Pamela Maloney
Innovation is driven by technology. From mobile devices connecting to Facebook to wireless speakers taking voice commands, there are a multitude of ways for a hacker to access your personal information, no matter your age. Today, seniors are a prime target for hackers. If you or your loved one is still living comfortably at home, it doesn’t hurt to know these helpful tips on how to safely compute at home.
1. Your Wireless Network
Ensure that the password used to connect to your wireless network is strong and different from any other personal password. Only give out this password to people you trust. If you have the ability to set up a guest network, please do so. This allows visitors to connect to the Internet, but protects your home network, as they cannot connect to any of the other devices on your home network.
2. Your Devices
Identify all devices connected to your wireless home network and make sure they are secure.
This used to be simple when you had just a computer or two. However, almost anything can connect to your home network today, including your smartphones, TVs, gaming consoles, baby monitors, speakers, or perhaps even your car. Always turn on automatic updates on these devices. Be sure to disconnect any old/unused devices from your wireless network.
3. Passwords
Use a strong, unique password for your devices and online accounts. The key words here are strong and unique. Be sure to keep these passwords safe and do not share with others. Enable two-step verification when available, especially for your online accounts.
4. Data Back-Up
Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, you may be hacked. If that is the case, often the only way you can recover your personal information is to restore from backup. Make sure you are doing regular backups of any important information on all devices. Verify that you can restore the files if there is a problem.
Another simple way to ensure that your senior loved ones’ technological blueprint is safe is to simply restart and unplug all equipment every once in a while. Keep an eye out for things like excessive pop-ups or extremely slow speed. When talking to a senior loved one, ask if they are noticing any unusual things happening on their phones, machines or even televisions. This could be a sign that they have been hacked.