Learn how your planned gift can benefit America’s military
I use the internet frequently to pay bills, shop, and catch up with my grandchildren on social media. However, a few months ago, my computer was infected with malware and a cyberhacker used my personal information to open a credit card. Do you have any tips for staying safe while online?
Cybercrime, especially against the elderly, remains a major problem in the United States. Cybercrime cost Americans 60 and older more than $3 billion last year, an 84% increase from 2021, according to the FBI’s 2022 Elder Fraud Report.
Anyone can become a victim of cybercrime, but older people are often targeted because they tend to have more money than younger people. However, there are things you can do to protect yourself from online scams, hacks, and scams. Here are some tips.
Strengthen your password A strong password should contain at least 12 characters and include numbers and special characters such as exclamation marks or asterisks. Be sure to set unique passwords for different sites and applications so that a hacker cannot access all your accounts with one password. Store all your passwords using a trusted, encrypted password manager. If you keep a written list of all your passwords, be sure to keep it in a safe place. Do not use the “Remember Me” feature to save passwords on your device, as this will only increase your chances of being hacked. If you use a smartphone or tablet, be sure to set a password to access and protect your device in case it is lost or stolen.
Opt out of pop-ups To protect yourself from computer viruses and other forms of malware, avoid pop-up style messages when visiting websites. Additionally, your internet browser provides options to customize your settings, including the ability to disable pop-ups for added security. Hackers often disguise malware as pop-up ads or “special offers” while you shop or read online. Clicking on these pop-ups can lead to viruses and data breaches. If you see a suspicious pop-up message, don’t click anything in the window. Please leave the site or close your web browser.
If in doubt, throw it away In some cases, online hackers may perform a tactic known as phishing. Hackers send emails or text messages, pretending to be someone else, and convince victims to share valuable information such as social security numbers, addresses, and credit card information. If you receive a suspicious message from an unknown sender, do not respond or click on any links or attachments. Instead, delete the message or, if you use work email, follow your employer’s phishing protocol and report the message as phishing.
Please share carefully Information can be overshared online. This applies to personal information that you post to your various online profile accounts. Popular social media platforms make it easy for hackers to collect information about you based on what you share, including details such as your home address and personal contact information. Make sure your privacy settings are up to date so only those who follow you can see your posts. Be careful not to post security questions or information that could be related to your financial accounts.
Website verification Before shopping online or visiting your bank, double check that the website you are using is valid. Reputable websites use technology such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which encrypts data during transmission. Your browser will display a padlock icon, and you’ll usually see “https” at the beginning of the address bar, confirming a secure connection. If you don’t see this information at the web address you’re currently using, don’t trust your passwords, payment information, or banking information for that website.
Have a backup ready Practicing safe habits can protect you and your information, but you don’t have to rely solely on your own efforts to stay safe. Antivirus software helps you prevent and detect viruses and other types of malware from your computer. It works in the background and makes it easy to avoid threats while connected to the Internet.
For more information about personal technology devices and how to protect your personal information, please visit: consumer.ftc.gov Search for “personal information and data protection”. To report fraud or identity theft, please visit one of the following: ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IdentityTheft.gov.
“Savvy Living” is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to NBC’s “Today Show.” This column and others like it are available through the American Legion of Veterans Affairs’ Planned Giving program. This is a way to establish a tradition of support for your organization while meeting your current financial needs. To learn more about this process and the various philanthropic programs you can benefit from, please visit: Legion.org/plannedgiving. When you click “Learn more,” you will see an “E-Newsletter” button that allows you to receive regular information from Planned Giving.