Cybersecurity may not be the most common topic around the dinner table, but it deserves to be.

Bad actors are targeting internet users across the board with a variety of tactics to gain access to the information you and your family members share online, store on devices, and may unwittingly provide to these criminals.

Parenting is difficult in the digital age, when a world of information—both helpful and harmful—is available at your children’s fingertips. But there is a silver lining.

Getting a tax refund means you’re in a prime spot to make meaningful investments in your family’s future. And with internet access now essential for virtually every work and school scenario they encounter, as well as entertainment and safety, upgrading your connectivity will position your home team for success.

Whether you're looking to upgrade devices, enhance communication or improve digital security, here are some smart ways to use your tax refund to keep your family connected.

The mindless gaze. We’ve all seen it, and many of us have done it ourselves. But when our children are staring at screens for hours, it brings a whole new level of worry for parents: “How much time should my kid spend in front of a screen?” 

Millions of income tax refunds are streaming into bank accounts and mailboxes across the U.S., and chances are you’re one of the recipients. With the average check exceeding $3,000 in 2024, you have a lot of options of how to spend it.

But before you blow it all, consider channeling your tax refund into something with a lasting impact.

The numbers are in, and education has landed the top spot among the many enhancements C Spire made to its wireless network in 2024.

As part of a $25 million investment, C Spire added and upgraded 5G and LTE cells at 18 schools across its Mississippi footprint, representing the Gulf Coast and Pine Belt regions as well as central and northern areas of the state.