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Common mistakes that people over 60 should avoid on the Internet
© bilderstoeckchen / Adobe Stock
The Internet harbors some dangers – this is well known. But while it is easier for the younger generation who grow up with it to recognize the pitfalls of the Internet, older people fall for it more often. What common mistakes are there and what helps to avoid them?
For the young student it is obviously a fake, the 80-year-old grandfather is happy to be suggested free offers. When it comes to the issue of security on the Internet, we all obviously have to be careful – but children and people over 60 in particular, who are often not very familiar with using the World Wide Web, should be even more careful.
Robert Klipp, CEO and managing partner of My Best Concept, one of the most successful performance agencies in Germany, gives four tips on how older people can surf the Internet safely:
1. Mistake: Inaccurate reading and prepayment
We’ve probably all missed important information or clicked too quickly on an email attachment even though we don’t even know the sender. Particularly in the older generation, awareness of potential fraud is not always very keen. Robert Klipp recommends “Read carefully before every click and be careful when paying in advance”:
“When opening emails or attachments, it’s always best to pay attention to the sender. Fraudsters try to steal personal data such as account numbers with fake cover letters. Apparently trustworthy senders, such as the supposed house bank, cause uncertainty here. No reputable company asks In this context, you should collect such important information. In an emergency, it is better to use the familiar telephone and ask the company concerned. Anyone who makes purchases on the Internet should also avoid paying in advance if possible in order to protect themselves from fraud.”
Mistake 2: Falling into advertising traps
Many people are also familiar with this mistake: we tend to click on the top search results rather than work our way through to the second page. However, this poses a danger – which is why, according to CEO Robert Klipp, the information should always be carefully questioned:
“Users of a search engine are often faced with a huge selection of results. However, hardly anyone clicks further than the second page. Some people even get stuck on the first entries and try their luck here. This is what happens These results are often just ads that offer little independent information. Inexperienced seniors quickly fall into the advertising trap and purchase the item they are looking for, for example, at increased prices. Even a simple scroll will quickly lead you to the results you are looking for.”
Robert Klipp originally studied mechanical engineering, but now he is one of the most sought-after experts in the marketing industry. His book “Billiard Grab Agency Service” was published in 2022.
© Inca English
Mistake 3: Falling for fake websites
“Branded clothing from ‘Puma’, ‘Addidas’, ‘Nike’ & Co.” – sounds good, right? The attentive readers among us will have spotted the error straight away: “Addidas” is usually only spelled with a “d”. If seniors may not know the brands that well and just want to order a Christmas present for their grandchildren, the risk is double. Free offers often seem tempting, but should be viewed with caution, according to the marketing expert:
“Scammers try to lure uninformed people to fake websites, especially with marketing tricks, such as a high ranking in search engines. Colorful images or apparently well-known names deceive older citizens in particular. This is where you have to take a closer look. The first clues can often already be found in noticeable spelling errors or in the spelling of the URL. Some offers seem too tempting at first glance. However, no company simply gives away a car and caution is also advised when it comes to online competitions.”
Mistake 4: Too much trust in security
Robert Klipp cites safety as the biggest issue. “Anyone who uses their smartphone can quickly find free Wi-Fi hotspots, especially in shopping centers or other public facilities. These promise cheap surfing without registering,” he describes. Is it practical – or is it not? “However, since such networks often do not contain encryption, this is the perfect entry point for attackers.”, he continues to warn. And explains what helps instead:
“To counteract this, it is worth avoiding using such hotspots despite the tempting offer. There is also a risk of phishing attempts in the form of fake profiles in the area of social media. These sneak in unnoticed and try to create personal profiles If you only want to communicate with friends or family, we recommend setting your profile to private.”
If we pay attention to these common mistakes in the future and point them out to those around us, we can easily improve our security on the Internet.