📞 Have an Emergency Plan: Cyber Incident Response for Home Users & Families

🚨 1️⃣ Recognize the Warning Signs of a Cyberattack

🔹 Unusual pop-ups or slow performance (signs of malware).
🔹 Unknown charges on credit cards or missing money from accounts.
🔹 Strange emails, texts, or social media messages asking for information.
🔹 A device behaving oddly, overheating, or crashing often.
🔹 You get locked out of an account or see logins from unfamiliar locations.

📌 Tip: Teach family members to report anything suspicious instead of clicking links or entering personal details.

🛑 2️⃣ Immediate Actions If You Suspect a Cyber Threat

✅ Disconnect the affected device from the internet to stop the attack from spreading.
✅ Check if personal accounts are compromised (use Have I Been Pwned to see if your email or password was leaked).
✅ Alert the family to avoid opening any suspicious links or emails.
✅ Restart the device in Safe Mode and run a virus scan (more on this below).

📌 Tip: Have a family emergency plan where kids know who to tell if they see something suspicious online.

🔐 3️⃣ Secure Your Accounts & Devices

🛡 Family-Friendly Antivirus Software (Protect Every Device)

These security tools are easy to use and protect all family members, including kids.

🔹 Best Free Antivirus for Families:
✅ Windows Defender (Microsoft Defender) – Built-in for Windows, great for most users.
✅ Avast Free Antivirus – Good for everyday protection and blocking fake websites.

🔹 Best Paid Antivirus for Families: (More features like parental controls & identity theft protection)
✅ Bitdefender Total Security – Covers all devices (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android) with a kid-safe browsing mode.
✅ Norton 360 Deluxe – Includes parental controls, dark web monitoring, and a VPN.
✅ McAfee Total Protection Family – Great for identity protection and includes a password manager.

📌 Tip: Set antivirus software to run automatic scans every week.

🔑 Best Family-Friendly Password Managers

A password manager stores and creates strong, unique passwords for each account—so kids don’t use “password123” for everything.

🔹 Best for Families (Includes Secure Sharing):
✅ 1Password Families – Easy sharing between parents & kids, stores medical/emergency info too.
✅ Dashlane Family – Includes a VPN for extra security and alerts if passwords are leaked.
✅ Bitwarden Families – Affordable, open-source, and great for tech-savvy families.

📌 Tip: Use passphrases instead of passwords (e.g., "Banana-Car-Rocket-22!") to make them easier to remember but hard to crack.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 4️⃣ Guide to Setting Up Parental Controls

Parental controls help filter content, manage screen time, and prevent kids from downloading unsafe apps.

🖥 A. Set Up Parental Controls on Devices

🔹 Windows:
✅ Go to: Settings → Accounts → Family & Other Users → Add a Child Account
✅ Allows you to block sites, set screen time, and monitor activity via Microsoft Family Safety.

🔹 Mac (Apple Screen Time):
✅ Go to: System Preferences → Screen Time → Family Sharing
✅ Lets you filter websites, set app time limits, and approve downloads.

🔹 Chromebooks (Google Family Link):
✅ Go to: Google Play Store → Install Google Family Link
✅ Allows parents to control app access, set screen time, and track location.

📌 Tip: For young kids, enable SafeSearch on Google (Settings → Search Settings → Turn on SafeSearch).

📱 B. Set Up Parental Controls on Smartphones & Tablets

🔹 iPhone & iPad:
✅ Go to: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions
✅ Blocks inappropriate content and prevents in-app purchases.

🔹 Android:
✅ Use Google Family Link to approve app downloads and limit screen time.

📌 Tip: Teach kids the “pause and ask” rule—if they see a weird message or link, they must ask a parent before clicking!

🌐 C. Set Up Parental Controls on Wi-Fi Routers

Modern routers allow you to filter content and control internet access for each device.

✅ Log in to your router settings (usually at 192.168.1.1 or via the router’s app).
✅ Enable "Parental Controls" or "DNS Filtering" to block unsafe sites.
✅ Set up scheduled internet access (e.g., block Wi-Fi at bedtime).

🔹 Best Family-Safe Routers with Built-in Parental Controls:
✅ Google Nest Wi-Fi – Easy setup & lets you pause Wi-Fi for kids' devices.
✅ TP-Link Deco X20 – Includes content filtering and internet time limits.

📌 Tip: Use Cloudflare’s Family DNS (1.1.1.3) to block malware and adult content:

• Go to router settings & change DNS to: 1.1.1.3 (Primary) & 1.0.0.3 (Secondary).

🚀 5️⃣ What to Do After a Cyberattack at Home

✅ Restore Devices from a Backup – If malware infected your system, use a backup to recover files.
✅ Scan Your Network for Other Infected Devices – Check all phones, tablets, and smart home devices.
✅ Change ALL Passwords – If you suspect an account was hacked.
✅ Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – This adds an extra security layer on accounts.

📌 Tip: If financial accounts were affected, call your bank immediately to freeze cards and dispute charges.

🔥 Final Thoughts: Keep Your Family Cyber-Safe!

✔ Talk about cybersecurity like you would about fire safety—kids should know not to click random links or share passwords.
✔ Use parental controls & security software to create a safe browsing environment.
✔ Keep backups of important photos & documents in case of an attack.
✔ Review your family’s digital security every few months.