To get a better understanding of how the American population felt about the use of COVID-19 tracing apps, Avira conducted a survey that revealed more than we expected. After asking over 2,000 Americans how they felt about tracing apps, it quickly became clear that the majority (a staggering 71%) do not plan on using a COVID-19 tracing app. While reasonings varied, the most common was simply that Americans believe using such an app would put their digital privacy at risk.
The survey also revealed other relevant information about digital privacy concerns. We quickly noticed a trend and found that online safety concerns vary by generation. The differences weren’t subtle either. While 29% of survey respondents over the age of 55 reported identity theft via large scale breaches their main privacy concern, only 18% of respondents between the ages of 25 and 34 agreed.
And while 27% of respondents over the age of 55 worry about malware and cybercrime, only 16% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 have the same level of concern. Unfortunately, such worries among older adults are not ill-founded. We set out to do a bit more research about how the 55+ community is targeted online.
Are older adults more at risk for online scams?
A CNBC report from 2019 confirms what many older adults and seniors already know; they’re often the deliberate targets of online crime. Researchers found that the elderly are more likely to be targeted for online financial fraud. Unfortunately, reports also found that when cyber crimes are successful, senior citizens tend to pay more than younger victims of similar crimes. When you also consider that the occurrence of online scams has been on the rise since the onset of COVID-19, it makes it easy to see that the senior community is at high risk.
Why older adults are at risk for identity theft
Multiple online scenarios can put anyone, including older adults and seniors at risk for identity theft or cybercrime. For example, online banking and shopping can quickly lead to a personal data breach. If purchasing from a merchant with a website that’s not secure, it can make it easy for a hacker to obtain personal and payment information. Signing into a banking account on a public network can also make it easy for hackers to gain access to your account and even move funds.
Using online health apps is another way older adults may be putting themselves at risk. In 2016, Quest Diagnostics experienced a data breach that exposed the personal information of 34,000 patients. With seniors now using apps to help them keep up on daily cardio, monitor their health stats, and remember to take medications, their sensitive data may already be at risk.
Another scenario to consider is phishing, a common scam that people of all ages can fall for. When phishing, hackers disguise themselves as reputable brands and businesses in an attempt to draw out personal information like usernames, passwords, and credit card details from unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately, these types of scams (online and offline) cheat American senior citizens out of $3 billion a year.
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How to safeguard against identity theft
Unfortunately, just one innocent mistake online can lead to identity theft. In an interview with Avira discussing how to protect older populations from cybercrime, Vaselios Karagianno, Reader in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth, had some apt advice.
“Take five minutes to think about the attachment that you’re clicking on or the email that you’re reading and what it says…Start being a little bit more critical,” says Vas. He goes on to mention looking for grammar mistakes in an email – a tell-tale sign of a phishing attack – and to call the bank in question to confirm the authenticity of an email requesting a hand over of personal information.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind to protect yourself against threat actors:
Server security matters
When you are online, make sure you’re only using a secure server. Your home Wi-Fi network is typically best (as long as it’s password protected) for online banking and shopping. When you’re not at home and are going to be using an open Wi-Fi network, consider using a VPN for an additional layer of security.
Regularly monitor credit scores
You have a higher chance of catching illegal activity before too much damage is done by monitoring your credit scores regularly. Visit annualcreditreport.com, where you can receive a free credit report every year. If you currently have credit card accounts, many offer free credit scores. Speak to a representative from your card’s company to learn more.
Cybercriminals are continuously advancing their phishing and scam tactics, doing their best to keep wary consumers on their toes. One way to fight back is to install security software on all your devices. For example, an antivirus software protects against phishing, adware, and hacking. Or you can opt for Avira Free Security, a free, all-in-one product that safeguards you, your data, and devices from all types of threats – including the vulnerabilities lurking in your computer, like weak passwords or outdated software.
Ili kuelewa vizuri jinsi watu wa Amerika walivyohisi juu ya matumizi ya programu za kufuatilia COVID-19, Avira ilifanya uchunguzi ambao ulifunua zaidi ya tulivyotarajia. Baada ya kuuliza zaidi ya Wamarekani 2,000 jinsi walivyohisi juu ya programu za kufuatilia, ilionekana wazi kuwa wengi (wengi wa 71%) hawapangi kutumia programu ya kufuatilia COVID-19. Ingawa hoja zilitofautiana, moja ya kawaida ilikuwa kwamba Wamarekani wanaamini kutumia programu kama hiyo ingeweka faragha yao ya dijiti hatarini. Utafiti pia ulifunua habari nyingine muhimu kuhusu wasiwasi wa faragha ya dijiti. """Tuliona haraka mwenendo na tukagundua kuwa wasiwasi wa usalama mtandaoni hutofautiana kulingana na kizazi." Tofauti hizo hazikuwa nadhifu pia. Wakati 29% ya waliohojiwa walio na umri wa zaidi ya miaka 55 waliripoti wizi wa utambulisho kupitia ukiukaji mkubwa wa faragha, tu 18% ya waliohojiwa wenye umri wa miaka 25-34 walikubali. Wakati asilimia 27 ya watu wenye umri wa miaka 55 na zaidi wana wasiwasi kuhusu programu hasidi na uhalifu wa mtandao, ni asilimia 16 tu ya watu wenye umri wa miaka 18-24 wana wasiwasi huo. Kwa kusikitisha, wasiwasi huo wa watu wazima wenye umri mkubwa hauna msingi. "Tunafanya utafiti zaidi juu ya jinsi jamii ya watu wenye umri wa miaka 55+ inavyoelekezwa mtandaoni.""" Je, watu wazima waliozeeka wako katika hatari zaidi ya kudanganywa mtandaoni? Ripoti ya CNBC kutoka 2019 inathibitisha kile watu wazima wengi na wazee tayari wanajua; mara nyingi wao ni malengo ya makusudi ya uhalifu wa mtandaoni. Watafiti wamegundua kuwa watu wazima wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuwa shabaha ya udanganyifu wa kifedha mtandaoni. Kwa bahati mbaya, ripoti pia ziligundua kwamba wakati uhalifu wa mtandao unafanikiwa, raia wazee huwa na kulipa zaidi kuliko waathirika wadogo wa uhalifu kama huo. "Kama unafikiria pia kwamba matukio ya udanganyifu mtandaoni yamekuwa yakiongezeka tangu kuanza kwa COVID-19, inafanya iwe rahisi kuona kwamba jamii ya wazee iko katika hatari kubwa. """ Kwa nini watu wazima wa umri mkubwa wako katika hatari ya wizi wa utambulisho: Mifano mingi ya mtandaoni inaweza kuweka mtu yeyote, ikiwa ni pamoja na watu wazima wa umri mkubwa na wazee, katika hatari ya wizi wa utambulisho au uhalifu wa mtandao. Kwa mfano, benki za mtandaoni na ununuzi wa mtandaoni zinaweza kusababisha haraka uvunjaji wa data ya kibinafsi. Ikiwa ununuzi kutoka kwa mfanyabiashara na tovuti ambayo si salama, inaweza kufanya iwe rahisi kwa hacker kupata habari za kibinafsi na malipo. Kuingia kwenye akaunti ya benki kwenye mtandao wa umma pia kunaweza kufanya iwe rahisi kwa wahasibu kupata akaunti yako na hata kuhamisha fedha. Kutumia programu za afya za mtandaoni ni njia nyingine ambayo watu wazima wanaweza kujiweka hatarini. Quest Diagnostics ilipata uvunjaji wa data mnamo 2016 ambao ulifunua habari za kibinafsi za wagonjwa 34,000. Kwa kuwa wazee sasa wanatumia programu za kusaidia kuendelea na mazoezi ya moyo ya kila siku, kufuatilia takwimu zao za afya, na kukumbuka kuchukua dawa, data zao nyeti zinaweza kuwa tayari ziko hatarini. Hali nyingine ya kufikiria ni udanganyifu wa kimapenzi, udanganyifu wa kawaida ambao watu wa umri wote wanaweza kuanguka. Wakati wa phishing, watekaji wa kompyuta hujificha kama bidhaa na biashara zenye sifa nzuri katika jaribio la kupata habari za kibinafsi kama majina ya watumiaji, nywila, na maelezo ya kadi ya mkopo kutoka kwa waathirika wasio na shaka. Kwa bahati mbaya, aina hizi za udanganyifu (online na offline) kudanganya Wamarekani wazee-wazee nje ya $ 3 bilioni kwa mwaka. Avira Free Security: Wacha Wanyama, Hackers na Vifaa vya Polepole kwa Bonyeza moja tu Jinsi ya Kujilinda dhidi ya Wizi wa Utambulisho Kwa bahati mbaya, kosa moja tu la bure mtandaoni linaweza kusababisha wizi wa utambulisho. Katika mahojiano na Avira kujadili jinsi ya kulinda idadi ya watu wazima kutoka kwa uhalifu wa mtandao, Vasilios Karagiano, Msomaji katika uhalifu wa mtandao na usalama wa mtandao katika Taasisi ya Mafunzo ya Haki ya Uhalifu, Chuo Kikuu cha Portsmouth, alikuwa na ushauri mzuri. "Chukua dakika tano kufikiri juu ya attachment kwamba wewe ni kubonyeza juu au barua pepe kwamba wewe ni kusoma na nini anasema... kuanza kuwa kidogo zaidi ya muhimu, "anasema Vas. "Amesema kuwa ""kuangalia makosa ya sarufi katika barua pepe - ishara ya ishara ya shambulio la phishing - na kupiga simu benki inayohusika ili kuthibitisha uhalisi wa barua pepe inayotaka kutoa habari ya kibinafsi.""" Hapa ni baadhi ya vidokezo vya ziada ya kukumbuka ili kujilinda dhidi ya watendaji tishio: Server usalama masuala Wakati wewe ni online, kuhakikisha wewe ni tu kutumia server salama. Mtandao wako wa nyumbani wa Wi-Fi kwa kawaida ni bora (kwa muda mrefu kama ni ulinzi wa nenosiri) kwa ajili ya benki ya mtandaoni na ununuzi. Wakati wewe si nyumbani na ni kwenda kuwa kutumia wazi Wi-Fi mtandao, kufikiria kutumia VPN kwa safu ya ziada ya usalama. Ufuatiliaji wa mara kwa mara wa alama za mkopo: Una nafasi kubwa ya kukamata shughuli haramu kabla ya uharibifu mkubwa sana kufanywa kwa kufuatilia alama zako za mkopo mara kwa mara. Kwa mfano, unaweza kutembelea tovuti ya AnnualCreditReport.com na kupata ripoti ya kila mwaka ya mkopo. Ikiwa una akaunti ya kadi ya mkopo, wengi hutoa alama za mkopo bure. Zungumza na mwakilishi kutoka kampuni ya kadi yako ili kujifunza zaidi. Wahalifu wa mtandao wanaendelea kuendeleza mbinu zao za ulaghai na udanganyifu, wakifanya kila wawezalo kuwaweka watumiaji wenye tahadhari. Njia moja ya kupambana na tatizo hili ni kuanzisha programu ya usalama kwenye vifaa vyako vyote. Kwa mfano, programu ya kuzuia virusi husaidia kuzuia programu za udanganyifu, adware, na hacking. Avira Free Security ni bidhaa ya bure ambayo inakuhifadhi wewe, data yako, na vifaa vyako kutoka kwa aina zote za vitisho, ikiwa ni pamoja na udhaifu unaotazama kwenye kompyuta yako, kama vile nywila dhaifu au programu ya zamani.