What Happens When Kids Get Hacked? 3 Stories with Lessons for Parents

Preparing for back-to-school season is not just about backpacks and books. In today’s digital world, every home should also focus on one critical back-to-school item: cybersafety for kids.

Every tap, click, and download comes with risk, and it only takes one wrong move to fall victim to online threats. If you’ve ever Googled phrases like “how to keep my child safe online” or “what to do if my kid gets hacked,” you’re not alone. Here are three real stories that highlight the importance of online safety for kids, along with takeaways to help protect your family from growing cyberthreats.

Story #1: A Student’s Chromebook Was Used to Steal Data

Incident: In 2023, a 10-year-old student unknowingly downloaded a malicious app onto their school-issued Chromebook. That one click gave a hacker access to the school’s network, putting thousands of records at risk.

Takeaway: To protect kids using school tablets, always install parental control tools and limit app downloads to official app stores. Cybersafety starts with awareness at home, especially on school devices.

Story #2: A Child’s Identity Was Stolen Using Their SSN

Incident: A parent discovered their 12-year-old had over $5,000 in debt when applying for a passport. Their child’s identity had been stolen years prior to using their Social Security Number.

Takeaway: If you’re wondering whether kids’ identity can be stolen, the answer is yes — and it often goes unnoticed for years. Use an identity protection service like IDSeal® that includes child monitoring to get ahead of these threats before they do damage.

Story #3: A Teen Clicked on a Scam Link in a School Email

Incident: A 14-year-old clicked on a link that appeared to be from a school-related email. It led to a phishing scam that installed spyware on their family’s home Wi-Fi network.

Takeaway: If your child clicks a scam link, act fast. Change passwords, update software, and use malware protection for all devices connected to your home network.

How to Keep Your Child Safe Online

From blocking dangerous websites to monitoring app activity and installing family cyber protection tools, your efforts to keep your child safe on the internet make a big difference.

Now more than ever, cybersecurity at home isn’t optional — it’s essential. Especially when kids are going back to school with devices in hand.

Need help getting started? IDSeal® offers identity theft protection for families to help guard your child’s data, devices, and digital footprint with features like:

Antivirus: Scans for and deletes threats such as viruses, spyware, bots, ransomware, rootkits, and more.

Tracking Blocker: Keeps your child’s browsing private by stopping websites from selling their data.

Privacy Advisor: Notifies you if an app is tracking your child’s online behavior, rates the potential risk, and offers tips to protect their privacy.

With the right tools and awareness, you can shield your child from cybersecurity risks and ensure their online experience is safe and secure — just as it should be.