Is my home Wi-Fi safe? A simple guide for retirees
Updated October 8, 2026.
It can be, with six simple checks that take an afternoon. Wi-Fi security protects your home network, but it can't stop a scam call, a phishing email or a fake tech support pop-up. For those, four everyday habits do the heavy lifting.
- People over 60 reported $7.7 billion in online fraud losses in 2025.
- Most of those losses came from scams that trick a person, not hacked routers.
- Change the router password, check what's connected and give visitors guest Wi-Fi.
- Two-step login and a healthy doubt about unexpected calls stop most scams.
What are the real risks for older adults online?
The biggest losses don't come from someone breaking into your Wi-Fi. They come from scams that persuade a person to pay, click or hand over access.
Phishing and spoofing was the most reported crime in that group. Tech support scams alone cost older adults about $1.04 billion.1
The network still matters. Pew Research found that 78% of Americans 65 and older own a smartphone,2 and that phone, the tablet and the smart TV all share your home Wi-Fi.
Six simple checks for your home Wi-Fi
- Change the router's admin password. This guards the router's settings, not your Wi-Fi. Defaults are easy to guess.3
- Make sure your Wi-Fi is encrypted. Look for WPA2 or WPA3 in the settings.3
- Keep the router updated. Turn on automatic updates if your router offers them.3
- Give visitors a guest network with its own name and password, so grandkids stay off your main Wi-Fi.3
- Know what's connected. Look through your router's device list now and then. Remove anything you don't recognize.
- Ask for help if you'd like it. A family member can run through these checks with you in an afternoon.
Got a smart TV, doorbell or speaker? Our guide on whether smart devices need a separate network explains why they shouldn't sit next to your banking devices.
Four habits that stop most scams
CISA, the US cybersecurity agency, recommends four basics for everyone:4
- Spot and report phishing. Doubt any unexpected call, text or email that asks for money, passwords or remote access.
- Use strong passwords, ideally with a password manager.
- Turn on two-step login for email and bank accounts.
- Update your software on phones, tablets and computers.
If a caller says your computer has a virus, hang up. Then call a number you already trust.
Where Rio fits
Rio covers two of the checks for you. Every new device that joins your Wi-Fi waits for you to tap Approve or Block, and grandkids get guest Wi-Fi kept apart from your devices. Rio secures your network. It doesn't stop scam calls or phishing, so the habits above still matter. See Rio for older adults.
Do you know every device on your Wi-Fi right now?
Rio holds each new device until you approve it, and puts visitors on their own guest Wi-Fi.
See a simple setup for older adultsFrequently asked questions
Can a router stop scam calls and phishing emails?
No. A router protects your home network, but scam calls, texts and phishing emails work by persuading a person. The best defense is doubting unexpected messages, never giving remote access to a caller, and turning on two-step login for email and bank accounts.
How do I know if someone is using my Wi-Fi?
Open your router's app or settings page and look at the list of connected devices. If you see something you don't recognize, remove it and change your Wi-Fi password. Checking the list every few weeks takes a minute and catches most surprises early.
Should grandkids use my main Wi-Fi?
It's better to give visitors a guest network with its own name and password. Their phones and tablets stay apart from your computer and banking devices, and you can change the guest password after a visit without reconnecting anything of your own.
Do I need to replace my router?
Not always. If your router still gets updates and supports WPA2 or WPA3, the checks above go a long way. If the maker has stopped releasing updates for it, or you can't change the admin password, it's time to replace it.
Sources
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 IC3 Annual Report, April 2026. ic3.gov (PDF)
- Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet, November 20, 2025. pewresearch.org
- Federal Trade Commission, How To Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network, updated December 2022. ftc.gov
- CISA, Secure Our World. cisa.gov
