Hello, and welcome back to the Paddock Room.
I'm Margo.
I'm here with Wayne, and this is Talking Tech with Wayne, the podcast dedicated to discussing
smart phones, smart homes, and all those things in between.
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between us and all of you.
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Today, we will discuss online safety for seniors, specifically protecting your online identity.
It can become more difficult to keep up with the ever-changing online security landscape
as we age.
We have Wayne here today to help us navigate this important topic.
I'm excited to discuss online safety.
Wayne, let's start with the basics.
What are some common ways that listeners' identities can be compromised online?
Some common scams online include phishing scams, where criminals try to obtain personal information
through deceptive emails or websites, and malware, which can be downloaded onto the
computer or device without the user's knowledge and can steal personal information.
Those are important things to be aware of.
What are some ways that listeners can protect their identity online?
They can protect their identity online by using strong and unique passwords for each
online account, regularly updating their security software, being cautious when clicking links
or downloading attachments, and avoiding public Wi-Fi networks when accessing sensitive information.
That's helpful to know.
How can they protect their identity when using social media?
Listeners should be careful when sharing personal information on social media platforms and
adjust their privacy settings to control who can see their posts and profile information.
Additionally, they should be cautious when accepting friend requests from people they
don't know and avoid posting sensitive information like their home address or birth date.
Those are important tips to remember.
What about online shopping?
How can shoppers ensure their personal and financial information is secure when purchasing
online?
Shoppers should only shop on reputable and secure websites and avoid clicking links from
unsolicited emails or advertisements.
Additionally, they should use cards that offer personal purchase protection against fraud
when making online purchases.
That's good to know.
Thank you for those insights.
Now, let's talk about safe online banking for seniors.
As we age, relying more heavily on online banking to manage our finances is common.
What are some ways that they can ensure safe online banking?
They can ensure safe online banking by using strong and unique passwords for their banking
accounts, regularly monitoring their accounts for suspicious activity, and avoiding logging
into them on public Wi-Fi networks.
Additionally, they should avoid clicking on links from unsolicited websites or mobile
apps.
Wayne, that's helpful to know.
What additional steps can our listeners take to protect their financial information online?
They should also consider using two-factor authentication for their online accounts,
which provides an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification form, such
as a text message code or fingerprint scan.
Additionally, they should never share their banking information with anyone they don't
trust and should immediately report any suspicious activity on unauthorized transactions to their
bank.
Those are important steps to remember.
Wayne, what about scams or fraud?
What are some common online banking scams that seniors should be aware of?
Some common scams include phishing emails or messages that appear to be from their bank
that ask for personal or financial information, as well as fake banking websites or mobile
apps that are designed to steal personal or financial information, including their username
and password.
So you should be cautious when receiving unsolicited messages or using unfamiliar websites
or apps.
That's important to keep in mind.
Thank you for those insights on safe online banking.
Now, Wayne, let's talk about avoiding other kinds of online scams.
What are some common online scams that our listeners should be aware of?
Some other common online scams that seniors should be aware of include more phishing scams
where criminals try to obtain personal information through deceptive emails or websites, fake
tech support scams where scammers pretend to be from a tech support company and trick
seniors into providing access to their computer and charity scams, where scammers pose as
legitimate charities and ask for donations.
Those are important scams to be aware of.
How can they avoid falling victim to these types of scams?
Listeners should be cautious when receiving unsolicited emails or messages.
Very clicking links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar sources and use reputable
and devirous software where appropriate to protect their devices from malware.
Additionally, they should never provide personal or financial information to someone they don't
know and always verify the legitimacy of a charity or organization before donating.
That's good to know.
What should listeners do if they suspect they have been a victim of an online scam?
If they suspect they've been a victim of an online scam, they should immediately report
it to their bank or credit card company and change their password for all online accounts.
Additionally, they should contact the authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission, and
consider seeking help from a trusted family member or call our helpline.
Those are important steps to take.
Wayne, thank you for those insights.
Now, let's talk about safe online dating for seniors.
As we age, seeking companionship and connecting with others through online dating websites
or apps is common.
Wayne, what are some ways that they can increase their safety while online dating?
Listeners can start by using reputable and secure dating websites or apps.
Be cautious when sharing personal information and always, always meeting in a public place
for the first time.
Additionally, they should trust their instincts and be wary of anyone who seems too good to
be true or ask for money or personal information.
That's helpful to know.
What are some additional steps that seniors can take?
They should consider using a separate email address and phone number for their online
dating accounts and avoid sharing sensitive information, like their home address or birth
date, until they feel comfortable with the person they're communicating with.
Additionally, they should research their potential dates by doing a Google search or checking
social media profiles to verify their identity.
Those are important steps to take.
What about scams or fraud?
What are some common online dating scams that our listeners should be aware of?
Some common online dating scams include romance scams, where scammers pose as a potential
love interest in ads for money or personal information, and identity theft, where scammers
use a fake identity to trick seniors into sharing personal information.
Seniors should be cautious about communicating with someone they don't know and never send
money or personal information to someone they've never met.
That's important to keep in mind.
Wayne, thank you for those tips.
Now, let's talk about protecting yourself from cyberbullying.
As we age, it's important to be aware of the various types of cyberbullying that can occur
online.
Wayne, what are some common types of cyberbullying that listeners should be aware of?
Some of the most common types include receiving, threatening, or harassing messages or comments,
being targeted by online trolls and sharing personal information or photos without permission.
Those are important types of cyberbullying to be aware of.
How can they protect themselves from it?
They can protect themselves from cyberbullying by being cautious when sharing personal information
or photos online.
Using privacy settings to control who can see their posts and profile information, and
reporting any cyberbullying incidents to the website or platform where it occurred.
Additionally, listeners should talk to a trusted member, family member, or professional if
they're experiencing feelings of distress, distress, or anxiety due to cyberbullying.
That's helpful to know.
What should they do if they suspect that they have been a victim?
If they suspect they've been a victim of cyberbullying, they should document any evidence of the
incidents such as screenshots or messages and report it to the website or platform where
it occurred.
Additionally, they should consider talking to a trusted family member or professional
for support and guidance on handling the situation.
Wayne, those are important steps to take.
Before we wrap up this episode, do you have any final thoughts on protecting yourself?
Yes, my final thought is that cyberbullying can be devastating for all, but particularly
damaging for seniors emotionally and mentally.
However, by staying vigilant and following best practices for online safety, they can
protect themselves from these types of incidents and enjoy the benefits of technology without
putting themselves at risk.
As with all of the information we share here, flex your Google search muscles, log into
our website www.talking-tech.org, or call our helpline.
That number is 215-406-HELP.
It's 215-406-4357.
Well, I see that's all the time I have for today.
It has been my pleasure to be here, and I look forward to the next time we can do it
again.
I wish you all a farewell.
Talking Tech with Wayne podcast was produced by Gray Geek Productions, hosted by Margo
Jones and Wayne Hunter.
Tech was Transparser Blue Jazz by Stefan Cartonberg.