Revisiting Internet Safety for Older Adults
06/17/2026
Revisiting Internet Safety for Older Adults
Many scammers target older adults on the internet via romance scams, impersonation scams, and more. Therefore, if you are an older adult, cybersecurity should be one of your top priorities when navigating the internet.
The number one thing to be aware of is phishing. Links are a gateway for many criminals, and clicking them can give them access to your devices, allow them to install malware, and steal information via spoofed websites. Whether you receive a link via text, email, pop-up, or direct message, always proceed with caution. If the link is from an unknown sender or was unsolicited, the best practice is to ignore it altogether. If you think the link may be from a legitimate sender, hover over the link to see where the actual destination is. If the destination looks strange, do not click on it. You can always verify the legitimacy of the link by contacting the company at a verified source.
NOTE: Just like links, attachments and pop-ups can be gateways for criminals to take control of your devices or to steal personal information.
Unsecured networks are also an important component of personal cybersecurity. If you choose to use a public Wi-Fi network, know that most of them are unsecured. This means that scammers can access your devices via the network to steal things like passwords, bank account credentials, and more. If you would like to continue to use public Wi-Fi, consider investing in a virtual private network (VPN) to firewall your internet access. If you are on a smartphone, you can also choose to use your phone’s data rather than the public Wi-Fi available.
Lastly, we cannot stress enough the importance of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Never share either of these with anyone. It can be a pain to come up with unique passwords for each account and to remember each one, but passwords are the barrier between your information and scammers. There are also secure ways to keep track of your many passwords like password managers! Strong passwords consist of at least 16 characters; are a mixture of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. You can also make use of passphrases. Passphrases are unique combinations of words that are random in nature. Expert advice varies, but you should change your passwords regularly for better security. Your bank, tech support, or any other person will never need your password (or other login credentials!) for any reason whatsoever. Anyone who asks for it is a scammer.
Personal cybersecurity doesn’t have to be hard! A basic level of awareness about where the threats come from can greatly reduce your chances of a breach. If you believe your cybersecurity has been compromised, reach out to the appropriate entities to secure your account and seek advice from vetted sources.
Sources:
https://www.ncoa.org/article/how-older-adults-can-improve-their-personal-cyber-security/