Blog: How to Become the Healthiest You
by PaisleyH

5 Tips For Protecting Elderly Relatives From Cybercrime

Learn some great tips for protecting the elderly from cybercrime.

Date:   5/20/2022 9:32:06 PM   ( 30 mon ) ... viewed 251 times

The American Journal of Public Health estimates that every year, five percent of the elderly population in this country gets scammed. That's a frightening statistic, not only for elders themselves but for the people who care about them. It's also a preventable crime. Here are five simple tips for keeping yourself or your elderly loved ones safe from cybercrime.

1. Stay in Contact

Senior isolation is a growing problem around the world. Too many elderly people start to lose touch with family and friends, especially as they become less physically active. Scammers count on this. They know that someone who's been left alone will be susceptible to suggestions from a "friendly" voice. If you're elderly, stay involved in social activities. If you're a family member, stay in your loved one's life. Find out if strangers have made contact with them asking for personal information or money. These are immediate red flags. The first step to cyber attack prevention is always knowledge. 

2. Learn How To Spot Scams

According to Pew Research, over 42% of adults 65 and older are now using smartphones. That's good news, but it can leave new users vulnerable to exploitation. One of the most common attacks is called a phishing scam. This occurs when a scammer creates a fake email, phone call, or text message appearing to be from a legitimate company. They then either request financial information or send a link that downloads spyware or ransomware onto the victim's device. Don't feel guilty asking for the credentials of unknown callers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers free advice on how to recognize fraudulent sites, so do your research.

3. Take a Zero Trust Approach

Zero trust is the term used by professionals for an approach to security that takes nothing for granted. In a globalized age, cybercriminals are not limited by geography. A phone call that seems to be from a nearby area code might just be "spoofed" to look local. Public Wi-Fi networks might suffer from lax security. Never let anyone access your home or business network without proper identification, and store your most sensitive data offline. Taking a "trust no one" approach to your networks and devices may feel like paranoia, but it's an unfortunate necessity. 

4. Use Stronger Passwords

According to research platform GoodFirms, 30% of respondents said that they had suffered a security breach due to compromised passwords. One big issue is that people aren't making their passwords strong enough. Passwords shouldn't be easy to remember. Resist the urge to use something personal as a password; anyone who learns about your life could probably guess it quickly.

Research shows that a good password should be at least eight characters in length. It should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols if possible. Take note: Over 35% of users write their passwords down on slips of paper. If you're having memory problems, this might be a necessity, but it doesn't have to become a vulnerability. Always keep your password tucked safely in a drawer or (even better) a combination safe. It's that important. 

5. Update Software Regularly

One of the easiest aspects of cybersecurity to forget is software updates. Studies show that only about 25% of users install them automatically. Many consider it a hassle, and sometimes updates do cause bugs and glitches. Even so, some of the worst cyberattacks can be traced back to obsolete software. If possible, install updates as soon as they become available since they typically contain patches for security vulnerabilities.

Remember that the need to update applies to your antivirus software as well! Antivirus programs are a good first line of defense and should be installed on all devices. Sometimes these programs update themselves, but that's not a guarantee. It's up to everyone to take the initiative and make sure that proper defenses are in place. 

Education is the most potent weapon in the fight against cybercrime. Stay informed and spread the word so you can keep everyone you care about safe. 

 

Add This Entry To Your CureZone Favorites!

Print this page
Email this page
DISCLAIMER / WARNING   Alert Webmaster


CureZone Newsletter is distributed in partnership with https://www.netatlantic.com


Contact Us - Advertise - Stats

Copyright 1999 - 2024  www.curezone.org

0.047 sec, (2)

Back to blog!
 
Add Blog To Favorites!
 
Add This Entry To Favorites!

Comments (1 of 4):
Re: Staying Organi… bertn… 25 mon
All Comments (4)

Blog Entries (12 of 509):
5 Tips For Protecting Elderl…  30 mon
4 Reasons to Start Swim Less…  30 mon
5 Unique Ideas for Green Lan…  30 mon
3 Simply Relaxing Things All…  30 mon
Great Kid-Friendly Features …  30 mon
Supplements Every Athlete Ne…  30 mon
Great Ways to Feel Relaxed  30 mon
3 Surprising Benefits Of Med…  30 mon
6 Financial Tips To Keep Col…  30 mon
Five Jobs in Medicine That D…  30 mon
Safe Home for Baby  30 mon
Safe Home for Baby  30 mon
All Entries (509)

Blogs by PaisleyH (10):
Why You Should Start Learning…  22 mon  (3)
Enhancing Well-Being: How Hom…  15 mon  (2)
How To Use Essential Oils To …  31 mon  (2)
6 Trends That Will Kickstart …  18 mon  (1)
Top Business Trends to Implem…  18 mon  (1)
5 Tips for Starting Your Own …  18 mon  (1)
Simple Ways to Make Improveme…  3 y  (1)
How to Approach Yoga For Begi…  3 y  (1)
6 Ingredients You Can Swap To…  3 y  (1)
5 Ways To Stay Motivated With…  3 y  (1)

Similar Blogs (10 of 185):
Amazing Health  by dwaynejohnson3066  6 mon
crazy time  by ottototto  16 mon
internet and comput…  by gofta  18 mon
Nursing in the Raw  by ren  19 mon
Articles  by luisjames513  23 mon
I bet you didn’t kn…  by marlobrando  25 mon
How To Pick A Pair …  by frishay1  27 mon
What Are The Benefi…  by teaburntablet2  30 mon
Fitness Training  by susanemcclintock  31 mon
sylarlucas  by sylarlucas  33 mon
All Blogs (1,019)

Back to blog!
 

Lugol’s Iodine Free S&H
J.Crow’s® Lugol’s Iodine Solution. Restore lost reserves.



Kidney Stones Remedy
Hulda Clark Cleanses