The week of March 10, 2019, schools were closed in Columbia due to a bomb threat. The threat originated from a computer hacker that used gaming and YouTube to break into students’ social media accounts. Parents have reason to be concerned that online gaming and social media can expose their children.
Concerned parent Jackie Hicks from Solon stated, “It gives people access to your child.” Hicks is worried about her son participating in online gaming.
“How do you know that it’s just you and your neighborhood friend?”
“For most parents, it’s a non-stop battle,” according to tech security expert Alex Hamerstone from TrustedSec.
According to recent reports, kids are playing “Fortnite” and hackers are taking over accounts. There was a high school hacker taking over everything from one guy in just minutes. Hackers will target young video gamers more this year.
Hamerstone stated that kids today have different views on privacy. They share tons of information on social media and gaming sites. This is the most common way hacker are able to access accounts. Personal information can be used by people worldwide. “Literally anywhere on earth…(by) anybody with an internet connection.”
The BBC reported recently that “Fortnite” teen hackers are making thousands of dollars per week. So, what should parents do?
Hamerstone suggested that parents make sure if their children are on these sites, it is in a room where they can be monitored. “Take their device and look at it. See who they’re chatting with. See what they’re doing.” Know what they are saying and being told by potential hackers.
However, there are videos on YouTube showing how to hack into other YouTube accounts. What can be done? According to Hamerstone, everyone should activate multi-factor authentication on every account.
“You can set it up that if your Facebook or SnapChat or whatever, it may be is logged in from a device that they don’t recognize, it will send you a text message.”
Additionally, one can check Facebook in the activity log to see log-ins that may not be from the user.
“So, if you live in Cleveland and you’re seeing a bunch of log-ins from L.A., then it’s somebody probably logged into your account and it’s time to log out and change your password,” according to Hamerstone.
Parents need to be aware that when their child is online playing with strangers, arguments and ensue, and the stranger can easily spoof your phone number.
Hamerston explained, “They’ll call 911 from your phone number. They’ll call police saying there’s a hostage situation or I’m holding somebody hostage. The SWAT team comes out. They surround the house and there have people who have been killed.”
So, whether it is SWATing, sharing information, or bomb threats like the one this week, the security threats are real.
Predators pretend to be young kids and chat with young kids to try and get them to give their information.
This threat is so real that Hicks just wants her son to play video games with his friends in person at her home. This way, they do not have to play online at all.
Additionally, it is strongly suggested that parents have open and blunt discussions educating their kids about the dangers of talking to people on social media sites and other online platforms and the consequences of bad choices with online interaction.
By Jeanette Smith
Source:
Business Fast: A local bomb threat connected to online gaming has parents on edge – News 5 Cleveland
Image Courtesy of Tomás Del Coro’s Fkickr Page – Creative Commons License
Discover more from Guardian Liberty Voice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
One Response
I am deeply concerned about the still increase in population of people living with HSV, HIV, CANCERS, HEPATITIS, STROKES in our society today because of ignorance, to be Frank all this big names are grammars. I saw comments of people DR UTU helped get rid of their diseases, with the increase in population of people living with various diseases and myself as a beneficiary to DR UTU traditional cure I tot I too should reach the world via comment. Many People believed traditional herbs are so primitive and some are even shy to purchase it in public. Some went as far as trashing the good name of herbal medicine hiding its numerous advantages and let publicly it minor disadvantage and yet makes it look big, all this are just for pharmaceutical gain. All pharmaceutical cure are derived from existing traditional herbal cure from ages.
Yes! I’m here to tell the world the actual FACT! which is; there is herbal cure for herpes, Ebola, HIV, cancers, hepatitis, ulcers, asthma, pile, diabetes and many big names of diseases. all my career I’ve lived my life believing and making research on this, till I confirmed it four years ago. Since four years ago and till today I still say yes! That among many real traditional herbalist Dr Nze Utu Njoku @ (drutuherbalcure) cures this diseases using African traditional herbs. After he cured me four years ago of genital herpes, ever since then I worked with him distance never a barrier, I’m a living witness to this. And I have directed both genital and oral herpes patients to him and they are permanently cured. I’m Ethan Oliver from Australia and also a herbal dealer and lover. I’m also a researcher on herbs for good health. Which also include Africa traditional herbal treatment, I support Herbal treatment, cure and vaccines. My view is based on my extensive research over a very long period of time, and my conclusion is, there is cure to all natural diseases including HSV, HIV, CANCERS, DIABETES, using the right medications with the right herbalist. Are you herpes positive and permanently want get rid of this disease or any of this big name diseases don’t be scared to save yourself, contact Dr Utu for permanent herbal cure. Be bold and smart Don’t be fooled by selfish people who say, cure is impossible.
Dr UTU email is, [email protected]