My grandfather used to believe everything and everyone on the internet. Besides believing that every internet user is a kind soul, he didn’t think twice before clicking a spammy link on the internet. I knew it wasn’t a safe practice to open every link, email, or befriend every stranger on the internet.
So, here’s what I did:
I told him to be cautious because people can exploit you on the internet even if you know them. What’s more dangerous is that you might not even know instantly that your data or financial information is being stolen.
While he understood what I was saying, I knew this pep talk didn’t cover all the bases. Keeping seniors safe on the internet includes more than just avoiding strangers or spammy links. To learn more about the measures I took to keep my grandfather safe on the internet, read on:
Different Account, Different Password
Don’t Open Everything Straightaway
Keep Your Information Personal
Different Password for Different Accounts:
My grandfather had the same password for his Facebook, X, Instagram, and one other social media account. While having the same password for every social media account was problematic, his password wasn’t strong either.
So, I changed his passwords and came up with some really strong ones that he couldn’t easily remember. His nervousness about remembering the passwords was apparent so I wrote them down in a diary to look into in case he forgets them. Then, with a sigh of relief, he asked;
Why is it important to have different and really complex passwords?
Well, it’s because using the same password for multiple social media platforms puts all of them at risk. Secondly, a combination of upper and lower-case alphabets along with numerical and special characters makes a strong password. I agree that they’re not easy to remember and would be an unwanted headache if one forgets them, but they’re not easy to crack for hackers.
Installed Firewall and Secure Internet Connection:
My grandfather had a habit of checking emails. Most times, he would open the spammy ones and explore them thoroughly. Luckily, his system didn’t get any malware but one can never sideline the possibility of it.
Anyway, I explained to him about spam emails, what they are, and what they’ll do to his system. I told him that every bit of data in the device would be compromised if he kept doing it.
Well, things would’ve been much simpler if it was only the spam emails. My grandfather loved to roam on the internet, visiting different websites. As he wasn’t using any firewall, anti-virus software, or secure internet, I felt that this problem had to be addressed.
I installed firewall and anti-virus software on the system; these steps ensured the prevention of unauthorized access in and out of the computer. Moreover, after a thorough research, I subscribed to a secure internet service, which I found was Xfinity in my area.
Honestly, the change was worth it, especially choosing a reliable internet network. One of the remarkable features of Xfinity is the xFi Gateway with advanced security that keeps my grandparents’ device safe from any trouble. It warns him about the sites that are risky and full of bugs, waiting to enter the system. Also, he didn’t have to pay separately for it since xFi Gateway came with all Xfinity Internet packages.
However, there is one more thing I would like to add. Some seniors connect to public Wi-Fi without using any VPN and put their devices at risk. Even if seniors don’t surf risky websites or open spam emails, malware can make its way to their devices in some ways. So, it’s safe to say that whenever seniors are outside, make sure their devices are connected to a VPN.
Advise on Keeping the Information Personal:
Seniors are on the hit list of most scammers because they’re easy prey. They tend to believe what scammers say and on the flip side, fraudsters earn senior’s trust in no time. Moreover, not just the money, it’s also the data that seniors have to keep in mind. Often, scammers steal private data like messages, emails, pictures, or anything and then blackmail seniors.
Coming to the remedies, guide your elders not to trust anyone they meet over the internet. Tell them not to share their credit card details, pins, or passwords with anyone.
Also, teach them about authentic platforms to transfer or receive funds. Not every app on the internet should be trusted as some of them may steal financial details. Secondly, to make payments on an e-commerce platform, guide seniors to use a secure payment gateway.
Bonus Tips:
Use an Ads Blocker: Some ads are too good to be ignored and may easily trap the seniors. Also, some ads may contain malicious links, designed to perfection to steal the data. Here. Installing an ad blocker will help as it’s a great tool to remove or hide the ads while browsing the internet.
Install Parental Controls: Even for seniors, you can install parental controls. You can limit their access to harmful websites or social platforms which may put them or their data in danger.