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May 2024
Retirement villages can be beautiful places for seniors to live their golden years. They provide a sense of community, a variety of activities, and access to healthcare and other services.
However, like any community, retirement villages are not immune to digital theft. Seniors may be particularly vulnerable to digital theft due to their age and lack of technical knowledge. Fortunately, there are several steps that seniors and retirement village staff can take to protect against digital theft.
Digital theft is a type of theft that involves stealing personal information or assets through digital means, such as hacking, phishing, or malware. It can also include identity theft, where someone impersonates a person to gain access to their financial accounts or other personal information. In recent years, digital theft has become a more significant problem, with seniors being one of the most vulnerable groups.
Here are five ways to protect seniors in retirement villages from digital theft.
The first step in protecting seniors from digital theft is to educate them about the dangers. Seniors need to know how thieves can steal their personal and financial information online.
It is essential to explain to seniors that digital theft can happen through emails, texts, social media, and even phone calls. Scammers can trick seniors into providing personal information by posing as legitimate organisations or individuals.
Seniors should also be informed about the importance of using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links and attachments, and regularly updating their software and antivirus programs. Education can be provided through newsletters, informational sessions, and one-on-one conversations with retirement village staff.
Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires users to provide two forms of identification to access their accounts.
This can include a password and a code sent to the user’s phone or email. Two-factor authentication can significantly reduce the risk of digital theft, as thieves need both the password and the user’s phone or email to access their account.
Seniors should be encouraged to use two-factor authentication whenever possible, especially for financial accounts such as banking and investment accounts. Retirement village staff can assist seniors who need to become more familiar with setting up two-factor authentication.
Antivirus and anti-malware software are essential for protecting computers from digital threats such as viruses, malware, and spyware. These threats can compromise personal information, cause system crashes, and lead to other serious problems.
Antivirus software works by detecting and removing viruses from a computer. It scans the computer for malicious software and alerts the user if it finds any threats. Anti-malware software works similarly but focuses on detecting and removing different types of malware, including spyware and adware.
Retirement villages can protect seniors from digital theft by installing antivirus and anti-malware software on their computers.
Limiting internet access to secure sites effectively protects seniors living in retirement villages from digital theft. By restricting access to potentially harmful websites and social media platforms, retirement villages can reduce the risk of seniors accidentally clicking on links that lead to malicious websites.
Retirement villages can create a list of approved sites that are safe for seniors. This list should include reputable news sites, online shopping sites, and social networking sites with a good security reputation. They can also use content-filtering software to block access to potentially harmful sites. This software can block access to websites containing malware, phishing scams, and other forms of digital threats.
Retirement villages can also implement physical security measures to protect seniors from digital theft. Providing seniors with security devices such as laptops and tablets with built-in security features is one way to protect them from theft.
Additionally, installing security cameras in common areas can deter potential thieves from targeting senior residents. Retirement villages can also provide seniors with lockable storage units to store their devices when they are not in use.
This ensures that unauthorised access to their devices is prevented, and the risk of theft is reduced. By providing physical security measures, retirement villages can offer seniors an added protection against digital theft.
Digital theft is a growing concern for seniors living in retirement villages, just like everywhere else. Retirement villages, like Evergreen, are taking proactive steps to protect seniors from digital theft by implementing various security measures.
Retirement villages must prioritise the safety and security of their senior residents by implementing these measures to prevent digital theft and safeguard the personal information and devices of seniors.