The internet is not an inherently safe place. The original creators of the internet designed the web to be easy for anyone to access; security was not a primary concern. Unfortunately, that means that today, the web we rely on for work, entertainment and connection is rife with dangers.

The internet is an especially risky place for older users, who tend to have less experience of the web and thus are more susceptible to scams and attacks. There are certain behaviors that seniors and the elderly tend to engage in that make themselves bigger targets for fraud, and those behaviors include:

Insufficient Security

Long gone are the days when the only way computer viruses could spread from device to device was via a corrupted floppy disc. Today, the internet is brimming with malicious software, and seniors are at more significant risk of contracting a digital disease because they are more likely to use the web without sufficient protection. An internet security suite from a reputable cybersecurity provider will contain a number of useful features designed to keep users of all ages safe from online threats. Seniors should install internet security on all devices connected to the web, to include their mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Poor Password Management

The older a person gets, the more memories they have — and often, the worse their recall becomes. To make it easier to remember login credentials, many seniors maintain various bad habits regarding passwords that put all of their accounts at risk. For example, seniors might use in their passwords the names of their children or their birthdays, which are easy for cybercriminals to discover online. Seniors might use the same password for every account, which means a single compromised account could lead to insecurity across the web. Worst of all, a senior might save a list of usernames and passwords as a document on their device, so anyone using their device can gain access to all their accounts.

Fortunately, the solution to poor password management by seniors is a simple one: a digital password management tool. Password managers are applications that create strong passwords and store login credentials in encrypted files. Most password managers integrate with internet browsers to fill in login credentials when necessary, so seniors can avoid the hassle of usernames and passwords forevermore.

Careless Link Clicking

Links make navigating the internet remarkably easy. Instead of memorizing and entering the URL to every webpage one wants to visit, a user can click on a link and be taken by their browser to their desired destination. Unfortunately, not all links are trustworthy; in fact, many links sent through messages in email and on social media are manufactured by internet scammers to trick gullible seniors into navigating to corrupt corners of the web. Even worse, some links cause devices to download malicious software, which can hijack files, track keystrokes and wreak havoc in other ways.

Seniors tend to be more likely than other web users to inherently trust links contained in messages sent to them. Loved ones should help seniors learn to identify trustworthy links from legitimate sources and links in messages sent from scammers. If all else fails, seniors should get in the habit of navigating to important websites, like banks, independently of links.

Free Software Downloads

Software can be expensive, especially in the new Software-as-a-Service model that often requires subscription fees. Many seniors do not appreciate paying real money for an intangible purchase, like a computer program download, and thus, they will search high and low for a free alternative.

Unfortunately, free software is almost always too good to be true. Even if the software works as intended, it is almost certain to be insecure in a fundamental way; perhaps it also installs malware or opens a backdoor that allows cybercriminals unwarranted access to user data. Unless software comes from an incredibly well-vetted source, like the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, seniors should avoid free options like the plague.

Wanton Sharing of Personal Info

Social media is a remarkably convenient way to keep in touch with family and friends from all across the world, and many seniors who struggle with mobility rely heavily on social media as a means of maintaining social connections. However, seniors should be discouraged from becoming too comfortable on social media, as sharing some types of information in public spaces can put them at risk of fraud, as scammers can collect personal data from social media and use it to steal identities and commit other illegal acts. Seniors should remember that some types of information are best kept offline and perhaps never shared with others at all.

Seniors are at greater risk online simply because they have less experience with online threats. If the elderly want to make full use of the power of the web, they need to learn to recognize online dangers and use tools to keep them safe.