Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
| 2009-03-30 00:00:00 | | 0 | Web
The Internet is amazing, but the risks you?ve heard about are real, too. You can avoid being a victim of online crime with the simple steps for staying safe online that you?ll find in Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies.
Here?s the guide you need to steer safely through the hazards so you can shop, visit, invest, explore, pay bills, and do dozens of other things online ? more securely. Learn to protect yourself from online predators, create strong passwords, find reliable information, spot e-mail and phishing scams, and much more. Find out how to share photos and videos, chat with others, and participate in online discussions?securely See how, with strong passwords and reasonable caution, online banking and bill-paying might be safer than the old way Learn to install and set up a browser, use search engines effectively, and sidestep suspicious ads Discover how personal information is collected and used by legitimate companies ? and by crooks Be able to spot risks, find out how online criminals think, and know what makes you vulnerable Enjoy social networking sites without putting yourself at risk Spot reputable healthcare sites and avoid medical ID theft and scams
There?s even a glossary of common computer terms and a guide to your rights when using the Internet. Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies helps you feel more secure by showing you how to protect yourself while enjoying the Web.
User review
Read it at your computer for best results
Move over seniors! This book is useful for any age. It offers specific helps and walks the internet user through the process so that you feel comfortable with each new topic. I find it works best to sit in front of my computer and practice what I read to solidify each suggestion. My only complaint is that the writing in the examples is too small and grayed. Working at the computer solves this problem, since I can now see it full screen.
User review
Are older women afraid of computers?
The woman on the cover of this book looks like a character out of a pharmaceutical ad for an anti-anxiety drug. The idea behind this series is good, but the image of a sad, gray-haired woman in conjunction with the word `Dummies,` seems demeaning. It's no wonder that, in the reader reviews, most of the purchasers of this book are adult children of seniors and not the seniors themselves. A humorous cover would have been more effective and not as insulting.
User review
I sent this to my Mom and Dad.
I consult to businesses about online safety and one of the biggest customer communication challenges has always been how to educate people about being safe online without scaring or boring them. This book does a great job of achieving that balance. Statistically, senior internet users are more likely to be targeted by online fraudsters/scammers for a variety of reasons. What the authors do is describe the many situations that can lead to trouble and the relatively simple (and intuitive) ways to avoid it. The book covers online dating, online gaming, social networking, sharing pictures, sharing personal information, using email, using financial sites, talking to the grandkids about staying safe online, etc. What it drove home to me is that there are more minefields out there than we care to imagine and that when mistakes happen, they can be very serious. As such, I ended up buying a copy of the book for my parents because they are frequent online users, they are only aware of potential online pitfalls at a cursory level, and like many other seniors, if something were to go wrong, I would not be first on their list to call.
User review
Great Resource!
My parents-in-law just went Online for the first time 2 months ago and this book has changed how they approach the Internet. Now that they are feeling a bit more adept at Email and browsing the Web, they are using this well-written Dummies book to make them safer. Great resource for elders or anyone!
User review
This is a great book
This book was a lot of help in helping my uncle understand how to use the Internet, and all the great information about staying safe online made him much more comfortable with his decision to go online. The advice in this book made him feel confident--and I learned a thing or two, as well!