09/09/2021 | Press release | Archived content
According to research from the FBI and FTC, cybercrimes against older adults cost more than $650 million in losseseach year. Why? Unlike millennials and Generation Z, your grandparents weren't born with a smartphone in their hands. On top of that, older adults tend to have more significant financial funds like retirement accounts, making them an ideal target for cybercriminals.
With Grandparent's Day right around the corner, here's a guide on how you can help keep your grandparents safe from the most common cybercrimes on the internet. Check out our top tips to share with your family to boost their confidence in their digital activities.
1. Talk About the Latest Online Scams
Cybercriminals constantly update their techniques to increase their chances of successfully stealing consumers' data. Oftentimes, they lean on current events to create eye-catching subject lines for phishing emails, malicious links and attachments, and more. For example, criminals created COVID-19 phishing campaignsrelated to proof of vaccination or the surging delta variant since they know the pandemic is top-of-mind for many consumers. Encourage your grandparents to keep an eye on the news for the latest online scams so they have a better chance of recognizing fraudulent activity. Or better yet, send them a weekly digest of relevant consumer security news or call them when you come across a common scam. Remind them that knowledge is power in online security.
2. Show Them How to Think Like a Cybercriminal
The secret to beating cybercriminals at their own game is to think like one. Look at your online behaviors and your data from their perspective. Encourage your grandparents to consider what would make themselves ideal targets. Perhaps they have large retirement funds. If their online bank account is secured with a password that they use for multiple online accounts, they've made it that much easier for a hacker to access their financial data if their credentials are exposed in a breach.
Teaching your grandparents and other family members how to think like a cybercriminal can reveal possible points of entry and identify where they can tighten up their security to protect their devices and information from online threats.
3. Explain Cybersecurity Best Practices
With multiple layers of protection in place, your grandparents can navigate the internet more confidently. Here are a few easy cyber habits you can pass on to your grandparents:
4. Teach Your Grandparents How to Report Cybercrimes
The next step to a confident digital life is reporting fraud. Let your grandparents know that even if the fraud attempt was unsuccessful, they should report the incident. Any consumer can report online scamsat the FBI's IC3 website. Credit, debit, or bank account fraud should be immediately reported to your bank, as well.
5. Help Them Install Comprehensive Security Software
Use a solution like McAfee Total Protection, which can help protect devices against malware, phishing attacks, and other threats. It also includes McAfee WebAdvisor, a tool that identifies malicious websites, and identity theft protection. Having a security solution in place can help provide greater peace of mind so you and your family can live a more confident digital life.