Practical Cybersecurity for Families: What You Need to Know

Justin D. Caldwell - Dec 12, 2025

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue, it’s a wealth protection issue. In 2025, cyber threats are more sophisticated, more personal, and designed to create urgency and emotional pressure.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue, it’s a wealth protection issue. In 2025, cyber threats are more sophisticated, more personal, and designed to create urgency and emotional pressure. During our recent webinar, Brent Fowles, Director of Cyber Security at Western University, shared practical insights on how individuals and families can protect themselves. Below are the key takeaways.

The Cyber Threat Landscape Has Changed

Cybercrime has grown rapidly over the past few years, and most Canadians have already been affected in some way whether through phishing emails, identity theft, or fraud.

Today’s most common threats include:

  • Data theft, ransomware, and extortion
  • AI-powered impersonation via email, text, voice, and even video
  • Romance and investment scams
  • Deepfake “grandparent” scams
  • Highly personalized phishing attacks
  • Cryptocurrency and digital asset theft

These scams are no longer random. Criminals research their targets and tailor messages using publicly available information.

How Cybercriminals Trick People

Most cybercrime succeeds through social engineering, manipulating people rather than hacking systems. Criminals exploit trust, urgency, and emotion to pressure victims into acting quickly.

Common tactics include:

  • Creating urgency (“Act now or your account will be locked”)
  • Pretending to be trusted sources (banks, family members, professionals)
  • Making offers that seem too good to be true
  • Using AI to mimic voices, writing styles, or even video
  • Combining small details from social media to make messages feel real

Because AI makes scams harder to spot, verification is critical.

Tip: Be cautious about what you share publicly. Avoid posting full names, addresses, phone numbers, travel updates, or photos of ID documents. If someone claims to be a family member in trouble, hang up and call them back using a known number, or use a family code word.

Build Strong Personal Security Habits

Simple habits make a big difference:

  • Use long, unique passwords (passphrases are better than short passwords)
  • Use a password manager to avoid reusing passwords
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever available
  • Avoid free or unknown software—“free” often means your data is the product
  • Treat public Wi-Fi as low-risk only (no banking or sensitive activity)
  • Be cautious with QR codes unless you trust the source

Security should increase as the value of the account increases.

Have a Plan for When Something Goes Wrong

Cyber incidents can happen to anyone, and victims are not at fault. Acting quickly is critical.

If you suspect fraud:

  • Contact your bank or financial institution immediately
  • Lock cards or accounts if possible
  • Use credit monitoring services
  • Lower daily withdrawal and transaction limits
  • Report the incident promptly, speed matters

Resources:

Having a simple plan in advance helps you respond calmly instead of reacting under stress.

Final Thought

Cybercriminals rely on urgency, emotion, and inattention. The best defense is not technical expertise– it’s awareness, verification, and good habits. By slowing down, questioning unexpected requests, and putting basic protections in place, families can significantly reduce their risk.

 

Justin Caldwell
Senior Investment Advisor, Portfolio Manager
Caldwell Group