flash sales are fun, until they're not:

    * Those eye catching ads on social media are only meant for clicks and likes. Don't be fooled into thinking that the "flash sale" you see is really going to end in 14 minutes. And keep an eye out for ads that claim "last offer! All must go!" type advertising. It may not say those exact words, but any type of ad that tries to create a sense of urgency or emergency should be approached with caution!


3) Too good to be true, because it is:

    * That awesome price you found on an amazing tablet that has all the gadgets that come with it? Probably not true. If its from a sketchy company (I'm looking at you Shein and Temu) then its probably a sketchy product. Double and triple check your websites! And for added protection, make your purchases through PayPal. Try not to enter your credit card info directly into any website. PayPal tends to stand by their promise of purchase protection and is a great way to get your money back if you end up getting scammed!


New gadget, new year!

If you plan on purchasing a new tech gadget for a loved one or a child this year, make sure you have some securities in place before handing it over to them, especially if they are under 18. 

* Antivirus software - This is especially important on PCs, MacBooks, and tablets. But did you know you can also add it to a phone? Go to the Google Play store or the Apple App Store and search "antivirus" and see what is available! I personally have Malwarebytes downloaded on my phone to scan all of my apps and files for malicious software. It runs just like any other app.


* Monitoring software - I really recommend doing this for any and all gadgets your children will be on this holiday season and moving forward. New Chromebook? Bark monitoring and Google Family Link. New cell phone? Android or iPhone, I recommend Bark as well. Plus each carrier has their own parental controls to add to protect your child. New Apple watch? Put it on your Family Sharing plus pair it with your iPhone under "Set up for a Family Member". New tablet? Same thing. Get that device locked down so your child can browse safely. Need some more tips? Check out my parental control website for helpful tips and tricks:

http://bit.ly/buildbetterfamily

* New gaming system? Same thing as every other device. They have parental controls for each one and they can all be implemented in different ways. Research the one you purchased and read all about it here: Parental Controls for Every Device

* Communication - Explain to your child that these devices are co-owned. You purchased them and they get to borrow them. If at any time they are having trouble with the device, you get to take it back until you feel that they are ready for it again. Because you love them.


This holiday season doesn't need to be stressful with new technology, use it as a bonding experience with your kids! Keep those memories happy and magical!

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