












































Creating Computer Confidence : An Investigation into Current Privacy and Security Concerns of the Senior Demographic


 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

 14131 Alder St NW, Andover, Minnesota, USA 

zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 1 

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: ENHANCING THE 

TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION 

FOR SAFE INTERNET NAVIGATION 

 

 

Caroline Hillier 
Department of Computer Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada 

Abstract: The senior population is facing an increasing need to adapt to the technological advancements 

that have been rapidly reshaping the society. However, despite their willingness to use the internet, a lack of 

adaptability to new methods has placed them at a disadvantage in keeping up with the evolving 

technological landscape. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for the elderly to have the 

necessary skills to navigate the internet has become more pressing. This paper aims to investigate the 

current behavior of the elderly on the internet and identify knowledge gaps and specific areas where support 

is needed. The paper explores the importance of equipping the elderly with the skills necessary to safely 

navigate the internet, beginning with an understanding of security threats that may be encountered online 

and how to react to them. The paper also provides insights into the current privacy and security concerns of 

the elderly and highlights specific tools and resources that can be utilized to address identified knowledge 

gaps. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for promoting the conversation around available 

resources and encouraging the use of available tools to build user confidence among the elderly. 

Keywords: Elderly, Technological Literacy, Internet Use, Privacy, Security, Knowledge Gaps, Resource 

Utilization, User Confidence. 

 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Members of the senior demographic often hesitate to integrate technology into their daily lives. While this 

demographic is often familiar with device functions such as making phone calls, they are often found 

missing out on the valuable capabilities that devices can offer [1]. Most devices have capabilities to track 

medications, request goods and services, and search current news topics, all within just a few clicks [1].    

Unfortunately, older adults are an overlooked population as technology is advancing in a way that is not 

easily adaptable for the older generation [2][3]. Previous research has shown that the older demographic is 

using the Internet for common tasks, but with a very different perspective compared to a younger generation 

[4]. While many people have been raised with device use in their daily lives, this is not the case for many 

seniors. Interfaces that seem quite intuitive to an average person, may be quite intimidating and difficult for 

another to approach.    

Many seniors prefer to have a real human assist them when using technology as they are accustomed to in 

person learning experiences and can comfortably engage in the experience [5][6]. Because of the familiarity 

of this type of interaction and the connection that can built by reading another’s physical behavior, this 

learning method has been preferred by many individuals [5][6]. Additionally, when seniors engage in 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

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zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 2 

learning from a technologically literate individual, they get an understanding of how to use the device and 

get to observe the user’s behaviour and thought process [3].    

1.1. Covid-19 Influence 

The COVID-19 pandemic completely changed human behaviour as the globe was forced to remain inside 

their homes to try and conquer the virus. The elderly and many other groups were categorized as especially 

vulnerable and required extra protection from the virus [7]. Though there is consistent improvement in 

medicine, the best course of action for these groups is to remain in isolation [7]. Over two years later, there 

are still social restrictions on individual’s behaviours. People are required to maintain limited contact from 

others and are suffering the consequences of isolation. [8].    

While in isolation many individuals have utilized the Internet to complete daily tasks. In hopes to maintain 

regular behaviours, organizations enhanced and broadened user capabilities on their websites. The 

additional functions commonly include pre-ordering and online payment, as well as online appointment 

bookings [9].    

Seniors traversing these new online services are also challenged with the lack of human connection 

available to them. Confused customers, resource shortages, and employee illness has overwhelmed 

companies and their customer service departments [10].  Resultingly, consumers have the option to endure 

the extended wait for a customer service representative or navigate the interface on their own. Moreover, 

individuals were restricted from visiting other households and were required to maintain social distance 

when communicating with another person. A large population of seniors lost their connection to their 

family, friends, and caretakers.    

The encouraged use of technology and deprivation of human connection has left the senior demographic 

especially vulnerable to the risks present on the Internet. Personal information is often required to access 

certain functionalities online and many users may not consider where this data is transmitted or to who. It is 

necessary that users understand that there are real security threats online, even if they do not seem as 

dangerous as a crime in real life [11].   

While the Internet may be overwhelming for seniors, it is important that they have the knowledge to 

maintain their security and privacy. Before learning how to use new apps and websites, it is crucial to 

understand the threats that may be encountered and how to react. Once the senior demographic has the 

knowledge and resources to identify and avoid risks, they will be able to confidently ease into learning how 

to use emerging technologies.    

This paper aims to develop a deep understanding of how elders’ perception of privacy and behaviour on the 

Internet has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis will be completed by first 

understanding the trends and changes that are influencing behaviour and the associated potential attacks. 

Once this background is developed, a survey will be conducted to get current perspectives from the target 

demographic. Using the background and survey results a list of prominent knowledge gaps can be 

identified. Finally, a comprehensive collection of resources and tools will be complied to address the 

knowledge gaps.   

2. BACKGROUND 

To maintain some normalcy, many individuals transferred their daily activities to an online platform. A 

Canadian survey found that 75% of individuals engaged in more Internet related activities since the 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 3 

beginning of the pandemic, and almost half of Canadians started using the Internet for new tasks [12]. 

Within these statistics, it was found that more than half of Canadian senior citizens increased their Internet 

usage [12]. A previous study identified that as the elder demographic migrates their actions to online 

platforms, they will be at a higher risk to be a   

victim of cyber crime. This population is less tech-savvy than younger demographics and is more prone to 

becoming a victim to Internet fraud ploys [4]. Previous research has identified that there is a need for a 

sufficient teaching system to assist elders in technology security, and with the modern societal changes this 

need is escalated drastically [2]. It is of paramount importance that each person is educated on the 

information and resources required to protect themselves. The typical Internet behaviour of elders has 

previously involved bonding over social media sites, consulting healthcare websites, and searching for a 

booking travel and tourism experiences [13][14]. Elders are becoming more dependent on their devices and 

are comfortable within their established routine [13]. As they use their preferred websites more frequently, 

and observe their peers doing the same, there is a deeper level of trust for the website [13]. Similar work has 

shown that elders prefer to use a tool they are familiar with, and do not feel a need to use other tools if it is 

not necessary. Regardless of this opinion, many new tools are required for daily tasks, to reduce the amount 

of human interaction during the pandemic [15]. These new systems require that all individuals have the 

technological literacy requited to successfully use these tools.    

2.1. Adapting to Current Structures 

Because of its ease of use, the Internet has become a necessary part of people’s routine [16]. When the 

global quarantine forced Internet dependency, elders did their best to quickly adapt. The pandemic caused 

high levels of uncertainty and the Internet provided great information sources [17]. Despite the benefits, 

seniors are sometimes not comfortable with new applications and are hesitant to use them [3]. It has 

previously been found that elders are comfortable using websites that someone else has taught how to use 

[3]. For example, elders could independently use a booking site that a travel agent had demonstrated to them 

but were not comfortable downloading and using a newer app like Uber [3]. The hesitation to explore new 

tools is driven by fear of misuse and the possible resulting consequences [3]. Unfortunately, the lack of use 

has led to an increase in potential vulnerabilities as there is a high level of unfamiliarity [15].   

2.2. Common Attacks   

Because of the understood behaviours of the senior demographic there are certain attacks that are target 

towards these individuals.   

2.2.1. Phishing Attacks 

Seniors are a prime target for phishing attacks based on their financial standing, trusting demeanor, lack of 

knowledge, and poor response procedures [4]. This population is typically unsuspecting of fraudulent 

messages as they are used to in person transactions and have a more stereotypical perception of a criminal 

[18]. Because of elders generally trusting demeanor, they have been identified as the most susceptible target 

for phishing messages [19]. Currently many individuals are trying to make meaningful connections using 

the Internet which escalates the potential of being a victim to phishing [20] [21].   

2.2.2. Illegitimate Websites    

Illegitimate websites can be seen as stand-alone sites, popups, or overlays of otherwise legitimate sites [22]. 

The malicious sites are typically showing false security alerts, giveaways, or mocking real websites [22]. 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 4 

Elders usually have low experience interacting with obscure websites so it is unlikely they will have success 

identifying fraudulent websites [4].   

3. METHODS 

This work aims to investigate the knowledge and perspectives of the senior population regarding their 

current Internet interactions. Previous work has noted that firsthand information is essential to obtaining 

accurate data [18]. An online survey was created and distributed to a group of elders. Using the data from 

the survey, the main knowledge gaps were identified, and a collection of useful resources was compiled.  

3.1. Survey of Knowledge and Perspectives    

The survey was created to gain a deeper understanding of elder’s perception of privacy and behaviour on the 

Internet has changed during COVID-19. The topics of the survey include privacy concerns, privacy attitude, 

perceived threat, confidence to protect self, and the cost of security [2] [14]. The categorization of the “elder 

demographic” has been listed as many different ages. Many technologies related studies have established 

this age as 55, so that is the threshold used in this survey [23]. The survey was developed with each of the 

established concern areas as the discovery goal. The question structure asks general questions on knowledge 

and perception, as well as how the pandemic has changed the related behaviour. The online website 

Qualtrics was used to assemble and share the survey to the public. When the survey completed, the results 

were interpreted using R for analysis and visualization. The results were interpreted using R for statistic 

analyses and the results are presented as percentages to maintain anonymity of the participants. The 

responses were recorded in multiple choice and text entry format for quantitative and qualitative analysis.   

4. SURVEY RESULTS 

4.1. General Information   

 
Figure 1. Age distribution of survey participants  

The survey was available to the public from November 15 to 25 of 2021 and 11 participants completed the 

survey. The demographics of the survey included 100% females, with ages ranging from 55-80 (Fig. 1). The 

most common devices of the participants include laptops, smart and tablets/ iPads (Fig. 2). The “other” in 

Figure 2 are one Apple Watch and one smart doorbell. All participants claimed that they currently use the 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

 14131 Alder St NW, Andover, Minnesota, USA 

zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 5 

Internet every day and 70.8% of participants expressed that they use the Internet more frequently than prior 

to the pandemic (Tab. 2 in 7.7.2).   

The most common uses of the Internet are to purchase goods and services, as well as watch streamed video 

content (Fig. 3). The increase of Internet purchases is most prominent for privacy related concerns.   

 
Figure 2. Percentage of participants that own each device  

Participants answered that the Internet is extremely beneficial to daily life and have provided personal notes 

stating that they have been able to learn new hobbies and make global connections using the Internet. 72.7% 

of respondents said they do prefer to use the Internet for their daily tasks, while only 9.1% said that they did 

not (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1). Some participants said that using the Internet is the easiest way for them to check 

traffic and search for other information, as well as stay entertained while completing other activities.   

 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

 14131 Alder St NW, Andover, Minnesota, USA 

zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 6 

Figure 3. Change of Internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic   

4.2. Privacy Attitude   

100% of the survey participants said that privacy and security on the Internet are absolutely to them, with 

many comments regarding that they prioritize keeping information safe and a high concern regarding cyber 

attacks (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1).    

When visiting frequently used sites over half of the participants said that they are more willing to trust the 

links or information requests from that website. 45.5% said that they are somewhat more willing to trust, 

and 36.4% expressed that they are absolutely more willing to trust these sites (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1). When asked 

about trusting websites that are suggested by family or peers 54.5% said that they are absolutely willing to 

trust, and 36.4% said that they are somewhat more likely to trust the website (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1).   

4.3. Privacy Knowledge   

The survey results showed that 81.8% of participants regularly update their devices, and 63.6% understand 

why these updates are (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1). The direct feedback was very promising with many participants 

explaining that the updates can fix bugs and security, with one participant even explaining how patches are 

deployed. When asked about the diversity and strength of passwords, 72.7% said that they use both and 

understand the reasoning for the requirement (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1). The participants expressed an understanding 

of preventing hackers and maintaining security. Though some participants did note that it was difficult to 

remember all their passwords for each site.   

4.4. Perceived Threat  

 
Figure 4. Perspective on potential threats  



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 7 

The participants of the study all expressed that they feel nervous about their privacy on the Internet and face 

the risk of a privacy breach whenever they do share personal information (Fig. 4). More than a few 

participants shared that they had been victim of a financial scam on the Internet and are nervous of it 

happening again. When asked about personal knowledge of phishing scams 63.6% said that they do know 

what they are, and 27.3% said that they somewhat understand them (Fig. 4). Though only 9.1% stated that 

they are worried about being victim to phishing scams, with 63.3% stating that they are somewhat worried 

(Fig. 4).   

4.5. Confidence to Protect Self   

Looking into the participants desire to protect self, majority stated that they want to protect themselves from 

the potential scams (Tab. 1 in 7.2.1). It was expressed that the pandemic has not changed the level of 

concern regarding potential scams on the Internet.    

54.5% said that they do not know how to verify the legitimacy of emails or messages, and only 27.3% said 

that they are confident in their verification methods (Fig. 4). Similarly, 45.5% of participants stated that they 

do not know how to verify the legitimacy of websites, with 18.2% sure of their verification techniques (Fig. 

4). Some promising verification techniques were explained including immediately deleting unrecognized 

messages, running anti-virus software, and looking for ‘https’ in the URL. Participants have also used 

separate email accounts for sensitive accounts and ones that may be less legitimate.   

4.6. Expected Cost of Security  

Regarding the perceived cost of privacy there are many barriers that may keep individuals from achieving 

their goals. When asked if Internet security is personally attainable 54.5% stated that they believe it is 

possible, but they have not achieved it. 36.4% stated that they have achieved it, and 9.1% said that they do 

not believe that Internet security is attainable. Despite this array of answers, 100% of participants said that 

they would increase their security of they were provided with the resources (Tab. 3 in 7.2.3). Participants 

stated that there are both knowledge and monetary barriers keeping them from attaining Internet security 

(Tab. 3 in 7.2.3). From a list of options of potential resources 100% said that they would like access to a 

software that alerts to scams of viruses, 72.7% said that they would utilize education resources, and 63.6% 

said that laws or legislation specifically regarding the Internet safety of seniors on the Internet would be 

beneficial (Tab. 3 in 7.2.3).   

5. DISCUSSION 

There have been efforts to assist elders and protect them from cyber crime, but these measures are 

insufficient for proper protection [4]. For over half a century there has been a conscious effort to engage and 

empower older adults to learn about technology and the Internet, yet there are still shortcomings [24]. Many 

different methodologies have been proposed, and significant progress has been made. There was a high 

level of enthusiasm regarding the participants willingness to use the Internet for their daily tasks. I believe 

that elders have become more adapted to using the Internet compared to previous studies [2]. The results of 

the survey show that elders are commonly using the Internet for purchasing goods or services and accessing 

bank and government sites. Because of the high sensitivity of information associated with these tasks, there 

is a higher importance to better protection systems. The most prominent concerns include confidently 

securing online financial transactions, identifying fraudulent websites, messages and other scams, and the 

memory of passwords. Additionally, the participants had a strong awareness of many of the threats online, 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 8 

but there was an optimistic bias present that participants did not think it would happen to them. Overall, 

participants had an impressive amount of personal knowledge and provided strong techniques that are 

currently used.   

5.1. Identifying Suspicious Sources 

A significant level of trust in family and friend recommended websites was expressed from the results of the 

survey. This trust is not always unwarranted, but individuals should always do some independent inspection 

of the site to look for malicious components. The survey results showed that participants were unfamiliar 

with what to look for when trying to verify websites, emails, and other messages (Fig. 4.4). Though 

navigating to a new area of the Internet can be intimidating, avoiding it all together can be more dangerous. 

Using a browser extension (7.1.2) to alert suspicious websites when browsing will provide reassurance 

while navigating a search page [25].    

Additionally, there are ways to manually verify a website. Techniques include searching the URL to ensure 

that there is an “s” in “https” or that a lock symbol in the URL [26]. Another tactic is to take a moment to 

really look at what is on the website. Poor grammar or low-quality logos are a good indication that the 

website is fraudulent [26].    

When verifying the legitimacy of an email or message it is important to take a step back and consider what 

the content is. Typically, if a message is “too good to be true”, it is not true [27]. If someone receives a 

suspicious message from a known or unknown contact, it is wise for them to contact that person or company 

via a different method [27]. For example, if a friend suddenly emails begging for thousands of dollars for an 

emergency, it is smart to use another platform, such as calling to confirm their identity.    

During financial transactions it is especially important to understand that relatives and banks usually do not 

put an intense time pressure on individuals. If there is a short time-period given with the message, it is most 

likely fraudulent [27]. A collection of useful resources to learn more about identifying and responding to 

scams on the Internet can be found in section 7.1.1.    

Many of the participants explained that they are aware of scams, but there was a drastic difference in 

responses when asked about the worry of the scam happening to them. Figure 4.4 shows how the proportion 

shifts between knowledge of scams and the idea of it happening to them. This optimistic bias is a major 

downfall as it suggests people may not take their privacy as serious as they claim [28]. Though participants 

claimed that privacy is a concern there is still a nuance that the attack won’t happen to them. In the future I 

hope to see similar results to those questions but driven by an increase of confidence to protect oneself.   

5.2. Securing Financial Transactions 

Contradictory to the optimistic outlook many of the participants expressed that they had been victim to a 

financial scam. These breaches can occur from many different attacks such as phishing, fake transfers, or 

even physically stealing your card [29]. To prevent the attack there are an array of methods that can be 

taken such as using prepaid cards, or a middleman such as PayPal [30] [31]. A prepaid card acts almost 

exactly as a credit card does and can be used for online transactions without having to share your real 

banking information. Though there are some fees involved this method can be beneficial, especially for 

unfamiliar websites. Another option for secure payment or transfer is a middleman tool that encrypts your 

banking information and limits the amount of accessible funds. These tools are listed in 7.1.3.    



 

 

 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 9 

In the case of a successful breach, it is important that the user has no liability for the unauthorized charges 

[29]. If you are using your banking card online, it is important to contact your financial institutions and 

inquire about this feature.   

5.3. Password Security 

The survey showed that many participants did use strong and diverse passwords, but some did have 

difficulty remembering each of them. One participant said that they use mostly numerical passwords for 

security, but this may be more difficult to remember. Using a tool such as a password manager can be very 

beneficial for maintaining accounts. Password managers securely encrypt all sensitive information that is 

needed to login to a site [32]. The password manager also has capabilities of generating long and complex 

passwords when registering for a new account or updating current accounts [32]. This information is locked 

in the secure vault and can only be accessed using a master key [32]. By having the password manager in 

place, the user only has to remember one password but maintains the security that a diverse set of passwords 

provides. Some recommended password managers are listed in 7.1.2.  

5.4. Learning Tools 

Many respondents of the survey said that they struggled with the monetary barrier of ensuring security. 

Many operating systems offer a free built-in firewall, but some need to be installed and enabled [33]. 

Learning how to enable and effectively use these can be a challenge for some elders. A group of 

technological women realized they were spending countless hours teaching older adults to develop their 

computer skills [34]. This team developed a website where volunteers offer tutorials and live help sessions 

to teach computer topics to elders (7.1.4).    

Overall, there have been many developments in resources and tools to assist all people and seniors in 

achieving privacy and security while on the Internet. Some legislation has been established to penalize 

cyber criminals, but these efforts had little effect [20]. There is such a rapid change in technology and tools, 

that legislation and other protective measures may not be able to keep and maintain protection. The best 

way to protect elders is by providing a strong education so they can use their devices confidently [4].   

Previous research has provided feedback stating that elders do want to learn how to use new apps and 

services but feel like they have a lack of resources for learning how to use them so avoid them all together 

[3]. By increasing awareness and providing trustworthy tools will encourage elders to become more 

involved in the technology world. There will never be an absolute way to ensure security but encouraging a 

privacy mindset promotes users’ success [35].   

6. CONCLUSIONS 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen major changes in peoples’ interaction and reliance on 

technology. Though the world has moved to a more technology integrated atmosphere, elders have had little 

opportunity to make the necessary adaptations.  

It is difficult to make accurate assumptions about a demographic we are not a part of. To assist the senior 

demographic in their transition into the evolving technology landscape it is necessary to understand where 

their needs lay. Getting direct feedback from this demographic allowed for genuine understanding of the 

knowledge gaps that need attention. The results of the survey show that this demographic has a great 

foundational knowledge of using the Internet and governing their privacy and security. The most prominent 

obstacle is the lack of awareness of the tools that are available for elders to ensure their privacy and security 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 10 

on the Internet. Promoting the conversation of the resources available and the need for them will increase 

awareness of the subject and give more opportunity for involvement.    

Individual’s will be able to build their confidence to protect themselves with the utilization of the tools 

provided. Once user confidence is built, I expect that this demographic will be able to adapt to current 

technology trends and ultimately thrive in the digital environment.    

6.1. Future Work 

The survey group in this project provided valuable information regarding the current knowledge gaps of the 

elder demographic. Future research could further explore this demographic by involving a larger sample 

with a more diverse range of participants. This study would provide deeper insight to more specific needs of 

seniors using technology.  Deploying a large-scale project could bring more attention to the actual needs of 

seniors and provide developers with the incentive and necessary topics needed to build a comprehensive site 

for seniors.  

The development of one platform that encompasses the information and attributes of the previously listed 

resources would be extremely beneficial for educating the senior demographic. Incorporating personal 

connection into learning platforms would also restore some normalcy to the participants learning style. For 

example, in an online class for technology education it would be interesting to see a feature that allows the 

participants to connect with other students to discuss their takeaways from the lesson and further deepen 

their knowledge. A system that connects similar participants for collaborative engagement in a e-learning 

environment would be extremely beneficial in this setting.     

Additionally, investigation into what the technologic landscape will look like after the pandemic would be 

an interesting topic for further work. Many of the newly created interfaces may be abandoned and left with 

copious amounts of personal information. A study on personal information management techniques would 

compliment the resource suggestions in this work.    

7. APPENDIX 

7.1. Resource Topics and Links   

7.1.1. Identifying Scams 

• Senior Fraud Protection Kit   

This document includes some information about why seniors are targeted for attacks, as well as a check list 

for identifying a scam and a plan of action in the case of an incident.   

https://www.caregiverstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/1 Seniors Fraud Protection Kit_ US.pdf   

• Internet Safety Guide for Seniors   

This blog post discusses phishing, password theft, social media scams, and banking fraud.  

https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/the-ultimate-Internet-safety-guide-for-seniors/   

• The Little Black Book of Scams   

The author explains that “knowledge is power” and understanding these concepts can help improve personal 

security.   

https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04333.html   

• Seniors’ guide to staying cyber safe during COVID-19   

This brochure includes some techniques for making secure passwords as well as scam avoidance and 

response. https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/resources/seniors-guide-staying-cyber-safeduring-covid-19   



 

 

 

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Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 11 

• Recent scams and fraud   

A lists of scams currently targeting individuals and businesses that are sorted by delivery mechanisms as 

well as information of procedures if you are a victim.   

https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm 

7.1.2. Security Tools   

• 1Password   

The most intuitive password manager and has the option to schedule a demonstration of its functions, 

though this does come with a monthly fee.   

https://1password.com/   

• Bitdefender   

A free alternative is Bitwarden, which only requests an annual fee when you choose to upgrade to apremium 

package. https://bitwarden.com/   

• Bitdefender Traffic Light   

A free browser extension that scans the pages you visit for malware and phishing attempts.  

https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/trafficlight.html   

7.1.3. Securing Online Payments   

• Visa Reloadable Prepaid Cards   

These cards have the zero-liability feature that ensures compensation in the event of an unauthorized 

transaction.   

https://www.visa.ca/en CA/pay-with-visa/cards/prepaid-cards.html   

• PayPal   

Securely send money to other users or complete online transactions with services to help remediate 

fraudulent transactions.  paypal.com/ca/home   

7.1.4. Learning New Tools   

• Connected Canadians   

This organization provides a wide array of groups and individual help sessions, covering many topics.  

https://www.connectedcanadians.ca/   

7.2. Survey Results   

7.2.1. Yes/No Questions  \ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm


 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

 14131 Alder St NW, Andover, Minnesota, USA 

zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 12 

 

Table 1. General results from the survey   

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.1, Number 1; March-2023; 

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

 14131 Alder St NW, Andover, Minnesota, USA 

zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
pg. 13 

7.2.2. Internet Use and Recent Changes   

Table 2. Frequency of Internet use and influence from the pandemic   

 
7.2.3. Future Resources   

Table 3. Feedback on the future of privacy and security resources   

 

 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The authors would like to thank everyone that participated in the survey as well as the family members that 

inspired this research!   

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Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear 

 14131 Alder St NW, Andover, Minnesota, USA 

zapjournal@gmail.com, editorial@zapjournals.coom  

 
 

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pg. 16 

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