Why Every Family Needs a Digital Emergency Plan
Most Australian families have a plan for fires, medical emergencies and lost children. Almost none have a plan for the moment a child's account is hacked, a parent is scammed, or intimate images are shared without consent. KNOMI Cyber believes every family should have a simple digital emergency plan — and it's easier to build than people expect.
Why families need a plan
Cyber incidents move faster than most other emergencies. By the time a parent works out who to call, the scammer has moved money or the bully has reshared the image. A plan turns panic into the first three calm decisions, and that's usually the difference between a contained incident and a months-long fallout.
What a KNOMI family plan includes
We help families agree on the basics: a safe word for verifying urgent requests, a known phone number for each major bank, a shared password manager, and a single 'first call' contact when something goes wrong. For households with kids, the plan also covers what to do about online bullying, contact with strangers, and intimate images.
Core elements of a family digital plan
- A family safe word for urgent requests
- Account recovery contacts for each parent
- Where evidence (screenshots, files) is saved
- Who to call: bank, eSafety, KNOMI, GP, school
- Annual cyber check-in (date in the calendar)
Building it in one evening
You don't need a binder. A single shared document, a password manager and a printed card in each wallet covers most of it. KNOMI Cyber's family plans take an evening to put together and pay back the first time something goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't a digital emergency plan overkill?
Australians experience cyber incidents at a rate higher than house fires. The plan takes one evening and saves days of stress.
What's a safe word and why do families need one?
A short phrase only your family knows, used to verify urgent 'I've lost my phone, send money' requests. It's the simplest defence against impersonation and AI voice scams.
Can KNOMI help us build the plan?
Yes. KNOMI's Family plans include a guided digital safety plan, a Family Cyber Score, and a single number to call when something goes wrong.