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Is Your Child's Online Info Safe? Tips To Keep Data Secure From Hackers

WANTAGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Electronic toy maker VTech has confirmed that hackers breached the company's system, obtaining the personal information of about five million customers -- including thousands of children.

Hackers were able to get into VTech's system by breaching the company's Learning Lodge app store -- a platform that allows children to access educational books and learning games online, CBS2's Christine Sloan reported.

VTech said the hack exposed general consumer information, like passwords, personal email addresses and mailing addresses -- enough information to track down a user.

"The problem is that these systems will take pictures, video -- and can share with family members and loved ones," Dan Coleman, a security expert, said. "But that information is going up into a cloud and can be accessed -- it can be hacked."

According to Coleman, parents should be concerned and pay attention to all of the devices their kids use -- to help prevent the misuse of their child's information in the wake of a data breach.

"They really have to be careful about what they're signing up for and sharing -- and making sure that they're protecting themselves and always thinking about safety."

Parents should also watch their kids' game console use -- especially if they're playing interactively online. In most cases, you have to bee 18 years or older to sign up for an account, but parents are allowed to open up accounts for their children.

"With a lot of these gaming systems you can see their IP address, get an idea aobut where they live," Coleman said.

According to experts, parents should tell their children to not use pictures or video of themselves along with their personal information online.

VTech said they have temporarily suspended Learning Lodge as they investigate the breach.

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