Mastering the art of driving can indeed be a daunting task. Fortunately, driver’s education and the requirement to pass a driving test ensure that new drivers are well-prepared before hitting the road alone. However, technology and the internet don’t come with the same safety net. For many, navigating the digital world can be equally intricate and dangerous without a solid foundation of knowledge.

Public vs. private networks
Have you ever heard of a private or public network? When you sign into a network for the first time, does it ask you, “Do you want your computer public or private?” These are very important questions for your digital security. 

By connecting to a public network or setting your computer to public, you are opening your device and everything you have ever done on the device to a hacker. Hackers can discover your passwords to bank accounts and social media.

The best comparison to the automotive analogy is to have your car plastered with every single sticker you can think of about yourself, your family, or your life — the funny, the embarrassing, and the secrets — then drive down an interstate highway. Or take that same car and drive down a private drive with no one around for miles. That could be the difference between public and private with the correct security systems in place.

Steuben County REMC broadband users have ProtectIQ when using the CommandIQ app provided at no cost. 

ProtectIQ features include:

• Proactively monitors your home’s incoming traffic
• Blocks attempted visits to known harmful websites
• Provide an active security monitoring service
• Notifies users whenever a security issue is triggered

Parental control settings
Prior to giving their child the freedom of a driver’s license, many parents put restrictions on their children, including the number of passengers, speed limit, curfew, or mile radius. These restrictions are based on the foreseen dangers that the child is at risk of. But what about the risk of internet use?

The average age at which a child receives their first “phone” is 11 and a half years old. Cellular phones are no longer just phones. They are mobile computers that can make phone calls. These devices have many potential dangers for younger users, including adult content, hackers, cyberbullying, and predators. 

Parents can set restrictions for their children on their internet use like they set restrictions on their driving. 

Similar to road restriction signs (no left turn, road closed, dead end, deer crossing), these signs can help young drivers be aware of potential hazards and help them learn how to spot danger. 

ExperienceIQ is a tool that parents can use to help their children be safer on the internet while connected to the Steuben County REMC broadband internet and through the CommandIQ app provided for free.

ExperienceIQ features include:

• Prioritize devices
• Set schedules, time limits, and bedtimes
• Block inappropriate content, apps, and websites
• Bandwidth monitoring
• View internet usage