Google has just published safety rules to follow when using its search engine, email, video platform, social network, phone, tablet, etc. By passing these rules on to our children and teenagers, we can also teach them how to better protect themselves on the Internet.
Identify suspicious messages (phishing)
Do you have a Gmail account and receive suspicious messages?
What you need: a Google Gmail account
1- Log in to your Google account
2- When an email seems suspicious, click on the drop-down arrow next to «Reply».»
3- From the drop-down menu, select the option «Report as phishing».»
4- This suspicious email will be sent to Google's Gmail teams for review.
Locate your device (mobile phone, tablet) remotely in case of loss or theft.
With the Android device manager, you can locate your device, make it ring, and remotely wipe its data if it is lost or stolen.
What you need: a Google account
1- Log in to your Google account
2- Access Google settings from the applications menu and tap on «Security».»
3- In the «Android device manager» section, enable the «Remotely locate this device» or «Allow remote lock and data wipe» option, or both options.
4- To locate your device, log in to Android Device Manager (in your Google account). You can make it ring.
To search safely on Google
Use the SafeSearch setting to filter the content that appears in search results. It applies to everyone who uses your computer.
What you need: a Google account
1- Log in to your Google account
2- Go to the «Search settings» page at www.google.com/preferences
3- Tick the box «Filter sexually explicit results» and save at the bottom of the page.
4- You can click on «Lock SafeSearch» to prevent other users from changing this setting. You will be prompted to enter your password.
How can I make YouTube safer?
Automatically log in securely when accessing YouTube
What you need: A Google account
1- At the bottom of any YouTube page, click on the «Safety» button to enable or disable safety mode.
2- To lock this setting, log in to your Google account.
Keep everyone safe in hangouts
Report content or user behaviour that violates Google+ Hangouts rules so that it can be reviewed.
What you need: a Google account
1- Place your cursor on the video thumbnail of the person in question.
2- Click on the «ignore» icon.»
3- You will no longer be able to see, hear, or communicate with this person for the remainder of this video call. You can also press «Block» to make this permanent.
So you don't break the bank on Google Play
Google Play users can require a password to be entered before making a purchase, which is useful for controlling purchases made by children and teenagers.
What you need: A Google account
1- In the Google Play Store application, press the menu button.
2- Select «Settings»
3- In the «User Commands» section, click on «Require authentication for purchases».»
4- Tick «For all purchases via Google Play on this device»
5- You will now need to enter your password to make a purchase.
