These days, kids are constantly finding new and technologically focused ways to learn. They are increasingly relying on tablets and Chromebooks to access school resources, have become wizards of Wi-Fi, and experts at using their phones to learn — and communicate with friends. But in the area of cybersecurity, they’re still mere apprentices that may need extra help as they prepare for the school year ahead. 

Further reading:
Back to school: Why device protection for kids is valuable
How to manage your elementary schooler's digital milestones

This year, your shopping list might have more electronic devices than ever: Laptops, tablets, networking equipment, Bluetooth earbuds, smartphones, smartwatches, location devices like Apple AirTags, internet-abled assistants and video calling devices like Facebook Portal, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home — the list is endless. 

Nearly everything that connects to the internet via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or hardline creates at least some level of privacy and security vulnerability for your family. Even the colored light bulbs you buy for your kids’ room can make you a target for a hacker! Have you thought about how you’re going to keep your kids safe online? Has the cost of security software been a deterrent in the past? Are you still debating cost versus risk? Let’s take a deeper look.

Which risks are you taking by choosing not to add security software to your back-to-school shopping list?

Out of the more than 5.7 million cybercrime reports received by the FTC in 2021, the most by category were for fraud complaints. And although many of those fraud complaints centered on taking advantage of people seeking government benefits, hundreds of thousands of fraud attacks targeted individuals seeking loans, wanting new credit cards, and other consumer-focused hacks. 

The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) reports that cybercriminals continue to be less interested in stealing large amounts of personal information directly from consumers and are instead taking advantage of bad consumer behaviors to commit identity-related crimes against businesses by using stolen credentials like logins and passwords. Criminals use these credentials to make ransomware and phishing attacks against businesses. 

A vulnerability created by a family device or a naïve user could be exploited to create an attack against your business or employer’s business. That’s the real risk. The cost of losing your source of income is too much to leave to hackers and criminals – especially compared to the low cost of covering an entire family with Avast One.

Why choose Avast? 

There are lots of internet security services available out there, but Avast offers advanced antivirus and anti-tracking privacy protection features that prevent malware while blocking stalkers and advertisers from following your family’s online activity. 

Avast One is more than a single piece of security software. It’s an all-in-one service for everything you need to look after all your family’s devices in one premium and easy-to-use service.