O uso das tecnologias de informação e comunicação na terceira idade e a vulnerabilidade à engenharia social

Abstract

This research aimed to study the relationship between vulnerability to social engineering and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) use by the elderly. To achieve this goal, it was elaborated a questionnaire addressing situations of vulnerability to social engineering in three dimensions: persuasion, data collection and fabrication. The questionnaire was applied online and in the paper format, obtaining 306 respondents aged between 16 and 85 years, later grouped in five age groups. The data were submitted to factorial analysis and statistical tests to verify differences in behavior between the age groups. For this purpose, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed. As a result, it was verified that the elderly would be more vulnerable to social engineering in dealing with credentials, in the Data Collection Identity dimension, and less vulnerable when compared to respondents in other age groups in the Fabrication Impersonation/Opportunity dimension. It was concluded that the ICT use by the elderly needs to be analyzed on other aspects besides the maintenance of cognitive abilities and the enrichment of the quality of life. As theoretical implications, this research contributes to warn people and organizations to hazards not always evident in the computer resources use. As practical implications, this study shows a vulnerable behavior of the elderly that should be considered by the organizations in the use of credentials, as well as shows a behavior that should be better explored by the organizations regarding the lower vulnerability of the elderly to social engineering techniques of impersonation and opportunity.