A recent report titled the “Keeper Security Parental Practices Report” has brought to light a significant gap in parental discussions about cybersecurity with their children. The report reveals that nearly one in three parents have never talked to their children about cybersecurity, emphasizing a crucial knowledge deficit that demands attention.
Shockingly, 41% of parents who confessed to not knowing how to create strong passwords still allow their children access to their mobile phones, while 32% permit access to their computers. This highlights the need for heightened parental awareness and digital safety education, with schools also playing a pivotal role in addressing this gap.
The report delves into the intriguing finding that many parents are more comfortable discussing password security with their children than topics like sex education, with 57% of parents finding password security discussions easier.
However, approximately 30% of parents admitted to not discussing cybersecurity at all, and 19% expressed discomfort discussing either subject. While 75% of parents with 12-16-year-old children and 62% with 8-11-year-olds engage their children in cybersecurity discussions, concerns arise over younger children’s internet exposure without proper guidance.
The report underscores the critical importance of understanding how to create strong and secure passwords in the realm of personal cybersecurity. Alas, only 45% of parents with children aged 8-11 believe their kids know how to create strong passwords, compared to 70% of those with children aged 12-16.
Parents lacking password security knowledge themselves grant their children access to various devices, including TV accounts, online games, email accounts, and even online banking, posing significant cybersecurity risks within households.
From a regional perspective, US parents seem to have a better understanding of cybersecurity, with 62% stating that both they and their children know how to create strong passwords. Conversely, France lags behind, with only 34% of parents having discussed cybersecurity with their children.
The study also highlights variations in reliance on schools for cybersecurity education, with the UK leading at 40%, while the US relies on schools the least at 21%. Despite fathers claiming to be more comfortable discussing cybersecurity, mothers are responsible for the majority of cybersecurity discussions, particularly in the US.
