Program teaches online safety for seniors

With computers becoming more integrated in society, more senior citizens are finding themselves learning how to surf the internet as well as how to protect themselves from malicious websites and online scams.


This week hundreds of senior citizens gathered at a Charleston, West Virginia hotel to take their first steps into the online world, the Charleston Daily Mail reports. The event was hosted by the AARP Foundation and called Ready, Set, Internet.


Participants were given various workshops that included how to safety shop and how to protect their personal information, according to the article.


"Whether it's banking or buying, ask yourself, 'What are they asking for? Are they trying to get personal information? Stop and take a breather.

If they want you to take immediate action, that's a big red flag," said Aimee Larsen-Kirkpatrick of the National Cyber Security Alliance, according to the Mail.


Recently, the Pew Research Study group released data that showed the number of seniors aged 70 to 75 using the internet has nearly doubled since 2005.


However, seniors may want to exercise caution when online with many security officials urging them to use credit cards instead of debit cards, and to be aware of spam emails that may request personal information.


© Copyright