Online banking and services help disabled and senior citizens gain access to valuable services from the comfort of their homes, that otherwise can only be availed on a physical note. However, with the increase in digitalization, hackers are seeing such targets as vulnerable points that can be easily exploited with the help of sophisticated cyber-attacks such as phishing.
So, to help the physically disabled and the senior citizens, here are some tips for them to stay safe and secure, online.
1.) It’s better if these individuals go through newspapers and other reading material, to make them familiar of the current cyber landscape. It can also be done by opting for Google newsletters or something from the print media. This helps not only educate themselves on what is going in the society, but also helps them what not to do when they are targeted by cyber criminals.
2.) Never reveal sensitive details such as CVV numbers, OTPs, bank account info and pass-words to online banking services, as the hackers can easily use them to infiltrate and then drain a bank account.
3.) Never click on suspicious links sent by unknown senders via emails and messages as they can contain malware payloads that can thereafter keep a track of the activity you are conducting online.
4.) Encourage the elders and the disabled to talk about the financial plans and goals with trust-ed sources, as this helps them learn more facts on what is being offered by different financial institutions and how they cater to the needs.
5.) Installing anti-malware solutions on PCs and mobiles makes complete sense as it can help the online user from falling prey to cyber-attacks.
6.) It is wise for the senior citizen or the disabled to pre-plan a course of action against a suspected fraud. Like keeping the contact number of the police and on how to report a fraud to their banking institution or the ombudsman. Because such planning often helps in preventing losses or educates others from falling prey to such frauds.
7.) Never fall for online traps such as gifts and rewards that are hard to resist as it can be a honey trap to siphon sensitive details from victims. At the same time, never believe anyone if they call you and say that your bills are pending or you need to change some account de-tails, otherwise it can be blocked. Instead call your financial institution or contact the customer care to get a reassurance about what was said on call/message/email.
8.) Opting for a 2-factor authentication to get a transaction passed, adds an extra layer of security while accessing banking services online.
9.) Always keep your phone device or the PC up to date with the software updates and only use a device that is working on a genuine operating system like Windows, Android, or iOS.
10.) And do keep a watch on your bank statements and report any discrepancies.
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