The internet has become an integral part of most people’s daily lives, connecting friends and family members, allowing people to carry out banking and shopping transactions online and making available to all a wealth of information about every conceivable subject. It is important to remember, though, that the elderly haven’t grown up with this technology and many of them will be totally naïve about the risks associated with certain aspects of online safety.
However, this does not alter the fact that it is to everyone’s advantage for our elderly loved ones to be able to use the internet with confidence. All it needs for them to stay safe online is for you and other family members to sit down with them when they first start using their laptop or tablet and show them the do’s and don’ts of internet browsing. After a bit of guidance from you, they will soon have the knowledge and skills to navigate their way round the internet in complete confidence and safety.
The biggest dangers for older people when they go online are:
- Online Scams: They are often targeted by scams such as phishing emails, fake tech support calls, or fraudulent online offers promising prizes or benefits.
- Identity Theft: They may unknowingly share personal information online, leading to identity theft and financial fraud.
- Financial Scams: They may fall victim to various financial scams, including investment schemes, fake charities, or fraudulent online shopping websites.
- Psychological manipulation: Cybercriminals may exploit older people’s trust and kindness through underhand tactics, tricking them into divulging sensitive information or sending money.
- Malware and Viruses: Clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrustworthy sources can result in malware infections, compromising the security of their devices and personal data.
- Privacy Concerns: Older people may unintentionally overshare personal information on social media or other online platforms, compromising their privacy and security.
The best way to keep your elderly loved ones safe online is to educate them about the dangers lying in wait to snare the unsuspecting, for example, opening an email from an unknown source, or entering personal and financial information on a website selling unbranded goods of questionable quality. Above all, you must emphasise to them the importance of asking you before they click on any suspicious links, or try to buy goods from a company they have never heard of. Above all, make sure they don’t ever try and buy anything online without you being there to help them.
Useful tips and strategies to help you keep your elderly loved ones safe online
1. Make sure all their digital devices (laptop, tablet, phone etc) have antivirus software installed which is regularly updated
Antivirus software will protect your device against viruses which you may have unwittingly downloaded by opening an unsafe file or clicking on a dangerous link. Once a virus has infected a device, it can be extremely difficult to remove and can do untold damage, including attacking and removing files, stealing personal and financial information and even allowing your bank account to be hacked into. Installing antivirus and anti-malware software on your device will ensure that all incoming traffic is rigorously scanned for malware and prevent it becoming infected with anything malicious or harmful. The 3 most highly rated providers of anti-virus and anti-malware software as of May 2024 are Bitdefender (Bitdefender – Global Leader in Cybersecurity Software), Norton (Official Site | Norton™ – Antivirus & Anti-Malware Software) and McAfee (Antivirus, VPN, Identity & Privacy Protection | McAfee).
2. Set a strong password for each of your online accounts
With a large number of different platforms holding your information, including your name, email address and phone number, having a secure and strong password for each one makes it much harder for anyone to crack. Websites like How Secure Is My Password? | Password Strength Checker | Security.org will tell you how secure your passwords are. Changing them regularly will make them far harder for hackers to crack. Having a different password for each website or social media account means that if one of your passwords is discovered, the hacker still won’t be able to login into any of your other accounts. Secure password storage devices like Google Wallet can help simplify this process, so you won’t have to keep all your different passwords in your head.
3. Learn how to spot scams
Spotting scam emails can be difficult, but they will often include a very basic error, such as their email address being spelt wrongly, or not being part of their software’s contact details, not addressing you directly by name, and other random spelling mistakes. Fake messages and phone calls can be harder to identify as scams, but the most common give-away is asking for personal details, which a legitimate business would never do. If an email includes a link, never click on it until you have checked with a family member that it’s safe to do so.
4. Adopt two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of security created to ensure that only an authorised user can access an online account or system. It adds an extra step to the login process, requiring you to have 2 forms of identification, for example, a password, plus a verification code. This strengthens the security of your account, protects you against scams such as password theft and reduces the risk of phishing (scam emails and phone calls as mentioned above). It will also enhance security across all your devices, if you own more than one.
5. Never share personal details online to improve online safety
Never sharing your personal details is fundamental to online safety. This will help protect you against a wide range of risks and threats. Details such as your name, date of birth and address can be used against you in many ways. Cyber criminals can use such personal information to steal your identity and violate your privacy. It is harder to spot whether an email is fake if it includes your actual name, so it is essential to be cautious about sharing personal information online.
6. Privacy settings
Privacy settings are a way of controlling who can access your personal information in social media accounts and on website pages. Checking your privacy settings is crucial to improving your online safety, because restricting the visibility of your personal information can protect you against identity theft and reduce your online visibility, making it harder for your account to be found and thereby protecting you from online harassment. Adjusting your privacy settings is vital if you want to limit your exposure to unwanted content online and prevent social media taking over your life.
7. Be cautious with online transactions and banking
Ensuring online safety through online banking and transactions can be difficult for many elderly customers, who are used to just walking into a bank. One of the biggest tips is having someone you trust monitor your bank account and keep an eye on your transactions, so they can see if there is any suspicious activity that you didn’t authorise. Using secure apps and websites is the best way to make sure you are secure while making online purchases. Look for the prefix HTTPS in the website link and make sure the website includes a familiar banking logo to ensure it is genuine and not a fraudulent copy, designed to trick you into giving personal financial information to fraudsters. Always seek assistance if you are unsure about whether a website is genuine. Most genuine websites and apps have a chat option you can use if you feel confused or need help.
8. Keep the software on your device updated
Updates that go hand in hand with digital devices and online browsers are designed to improve safety by addressing software vulnerabilities and enhancing security features. Keeping the software on your devices up to date is essential to keep them safe to use. If you don’t, you may find you miss out on vital security updates, as many providers won’t issue security updates unless your software is up to date. Even more serious, if the software on your device hasn’t been updated to the most recent version, you are likely to be targeted by hackers who will have the ability to compromise the security of your device and possibly steal sensitive personal and financial data.
9. Make sure your Wi-Fi connection is always secure
A secure Wi-Fi connection is one which is protected either by a password, preferably made up of a complex combination of letters, numbers and symbols, or a pass phrase, made up of a random group of three or more words. You should never connect your device to an “open” network (one which is not password- or pass phrase-protected). You often find open networks in pubs, restaurants and hotels and you should avoid connecting your device to one of these unsecured WiFi networks. If you do, you run the risk of a hacker tracking your activity and transferring your data (for example, if you make an online banking transaction while you are on an unsecured network) to an unauthorised person who will use it against you. If you want to connect to the internet in a place with unsecured Wi-Fi, it is much safer to do so using the mobile data on your phone. By making sure you only ever connect to the internet via a secure Wi-Fi connection, you will ensure your online safety and avoid becoming the victim of cyber-attack (which is where someone gains access to your device via the internet).
10. Always close old accounts
If you have been using the internet for a number of years, you are likely to have opened an online account with a large number of goods and services providers, such as online shopping websites. You may have even allowed some of these providers to keep your bank details. Even though you might not have visited some of these websites for several years, they will still feature in your browser history and contain sensitive personal and financial information. Because of their age, they may be running on outdated software and offer poor data security, making them vulnerable to attack by hackers. In a worst case scenario, a hacker might be able to access your account on one of these sites and steal your personal and financial data – with potentially disastrous consequences.
The best way to avoid this happening is to access the list of accounts you have opened on your preferred browser, whether that is Google, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari or Mozilla Firefox, and delete the ones you no longer use. Deleting all your dormant accounts will significantly improve your online safety.
Although older people can sometimes feel overwhelmed by modern technology, with regular support from you and other family members, there is no reason why your elderly loved ones should not soon become adept at browsing the internet, confident in the knowledge that they know exactly how to stay safe online. Once they can navigate their way around safely, it will broaden their horizons and open up for them a whole new world of communication, knowledge and entertainment. Read our previous blog on why you should help your elderly loved one get connected to the internet : 10 reasons why you should help your elderly loved one get connected to the internet 2024. – Chesterford Homecare – 1
