Senior Cyber Safety Briefing – August 27, 2025

🚨ALERT - Surge in “Phantom Hacker” scams targeting seniors
👉Why it matters - Scammers are impersonating tech support, banks, and even government agencies in multi-step scams designed to trick seniors into draining retirement accounts. Losses can be devastating and hard to recover.
📣Call to Action - If anyone calls claiming your computer or accounts are compromised, hang up immediately and verify with a trusted family member or the real company using a number you look up yourself.

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📈ECONOMY & SECURITY - New Cephalus ransomware spreads via weak remote desktop setups
👉Why it matters - Attackers are breaking into computers using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) without strong protections, stealing data, and then locking files for ransom. While aimed at businesses, home users with remote access turned on can also be at risk.
📣Call to Action - If you don’t use remote access, turn it off. If you do, enable multi-factor authentication to block unwanted logins.

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🔥PRIVACY & BIG TECH - Maryland paratransit service hit by ransomware attack
👉Why it matters - A cyberattack disrupted booking systems for paratransit riders in Maryland. Even though rides continued, seniors who depend on these services faced difficulties making reservations. It’s a reminder that cyberattacks can affect real-world services we count on.
📣Call to Action - If you rely on senior or disability transit services, keep alternate phone numbers and emergency ride options handy in case of outages.

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✅Quick Safety Tip of the Day
Never allow remote access to your computer from someone who calls you out of the blue—real companies won’t do this.

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

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