Cybersecurity tips every senior should know: Protecting against scams targeting the elderly

Over the past few years, the digital presence of older adults has grown. Research shows that internet usage among seniors has soared, with 88% of those aged 65 and older reporting they use the internet as of 2023, up from 75% the two years prior. The pandemic brought about this trend showing how technology aided in preserving social ties and accessing services, encouraging even the most tech-hesitant to embrace online life.

As technology becomes more integrated into daily life—enabling seniors to connect with loved ones, access services, and take part in community activities—their exposure to potential risks also rises.

Common scams targeting the elderly

Seniors are often high targets for hackers and scammers because of their perceived lack of awareness, typically higher credit scores, and accumulated savings and home equity. These often look like:

• Phishing scams trick seniors into revealing sensitive information through fraudulent emails or websites
• Romance scams exploiting loneliness, where scammers create fake profiles and build relationships to get eventually get money 
• Tech support fraud involves criminals posing as IT support (usually from a financial institution or agency – your bank, PayPal or Stripe for example) claiming to help you solve an issue they’ve detected, but they need access to your device and information first
• Medicare and health insurance and scams, where fraudsters impersonate healthcare providers to get personal information, or claim there are outstanding payments. 

Cyber criminals exploit seniors’ personal information to open new credit accounts, file fraudulent tax returns, or access medical and government benefits. This can be devastating for seniors, as recovering from financial losses becomes more challenging with age. In extreme cases, it force people to delay retirement, return to work, or even lose their homes.

Bridging the digital divide is a family affair

Our parents and grandparents didn’t grow up with smartphones and social media, but they can rock the digital world more easily with some patient guidance from us.

Have you ever sat down with your nan and showed her how to spot a dodgy email? Or helped Dad beef up his phone privacy settings? Below are a few ways to connect on cyber matters – and finally convince them to stop using the dog’s name and birth year password combination for everything.

1. Play “Spot the Scam” with recent phishing emails
2. Have a password update session or set up a password manager for them
3. Give social media profiles a privacy check-up
4. Update apps and software together (and explain why it matters)
5. Chat about any online stuff that’s been bugging them and let them know you’re available if when they’re unsure.

Cybersecurity tips for seniors (and everyone!)

• Create strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to securely keep track of them
• Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible for an extra layer of protection
• Keep your devices’ software and operating systems current (updates often include the latest security patches). Only download apps from official app stores
• Be wary of unexpected email attachments or links. When in doubt, contact the sender directly through a known, trusted method to verify if they sent it
• Avoid conducting sensitive transactions (like online banking) on public Wi-Fi networks 
• Before entering personal information, ensure the website is legitimate. Sapher Shield is the best tool for this as it will alert you whenever you click on a suspicious link or attachment (and give you the option to proceed if you know it’s safe)
• Be skeptical of unsolicited contact, especially those creating urgency or asking for personal information. 

Cybersecurity education for seniors

Be Connected is a free Australian government initiative providing online courses and resources designed for older Australians to improve their digital literacy and cybersecurity skills, including personalised support and mentoring through a network of community organisations across Australia.

A course named Tech Savvy Seniors is available at Macquarie Community College, educating seniors on cyber safety basics like malware, phishing scams targeting the elderly, and security software.

Kick-Ass Seniors is a new charity offering free services to Australians 65 and older, including online workshops and community forums.