Kids Tablet Risks and How Hackers Might Be Spying on Them

Tablets can offer endless hours of education and entertainment and help your child learn while keeping them busy. But, as with any device that connects to the internet, tablets can expose your child to online risks and leave an open door for hackers to access.

Before giving your child access to a tablet with internet capabilities, it is important to understand the risks and how to protect them from hackers gaining access to their devices and spying on them.

Cybersecurity Risks in LeapFrog’s Kids Tablets

Over the last few years, there have been several instances of kids’ tablets being hacked or found vulnerable by cybersecurity firms. One of the most noteworthy was the lapse in security discovered in the popular kids’ tablet from the company Leapfrog, the LeapPad Ultimate Tablet. This tablet was marketed for its ability to keep kids safe, however, a cybersecurity firm discovered that the tablet had two systematic security flaws that allowed pedophiles the ability to access the tablet and chat with children.

Even more worrisome was the fact that hackers could use this security lapse to track the tablet’s MAC address, which they could then use to find the user’s actual location. The LeapPad also had a security flaw that allowed hackers to spoof a Wi-Fi network and force the tablet to connect to it. Since LeapPad did not encrypt its online traffic, hackers were able to access private data belonging to both children and their parents. While LeapFrog has since resolved the issues, there are inherent kids tablet risks that remain.

Vtech’s Kids Tablets Were Hacked in 2015

Back in 2015, another manufacturer of kids tablets also suffered a scandal when it was discovered that Vtech’s line of tablets was easily breached by hackers who accessed Vtech’s database and stole user personal info, recordings, and images. Over five million customers were believed to have been affected in that incident alone.

How Hackers Gain Access to Kids Tablets

Hackers are creative criminals who identify security weaknesses within a network or device and then use their skills to break in. Once in, they can steal sensitive data, take over control of the device, and do a lot of expensive damage. Some of the ways hackers infiltrate kids’ tablets include viruses, malware, spyware, infected pop-up ads, and emails.

There are some things you can do to strengthen your child’s tablet security. If your child uses a tablet - any kind of tablet - here are some recommended steps you should take immediately:

• Perform a thorough password check – Click on the “forgot password” link on any sites your child frequents. Check if each site displays the password or says it will email it to him or her. If the site shows the password, it is not securely protected and can be easily stolen.
• Check the tablet’s sharing settings – If your kids send messages or create other shareable content online, check the device’s and website’s privacy settings to make sure they are as strict as possible.
• Update passwords - Passwords should include a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special symbols, and they should NEVER be shared.
• Teach your kids how to be responsible with their information – Instruct your child to seek your help when filling out online forms. If they need to create online profiles for school or another purpose, make sure they know what information is appropriate to share and what should be kept private, such as phone numbers, addresses, and social security numbers.
• Be careful with downloads and suspicious emails and links – Malware, spyware, and viruses are all over the internet and can most often be found lurking in unassuming downloads, emails, and links. Inform your child to always get permission before downloading any new apps or opening unknown emails and make sure their device has a quality antivirus program installed and running.

Reduce Your Kids Tablet Risks With Winston

In addition to taking the above steps, another thing you can do to greatly reduce your kids’ tablet risks is to use Winston’s hardware data privacy filter. In addition to IP cloaking features to prevent hackers from identifying your location, Winston also features a powerful ad blocker and blocks spyware. It also has malware and adult content filters to help ensure your child doesn’t access inappropriate content when surfing the internet.

Winston is plug-and-play and protects every device connected to your home network, eliminating the need to install individual privacy apps and programs on your child’s device.

Get Winston today and enjoy a safer, reliable, and more private internet without worrying about kids’ tablet risks. It’s risk-free – if you’re not satisfied, you can return it within 30 days for a refund.