Tips for Staying Safe and Secure Online Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.
Strategies for Staying Safe and Secure Online
Tips and advice excerpted from AARP s new book My Online Privacy for Seniors
GETTY IMAGES Crossing the street at a busy intersection might be scary, but if you look both ways and follow traffic signals, chances are you'll get to the opposite side of the street safely. To accomplish this, you follow basic rules to avoid oncoming traffic. Not a big deal, right? Well, you should apply the same caution when using the internet. AARP's new book My Online Privacy for Seniors offers simple steps to protect your safety and , whether you are on your computer, phone, tablet or smart devices. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Here are 9 tips excerpted from the book on how to help you navigate our ever-changing connected world. Safely surf the internet
One key way websites and online services collect and use information about you, the web surfer, is by using cookies. A cookie is a tiny file that's transferred to your computer from a website you visit. To quickly determine whether the web browser you're using is set up to allow cookies, . Each web browser has a different process for turning on/off or adjusting its cookie-related features. Protect your security when working with emails
If your computer is , a vulnerability exists when your computer wirelessly sends information through your home internet router or modem, or through a public Wi-Fi hotspot. To prevent this, consider installing a virtual private network (VPN) that'll work in conjunction with your web browser to encrypt all information as it leaves your computer or mobile device. should never be used. These include the word “password,” your name, your child's name, your spouse's name, your pet's name, your birthdate, your anniversary date, your phone number, the letters “ abcdefgh ,” the number sequence “12345678,” the number sequence “87654321,” the number sequence “11111111,” the phrase “ letmein ,” the word “football,” the phrase “ iloveyou ,” or anything along these lines. (For example, using the password “22222222” is just as bad as using “11111111.") Using any of these passwords can compromise your online security. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Protect your privacy and security when shopping online
Whenever you visit an online merchant, check the website address (URL) that's displayed in the web browser's Search/Website Address field. If your intent is to shop on Target's website, and the first portion of the website URL does not say, “https://www.target.com,” you have likely somehow been redirected to a spoof (fake) website that's designed to look like the Target.com website. If you suspect this to be the case, close the browser window and manually type in the website address you want to visit in a new browser window. Handle online banking securely br
It's than a debit card when shopping online. If you use a major credit card and there's a problem with your purchase or the merchant, you can call the credit card issuer, which will intercede on your behalf. You don't pay the money while a dispute is being investigated and you aren't immediately out of the money. Your liability is limited, usually to $50, and most credit card companies waive that amount. Use social media wisely
When choosing which photo of yourself to use as your profile picture with your account, some online security experts recommend you avoid using a headshot where you're looking directly into the camera — in other words, a photo that's similar to the type of photo found within your passport or on your driver's license. A cybercriminal could potentially use this type of profile photo to create fake identification should they attempt to steal your identity. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe . Get a 40 percent discount by clicking on Que Publishing and entering discount code AARP at checkout. More on home-family AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS