Family Digital Safety Checklist — 1-Page Quick Reference

#1 Anti-AI Voice Scam Rule: Agree on a secret verbal Family Safe Word. If anyone calls or texts claiming an emergency, arrest, or urgent wire/gift-card need, ask for the code word—even if it sounds just like their voice.

Code Hint (Don't write exact word): _______________

1 Account Recovery & Lockout Prevention

~15 mins

Primary Email Armor: Turn on Authenticator App 2FA or Passkeys on your main Gmail/Apple/Outlook account (avoid SMS-only 2FA where possible).
Print 2FA Backup Codes: Download your one-time recovery codes for Google, Apple ID, and Password Manager; store them on paper at home.
Assign a Recovery Contact: Set a trusted spouse/family member as an official Apple Legacy Contact & Google Inactive Account Manager.
Audit Recovery Phone & Email: Remove old work emails, cancelled phone numbers, or defunct ISP addresses from your login recovery settings.
SIM Swap Protection: Enable a Carrier Account PIN / Number Lock (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) so scammers cannot hijack your phone number.

2 Updates & Device Hygiene

~10 mins

Auto-Updates ON: Enable automatic OS & security updates on all family phones (iOS/Android), laptops (Windows/Mac), and tablets.
Home Wi-Fi Router Check: Log into your router app, install firmware updates, turn off WPS, and ensure encryption is set to WPA2/WPA3.
Browser & Extension Audit: Update Chrome/Safari/Edge and delete any unfamiliar browser extensions (a top source of session theft).
Find My & Stolen Device Protection: Turn on Find My / Find Hub and enable iPhone Stolen Device Protection (requires biometrics away from home).
Separate Admin vs. Kid Profiles: Ensure children's devices or shared computers use standard accounts with screen/purchase approval—not Admin.

3 Household Scam Red-Flag Rules

~5 mins

The "Hang Up & Call Back" Rule: Never trust caller ID from your bank, IRS, Medicare, or tech support. Hang up and dial the number on the back of your card.
Zero Gift Cards / Crypto / Zelle for "Fixes": No legitimate government agency, utility, or fraud department will ever ask you to move money to "protect" it.
Never Share One-Time Codes: If anyone on the phone asks for a 6-digit text code "to verify your identity," hang up immediately—they are logging into your account.
Text/Delivery Smishing Pause: Ignore texts about unpaid road tolls, stuck USPS packages, or locked Netflix accounts; open the official app/site directly instead.
Freeze Credit (All 3 Bureaus): Place a free security freeze at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for adults (and children!) to block fake loans.

4 3-2-1 Household Backup Checklist

~15 mins

Verify Cloud Photo Sync: Confirm iCloud Photos, Google Photos, or OneDrive is actively syncing—and hasn't paused due to a full storage quota.
Plug In 1 Offline External Drive: Back up family photos, tax returns, and key PDFs to an encrypted USB SSD/drive unplugged from the computer.
Critical Document Scan Folder: Store encrypted digital copies of passports, birth/marriage certificates, deeds, and home insurance policies.
Password Manager Emergency Sheet: Export or write down the Master Password + 2FA recovery key and lock it in a fireproof folder or safe.
60-Second Restore Test: Open 3 random files from your backup today—a backup you haven't tested is only a wish.

Offline Emergency Map (Write Physical Locations Only — Never Write Actual Passwords Here)

Where Printed Recovery Codes Are Kept:

Where Offline Backup Drive Is Stored:

Trusted Emergency Tech Contact:

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