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My kids are hitting their stride as teenagers in a very complicated world. But this report from TrendLife is a bit concerning, particularly the bit about young people taking the biggest digital risks. Having grown up online, shouldn't they know better?
Apparently not, according to new research from TrendLife, the consumer arm of cybersecurity company Trend Micro, whose Security Suite Pro Plus I reviewed recently.
The global study surveyed more than 10,000 people across nine countries, including over 1,000 Australians, and found scammers are increasingly targeting people during high pressure life moments rather than random cold calls.
One in five Australians has either been scammed, or knows someone close to them who has, while making a major purchase like a car or property.
Job interviews aren't far behind at 18 per cent, and 17 per cent report scam experiences tied to government benefits or tax processes, which is timely given we're now in early July.
Moving house, starting a new job and buying or selling property all carry similar risk, largely because these moments involve unfamiliar parties and a lot of personal information changing hands quickly.
It's the younger generation that stands out, though. Despite growing up with a phone permanently in hand, Australians aged 18 to 24 take fewer basic precautions than older generations.
Only 8 per cent verified an organisation was legitimate before handing over personal details, compared to 22 per cent across all ages. Just 17 per cent had updated their privacy and security settings, versus 29 per cent overall, and only a third used up to date security software or avoided public WiFi.
Confidence with technology, it turns out, doesn't automatically come with caution. It's part of why Apple's parental control improvements and similar tools matter well beyond primary school aged kids.
AI is now part of the equation too. Close to two in five Australians used an AI tool during one of these major life moments, and half are worried their information could be misused as a result.
Yet only 35 per cent actually opt out of allowing their data to train AI models, a disconnect worth thinking about alongside how much your AI knows about you.
Lynette Owens, TrendLife's Vice President of Consumer Education and Marketing, said the timing is exactly what scammers rely on.
"Major life moments like job interviews or buying a house often involve big decisions and unfamiliar parties. That's exactly what scammers exploit. These attacks feel more convincing because they're tied to real events in people's lives, when they are already sharing sensitive information," Owens said.
Her advice is simple. Verify who you're dealing with, watch for messages designed to create urgency, and slow down before acting, especially when an AI tool is involved in the decision.
For parents navigating this with teenagers, it's a useful reminder that knowing how to use technology and knowing when to trust it aren't the same skill.
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