How to Talk to Your Grandparents About Cybersecurity

According to research from the FBI and FTC, cybercrimes against older adults cost more than $650 million in losses each 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 campaigns related 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 you ..

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