LATEST NEWS – Windsor

In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to protect our older generation from online scams. That’s why on the 16^th May we visited Dormy House, Aria Care – Sunningdale for a coffee morning, where Mr. Feetham from Less Annoying IT gave a talk about cyber security, with the aim of helping and protecting the old members of society.

Understanding the Risks

Older adults are often targeted by online scammers because:

• Less Experience with Technology: Many seniors didn’t grow up with the internet and might find it confusing.
• Isolation: Scammers often prey on lonely individuals, gaining their trust and then exploiting it.
• Financial Stability: Seniors are seen as having savings, making them attractive targets.

Mr. Feetham’s talk offered clear advice to help seniors spot and avoid common online scams.

Key Points from the Talk

Spotting Phishing Scams: Phishing scams trick people into giving personal information like passwords. Mr. Feetham advised:

• Checking the sender’s email address.
• Looking for spelling mistakes or strange language.
• Not clicking on suspicious links or downloading unexpected attachments.

Creating Strong Passwords: Using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts is a good way to protect yourself from cyber-attacks. Tips for this include:

• Combining letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Avoiding easy-to-guess passwords like birthdays.
• Using password managers to keep track of passwords securely.

Safe Browsing: Tips for safe browsing included:

• Making sure websites are secure (look for “https” and a padlock symbol).
• Being careful about the information shared online.
• Regularly updating browsers and software.

Avoiding Fake Tech Support: A common scam involves fake tech support calls or pop-ups. Mr. Feetham highlighted:

• Real companies will never call unsolicited to fix a computer issue.
• Never allow remote access to a computer unless verified.
• Hang up and contact the company directly using a known number if unsure.

Our Commitment

At Heritage Healthcare Windsor we ensure that all of our carers are equipped with the knowledge that will help safeguard the online security of our clients.