Phishing vulnerability compounded by older age, apolipoprotein E e4 genotype, and lower cognition.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Financial exploitation is increasingly moving online, posing risks to all demographics.
• Older adults may face heightened vulnerability to online scams due to age-related cognitive changes and conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of age, apolipoprotein E e4 (APOE4) genotype, and cognitive function on susceptibility to online phishing.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Short Phishing Email Suspicion Test (S-PEST) as a measure of phishing vulnerability.

Main Methods:

• 182 adults (18-90 years) completed cognitive assessments, APOE4 genotyping, the lab-based S-PEST, and the real-world PHishing Internet Task (PHIT).
• Statistical analyses were used to determine predictors of phishing susceptibility.

Main Results:

• Older age was associated with increased susceptibility to phishing across both S-PEST and PHIT.
• Older adults carrying the APOE4 allele and exhibiting lower working memory showed the most pronounced phishing vulnerability.
• Performance on S-PEST correlated with PHIT, indicating that difficulty distinguishing phishing emails in a lab setting predicts real-world susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• Older age, the presence of the APOE4 allele, and diminished cognitive function are significant risk factors for online phishing vulnerability.
• The S-PEST is presented as a practical and ecologically valid tool for assessing an individual's susceptibility to phishing scams.