As the school year comes to an end, some may look back at the last few months and wonder how we got here.
Many of us never imagined the economy would shut down and, if you’re a parent, you definitely didn’t know 2020 would turn your kids into homeschoolers.
From grade school to high school to post-secondary, the odds are that school will continue to look different in September. With these changes, it is essential to understand what measures to take to ensure the privacy of your family.
Fact: Children are susceptible to identity theft. Since most people under 18 are not actively applying for credit or monitoring it, minors can become easy prey.
Online learning
Honestly, bless technology. It has allowed students to continue their studies well into the pandemic to ensure they don’t fall behind in their learning. However, like with anything, sometimes too much of a good thing can be harmful. As their pseudo teacher, drive home the importance of password security to help keep them safe from identity theft. The same goes for online scams. Remember, no matter how tech-savvy or responsible your children are, fraudsters will do everything in their power to get their hands on your private information.
Fact: 61 percent of people memorize their passwords, which suggests that they’re re-using passwords. That puts people at risk of getting hacked on multiple websites.
Drowning in paper
With so much being available online, paper has a unique ability to pile up around you. Whether it’s your children practicing their math equations, writing their name, or printing out worksheets, these papers will need to go somewhere when they complete their work and school year.
What’s important to remember is that any paper containing personal information, like their name as they practice their letters, cannot and should not be tossed into the trash. When left at the curbside, trash becomes a treasure trove for dumpster divers (aka fraudsters). Instead, you should always shred.
Fact: In 2018, there were 10.11 incidents of identity theft per 100,000 residents in Canada. So, let us help keep you and your family safe with our Parent/Teacher Promo:
School’s out, shred’s in!
Teachers, students, and parents – drop off your “to be shred” pile from June 15th to July 15th.
$8 per banker box.*
*Not applicable for businesses.
