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Do you access the internet? If so, you are not alone. According to a Harris Poll over 14 million seniors are using the internet. It is a great resource; you can learn new things, meet new people, and find out about events. But when using it, it is important to be conscious of the security and privacy issues the internet entails. After all, you wouldn't put your address and phone number on a billboard would you? When you share information on a website you don't trust, you could be doing just that.
Be very careful about what websites you share your personal information with. For websites you are not familiar with, a good way to know if it is trustworthy is to look for the Verisign secured seal or TRUST-e certified logo. This means that the website has been certified by an outside agency specializing in security. A website that holds such certification is who they say they are.
Three major threats when browsing the internet are pop-ups, spyware, and viruses. Pop-ups are windows that display advertisements; they "pop-up" after visiting a website and often do so multiple times. These take valuable resources away from what you are doing and can even render your computer unusable. Spyware is software designed to collect information from your computer- often search data that is sold to other companies. A virus is malicious software that can make your computer unusable. It is important to protect yourself against all three.
Anti-virus software offers some protection from dangerous computer viruses. Norton and MacAfee are good programs to use, but these do cost money. Others, like AVG Virus-Free are free and can be downloaded.
To prevent pop-up windows, the user can use a pop-up blocker. These blockers are built into Internet Explorer 7, and toolbars offered by search engines such as Google and Yahoo.
To protect against spyware, it is necessary to use anti-spyware software. A good program to use is Ad-Aware. Another good program provided by Microsoft is Windows Defender. Both are free of charge and can be downloaded from the websites provided.
Getting the latest updates for your operating system and web browser prevent viruses from harming your computer. Often these updates are more effective than anti-virus programs. If you use a PC, a quick trip to Windows Update will install these updates. If you use a Mac, go to Apple Support. These updates are provided free of charge.
Be cautious about opening emails with attachments from
unknown email addresses. These attachments may seem harmless,
but viruses can even be inserted into pictures. While taking
the above mentioned steps to protect you helps prevent these
viruses, it is also best to use caution.
Most importantly remember to use common sense on the internet. If you have any questions, you should always ask a family member or someone you trust.
Once you know how to protect yourself online, the internet
becomes a wonderful tool for learning and conducting business.
Some websites you might find useful:
Medicare
Social Security Administration
Administration on Aging
USA.gov's Senior Citizens' Resources
Consumer.gov
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