Does your dad still ask you for his password? Does he still depend on you to remember which email he used for Facebook or how to recover his banking app? You’re not alone.
Many dads from the boomer and late gen x era grew up in a time when the file-o-fax, rolodex, and clutch bag held all the important stuff. Now it’s all up there in the cloud.
So this Father’s Day, skip the gadget gifts. Instead, help him take ownership of something far more meaningful: his digital legacy.
The fact is, senior citizens are more prone to hacking and phishing cybersecurity threats. As tech savvy children, here’s a checklist of simple steps we can use as a guide to keep his data safe and his future a bit more secure.
#1 — He needs his own password manager, and that’s NOT you anymore
Let’s be honest, he’s probably still using the same password since his Rocketmail account in 1996. Introduce him to a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password. These tools store and encrypt all his logins, so he only needs to remember one strong master password.
It may take a little setup, but once done, it simplifies his entire online life. You can even help him import saved passwords from his browser. No more writing logins in a notebook.
#2 — Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Next, secure his most important accounts: email, banking, messaging apps, and social media. Enabling 2FA means that even if someone gets his password, they can’t log in without a second code sent via text or generated by an app like Google Authenticator or Authy.
Walk him through the process one app at a time. It’s a small step that can prevent major problems like financial scams.
#3 — Back up important files and photos
Dads may not always be obvious about it, but you might see him pulling out his phone to take pictures of moments with you or family. It’s time to help him back everything up to a cloud service like Google Drive, iCloud, or OneDrive.
Show him how to set automatic backups. That way, if his device ever gets lost, the memories stay found. For instance, Google Photos can automatically back up all his photo history even when he changes phones.
#4 — Review privacy settings on apps and devices with him this Father’s Day
Your dad probably hasn’t touched his privacy settings since he first got his phone. Walk him through app permissions, and account privacy controls, especially on platforms like Google, Facebook, or Instagram.
It will be a quick check up that limits data sharing and enhances security. And while you’re at it make sure he has a lock screen PIN or iPhone Face ID enabled too.
#5 — Show him how to spot scams
Phishing emails are getting sneakier, and scammers often target older users. Show him real examples of suspicious messages, explain how to spot red flags and tell him that it’s okay to double-check with you before clicking anything.
Just one lesson could save him from handing over sensitive data to the wrong people.
#6 — Do a quick security check together
Finally, help him do a mini digital audit. Are his apps up to date? Are there any unfamiliar devices signed into his accounts? Clean out old logins and double-check device access. If he uses Google a lot, there are already steps to take when you login to your Google Account from your browser or any Google-powered app.
This one-time cleanup can prevent long-term issues and is a great habit to revisit every few months.
