Tis the Season for Tech Gifts

The holidays are in full swing and so is the gift giving that happens during this time of year. The kids are getting excited about what special items are lying in wait for Christmas morning. While those presents used to be toys or games which needed little thought after their initial purchase, things have changed. More and more gifts we are giving and receiving these days require us to be knowledgeable about the technology they contain – and no one wants the newest tech device to be a source of worry for the recipient.

Make sure your tech gift is safe and ready for use by installing these three things:

• Antivirus: If you are purchasing a new laptop for the college student in your life or an iPad for your mom, you need to look past the color or the amount of storage space. Make sure that it has an antivirus program installed on it that is activated and up-to-date before you hand it over to the lucky recipient. You should also make sure that they know that antivirus has been installed and how to keep it updated and active.

• A VPN: Whether you are giving a phone, a tablet or a laptop chances are that the device will be used to get online while on the go at some point. This is why it is important that the device have a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, installed on it. A VPN will protect information sent on the device while using WiFi, including those ever popular hotspots which are present no matter where you are.

• A back-up and wiping program: Unfortunately, even before you surprise your teenager with the latest smartphone, you should consider what would happen if the device were lost or stolen. Even though the device will most likely be glued to your kid’s hand, it carries a lot of information, which in the wrong hands could prove devastating. Installing a back-up and wiping program ensures that should the device go missing, the information can be deleted or wiped. By engaging in the additional backup feature offered by many of these services, your teen can be back up and running with all of her selfies in no time should the device be lost forever.

With the easy act of installing these three things, you can feel really good about not only giving a wonderful gift, but also peace of mind. Recipients will be set up to protect their privacy and personal information while enjoying their new gift. Following these simple tips will help ensure that you don’t give the gift of identity theft, because most likely that was not on anyone’s Christmas list.