Digital Traps That Most Seniors Have Problems With in 2021/22

Digital Traps That Most Seniors Have Problems With in 2021/22

Based on the news, it looks like there are more headlines about hacking or digital data breaches than ever before. It’s enough to have you looking over your shoulder every time you open your laptop or use your smartphone.

 

This problem is even more exaggerated if you consider that most elderly people have close to no knowledge about cyber security and often fall prey to scams, hackers, and other digital threats.

 

There are a few things you can do to help protect your parents from common digital traps:

 

 

1. Strong Passwords

Having a strong password can really make a difference in how your account is protected. Most older people don’t realize how to create secure passwords and they mostly use dates, birthdays, or names of children or grandchildren as their pass. If you can you should help them to create something a bit more secure. You can use the tactic of using particular sentences from stories, songs, or movies as they can be longer and are usually easy to remember.

 

2. Install a Digital Firewall

One of the best things you can do is to install a firewall on your parents’ computer. A lot of people aren’t sure what it does exactly but they know that if they have one installed they are protected from viruses and malware. There’s not much more information needed for you to convince them to let you install one.

3. Set up Alerts

One of the best things you can do is set up alerts for their bank account or credit card to make sure that they are not being attacked by fraudsters. Setting up alerts will also ensure that if there’s a problem with their account, you’ll be notified right away and won’t have to worry about any fraudulent charges on your parents’ accounts. This way you don’t have to constantly call them to make sure everything is okay with their account, which could cause an unnecessary bother for both of you.

 

4. Use Two-Factor Authentication

If two-factor authentication isn’t something they are familiar with then try to thoroughly explain what it means and how it works before setting it up for them. If they are older, chances are they might not be used to having multiple kinds of security on their accounts so it can be overwhelming for them if you try to set up too much. Two-factor authentication is usually the best bet though because it will ensure that even if someone has found out your password, they won’t have access to your account unless they also have your phone or any other device with a code generator.

 

5. Keep Updating Software

One thing that most people realize is that software needs updating just like everything else in life does but many older people forget about this when it comes time to update the software on their computer or smartphone. Help remind them by setting up reminder popups or weekly emails with links to update different types of software. Most people will have no problem following through on this request from their child or grandchild because they know that it’s for their own protection and how important it is to keep updated.

 

6. Teach Them How to Use Social Media

If your parents don’t already use social media you might even want to teach them how to use it since a lot of scams and other cyber crimes take place on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If your parents are comfortable using these sites then make sure that they only add friends that you personally recommend or that they know in real life. You should also advise them not to put up any information about where they live, the type of work they do, family details such as names and addresses, or any other personal information that could be used to scam them or steal their identity.

 

7. Back-Up Important Files

This is a task that can easily be done by you but it’s always a good idea to remind your parents to do it every once in a while. If they have important files on their computer, like pictures of loved ones or important work documents, then they should be backing them up on an external hard drive or even uploading them to the cloud so they can be accessed from anywhere. This way if something happens to their computers, like a virus or hard drive crash, they won’t lose everything they’ve worked on or all of their precious memories.

8. Avoid Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is something that should be avoided at all costs, especially if you are doing any type of online banking or shopping. Hackers have been known to set up fake Wi-Fi networks in public places in order to gain access to people’s personal information, like passwords and credit card numbers. If your parents have to use public Wi-Fi then make sure they are using a VPN (a virtual private network) to keep their information safe.

 

9. Use Ad Blockers

There are a lot of ads out there that are not only annoying but can also be dangerous. Many ads contain malware or viruses that can infect your computer as soon as it’s clicked on. You can install an ad blocker on your parents’ browsers to help protect them from these malicious ads. There are a lot of different types of ad blockers available, both for desktop and mobile browsers, so you should be able to find one that works well for them.