Young Adults Most at Risk of Online Crime

Young adults are more likely than any other age group to have their online accounts hacked by cyber criminals, according to recent research. The research found that 89 per cent of people between 18 and 24 share personal information on social media, which many people commonly use to create their passwords and PINs.

The following best practices can help anyone ensure that they are protected online—no matter their age.

• Avoid sharing full names, birthdates, pets’ names, addresses and telephone numbers on social media. Such information is often used to create passwords and pin numbers.
• Create strong passwords with a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols and numbers.
• Change your passwords frequently.
• Use different passwords and PINs for each online account.