Worried about your child’s online safety as they head back to class? This essential back to school cybersecurity guide provides parents with the latest tips, from spotting new AI scams to securing student data, for a safe and successful school year in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- What are the most important security habits to teach kids? Teach them to use a password manager for unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts, and never share personal information online.
- What are the newest online threats for students? The newest threats include AI-powered phishing scams, deepfake videos or voice clones, and QR code phishing (quishing) designed to steal credentials and personal data.
- How can parents protect their child’s sensitive school data? Parents can protect data by reviewing school and app privacy policies, asking teachers about their security procedures, and using a VPN like IPVanish to encrypt all internet connections.
As summer winds down and kids head back to the classroom, there’s one item that should be on every parent’s back-to-school checklist: cybersecurity. There’s no denying that technology now plays a central role in education, as most students use computers in the classroom and at home. To prepare your kids (and yourself, too) for proper online safety this year, here are the back to school cybersecurity tips every parent should know.
1. Encourage best password practices
We’re all guilty of repeating passwords, but for good back to school cybersecurity, it’s time to break the habit. Take some time to sit down with your kids to discuss the following best practices for strong passwords:
- Always use a random string of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever it’s an option for an extra layer of security.
- Use a password manager to securely generate and store unique passwords for every account.
- Avoid using real words and phrases, especially words that are easy to guess or figure out (such as their birthday or pet name).
- Update passwords at least once a year.
- Use a password generator to quickly and easily create a secure password.
2. Discourage oversharing
“Stranger danger” may be an old adage, but it’s a core principle of cyber safety. As most kids and teenagers own smartphones these days, it’s crucial to teach them the importance of what and what not to share online, and especially whom not to talk to.
- Discourage your kids from sharing personal information on the internet, such as their address, and remind them to never talk to strangers online.
- Teach them to disable location sharing on apps and devices and to be mindful of who sees their location.
- Set rules for online gaming and chatbots, reminding them to never talk to strangers or share personal details with other players.
3. Educate them about phishing
Many students now have access to email and other forms of online messaging pertaining to school. Unfortunately, hackers and other bad actors online take this route as a way to engage in social engineering and send phishing emails and messages to unknowing students. Talk to your kids about how to spot a phishing scam by knowing these red flags:
- AI-powered phishing: AI is making phishing scams more sophisticated. Teach your kids to be extra cautious of emails and messages that seem too good to be true, even if they appear to be from a trusted source.
- QR code phishing (quishing): Scammers are using QR codes in emails and on flyers to direct people to malicious websites. Advise your children to be wary of scanning QR codes from unknown sources.
- A sense of urgency: Phishing scams often try to create panic, telling you that an account will be closed or that you’ll be in trouble if you don’t act immediately. Teach kids to be suspicious of any message that demands they act fast.
- Typos and grammatical errors: While AI is improving scam quality, many still contain obvious spelling mistakes or poor grammar. Legitimate organizations usually proofread their communications.
- Unexpected links and attachments: Be wary of any unsolicited message that asks you to click a link or open an attachment. On a computer, you can hover your mouse over a link to see its true destination before clicking.
- Vague or suspicious sender: Check the sender’s email address carefully. Scammers often use addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but are slightly off, or use a generic greeting like “Dear Student” instead of your child’s name.
4. Keep an eye out for back-to-school scams
Your kids aren’t the only ones who should stay educated about phishing scams – it’s a key part of your own back to school cybersecurity plan. The hustle and bustle of the back-to-school season is a perfect breeding ground for hackers and scammers. Be on the lookout for scams designed to fool distracted parents, including:
- Fake deals on tech: Be wary of emails or ads offering deep discounts on laptops, tablets, or other school tech. Always buy from reputable retailers.
- Scholarship and financial aid scams: Scammers may impersonate official organizations and ask for an application fee or personal information for a fake scholarship.
- Phony tutoring services: Watch out for unsolicited offers for online tutoring that ask for payment upfront or seek to gather personal data.
- Bogus rental schemes: Whether for textbooks or musical instruments, verify the legitimacy of any rental company before providing payment or personal details.
5. Talk to their teachers
It can be nerve-racking sending your kids off to school where you can’t supervise their internet activity. Most likely, their school’s network will have strict restrictions and blocks in place to protect students. By knowing more about what your kids can access at school, you can better prepare them to handle internet activity safely on their own. To ease your mind, start a conversation with their teachers about their approach to back to school cybersecurity. Here are some questions you can ask:
- What software and online platforms will my child be using this year?
- What are the school’s policies on student data privacy and the use of new technologies like AI?
- How does the school filter or monitor internet access on its network and devices?
- What is the procedure for notifying parents in the event of a cybersecurity incident or data breach?
6. Use a VPN for extra security
When accessing your child’s private data, such as registration information, grades, and health records, it’s necessary to have proper security precautions in place to protect it. The last thing you want is for your child’s private data to fall into the wrong hands. This is why you should use a VPN, or virtual private network, when handling your child’s information. A VPN is a security tool that encrypts your internet traffic and hides your actual IP address. This allows you to remain completely private and secure online, stopping any outside parties from getting into your personal data. A VPN is a critical tool, especially if your child is participating in any remote learning. Here’s why it’s so important:
- It encrypts your connection: A VPN scrambles your internet traffic, making it unreadable to anyone who might be snooping on the network, especially on public Wi-Fi.
- It protects sensitive student data: Use a VPN when accessing school portals to view grades, health records, or financial information to keep that data private.
- It hides your IP address: This prevents websites and online services from tracking your physical location, adding a layer of anonymity for your family.
- It secures remote learning: If your child connects to their school’s network from home, a VPN ensures that the connection is secure from end to end.
7. The rise of AI-powered threats
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a tool for learning; it’s also being used by cybercriminals to create highly sophisticated and convincing scams. These AI-powered threats are a new frontier in cybersecurity that parents and students need to be aware of.
- AI-enhanced phishing: Scammers are using AI to craft phishing emails and messages that are grammatically perfect, contextually relevant, and personalized to the recipient. This makes them much harder to spot than traditional phishing attempts.
- Deepfakes and voice cloning: AI can be used to create realistic but fake videos (deepfakes) and audio clips (voice cloning) of people. A scammer could use this technology to impersonate a teacher, school administrator, or even a family member to try and trick students or parents into giving up sensitive information or money.
- AI chatbots: While many AI chatbots are helpful, some are designed to spread malware or steal personal information. It’s important to teach children to be cautious about the information they share with chatbots and to only use reputable ones.
See also: AI Cybersecurity Risks: Uncover the Hidden Dangers You Must Know
A safer start to the school year with IPVanish
Putting these online safety tips into practice is easier with the right digital toolkit. Start by defending against common scams with IPVanish’s free utilities: use the Password Generator to create uncrackable passwords, and scan suspicious messages with the Link Checker before you click.
For essential, always-on security, the IPVanish Essential plan combines our powerful VPN for total online privacy with Threat Protection to automatically block malicious websites, ads, and trackers. For the ultimate peace of mind, the IPVanish Advanced plan adds Secure Browser, which keeps browsing sessions in the cloud to block online threats, plus Livedrive for encrypted cloud backup of your schoolwork and family photos. Equip your family with complete digital protection for the school year ahead. Choose your IPVanish plan today.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important cybersecurity habits to teach kids before they go back to school?
It’s crucial to emphasize strong password practices, such as using a password manager and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts. They should also be taught the importance of not oversharing personal information online and being cautious of strangers.
How can I protect my child from new online threats like AI scams and deepfakes?
Educate your child about the latest online threats, including AI-powered phishing emails, deepfake videos, and QR code phishing (quishing). Teach them to be wary of messages that create a sense of urgency, contain unusual attachments, or come from unknown sources. Tools like IPVanish’s Link Checker can also help identify malicious URLs.
What should parents do to secure their child’s sensitive school data?
To protect sensitive school data, parents should use a VPN like IPVanish when accessing school portals, especially on public Wi-Fi. It’s also important to review the privacy policies of school apps and online platforms and to communicate with teachers about the school’s cybersecurity procedures and data privacy policies.
What is a VPN and why is it important for students and families?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) safeguards your online activity by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your IP address. For students and families, it’s vital to protect remote learning sessions, keep school portal logins secure, and stay private on public Wi-Fi. With IPVanish, one account covers the whole family, so everyone stays protected.
How can I spot common back-to-school scams aimed at parents?
Watch out for back-to-school scams—like fake deals on supplies or tech, bogus scholarships, phony tutoring, or sham rentals for textbooks and instruments. Parents should also be aware of scams in Roblox, Fortnite, and other games. Scammers usually lure kids with free currency, rare items, or VIP perks, then steal accounts or personal info. Always verify offers and stick to trusted retailers.
