Securing Your Child’s Digital and Financial Future

Protecting your children's digital and financial futures requires careful planning and comprehensive security measures. These steps are designed to give them a clean, secure start, ensuring they are well-protected as they grow and navigate the world independently. Here's a consolidated approach with five core actions to ensure their safety from day one.

Step 1: Lock Down Financial and Identity Information

Freeze Credit Profiles: Secure their credit at major bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) and lesser-known ones like ChexSystems and LexisNexis. This protects against unauthorized credit applications.

Prescreened Mailings Opt-Out: Remove their names from prescreened credit offers and marketing lists by visiting OptOutPrescreen.com, reducing exposure to identity theft.

Step 2: Secure Digital Accounts and Devices

Apple ID and Device Management: Use YubiKeys to secure their Apple IDs and enable Advanced Data Protection on iCloud. Consider classifying accounts as 'adult' users to enable these features, and use Screen Time settings alongside an MDM solution like Sophos or Jamf to manage and control device access.

Microsoft & Google Accounts: Set up Microsoft accounts with 2FA linked to parental devices and create Gmail accounts for secure online services. Reserve social media handles (e.g., Instagram, Twitter, TikTok) to protect their digital identities. Link Google accounts to your own for monitoring, ensuring you can track activity for safety.

Step 3: Establish Safe Online Practices and Privacy Protections

Encrypted Email and Cloud Storage: Use services like ProtonMail or Tuta (formerly Tutanota) for encrypted email and Proton Drive or Tresorit for secure cloud storage. This ensures a private, surveillance-free digital footprint.

Device Security and Parental Controls: Install malware protection on all devices using Sophos Intercept X or similar tools, and employ an MDM solution for remote management. Use DNS filtering (e.g., NextDNS, ControlD) to limit inappropriate content.

Step 4: Teach Financial Literacy and Digital Hygiene

Password Management: Set up shared and individual password vaults using a tool like Proton Pass, Strongbox, or KeePass. Introduce phishing awareness through simulations like Sophos Phish Threat or KnowBe4, and educate on social engineering tactics to build awareness and resilience.

Education Savings and Financial Accounts: Open 529 accounts for education savings, and consider setting up secure bank accounts (e.g., at Morgan Stanley) with hardware 2FA for a secure financial foundation.

Step 5: Backup, Document, and Protect Personal Information

Physical & Digital Backup: Use automated, encrypted backups to protect important files such as documents, photos, and device settings. Implement redundancy with external drives, secure cloud services, and network-attached storage (NAS). Store essential documents, like birth certificates and passports, in a fireproof safe.

Digital Legacy Planning: Develop a plan for controlled access to digital assets and important accounts if something happens to you. Consider using a multi-key escrow system involving trusted individuals to safeguard these assets while ensuring secure inheritance.

This structured, proactive approach aims to build a solid foundation for children’s secure and responsible engagement with the digital world, helping them grow into knowledgeable, security-conscious individuals.

For a comprehensive step-by-step guide to implementing these steps and more, check out this e-book: Securing Your Child’s Digital & Financial Future - A Practical, Step-by-Step Guide for Parents.

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Written by Jonathan D. Steele

Chicago divorce attorney with cybersecurity certifications (Security+, ISC2 CC, Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate). Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star 2016-2025.

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