Kaspersky Lab Research Finds Concern for Older Relatives’ Online Security Not Converting into Care

Woburn, MA – May 8, 2018 – While it’s no secret that younger generations are spending a greater proportion of their lives online, Kaspersky Lab research revealed that 84 percent of people over the age of 55 are now accessing the internet at home several times a day. Despite the many benefits of this increased connectivity, the research also found that older internet users may not be adequately protected against online threats.

Online activities are continuing to have an ever-growing influence on our daily lives, a fact which holds true for people of all generations. As of the second half of 2017, people in the over-55 age group owned an average of four connected devices per household, including two computers and two mobile devices[1]. Furthermore, Kaspersky Lab’s research revealed that nearly half of people (44%) in this demographic are spending at last 20 hours a week on the internet.

With their older relatives spending more time on the internet, younger family members are becoming increasingly worried their elders are not taking precautions to protect themselves online. Kaspersky Lab found that 60 percent of people are worried for the online safety of their digitally connected elders. With nearly half of survey respondents (44%) admitting that their older relatives have faced an online threat – including falling victim to an online scam (15%), encountering malware or viruses (15%) and being spied on by malicious software (13%) – this fear is well-founded.

However, despite the very real cybersecurity threats facing senior family members, this worry is not necessarily translating into action and support. Just 34 percent of people surveyed have installed a security solution on their older relatives’ devices, and only 32 percent regularly educate older relatives about cybersecurity. Furthermore, another third (33%) admitted that they have done nothing at all to help protect their older relatives from online threats.

“Older internet users are a vulnerable and highly lucrative target group for cybercriminals, putting them firmly in their sights for malware, spyware and email scams,” said Dmitry Aleshin, vice president for product marketing, Kaspersky Lab. “The only way to combat these constantly evolving threats is through a combination of increased vigilance and the installation of effective security software on all devices, including mobile devices. This will help elder users stay on top of security risks and protect senior family members against any nasty digital disturbances.”

As people today spend increasing amounts of time online and cybersecurity risks become more prevalent, consumers need to make sure that they are protected from the latest cyberthreats. Kaspersky Total Security is a multifunctional solution that can protect every part of a consumer’s digital life by securing several devices at once. For family members of all ages, this solution can allow them to access the internet without worrying about being compromised by malware or having their personal data fall into the wrong hands. Windows users can also get protection at no cost with Kaspersky Free, which blocks dangerous files, websites and applications to protect digital data.

Learn more about Kaspersky Lab’s home security solutions by visiting our website. To read the full 2017 Consumer Security Risks Survey report, “Not logging on, but living on,” click here.

About Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company operating in the market for over 20 years. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into next generation security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.

Media Contact
Meghan Rimol
781.503.2671
meghan.rimol@kaspersky.com

[1]https://index.kaspersky.com/metrics/deviceusage/usa-h12017-55orolder-all