It’s Sunday evening. Lunches are ready, school bags are packed, and every room in the house has a screen on: the eldest is reviewing lessons on an educational platform, the youngest is watching a YouTube video on the family tablet, while mom is answering her last work emails on her laptop. Everything seems under control until the screen freezes, an unknown app pops up, or a password no longer works. This is often how families realize they are not as well protected as they thought.
In 2025, homes are no longer just living spaces, they are digital hubs. And while threats evolve, the right steps to take remain accessible. Here are five essential steps to strengthen your family’s cybersecurity, without stress or technobabble.
Stronger passwords with “passphrases”
Too often, children use their dog’s name or their date of birth as their password. Adults, meanwhile, reuse the same password on multiple sites. The danger is very real: a single data leak can compromise your entire family’s digital life.
Our recommendation:
- Replace short passwords with passphrases (also known as passphrases), such as: “theSunAlwaysRises2025” or “IeatGreenApples!”
- Use a phrase that is easy to remember but difficult to guess.
- Install a family password manager (Dashlane) so that each member has access to their accounts without compromising those of others.
- Practical bonus: agree on a secret family code to memorize (e.g., a phrase or expression). If you have any doubts about a suspicious call or message, this code will allow you to verify the person’s identity without falling into a scam.
Secure Wi-Fi means a more peaceful home
Your home router is like the front door to your house. And yet, how many of us still have the default password written under the device?
To do it right:
- Rename the network to avoid revealing the router brand (e.g., avoid names like “BELL-9456” or ‘TremblayHouse’ and opt for a generic name with no personal connection, such as “Network-Alpha75”).
- Enable WPA3 if available (or WPA2 if not)
- Create an “invitation” network for your children’s friends, neighbors, or temporary connected devices.
Additional tip: To go even further, you can configure your router’s DNS settings to automatically block malicious or inappropriate websites. Free solutions such as 1.1.1.1 for Families allow you to do this in just a few clicks.
Teleworking and homework: avoid cross-contamination
In many households, children and parents share the same tablet or computer. This may seem convenient, but it poses real security and privacy issues. A questionable video or a browser extension installed by mistake can expose sensitive work documents.
To limit the risks:
- Ideally, set aside one device for working from home and another for family use.
- Set up separate user profiles.
- Disable automatic file sharing.
This clear separation reduces errors, data leaks, and conflicts in the use of tools.
Parental controls: yes, but with kindness
Parental control should not be seen as punishment or intrusion, but as support. It allows children to discover the internet safely, while giving parents a better understanding of how it is used.
Simple and effective tools:
- Microsoft Family Safety: ideal for Windows environments.
- Google Family Link: very useful on Android.
- Apple Screen Time: built-in and powerful for Apple devices.
Take the time to discuss this with your family. Explain why certain limits are in place and adjust them together as needed.
Raise awareness through dialogue, not fear
Rather than prohibiting or reacting too late, why not talk about cybersecurity as you would talk about money or health? Children, like adults, understand the issues very well when given concrete examples.
Some accessible ideas:
- Take a mini quiz as a family on Sunday evenings.
- Discuss a suspicious email you’ve received recently.
- Praise good habits such as enabling two-factor authentication.
Cybersecurity isn’t just about software, it’s a collective habit.
As we head into fall 2025, the connected home is a reality for most families. But too often, digital security is relegated to the background due to lack of time or knowledge. Fortunately, a few simple steps can make a real difference.
If you would like to go further, the specialists at Mon Technicien support Quebec SMEs with simple, effective, and human cybersecurity. Contact us for a personalized assessment.
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