Last Updated: July 24, 2026
In this latest blog post, Dakota Murphey highlights everything you need to know to make the most of your time online while keeping yourself and your personal information safe.
The internet is full of incredible possibilities that can make everybody’s lives easier. However, it can also be overwhelming and frightening, particularly for older people, with many struggling to use it. While we rely on internet connectivity to access important services and buy the products we need, it becomes equally vital to stay safe online.
Staying safe on the internet
Older people can be sceptical and hesitant to embrace today’s digital era. The idea of society becoming so reliant on the internet for pleasure, work and communication with their peers, family and friends, fills many in the older generation with unease and uncertainty.
Being online can make life so much easier for older people, particularly those who live alone or in isolated care. It can open the door to a whole realm of activities that can keep them entertained and feeling less lonely and more productive.
Benefits of being online
Older people can use the internet to:
- Connect with friends and family via social media or video conferencing. Many older people like to use Facebook or local groups on Nextdoor to engage with their local communities.
- Purchase products like food, household essentials or over-the-counter medicine. Online shopping is popular and easy nowadays, and many older people find it less strenuous and time-consuming than visiting shops in person, particularly as driving often becomes quite tiresome after a while.
- Book appointments with their doctor, physiotherapist, dentist, optician and more. It’s easier for older people to manage all their appointments in one place.
- Transfer money via their bank account, which saves the need to visit a bank branch, and deposit cheques or large sums of cash.
- Read, or listen to, the news, radio or music, or watch their favourite television programmes on demand. Many like to access streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime or Now TV to watch the programmes they like, without committing to a strict airing schedule.
- Commit to a post-retirement side hustle or part-time job, which is quite a popular hobby for many retirees. Older people often engage in contract work, which is easy to manage online, such as freelancing, consulting, mentorship and many more.
- Access support for post-retirement activities or jobs. If, for example, a retired web designer completes occasional contract jobs helping small local business owners and friends, they can easily find reliable, trusted support from suppliers or contractors of their own.
Risks to older people’s online safety
With any digital activity, there always lies the risk of fraud, scams and theft. According to Age UK, 43% of over-65s have been targeted by scammers, which totals nearly five million people. Older people are often susceptible yet hyper-vigilant. And, ironically, they may find it more difficult to spot the warning signs of a potential scam or cyber-attack.
In recent years, many older people have fallen victim to a scam in one way or another. In 2019, it was reported that, on average, an older person falls victim to fraud every 40 seconds. While the risk is lower for those who have experienced it before, the cyber-threat landscape is growing more covert. In other words, it’s becoming more difficult to spot a scam.
What are older people most at risk from when using the internet for work or leisure?
Scams
Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to trick people into giving away their sensitive or personal information, as well as money. These can range from scam emails and text messages to people posing as their familiar contacts on social media.
Some of these ‘messages’ might seem legitimate and honest when, in reality, it can be difficult for many older people to tell the difference. It’s easy to think that, for example, your bank is legitimately emailing you to ‘secure your account’ by entering your password, sort code and account number, when in actuality, you’ve done the complete opposite and just given the details to a hacker.
Data breaches
Sometimes as a result of a scam, or through other socially engineered means, older people can find their personal information shared with the general public without any prior knowledge. This can include (but is not limited to) credit card information, usernames, passwords and so on.
Looking more broadly, sometimes social media sites like Facebook can be the victims of a data breach which affects users of all ages. These can happen instantaneously and without warning.
Phishing, malware and viruses
Cyber-attacks such as phishing attacks rely on a hacker posing as someone ‘legitimate’ or ‘known’ to the user where, once access is granted, they can upload damaging software which could steal sensitive data, corrupt the computer and lock out the user from accessing it again.
Hackers could send bogus emails or messages, direct you to a fake website, fool you into thinking you’ve won money or trick you into downloading malicious files, among other tactics, which could harm your device. Often, scam or phishing emails may look authentic and appear to be from trusted sources like banks, HMRC or the UK Government, etc.
Identity theft and fraud
Sometimes, cybercriminals can gain access to someone’s personal information. If passwords and logins aren’t adequately protected, it can be easy for someone to breach it and ‘clone’ your data, creating a fake persona that appears, to your immediate circle, to be legitimate. Identity theft and fraud make up two of the most commonly reported types of scams suffered by older people.
It could even go as far as the criminal disguising themselves as you to access your day-to-day services like your bank account. This can be done without your knowledge, leading you down a rocky path that is difficult to navigate.
Relationships or online dating
Scam artists can use social media sites like Facebook, or even dating sites like eHarmony, to trick users. These are commonly known as ‘sweetheart scams’. Someone could mask themselves as someone completely unknown to the user, or even someone that the user knows or is close to.
They will invariably ask for money, telling you an emotional story or proclaiming they are in distress. These can be difficult to spot, so it’s worth paying close attention or asking for a second opinion from someone you trust.
Tips to stay safe online
It can be easy to worry about accessing the internet, particularly after reading about the dangers that exist. However, the vital tips below will ensure you and your data remain secure and uncompromised, leaving you to enjoy its benefits with peace of mind:
- Talk to your family, friends or carers. When in doubt, speak to someone you trust. It’s important that you feel comfortable and at peace using the internet.
- Secure your router. Make sure your WiFi network has a unique password so people cannot connect to the internet through your device without approval.
- Download good antivirus software. This will protect your computer from viruses and malware, and also alert you if something doesn’t look right.
- Use strong, unique passwords. Consider using strong passwords that are easy enough for you to remember while being difficult to recite. Use a variety of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters. Also, for each account you use, consider a unique password.
- Update your system. Keep your computer and any software you use up to date – if you don’t, you’re at greater risk of exploitation.
- Only use secure sites. Look for ‘https’ in the URL bar of your browser, or a secure padlock, which confirms that the site you are visiting is secure and your data is encrypted. Avoid any that you do not recognise.
- Don’t ever give someone money or your account details. If you’re unsure of who you’re talking to, ask them whether they’d be willing to meet in person or talk via video, to make sure they’re not a con artist.
- Go with your gut instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s a good chance that it isn’t. Only commit if you are 100% sure and always ask for advice or a second opinion if you’re not.
The internet is a fantastic and rewarding place but it’s vital to take steps to ensure you are protected.
About Dakota Murphey
Dakota Murphey is a freelance writer living and working in the UK. She enjoys writing engaging content across a range of topics, including: lifestyle, marketing, PR, entrepreneurial skills, education, company growth and personal relationships.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Dakota_Murphey
