The internet can be a godsend for seniors, allowing them to stay in touch with faraway family members, maintain social connections, join hobby groups and manage their health and finances.
But cyberspace can also be a minefield. Scams and security breaches affect internet users of all ages, but the elderly are especially vulnerable.
Seniors and baby boomers are more likely than younger generations to have money at their disposal, for one thing. They’re also more inclined to trust what they read, according to technology educator Robin Saunders, of Sunapee.
“We grew up that way,” said Saunders, 69. “We looked up information in an encyclopedia or read it in the paper. We grew up not as digital natives, but digital immigrants.”
Saunders will lead a program on cybersecurity for seniors and baby boomers at River Valley Community College in Lebanon from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. The class will provide tips and resources to help protect older computer users and keep their personal information secure as they use the internet. The cost is $25.
The subject is especially meaningful to Saunders, as she recently fell prey to internet fraud herself. One of her hobbies is flying drones, and when an ad for an underwater drone popped up on her Facebook page, she couldn’t resist clicking.
“I looked at the website, and it was a fantastic price,” she said. “In retrospect, it was too good to be true.”
Saunders placed an order, but the drone never materialized. When she followed up, the fake company strung her along for three months, telling her the shipment was delayed and giving her fraudulent tracking numbers, before disappearing for good.
By that time, it was too late for Saunders to cancel the charge on her credit card for $130.
It just goes to show that even a cybersecurity expert can be a target.
“Hackers are getting more and more sophisticated,” Saunders said. “If you get scammed, you’re just like everyone else.”
One issue that compounds the problem is the tendency of seniors to be too proud or embarrassed to ask for help when they run into trouble, Saunders said.
“You’ve got to tell somebody,” she said. “Tell a friend or a relative. (Scams) happen to everybody, even younger people.”
Saunders, who has also studied medical technology, nursing, health education and educational media and technology, went back to school for a degree in cybersecurity about seven years ago.
“I was the only woman in the program, and the oldest (student) by at least 40 years,” she recalled.
In addition to teaching classes, Saunders directs a YouTube channel and two websites that provide technology help to seniors: CyberSafeSenior.com and DearRobin.com. All of her sites are educational in nature and free.
“People need a place to go where they can ask questions without a lot of tech background,” Saunders said. “A lot of baby boomers and seniors need that self-confidence.”
To register for the class at River Valley Community College, visit rvcc.coursestorm.com.
Here’s some advice from Saunders for staying safe on the internet. (And it applies to everyone, not only to seniors.)
Never assume a stranger is trustworthy: In cyberspace, people you don’t know can pretend to be your friends. These strangers may know a lot of personal information about you because they’re good at researching and collecting information you’ve already posted online.
Watch your privacy: Remember, anything you share online can become public information very easily. If you use social media sites like Facebook, set your privacy settings to limit who can see your posts.
Beware of strangers: If someone you don’t know is asking you to fill out a form, answer a questionnaire, answer an email or text that includes questions about personal information, don’t take the bait.
Use strong passwords: A good password should be easy to remember, contain eight or more characters and use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols.
Think before you click: Avoid opening attachments, clicking on links, or responding to email or text messages from unknown senders or companies.
Use two-factor authentication: This is a security process whereby you use two different ways to verify yourself, providing a second layer of protection, such as a password and text message, and keeping your online accounts secure.
Use secure websites for all your online transactions: In the URL or address bar, look for “https” at the start of the website address (the S stands for secure); an icon with the words “secure” or “verified”; or an icon of a gray or green padlock.
Report suspicious activity: Most important, if you find you’ve been scammed, or provided personal, banking or credit card information to a hacker, report the fraud.
■The AARP provides specifics on internet safety, how to protect your privacy and the most up-to-date virus protections. aarp.org.
■The FBI maintains a list of common fraud schemes aimed at older Americans. FBI.gov/scams-and-safety.
■SeniorNet.org offers computer training at senior centers, public libraries, schools and hospitals as part of their mission to provide technology education to older adults.
■Fraud.org helps protect consumers from being victimized by fraud.
■FTC’s PassItOn Campaign enlists people 65 and older in an effort to recognize and report fraud and other scams. consumer.ftc.gov