How to keep your family 'tech safe' this holiday season

by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert

When the holiday season rolls around, it’s not just Santa Claus that’s coming to town. Scammers, hackers, bots, and all sorts of other nefarious actors will always be around, waiting in the wings to take advantage of eager and ignorant consumers, travelers, and revelers. Beware, but do not fear! Here are some top tips to keep yourself, your loved ones, your data, and your finances safe and sound, enjoying the yuletide with concerns at bay.

1. Traveling with Technology.
Turn on Find My Device to keep track of your gadgets as you're traveling. Stay off public Wi-Fi networks. Beware, many third-party power adapters are not made well and can cause problems with your device’s battery or power supply. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. If the device does become extremely hot or cold, let it return to normal room temperature before you turn it on.

2. Be careful when purchasing tech gadgets as gifts.
There are tons of ads out there during the holiday season aiming to seduce you into buying new technological gadgets. Things like that fancy new smart razor for your husband; a sleeved blanket that pairs with your smartphone and glows in the dark; talking dolls, internet-connected coffee makers; and the list goes on. The biggest tip here is to pay attention to the brand. So many cutting-edge gadgets are poorly constructed or sacrifice quality for cheapness, many of them won’t even last until next Christmas. Only buy tech toys like these from brands you trust, and know that as a general rule, you get what you pay for.

3. Limit kids time on their devices.
Schools are almost out for Winter which means your kids will want to spend more time on their tech devices. If at all possible, limit your kids to no more than 3 hours a day on their devices. No devices in their rooms and if you can make it work, connect their devices to a separate wireless network which you can turn off as needed. 

4. Keep Tech in its Place.
Probably most importantly, remember that the holiday season is a time of sharing, giving, love, and praise. Whatever you do, don’t let your technology take you away from those most precious moments with family and friends. You can use features on your phone like Do Not Disturb and Focus settings to suppress notifications and reduce distractions. You can set schedules and custom wallpapers to remind you to put your phone down. You could even disconnect completely and turn your phone off (don’t worry, you’ll be fine!). Technology has its uses, but when you are in the presence of loved ones, make sure the focus is where it should be.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas of what you can do with you to be tech safe and productive during the holiday season. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.


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