With holiday shopping in full swing and school-aged children spending more time online, cybersecurity has become a top concern for people of all ages.
Surprisingly, it is Generation Z who are three times more likely to fall victim to online scams than their grandparents, according to recent data.
Scammers managed to make a staggering $210 million from individuals under the age of 20 last year alone.
To shed light on this alarming trend, KRLD's John Liddle spoke with Grace Hoyt, a Google cybersecurity expert.
Hoyt emphasized that the vulnerability to scams is not limited to younger children. "In 2022, $10.3 billion was lost online in the US. So, it's a really big issue," she explained.
When asked about ways to protect children and individuals from falling prey to online scams, Hoyt provided several key tips.
One important piece of advice was to be aware of common phishing scams.
She cautioned, "If something looks suspicious, you should really go and type in that URL yourself without clicking on that link." Urging caution, she added, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
Furthermore, Hoyt stressed the significance of enabling two-step verification as an added layer of security.
"Even if your password has been stolen, those people can't get into your account," she emphasized.
Hoyt recommended the use of Passkey, which allows users to sign in with their fingerprint, face scan, or PIN on their mobile phones.
In addition to providing solutions for individuals, Google has also taken steps to educate and protect children online. Hoyt mentioned the Internet Awesome program, which helps kids learn how to navigate the internet safely, develop strong passwords, and identify accurate information.