Any device that is connected to the internet is liable to be infected by a computer virus — also known as malware. And since even adults working in security companies have trouble preventing a malware outbreak, it’s no wonder that children have an even harder time with it. In fact, a child’s exploratory and trusting nature makes them easy targets when it comes to infection from viruses and other forms of malware.

There are good reasons why you should make sure your children’s devices — primarily their personal computers and phones — are virus-free.

1 - Data security

Increasingly our phones know more about ourselves than we do. It’s not uncommon for people to go through old photos and conversations and find things they don’t even remember saying, photos they don’t remember taking. But your phone remembers; there is a lot of personal information stored there.

A virus can target your kid’s data for all sorts of purposes, from selling the data to marketing companies to using the personal data to run phone and email schemes trying to extort money from the child’s parents.

2 - Personal safety

A child’s phone and computer also contain location information and may give a creep access to the child’s schedule and current location. All of that can be accessed if the device is contaminated by a virus.

Of course, bad actors have several other ways to obtain that sort of information instead of using viruses; most commonly they gather that data from public posts made on social media. So consider reviewing the privacy options on your kid’s profiles before you worry about a virus infection.

3 - General privacy

More than the kid’s data security and personal safety, securing devices against virus infections will also help secure the general privacy of you and your family. Seeing texts, pictures, and conversations you though private show up on the internet can be uncomfortable, regardless of whether or not it’s causing direct financial or personal damage.

4 - Network infection

Computer viruses work a lot like biological viruses. They are often designed to multiply and infect the networks they are part of. Since children are more prone to go into untrustworthy websites and fall for tricks while exploring the web, they are often the point of entrance for viruses that go on to infect the whole network.

So even if you make sure there is nothing worth stealing in your kid’s cellphone and computer, as long as those are connected to the same network the rest of family use, the security risk is still there.

5 - Financial security

At the end of the day, most crackers and hackers are after something very straightforward: money. And as mentioned before, a virus that contaminates one phone in your house can spread to the entire network, compromising credit card and internet banking information contained in all the phones and computers of the house. If you have a company computer or phone in the house, the virus can use those to contaminate your company’s network as well.

The good news is that banks are often insured against that sort of scheme and will likely pay you back for any damages, but that will still require you to deal with all sorts of paperwork and red tape as the bank looks over your case, which tends to be a pain across the board. It’s much better to prevent a malware outbreak in the first place.