At the moment I write this I am 64 years old. That makes me a so-called senior citizen, and as Senior citizen with computersuch I am generously allowed the odd senior moment. I certainly make good use of this privilege: every now and then such a moment seems more like a senior year! Anyway, I wasn’t brought up with computers: I got my first one in 1988 when I was 42. I still remember the machine: Amstrad was his name, hurrying along at the amazing speed of 9Mhz, while the RAM memory consisted of an utterly astonishing 520K!

In the years that passed, somehow the relationship between my computer and me seems to have been reversed: right now it’s me who hasn’t much more memory than 500K, while the impressive computer that hisses contentedly beneath my desk owns 4 Gigs of the stuff… or 6… or even 8… I forgot the exact amount. It’s for ancient geezers like me (and gals, of course!) that books like the one in this post have been published. For we must admit: when it comes to computers we’re not only seniors, but also (more or less) dummies.

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Using the Internet Safely for Seniors for Dummies (Thorndike Large Print Health, Home and Learning)
 
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Product Description
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.

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Read it at your computer for best results
 
Review Date: April 30, 2009
Reviewer: J. D. Criddle, USA
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.
Great Resource!
 
Review Date: April 20, 2009
Reviewer: Susan Stenger, Port Townsend, WA United States
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!
I sent this to my Mom and Dad.
 
Review Date: April 20, 2009
Reviewer: Elaine Scott,
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.
Great resource for seniors and anyone who uses the Internet
 
Review Date: April 1, 2009
Reviewer: D. Milstein, WA, USA
I found this book to be a great resource not only for seniors but also for anyone who is concerned about online safety. I liked the writing style and found the explanations to be straight forward and informative.
I also liked that the book has many illustrations and screen shots, which make it much easier to understand.