Plenty more phish in the sea! Staying safe online with dyslexia

Ever been scammed online?

The advice is simple—scrutinise email addresses that you correspond with; never write down your passwords, and make sure that websites look legit by checking for the appropriate domain names and legal text. And they’re all responsible things to do… but the list does also read a little like a ‘checklist of things dyslexic folks might struggle with’, too.

Is it possible to stay safe online and keep your day-to-day dyslexia-friendly? Read on for our cybersecurity hacks, and keep your dollar locked up tight. ??

1.????? Secure your password record

Remembering passwords when you’re dyslexic can be draining, so hitting autofill or writing them down in a notebook or word document seems logical. But when those notes and your devices fall into the wrong hands—your backpack was stolen on the train; you sent your laptop away for repair— that’s a big risk to your and your employer’s security.

Multi-factor password manager programs can ensure that all your passwords autocomplete in a secure way. If you do need to keep a physical record, try coded reminders: instead of writing that your Gmail password is BlueSocks76_, write ‘fav colour + first cat name + old house number + _’.

2.????? That man in your Gran’s inbox isn’t Harry Styles

It’s distressing but true that many of us will never have a celebrity pop into our DMs to declare their undying love. Most of us know this, but older folks who haven’t grown up online can sometimes struggle with what’s a real interaction and what’s a fake one . Most smell a rat when they’re asked to transfer cash to an account not registered in the name of who they thought they were talking to, but when filling in online details is stressful anyway, it’s easy to miss things or lose your thread. Ensure that older neurodivergent folks especially are talking it out before transferring money online. ?

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3.????? Call out inaccessible CAPTCHA

Text-based CAPTCHA ? Not a fan— those screen-reader-unfriendly little squares full of low-contrast wonky letters are designed to stop bots from interacting with online forms, but they’re pretty good at stopping dyslexic folks from interacting too.

Many sites have moved on to image- and sound-based CAPTCHA which many find easier, but thousands of websites still use the old system. If you’re gated from online activity due to inaccessible CAPTCHA methods, let those service providers know. They might be able to open things up using alternative verifications, and it’s important to raise the accessibility issue when there are dyslexia-friendly methods now available.

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4.????? Was the online safety training you’ve received at work accessible?

Standard corporate cybersecurity training is rarely super-accessible. Reading reams of information then immediately being quizzed on it isn’t usually how dyslexic people work best, and it can be stressful if you’re expected to get a high pass mark. If you’re struggling, chat to managers or HR to request printed materials, human support or extra time. It’s important to stay up to date and you can’t do that if your understanding and your mental bandwidth are compromised.

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5.????? Screen-read for safety.

We know it’s time-consuming, listening everything with a screen reader if all you’re trying to do is buy an item or view an email from your boss. But phishing is smart, and many fake sites and bogus emails have addresses that are only one or two characters different from the ones they’re purporting to be, switching out Is and Ls especially.

Running these through with your screen reader especially if prices seem too good to be true, or if you’re being asked to download something, is a great way of making sure that your data and your dollar stay secure.

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Got tips for staying safe online when you’re neurodivergent, or cautionary tales for the dyslexia community? Reveal all in the comments below… ??