Children are frequently interacting with AI tools, which may not provide adequate cybersecurity or age-appropriate content, raising concerns about the safety of their personal data and exposure to inappropriate material.
A significant number of children engage in online gaming, where they are vulnerable to attacks by cybercriminals who use tactics like phishing and grooming to exploit young gamers.
With the rise of FinTech services for children, including banking cards for minors, there is an increased risk of financial scams, where children might be tricked into revealing sensitive banking information.
The lack of cyber-immune technology in smart home devices poses a threat to children, who can unintentionally become conduits for cybercriminals, potentially leading to privacy breaches and financial data loss.
As children become more aware of their personal space and privacy, there is a need for parents to balance the use of digital parenting apps with respecting their children's autonomy, making open communication about online safety essential.
Rising cybersecurity risks for kids in 2024
Kaspersky's essential guide for parental awareness and action
At a glance
As more and more kids start using smartphones and tablets at a young age, it's important for parents to know about the latest online dangers that could affect their children. To help with this, experts at Kaspersky have looked into the most significant online safety risks for kids and are sharing tips on how parents can keep their children safe while they use the internet. This is important to make sure that kids have a secure online experience.
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 per cent of young people claim 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 and whether they will be used further.
Moreover, AI apps, specifically chatbots, can easily provide age-inappropriate content when 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 needs to be improved.
2. The growth of malicious actors' attacks on young gamers
According to the latest online statistics, 91% 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 like 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.
3. The development of the 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. Yet, with the introduction of banking cards for children, the latter also becomes susceptible to financially motivated threat actors and vulnerable to conventional scams, like promises of a free PlayStation 5 or other valuable assets after entering card details on a phishing site. 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 threat cases, with children being potential targets, 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 time, when their parents are not at home — or even their parents' credit card number. In such a scenario, there is a risk of financial data loss or even a physical attack beyond just device hacking.
5. Children will demand their personal online space be respected
As children mature, they develop greater self-awareness, encompassing an understanding of their personal space, privacy, and sensitive data, offline and online. Consequently, when a parent firmly communicates the intent to install a parenting digital app on a device, not all kids will take it calmly. This is why parents now require the skill to discuss their offspring's online experience and the importance of parenting digital apps for online safety while respecting personal space. This involves establishing clear boundaries and expectations and discussing the reasons for using the app with any child.
6. 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 look for alternatives, which is often a malicious copy. Even if they turn to official app stores like Google Play, they still risk falling prey to cybercriminals. From 2020 to 2022, Kaspersky researchers have 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. This includes both the development and popularity of AI and smart homes and the expansion of the 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 cyber criminals, what cyber threats can occur during gaming, and how to protect your personal data properly. 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.
Kaspersky cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of proactive measures by parents to protect their children from online threats. They advise parents to stay updated on the latest cybersecurity risks and actively monitor their children's internet usage to foster a secure online environment. Open communication about potential online dangers and the implementation of strict safety guidelines are also deemed crucial. To assist parents in educating their children about cybersecurity, Kaspersky has introduced the "Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet," a resource that covers essential industry concepts and teaches children about cyber hygiene, threat avoidance, and recognizing fraudulent tactics. This book, available for free download, includes topics like phishing, VPNs, QR codes, honeypots, and encryption. Additionally, Kaspersky recommends installing reliable security software on children's devices, especially for gaming, to prevent downloading harmful files. Further enhancing child safety in the digital realm, Kaspersky offers the digital parenting app "Safe Kids," which is designed to protect against various cyber threats.