Senior Cyber Safety Briefing – August 21, 2025

🚨ALERT - Hackers Are Now Using QR Codes to Steal Information

👉Why it matters - QR codes are popping up everywhere—from restaurant menus to Medicare forms. Hackers are hiding malicious links in fake codes that can steal banking or health info the moment you scan.

📣Call to Action - Ask yourself—do you scan QR codes, or avoid them altogether? If you do scan, make sure it’s from a trusted source.

🚨ALERT - Apple Devices Hit by a Serious Flaw

👉Why it matters - Seniors often trust iPhones and iPads because they’re “safe.” But a newly discovered flaw lets hackers break in if your device isn’t updated. Updates aren’t optional—they’re protection.

📣Call to Action - Go into your iPhone or iPad settings right now and check for software updates.

📈ECONOMY & SECURITY - Allianz Life Breach Exposes 1.1 Million Customers

👉Why it matters - Insurance companies store Social Security numbers, beneficiaries, and financial data. If yours gets hacked, it could mean identity theft—and seniors are prime targets.

📣Call to Action - Would you freeze your credit if your insurer was hacked? Think about it—freezing is free and can save a lot of grief.

🧠MUST-READ - Fake Websites Built by AI Are Spreading Malware

👉Why it matters - Scammers can now use AI to create “senior discount” or “Medicare support” sites that look 100% real. Clicking a single link could infect your computer.

📣Call to Action - Before entering personal info, look for the padlock 🔒 in the browser and check the web address carefully.

🔥PRIVACY & BIG TECH - UK Backs Off Apple Backdoor Mandate

👉Why it matters - Governments want ways to unlock devices, but that could also let criminals in. For seniors, this fight directly impacts whether your phone and private messages stay private.

📣Call to Action - Should governments be able to unlock private phones—or is privacy sacred? What do you think?

✅Quick Safety Tip of the Day

Never click a link in a text or email claiming to be from Medicare, Social Security, or your bank. Instead, call the official number printed on your card or statement.

🙋Closing Note

"Stay safe, stay secure, stay curious, and remember my friends—you’re never too old to outsmart a scammer👋"

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

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