Technology & the Elderly: Tips to Staying Safe Online

Technology has grown and progressed exponentially over the past 20 years. While the youth of today have grown up with this luxury and are adept at utilizing it, seniors have not been able to harness the knowledge and tools to keeping safe online as quickly. Here are some tips!

#1. Stay Safe With Emails

Spammers, hackers, and criminals will utilize emails to target individuals into gathering personal information or attempting to access your computer. Thousands of emails are delivered to inboxes daily with bogus claims that serve to elicit a response from the receiver. Some emails are delivered that claim you have a won a cash prize or you are being asked to perform a favor in exchange to a reward.

If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is! Some emails will try to instill fear in you to get you to act, such as claiming your bank information has been compromised. If this were true, the bank would contact you directly by phone or postal mail, not through an email. As a general rule of thumb, if you do not know the sender, it is best to simply ignore and delete the email.

#2. Stay Safe When Online Shopping

Online shopping may be one of the greatest uses of the internet! However, it can also be very high-risk when proper practices are not followed. There are many websites online that serve solely to steal people’s information. These sites will pose as an online store, selling or promoting fake products. But what they are trying to do is steal your bank information. The best way to keep your information safe while online shopping is to only buy from brands and companies that you know and trust.

#3. Stay Safe On Social Media

Social media networks, like Facebook, are a great way to stay connected with your family and friends. It is important to remember that sometimes the information you post can be seen by people you do not know.

Avoid posting anything on social media sites that you wouldn’t want a stranger to know (such as when you are going on vacation)! Many websites will allow you to manage your privacy settings to control what information other people can see. Enlist a tech-savvy friend or relative to assist you in keeping your information private. Also keep in mind who you add as a friend on Facebook or any other network. Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.

Technology can be a fun way to pass time in the later years of your life. It helps you stay connected with people in a whole new way! Practice these safety tips to enjoy all the benefits of the internet while also maintaining security that helps to protect you.

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    [post_content] => Technology has grown and progressed exponentially over the past 20 years. While the youth of today have grown up with this luxury and are adept at utilizing it, seniors have not been able to harness the knowledge and tools to keeping safe online as quickly. Here are some tips!



#1. Stay Safe With Emails

Spammers, hackers, and criminals will utilize emails to target individuals into gathering personal information or attempting to access your computer. Thousands of emails are delivered to inboxes daily with bogus claims that serve to elicit a response from the receiver. Some emails are delivered that claim you have a won a cash prize or you are being asked to perform a favor in exchange to a reward.

If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is! Some emails will try to instill fear in you to get you to act, such as claiming your bank information has been compromised. If this were true, the bank would contact you directly by phone or postal mail, not through an email. As a general rule of thumb, if you do not know the sender, it is best to simply ignore and delete the email.

#2. Stay Safe When Online Shopping

Online shopping may be one of the greatest uses of the internet! However, it can also be very high-risk when proper practices are not followed. There are many websites online that serve solely to steal people’s information. These sites will pose as an online store, selling or promoting fake products. But what they are trying to do is steal your bank information. The best way to keep your information safe while online shopping is to only buy from brands and companies that you know and trust.

#3. Stay Safe On Social Media

Social media networks, like Facebook, are a great way to stay connected with your family and friends. It is important to remember that sometimes the information you post can be seen by people you do not know.

Avoid posting anything on social media sites that you wouldn’t want a stranger to know (such as when you are going on vacation)! Many websites will allow you to manage your privacy settings to control what information other people can see. Enlist a tech-savvy friend or relative to assist you in keeping your information private. Also keep in mind who you add as a friend on Facebook or any other network. Only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.

Technology can be a fun way to pass time in the later years of your life. It helps you stay connected with people in a whole new way! Practice these safety tips to enjoy all the benefits of the internet while also maintaining security that helps to protect you.
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