A Guide to Mobile Device Security and Phone Plans for Seniors

It’s difficult to overstate how helpful it is to have internet access on a mobile device. Anywhere a senior goes, they can access answers to questions, social media, or countless types of multimedia. The level of utility and entertainment you can get from a reliable internet connection is extremely high — and it can prove to be invaluable in your retirement years.

Smartphone users can reach out to loved ones via video chat. This is an excellent option for keeping up with family and friends in an immersive way.

Always having access to a camera and digital photo album is a great benefit to seniors. These make it easy to capture and reflect on happy memories.

Smart home accessories, such as automatic lights and temperature control, can streamline day-to-day tasks. This can be a real comfort to seniors with mobility or accessibility concerns. Smart home systems can be controlled from the palm of your hand if you have a smartphone.

Phones that feature GPS navigation can help seniors navigate unfamiliar areas, giving them a newfound source of independence.

Seniors can use mobile devices to make calls during emergency medical situations, and family members can regularly reach out to their older relatives via their cell phone to ensure they are doing well.

There are thousands of health-monitoring apps. These can help seniors track their diet, blood pressure, sleeping habits, mood, medication intake, and much more.

While there are plenty of tutorials and guides for learning how to use a phone, there is still a real learning curve to getting familiar with one. Taking advantage of the benefits of a phone requires a time commitment and plenty of patience.

If you don’t intend on using much data, a huge data plan is probably a waste of money. Likewise, it can be easy to spend a little too much on apps and in-app purchases if you aren’t mindful. Without being thoughtful about your purchases, you can spend quite a lot of money on your new phone.

A phone can prove to be a distraction. While you can adjust your phone settings to minimize the number of interruptions you receive during day-to-day life, it will take some learning to find a happy balance. And finding that balance is essential — especially in risky situations, such as when you’re driving.

Phones require maintenance and care to stay useful. Regular updates and cybersecurity measures (read more on these below) are required, and this can take some time to get used to.

Many seniors are on a fixed income, so a phone plan that offers plenty of minutes and texts — or, ideally, unlimited calls and text — at a reasonable price is preferable. Be sure to prioritize fair pricing during your search.

Getting up-to-date with mobile technology can be much easier with an accessible phone plan and device.

If there are any questions while setting up, using, or updating a mobile device, quality customer service will be important. This can be an invaluable asset for seniors who would like help with troubleshooting mobile device problems.

A phone isn’t very useful if it doesn’t allow people to keep in touch with family and friends in a reliable fashion. Seek out a phone plan that has good coverage. For instance, check Verizon’s coverage map here.

Keep in mind that some phone plans, such as Verizon’s 55+ Senior Phone Plans, are designed specifically for this group. These are designed to offer quality service, oftentimes at a reduced cost.

Mobile security refers to the security measures intended to protect user information that is stored on and transmitted from mobile devices. This means securing the device itself as well as the networks it may connect to. These measures include authentication measures (such as passwords and encryption) and a variety of best practices.

Mobile device security is not a panacea or shield against all forms of data breaches or online scams. It does, however, decrease your chances of being victimized when accessing the internet.

Individuals over the age of 65 are often targeted by Medicare scams, in which the caller impersonates a Medicare representative in order to get personal details. This can enable the scammer to commit identity theft against the target. They may also call offering cheap medications. These medications may either not exist or prove to be dangerous.

A caller may pretend to be a relative or a member of hospital staff seeking money to pay for another relative’s recent injury — an injury that never occurred. They may use specific names or provide details gleaned online to lend authenticity to the call.

A fairly straightforward ruse, a con artist may simply pose as a senior’s grandchild, then request money in the form of a money order or wire transfer. They may use caller ID spoofing so that the call appears to be coming from the grandchild in question.

This type of scam is designed to steal the equity of a senior’s property. This is done by artificially inflating the value of the property through phony appraisals, then having the senior sign on for a reverse mortgage at this inflated price. They may attempt to pressure the target by discussing the threat of a (fake) foreclosure.

Security measures such as call filters can help senior mobile device users from encountering such ploys. However, fully mitigating your exposure to fraud requires taking steps to adequately secure your mobile device.

Account passwords are often the only things protecting your sensitive information and finances from unwelcome intruders. Cybercriminals can use many different tactics to bypass a password, from brute-forcing it to simply buying it from the dark web. The key to preventing this is to use a strong password for each account.

When creating a password, there are some guidelines to follow. First of all, don’t use predictable passwords. A password should be at least 15 characters long, and it should contain a mix of characters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using a single word as a password, as these can be “dictionary attacked.” And, don’t use common passwords like “12345,” “qwerty,” or “password.”

Secondly, use a unique password for each account. If a person uses the same account name and password for every account online, their overall online security is only as strong as the weakest link. With the number of exposed records as a result of data breaches getting higher each year, this is a recipe for disaster. Use a unique password for every account, and keep these organized — either using a password management application or an old-fashioned notepad.

For the same reasons that a senior should create strong passwords, they should also use two-factor authentication whenever possible. Two-factor authentication is an additional security measure that prompts users to enter a verification code to access the account. This code, which can be sent to a phone via text or to an email address, can only be used for a brief period of time before it is no longer usable. In effect, a fraudster must have specific account details as well as the cell phone or email account in order to access the account.

Two-factor authentication is often an optional feature, but seniors should absolutely opt to use it if it is available. This makes unauthorized access significantly more difficult.

Wireless networks generally connect a modem to a wireless router. If the router is not protected, any nearby users could access it. They could access any information or even commit crimes online that could be traced back to an innocent user. When accessing the internet with a mobile device, be sure that you only connect to protected Wi-Fi networks — particularly if signing into any accounts or entering personal information into any website.

Information sent over a wireless network must be encrypted. Wireless routers often come with encryption turned off. Check the directions that came with the router or consult the manufacturer’s website for information on how to turn this essential feature on. Users will be provided with a default name and password for the router when the internet is set up. These should be changed from their default settings to ensure greater security.

If a senior absolutely must use unsecured Wi-Fi, be sure to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN helps users send or receive data across public networks as though their mobile device was connected to a private network. In addition to encrypting data, it can hide an IP address, which effectively masks location.

There are many VPN providers who make using one as simple as possible. Many of these are free, but paid options typically have greater speeds and security. There are many VPN options to consider, so take some time to find one that suits your needs.

In addition to using data encryption to protect internet activity from prying eyes, users must encrypt the mobile device itself. This will “scramble” the data on a phone until it is unlocked, rendering it unreadable to others who attempt to access it.

While this process may sound complicated, it’s more straightforward than one might think. In fact, many devices include it by default. To check if it is enabled, look through the phone settings. If there is data on an SD card, you may also be able to encrypt your SD card in your phone settings. Note that this renders all data on the card only readable by that phone (at least until it’s unencrypted using the same device).

If your device does not have encryption options in the settings, you may need to seek out third-party solutions with mobile encryption apps.

A computer virus is a hidden and dangerous program that can make a mobile device run slowly and damage the system — sometimes to the point that it won’t even turn on. A virus can allow hackers to steal data and manipulate your phone in unauthorized ways.

Antivirus applications are helpful for preventing, detecting, and removing these threats. Because new types of viruses surface on the web all the time, an up-to-date antivirus program is a necessary tool for navigating the web safely. There are many software developers offering antivirus solutions, and your options will be determined by the operating system of your device.

Phone updates can be an exciting time for users. They often include new features and enhancements, which can generate a lot of buzz. Arguably the most important part of operating system updates, however, is not as frequently discussed: security updates.

If you look through the notes for OS updates, you’ll likely notice changes made to address security vulnerabilities. These updates are intended to address exploits that have been identified. In short, keeping your phone updated reduces the risk of the information being accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Depending on the device, seniors may receive automatic notifications for new phone updates. It’s important to follow through on these prompts as soon as possible. If you’re unsure if the phone is updated, simply look through the phone settings for system updates. Note that users will need an internet connection and a sufficient charge on the battery for the update to work.

Signing up for accounts — entering the same information time and time again — can be a tedious process. For this reason, auto-fill, a common feature of browsers on mobile devices, can seem like a blessing. When you begin entering your information in a field, auto-fill will automatically complete all other fields. However, it can actually lead seniors to send much more personal information than they intended. For this reason, it’s best to avoid using auto-fill altogether.

To turn this off, open your preferred internet browser on your mobile device. Then, go through the browser settings, keeping an eye out for auto-fill, password, or address settings — the exact name of it will differ depending on your browser. Disable any features that automatically fill in fields to complete this step.

If a deal is too good to be true, it just might be. Only create accounts and make purchases with websites that are secure and reputable. The site’s address should start with “HTTPS” — not just “HTTP.” That extra “S” indicates that the page is secure because it is using encryption when transmitting data. You should also look up the business on the Better Business Bureau to search for any complaints, as well as online reviews to determine the site’s reputation.

Seniors may encounter unexpected or unusual links or email attachments — sometimes apparently from trusted friends or family members. Suspicious links on forums or social media can lead them to dangerous sites that may attempt to attack their mobile device, and fraudsters are known to target individuals with phony email accounts that spoof the identity of your personal contacts. Accessing content in either way can leave them open to fraud, so be wary.

Social media encourages us to put ourselves out there and engage with others online. However, there is such a thing as oversharing; if you give out too much personal information about yourself, you can open yourself up to fraud. Seniors are often targeted by scammers; if individuals can glean enough about you online, they may be able to impersonate you and gain access to your accounts. Further, if you give excessive information about where you live, you may face real-world harassment. Don’t expose yourself to either of these possibilities.

Online scammers are inventive, and they concoct new methods to exploit unsuspecting seniors every day. You can keep abreast of the latest online scams by reading up on them on the FTC Consumer Information website. This resource provides scam alerts that inform readers about the latest predatory schemes and provides guidance on avoiding them.