The Ultimate Online Safety Guide for Senior Citizens

While technology has many benefits for overcoming some of the challenges of aging – mobility, making friends, managing healthcare, and reducing errands – it's easy to fall prey to its dark side.

The degree of connectivity and anonymity that the internet allows means that you could come into contact with bad actors and open up yourself to theft, fraud, and even violence without realizing it.

Research from the Pew Research Center shows that 88% of people older than 65 use the internet, a 74 percentage point increase since 2000. This is great as it means more seniors have access to information that can improve their lives.

The downside is that there are many safety concerns for those using the internet and persistent barriers to some who want to go online.

While staying offline can help you avoid being targeted by cybercriminals, failing to take advantage of the opportunities for connection that the internet presents can cause you to feel increasingly isolated. There’s a big problem here, as research shows that loneliness can be just as harmful as smoking.

Fortunately, the solution to this quandary is improved education and support. This thorough guide will help you learn about how to use technology and, most importantly, how to stay safe online.

If you are a senior, you might want to reach out to others in your life and go through this guide together. And if you have senior citizens close to you, take the opportunity to help them get started online.

1. Passwords: Your First Line of Defense

Passwords ensure that your private accounts and information stay just that – private. With so many of our daily tasks being done on the computer (for example, shopping, banking, and healthcare), passwords ensure that unknown parties can’t access your important information and potentially steal it.

My mother-in-law has a love/hate relationship with passwords: She knows she needs them, but she has a hard time remembering the passwords she chooses. What’s more, she regularly struggles to find the correct password when someone in the family tries to help her with an app or task – which can be frustrating for all involved.

If you have your own computer that no one else uses, you can save your passwords on your device to make life a little easier. However, you’ll want to ensure that your device is protected with a strong password that no one else knows.

For those using shared computers – like the ones at assisted living facilities and senior centers – it’s important to remember to log out of your accounts at the end of a session. A strong password is a great defense, but if you’re still logged into your account when someone else comes to use the computer, they could get hold of your information and do things like use your credit card or even steal your identity.

It’s also a good idea to give a trusted family member or friend the password to your device so that they can access it if you are sick, injured, or otherwise unable to operate your device.

Create Strong Passwords

One of the most important steps you can take to stay safe online is to create strong passwords. Criminals use computer programs that make it easy to figure out simple passwords, which gives them the opportunity to access your accounts and personal information.

Here are five things you should always do when creating passwords:

• Use a combination of random letters, numbers, and special characters, such as #$!@.
• Vary the case. You should include both lowercase letters and uppercase letters in all passwords. For extra safety, use the uppercase in the middle of the password, not just at the beginning.
• Don't use names or numbers that people can figure out just by looking at your Facebook profile. Many people use their birthdays, dog’s name, or even their own name. Use words and combinations that only you will know – even better, use something random.
• Use VPN Mentor’s password generator to create secure passwords.
• Set up a password manager account with a provider that has strong authentication measures to store your passwords.

You should never use Password123, 123, 1234567890, or 1q2w3e4r as a password.

Add Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts.

Beyond just a password, it requires additional forms of verification – like a code sent to a different device than the one you’re using (e.g. your phone) or a key generated by an app.

This makes it much more difficult for unauthorized users to access your accounts, even if they have your password.

Use Biometric Logins

Biometric logins – where you use facial or fingerprint recognition software to validate your identity – are a great way to secure your accounts.

You are the only person with your fingerprints and your retinas. This makes using biometrics to access your computer or certain accounts a very effective defense against hackers and thieves alike.

Some computer systems, like Windows Hello, on supported devices, can even scan your face and tell immediately if it’s you or someone else trying to use it.

You should keep in mind, however, that biometric logins could be manipulated by people who might want to access your devices. Some criminals might attempt to trick or coerce you into opening your device or accessing your accounts using biometric authentication. In this case, this defense could provide even easier access to your digital world.

Password Managers: More Security, Less to Remember

More and more people of all ages are using dedicated programs called password managers, such as LastPass or Dashlane.

Like everybody else, senior citizens can make the most of this software to keep their computers safe while making remembering and accessing passwords less stressful.

To use a password manager, you’ll need to install the program on your computer or smartphone and choose a unique, strong password to protect it. You can then enter all of your passwords for your accounts into the password manager.

When you want to log into a website, you will first go to your password manager and log in to find the password for the website you want to access. This gives you the security of many different passwords, while you only have to remember a single password.

Be sure to share this password with a trusted friend or family member so that they can access your password manager and all of your associated accounts in an emergency.

2. Keeping Viruses At Bay

No chicken soup needed here; this type of virus makes your computer sick.

Instead of catching it from a sneeze or a handshake, your computer gets infected with a virus when a malicious computer program is installed on it. Just like the types of viruses you can catch, each computer virus has different symptoms.

Computer viruses can come from a variety of sources. For example, one could be installed on your device when you click a link in an email designed to look like it’s from your bank. Another might give cybercriminals access to your email account when you visit a fake website encouraging you to sign up for a cruise at a heavily discounted price. Others reach your computer via files that you download because they look like they contain important information.

Whatever form they take and however they find their way onto your gadgets, viruses damage your device and stop it from working properly. They can also give cybercriminals a way to access your device remotely – i.e. from somewhere completely different from where your computer or phone is – and potentially misuse your personal information.

Because the damage caused by a virus can mean expensive repairs or not being able to open irreplaceable files, it’s important to proactively protect yourself against viruses.

Below are five things you should do to keep your computer safe.

1. Update Your Operating System

Sometimes when you are on your computer, a window will pop up saying that there’s an update available for your operating system. It’s easy to click ‘Cancel’ and put it off to avoid interrupting your computer session. But every time you do that, you are potentially putting your computer at risk of being infected with viruses.

Often, the updates to the programs help keep your computer safe. An update may fix a bug that hackers are using to break into computers. Or it could install code that helps make your computer’s operating system more secure. By installing all updates as soon as you get them, your computer has a higher chance of staying healthy.

Update alert. Just install it!

2. Use Antivirus Software and Keep It up to Date

You should always have a virus protection program installed on your computer and, just like your computer’s operating system, you need to keep your antivirus software up to date.

These programs automatically scan your computer to detect viruses. If they find a virus, they get rid of it, and may even repair any files that were affected.

3. Verify That Emails Are Legitimate

Emails are one of the major sources of viruses.

These emails often look like they come from legitimate sources, like your bank, utility company, or stores you shop at often; some may even look like they are coming from your family or your contacts. But they are actually fake emails that may contain viruses.

One of the best ways to tell if an email is real is to look at the address the email was sent from. If it’s not from a company address, then it may be a phishing email – an email that tries to get you to open it and click on a link to prompt the installation of a virus on your computer or enable cybercriminals to hack into your computer.

Unprofessional language, poor spelling and grammar, inaccurate branding, and messages that pressure you to take urgent actions are all other signs an email might be fraudulent.

Costco? Think again

Another important way to avoid downloading viruses from an email is using common sense. Would your credit card company ask for your credit details or other information they already have?

If you’re suspicious of an email that you’ve received from a friend or family member, reach out to them on another platform – like the phone – and ask if they sent it before clicking on any links or responding to it.

Phishing email example. Why would they ask you to download a file to reconnect?

4. Do Not Click on Links from Unknown Sources

When in doubt, don’t click the link. This goes for links in emails, on websites, and on social media.

When you receive an email that looks like it might be a phishing email, make sure not to click on any links that are in the email. The links could launch a website containing the virus.

You’ll also want to avoid clicking on links contained on webpages that you haven’t expressly navigated to yourself – especially if the website looks suspicious – or those that you find on social media.

5. Do Not Open Unfamiliar Attachments

Just like links, be very wary of attachments in emails if you aren’t 100% sure who sent them. The files are designed to look like something you would want to open, so be very selective and check with the person who sent it if you weren’t expecting an attachment.

3. Being Social on Facebook While Staying Safe

Just 45% of Americans aged 65 and older have engaged with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

These platforms are great for allowing you to access conversations and details about interesting events. There are, however, big safety concerns.

If you’ve been hesitating to sign up because of safety and privacy concerns, learning about ways to protect yourself may help you feel confident joining your friends and family on social media.

The Facebook Basics: Friending, Hiding and Blocking

Facebook is based on the concept of “friends,” which means people whom you allow to access your Facebook page. The Facebook concept of a Friend is a bit broader than the concept of friends in real life.

Fortunately, you still have plenty of control over who your friends are. You can send Friend Requests to people you want to be friends with and others can request to be your friend.

While most of the people who request to be your friend are people who actually know you, be aware that you will likely receive invites from people you don’t know who want to get access to your page. You should accept friend requests only from people you know.

You should block anyone who you don’t know that sends you recurring Friend Requests or who harasses you online; for example, by sending you regular, unwanted messages, tagging you in posts without your permission, or pestering you online in any other way.

When you block someone, Facebook essentially treats it as though you don’t exist on the platform if that person tries to find you. They won’t be able to see your profile or any of your activity.

In terms of online etiquette, blocking is seen as quite a drastic action. Another, less harsh, option is hiding. This is often a good compromise for people who are annoying to you but not dangerous.

The person you hide isn’t informed that you’ve hidden their posts, but you do not see their posts on your newsfeed.

Senior Safety Tips for Facebook

Here are five things you should do to stay safe on Facebook:

1. Use a Strong Password

Yes, I’m talking about passwords again. Facebook is a favorite of hackers and the best way to prevent these cybercriminals from gaining access to your account is to use a password that’s difficult to guess.

Take a minute to go back and reread the section on passwords. Everything I wrote about passwords in general also applies to Facebook. Remember: once the cybercriminals have access to your FB account, they can try and use it to scam your family and friends.

2. Change Your Privacy Settings

You can control who can see your page and how much they can see. Even better, you can set privacy settings at a page level and a post level.

To do this, navigate to Settings, then click on Privacy. The most important setting to check is Who Can See Your Future Posts. If you pick anything other than Friends, then people you do not know can see your page and monitor you.

Go to the Privacy option in the settings menu

3. Keep Your Location Private

Criminals use Facebook to find people to target in real life; often senior citizens.

Consider leaving your location off your Facebook profile and be careful about sharing your location (this is called a check-in), because that shows where you are at that moment.

Criminals can use your location information to target you at your current location or to break into your home because they know you are not home.

4. Be Aware of Public and Private Messages

When you write on someone else’s wall, comment on a post, or post on your own wall, everyone who has access to the page can see what you wrote.

If you want to send a private message, use Facebook Messenger. The messages sent via this app can be seen only by the person to whom you send them.

5. Limit the Information You Post

Think about everything you post and ask whether it might give criminals information that makes you a target.

If you are a woman and single, consider leaving your relationship status off your profile so people online do not know that you live alone.

Also, wait to post about your vacation until you are back home. Anyone who knows where you live could easily use this information to break into your house while you’re away.

4. Online Shopping: Buy What You Need Without Fearing Scams

Getting out of the house to go to the store can be challenging, especially if you’re not feeling well or the weather is bad.

When shopping online, you can order everything you need – clothes, groceries, prescriptions – and have it all delivered right to your door. In addition to not having to drive, you can often save money by comparing prices from your living room couch instead of driving to multiple stores.

Many seniors who are no longer driving find online shopping a good way to maintain their independence and not have to rely on others for basics.

Here are a few tips for smart online shopping:

• Factor shipping into the price. Check how much the shipping costs before purchasing and consider whether the purchase is worth the entire amount. Many sites offer free shipping over a certain amount or free shipping when making a purchase with a store credit card.
• Look for coupons. Many retailers offer online coupon codes. Sometimes retailers advertise these codes on their sites, but sometimes you need to search online.
• Look at the ship date. While many items have quick shipping, products can be backordered and delayed several weeks. If you want to buy Christmas decorations, for example, make sure they will arrive before Christmas.
• Check return policies before purchasing. Some stores, such as Amazon, pay for return shipping. However, others require you to pay the shipping costs related to returning an item if you don’t want to keep the product.

It’s certainly convenient, but you may be wondering if shopping online is safe. While there is a risk with any form of shopping – for example, someone standing behind you at the grocery store could steal your credit card information – you can limit your risk online by taking a few precautions.

Here are a few tips for staying safe while shopping online:

1. Buy from Familiar Sites

Nondelivery of goods bought online is a common crime. Stick to buying only from stores you know and that have a solid reputation. Be extra suspicious of unknown stores that send you an email advertisement.

Amazon would be a safer bet than some nameless online shop

2. Use Your Credit Card to Pay

Instead of using a debit card, use a credit card whenever possible. Most credit cards offer protection against fraudulent purchases, which helps put your mind at ease.

3. Do Not Store Your Payment Information in Your Account

Many sites give you the option to save your credit card number in your account. This means that anyone who accesses your account can buy products using your card. While it can be a pain to enter your card number each time, it gives you an extra layer of safety.

4. Don’t Shop Online over Public Internet or Cellular Service

Wait until you are on a private wireless network, such as the one at your home, that is password protected. Criminals often try to intercept credit card information and other data over public networks. You can also use a Virtual Private Network (or VPN), which is a service that prevents third parties from seeing what you’re doing online.

5. Use Strong Passwords

Yes, I know, I’ve said it before. But it matters a lot with online shopping – especially if you store your credit card information in your account.

5. Ridesharing Apps

Ridesharing apps make it possible for you to get around without needing to drive or rely on your friends and family for rides.

The way it works is this: You install an application on your phone for the ridesharing company you’d like to use. Then, when you need a ride, you open the application, put in your destination, and get matched with a driver.

Drivers for ridesharing companies are independent contractors who use their own car, so many people rightly have safety concerns. By taking the following steps, however, you can keep yourself safe while getting a ride whenever you need it:

• Check the vehicle details. The make, model, color, and license plate number of the car coming to pick you up will be clearly displayed in the app. Before getting in the car, compare the license plate of the actual car with the plate listed in the app. Only get in the car if the plates match.
• Ask the driver who they are picking up before you get in. Often many drivers come to the same location, such as the airport or train station. To make sure that you’re getting in the right car and that someone isn’t impersonating a driver, ask the driver who they are picking up before getting in the car. Companies send your name to the driver picking you up, so a legitimate driver will know your name.
• Share your position. Many ridesharing apps let you share your exact physical position with a friend or family member. This gives an added safety measure because someone knows where you are at all times.
• Know how to use the alarm. Most apps also include a feature that allows you to send a silent alarm to the company indicating that you feel unsafe. Typically, the company will then contact the authorities to provide you with help.

6. Food Delivered to Your Doorstep

Food delivery services allow you to order food from a wide range of restaurants and have it delivered right to your door.

To order food, find out which companies serve your area and download the app on your phone. Then it’s just a few clicks to find the restaurant whose food you want to eat and place an order.

Keep in mind that while the service is convenient, the prices of dishes are inflated and delivery fees are often hefty. You might also want to tip the driver who delivers your meal.

Ubereats is one of the services you can use to get food delivered

Food delivery apps bridge the online and the physical worlds, which means that criminals can use them as a conduit to commit both physical and online crimes. Keep the following tips in mind when using these services:

• Create strong passwords. I won’t preach anymore after this.
• Make orders over secure and private networks. By intercepting the order, criminals often can access your credit card information.
• Leave your porch light on, and don’t let the delivery person into your home. For extra safety, close the door behind you when you step out onto the porch.
• Let a friend or member of family know a delivery person is on the way. Tell them the company you used and even the delivery person’s name, if you know it.

7. Protecting Yourself from Data Breaches

You have likely heard about data breaches, which is when a company's data – potentially including customers’ personal information – is exposed either intentionally or unintentionally.

Personally identifying information (PII) is typically stolen during breaches, so criminals can use this data to commit further crimes. Many criminals take the data from the breach and specifically target senior citizens, assuming they are an easier target.

Here are a few ways to protect yourself from this type of risk:

• Be careful of phishing. Yes, I’ve already mentioned it, but it’s one of the most common ways criminals steal information. And it’s very easy to fall prey to it.
• Lie about your age online. I’m not talking about important forms or dating sites, just retail sites collecting information. This way, if a criminal is targeting older consumers, then your information may be safe.
• Use PayPal instead of a credit card. PayPal gives you an added layer of protection against breaches because sites don’t get access to your credit card data when you pay.

You should also keep a close eye on any data breaches during which your information was possibly stolen. Consider setting a Google Alert or reading tech news for updates.

8. Finding Love (or New Friends) Online

The internet is often blamed for isolating people, but technology also helps connect people.

If you are looking to make new friends or find a partner, you can now use the internet to meet friends or potential romantic partners and translate those online relationships into real-life ones.

Online dating can also be a low-pressure way to start new relationships. It might be very different from how you dated growing up, but once you get used to it, you might find that it’s easier to meet people outside of your current social circle.

Online Dating 101

Each online dating site works a little differently, but all sites have a profile that you create, sharing who you are and what you are looking for. You can browse profiles, reach out to other people, and communicate with members who reach out to you. Just be sure not to post your email, physical address, or phone number on your profile or send that information via message.

When you connect with someone you’d like to meet in real life, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

• Meet in a public location during daylight hours. Many seniors meet people from online dating sites at coffee shops during the day. If it’s not a match, then you are not stuck having a lengthy and expensive meal.
• Do not go to their house or in their car on the first date. Stay in a public location and drive your own car or hail a rideshare car to get there.
• Tell a friend or family member where you are and who you are with. This way, if you don’t return on time, someone will know where to start looking for you. You can also share your location from your phone so they know where you are in case of any issues.

9. Spotting Fake News Online

It used to be easy to know which news sources to believe – your town’s newspaper, the local TV station, and cable news stations were all reliable.

Now, with the internet, anyone can create a website and write whatever they want. Advertisers often create websites or posts that are biased to convince people to buy a product or service. People with political agendas on both sides also create sites and report stories in an unbalanced way.

Today, part of reading news is determining if it is accurate and fairly reported.

Look to see if anything on the site or page notes it is a paid advertisement. This is a sure clue that the story is not fairly reported and should be taken with a grain of salt. Reading news from known and reputable sites also has a much higher likelihood of being accurate

Here are some useful tips for avoiding misinformation:

• Look for the source. Is the piece connected to an interest group? Is the source mentioned and not just portrayed as “sources claim”?
• Think about political players who may be able to get value from that news piece. Are they the only source for that story? Do they have a history of dubious claims or misinformation?
• Remember that incredible claims require irrefutable proof. Don't fall for fear-mongering that has no sound backing.

10. Getting Help With Using Technology

Everyone needs help navigating technology. Don’t feel embarrassed because you get stuck. All the technology you are trying to use has existed for only a short time. Here are some places to go to learn more about technology or get help with an issue:

• Children. Your grandkids or your neighbor's kids have likely never known a world without computers, the internet, or smartphones. Ask them to help you solve a problem or use a new program.
• Senior centers. Many centers or community rec centers offer computer and technology classes for seniors. The classes are often reasonably priced and geared toward learning tasks that you are likely to need when using technology.
• Online courses. Check out the free classes offered by GCFLearnFree.org and TechBoomers.com. This is a great way to learn more without even having to leave your house.

Avoiding Scams Targeted at Seniors

According to the FBI, Americans aged 60 and above were defrauded of $3.4 billion in cyber scams in 2023, which is double the cost among seniors in 2021. Over a span of six years, losses increased ten times, from $342 million in 2017.

Given that these fraud statistics only account for reported cases, the actual extent of the problem could be significantly larger.

The FBI found that seniors are targeted more often because they often have money to steal, equity in their home, and good credit. Plus, they’re usually more trusting than younger internet users because they grew up in a time when these types of crimes didn’t happen. Crooks are also good at using products and services that seniors are often very interested in, such as health and anti-aging products.

If you do fall victim to a cybercrime, it’s important to report the crime to the police and other authorities.

The Aspen Institute revealed that many senior citizens do not report crimes because they are embarrassed or don’t know whom to turn to. However, the only way to protect other seniors is for the relevant authorities to be made aware that these crimes are being committed.

While I would love to detail all the common schemes that criminals might use to steal your information, such a list would likely be outdated by the time you read this. Criminals are constantly getting smarter and coming up with new scams, so you should stay up to date on sites that inform seniors of current scams; for example, Aging in Place, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Senior Scam Alert, and Senior Living.

The Bottom Line

The number of potential crimes that can be committed and the precautions you have to take to guard against them can feel a little overwhelming. However, learning to use technology has so many benefits – staying connected, maintaining your independence and meeting new people. I promise that if you take the time and make the effort to embrace technology, you will be very happy with the results.

Sources:

• Dating at 50 and up: Older Americans’ experiences with online dating – Pew Research Center (PRC)
• Elderly Senior Citizen Scam and Fraud Statistics 2024 – Comparitech
• Elder Fraud, in Focus – FBI
• How this 77-year-old widow lost $661,000 in a common tech scam: ‘I realized I had been defrauded of everything’ – CNBC
• Internet, Broadband Fact Sheet – Pew Research Center (PRC)
• Key findings about online dating in the U.S. – Pew Research Center (PRC)
• Loneliness is a health crisis comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Here’s how to combat it – Fortune
• Older adults as victims of online financial crime – University College London (UCL)
• Older Americans’ Cybercrime Losses Soared to $3 Billion in 2021 – AARP
• Share of those 65 and older who are tech users has grown in the past decade – Pew Research Center (PRC)
• Understanding the Shocking Facts About Senior Isolation – A Place for Mom
• Who experiences scams? A story for all ages – Federal Trade Commission (FTC)