Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/56679
Advertisement Internet Safety: Protecting our Seniors By Madison Police Department Technology Committee Th e Internet creates excellent opportunities for seniors to meet people, conduct busi- ness, plan travel, access records, stay in touch with friends and family, and support hobbies and entertainment interests. But every age group has unique vulnerabilities and seniors are no exception. To help keep seniors safe, here are a few key vulnerabili- ties to be on the lookout for. Lack of computer skills: If you do not feel that you are able to set up your comput- er's security, it may be well worth hiring a computer technician from a reputable company to review your settings for se- curity and fi x any problems you may have. Make sure you have checked the company through the Better Business Bureau and that whoever comes to your home is fully licensed and bonded. Lack of Internet skills: Spending more time online will help you feel more com- fortable with the ins and outs of navigating and interacting on websites. Once you've familiarized yourself with the tricks scammers and some less reputable compa- nies use, you can simply avoid them. Th ere are many websites, books and courses of- fered for every level of user. Many of these courses are offered at low cost through colleges across the state. Seniors are more trusting: You are typi- cally more trusting and respectful of of- fi cial looking material than younger gen- erations, so are more apt to fall for scams. In the online world, unless you know for sure with whom you are dealing, you must assume that you could have landed on a 'look-a-like' site trying to scam you. Anyone can build a website that looks as offi cial and legitimate as any other sites for very little money. Th is means that the fakes are sometimes very, very hard to identify no matter what your age. WE'VE INCREASED OUR INTERNET SPEEDS AGAIN. Not only have we increased our download speeds, but for a limited time you can get Charter Internet Express at the special price of $19.99 per month for up to twelve months. No wonder PC Magazine ranked us the #1 Internet Service Provider in the Nation. If you don't already have Charter Internet, there couldn't be a better time to sign up. Call 1-888-GET-CHARTER or visit charter.com/power. ©2012 Charter Communications. Limited-time offer. Qualifying residential customers only. Internet service only is 6-month term & price is $29.99 months 6-12; Bundle is 12-month term & price is $29.99 months 12-24; standard rates apply after promotional period. Taxes, fees, surcharges, equipment, install extra. Available Internet speeds may vary by address; small percent of customers will receive lower than advertised speeds. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. PC Magazine Report 9/11. February 2012 This cyber safety message is brought to you by Charter bravamagazine.com 15