Help kick off the school year by teaching your kids how to manage cell phones properly and avoid common cell phone pitfalls.

1. Back to School 2012:
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids
Marian Merritt
Norton Internet Safety Advocate
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 1

2. 1. Set a password
• Set a password on the phone to
lock the keypad and screen when
not in use
– Great first line of defense against cyber
bullying and sexting
– Unprotected, a phone can be misused
by others
• Prevent private information access by others
• Prevent people looking at private images and
messages
• Prevent hacked social networks, emails and
passwords
96% of lost phones had their info accessed by finder1
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 2
1. Symantec Honey Stick study 2012

3. 2. Tape a recovery phone number to phone
• Put your home or office number on
the back of phone
• Encourages person who finds lost
If found,
please call
phone to try to return it
310 555 8925
• A locked phone makes finding your
info hard, on purpose
• Email address and info about a
reward also helpful
50% of finders of lost phones attempted to return them2
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 3
2. Symantec Honey Stick study 2012

4. 3. Set up emergency contacts
• Parent contact information
including home, cell, office and
email
• If you travel, include other
relatives’ info
• Emergency contacts like a
neighbor
– If your child gets locked out, having a
neighbor to call can be helpful
• Show children where info is
stored on phone and when they
should use it
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 4

5. 4. Set up remote locate/lock/wipe software
• Available free on iPhone as
FindMyiPhone; or
Norton Anti-Theft for Android
– Check app store for options
• Find phones left at school, in
car, at the office with ease
– Phone must still be powered and on
• Prevent stolen or lost phones
from being used
– Avoid high mobile bills
• Protect private information from
being accessed and used
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 5

6. 5. Install Security Software
• Mobile vulnerabilities up 93%
in 2011
• Mobile malware on the rise
• Numerous fake and malicious
apps get on the market
– Often disguised as games that
appeal to children
• Security apps, like Norton
Mobile Security, can block
malware, phishing attacks,
dangerous links and
unwanted calls and texts
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 6

7. 6. Turn Off Geo-Tagging
Except for mapping, security services
• Don’t share location via photos and
videos
– Check settings on photo and video
share services
• Don’t “sign in” via social networking
unless an adult
• Used those location-based coupons?
Turn off after you’re done
• Check phone for apps that use
location and remove them
– i.e. social and flirtation apps are a bad
idea for children
• Talk to your child about using good
sense about when and where to
share your location.
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 7

8. 7. Review School Cell Phone and Mobile Device Policy
• Some ban mobile phones on
campus
• Some welcome them into the
classroom and include in
curriculum
• Ask about school rules AND
teacher’s preferences
• Discuss consequences w/ your
child
• Support school policy and/or
join to refine it
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 8

9. 8. Review Your Contract Together
• Set limits and consequences
for extra fees
• Show children how to check
current spending so they feel a
sense of ownership
• Look at cell phone settings to
turn off unnecessary services
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 9

10. 9. Set up nightly charging station in kitchen or den
• Prevent late night texting,
gaming, music playing
• Improve kid’s sleep and school
performance
• Prevent unnecessary exposure
to cell phone radiation
– when kids put phone under pillow
• You can also set time limits on
phone use
– Via service provider website or
– On device
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 10

11. 10. Teach Kids Not to Reply To Unknown Senders or
Callers
• Scams abound via online
quizzes, SMS spam
• SMS phishing = smishing
• A reply can lead to premium
charges
– or a hacked account
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 11

12. 11. Set rules for new apps and games
• Choose well-tested and
reviewed apps and games
– Don’t be an early adopter and get
tricked into downloading malware
• Find out if the app is free or
just a trial before you install it
• Set a budget for apps and
games
• Remove apps no longer in use
– they may still access your
data
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 12

13. 12. Discuss Cyber Bullying, Sexting and Other Risks if
You Don’t Guard Your Phone
• Cyber bullying –someone can
send emails and SMS as “you”
• Camera and voice recorder
can be accessed
• Sexting – You are responsible
for the images you create,
send AND receive
• Private images and messages
can be viewed and shared
without permission
• Keep phone secured, locked
and with you
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 13

14. Summary • Remember, a cell phone is a mobile
computer
• Your data is only secure if the phone
is managed with care
• Your children can learn to use this
powerful technology safely if you
educate them
• Take your time, don’t overwhelm
them with too many warnings or
too much information
• ConnectSafely.org/SafeKids.com:
http://www.safekids.com/cell-phone-safe
• CommonSenseMedia.org:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/adv
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 14

15. What did I miss?
Please send your suggestions to Marian@Norton.com
Thank you!
Marian Merritt
Norton Internet Safety Advocate
marian@norton.com
@marianmerritt
Copyright © 2012 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved. Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in
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This document is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as advertising. All warranties relating to the information in this document, either express or implied,
are disclaimed to the maximum extent allowed by law. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
12 Tips for Cell Phone Safety for Kids 15