Tips on safer online experience for seniors
ACCORDING to DataReportal’s Digital 2022 Global Statshot report, more than 5 billion people around the world now use the internet, meaning that 63 percent of the WORLD’S TOTAL POPULATION IS NOW ONLINE. THIS fiGURE underscores the importance of the internet to every single country and user.
However, safe practices and precautions to note while surfing the internet may still be somewhat confusing for our senior citizens given its high technical level, often leaving the older generation vulnerable to scams.
They are easy victims for two key reasons: their lack of habit when it comes to knowing how to spot fraud and their tendency to share and trust news or information that reaches them.
The US Federal authorities estimate that old people lose more than $3 billion each year to financial scams. This data is backed by the International Center on Aging (Cenie), pointing out that a common way seniors are targeted over the internet is through email.
General phishing techniques are used against a large number of email addresses with content targeting seniors. As the world’s population continues to age, this number is only likely to rise.
Here are some precautions that every user, especially the older generation could and should follow to ensure their security:
Create simple but secure passwords: Being one of the most ignored by users of all ages, the use of inadequate and insecure passwords could put us in danger. This is why, and especially for the generations that came prior to this digital environment, should dedicate extra effort to create this first barrier to get protected: A secure password must be a combination that only we know, so it is recommendable not to use personal data such as anniversaries or birthdays, or family names, since these could be easier to find and figure out.
To make sure that our password is more secure, this should be long (at least 12 characters), and be formed from different letters, including capitals as well as symbols and numbers.
A simple way to create secure and easy-to-remember passwords is using a full sentence, with examples as: ‘VeolosTorosen#120’, ‘QuevivamiAtleti@1903’ o ‘CaféSolo#2azucarillos’.
Do not have it written down in any place near or on our PC as some elderly would note down their passwords, to ensure they do not forget them.
Different passwords each time: Another recommended practice is creating a new password every time we need it, avoiding the use of the same key password for different platforms and applications.
Use locking systems in all your devices: In smartphones and tablets, we should always have an access that restricts any access tries, whether with a pattern, a numerical code, or our digital fingerprint. By doing this easy first level of protection, in case of loss or theft, we could prevent such theft of access to, or even, our personal data.
Think twice before acting: In addition to understanding terms like “phishing” or “malware,” on the internet, there are also people who would seek to trick and fool us to make a profit from us. Therefore, we should cautiously avoid messages we receive from any stranger, without any exception for emails or phone messages (SMS). Remember to never click on any link or download any file from unknown sources.
Stay alert, not everyone is who they say they are: In line with the previous point, one of the favorite practices of cybercriminals is impersonation — impersonating courier brands, banks and even supermarkets. Should you receive any kind of strange or suspicious communication, before following the instructions or clicking on links they contain, you should contact the official entity in question directly to ensure the veracity of these messages.
Similarly, we should remember that financial institutions such as banks or even government ministries would never ask for sensitive data such as security codes or passwords through any channel, nor in writing or by phone call. These data must always remain in the exclusive knowledge of the user.
‘Better prevent than heal’: Beyond these suggested good practices, it is always recommended to depend on extra protection with anti-virus software. These tools are currently available for all devices with internet access, though it is not enough to just have them installed. Running automated searches and analysis on our data periodically and recurrently would help us to stay always protected, features available and easy to set in most antivirus.
The threats are many, but defenses are greater: Even if the hackers and threats remain out there, there is a big community of security experts who work to keep others safe, whether it is by sharing tips and signs to avoid being victims of cyberattacks or working directly in cybersecurity, such as specialized companies or even governmental institutions. When in doubt, adding any extra to reinforce our security is always recommended.