There’s a better way to teach online security to older adults
UC professor says it’s best to focus on principles
There’s a better way to teach older adults, and people in general, about online safety, a University of Cincinnati assistant professor wrote in The Conversation.
“Older adults may be at heightened risk of cybersecurity breaches and fraudulent behavior because they lack experience with internet technology and represent a financially attractive target. Older adults may also be more susceptible because they struggle with their confidence in using technology even as they recognize its benefits,” wrote Nora McDonald, an assistant professor in UC’s School of Information Technology, and Helena M. Mentis, a professor of information systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Nora McDonald, assistant professor in UC's School of Information Technology
Often when discussing online security, people are presented with stories. McDonald and Mentis contend it’s better to focus on principles.
“In order to reduce everyone’s risk while online, we believe it’s important to provide a set of well-curated principles rather than presenting people with a set of stories to learn,” they wrote. “Everyone exposed to threats online, but especially those most at risk, needs a checklist of cautions and strong rules against engagement whenever there is doubt.”
One of the best strategies is to avoid engaging with potential threats.
“In short, the best strategy is to simply ignore unsolicited outreach altogether, particularly from organizations you don’t do business with. People need to be reminded that their own context, behaviors and relationships are all that matter,” the professors wrote.
Read more in The Conversation.
Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash.
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