Aging Cyber Safely

The talk starts from the fact that adults over 60 are among the most targeted groups for cybercrime. The presenters cite FBI figures showing more than 100,000 complaints from that age group in 2023, with losses of about $3.2 billion, and Pew survey data showing most people who experienced a scam never told law enforcement. Shame keeps many older victims quiet, which the speakers tie to victim blaming.

The speakers review US legislation from the 1965 Older Americans Act to recent bills on elder fraud and AI-generated voice calls, arguing that little of it pays for on-the-ground education. They point to support lines such as the Identity Theft Resource Center, FINRA's securities helpline and AARP's fraud hotline as key sources of case help. They then describe the Cyber Care Institute, a volunteer-led, free workshop program in New York City that has reached over 100 students through partner organizations. Sessions teach people to pause under pressure, use passphrases, back up data, apply updates and review privacy settings, with added modules on AI and industrial control systems. A small set of paper surveys showed rising confidence, though many participants were unsure how to apply what they learned.

For practitioners, the main takeaways are to replace jargon with plain language, use memorable analogies and games, and encourage participants to bring a buddy so knowledge spreads through their community. The presenters also stress reassurance, since learners often feel the material is too hard, and they plan to refine how they measure results.