Key cybersecurity threats for kids in 2024, and how to protect against them

With the growing use of technology, parents have to take added measures to secure their children from cybersecurity threats.

Increasing access to smartphones and tablets has had an impact on how children interact with technology and the cybersecurity threats they are exposed to. While it may not be possible to entirely neutralise the impact of threats, parents should be aware of them. And take preventive measures to ensure the safety and security of their kids’ online activities.

Some of the key cybersecurity threat predictions for 2024 according to Kaspersky arise from the booming use of AI, growth of malicious actors’ attacks on young gamers, developments in FinTech, and the use of fake clone apps.

According to a UN research, about 80% percent of young people claimed that they interact with AI multiple times a day. With progress in 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 reach, and whether they will be used further.

Moreover, AI apps, specifically, chatbots can easily provide age-inappropriate content when prompted.

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The advent and increasing use of unmoderated voice and text chats in games has opened up fresh avenues for cybercriminals.

Threat actors make use of in-game voice and text chats to lure young players with fake promises of gifts or friendships. Once they have the confidence of the young gamer, they look to obtain their personal information by sharing links to phishing sites which download malicious files onto the victims device. The malicious files are often disguised as a game mod for popular titles like Minecraft or Fortnite.