Older Demographics as Targets

As emerging software, tools and technologies continue to be used and relied upon by younger generations, older demographics will understandably struggle to keep up, Plaggemier said.

“However, this does not necessarily mean that the group will be exploited at a greater number or percentage by cybercriminals,” she said. “In fact, according to NCA’s Oh Behave! The Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report 2022, over a third of Gen Z respondents lost data or money due to phishing, which was nearly three times higher than the older generation. However, even if there is a misconceived perception that the elderly population is more likely to fall victim to common cybercrimes, the stakes for this group are significantly higher.” 

For example, older demographics now rely heavily on technology that monitors their well being, such as wearable devices that detect vital signs and other health indicators, Plaggemier said. While this technology has no doubt improved the lives of the elderly population, it has also made them extremely dependent on it, and thus, vulnerable to cybercriminals who would exploit these assets.

“As we approach 2023, the incorporation and reliance on emerging technologies to help with everyday life, especially in the health care sector, will need to have cybersecurity-related safeguards in place to help protect their users from bad actors,” she said.