More and more of our daily lives from work to shopping and from socializing to banking are online. For those living with a blood/bleeding disorder this may include online or app based management of doctor appointments, lab results, communications with health care providers and even connecting with others on a similar journey. While this can make many things easier and faster, it is also important to make sure your data and information is protected online.
For more tips for what to consider when sharing about yourself online or information you gather online, check out What Does Your Online Presence Say About You?
This section will cover:
Online Security: Password Protection, Scams and More
Older Adults: Navigating All This New Technology
Online Security: Password Protection, Scams and More
Staying safe and secure online does take ongoing attention. Here are some things you can do to be aware and protect your information online.
Make each password different from others and include at least 8 characters with numbers (using both upper and lower case), letters and symbols.
Some people share passwords with someone they trust to help manage their accounts but keep that limited and check in with that person regularly.
This is when there is an additional step to verify you are you. An additional step may be something like sending you an email or text message with a special code, or even using an authenticator app. You would usually find the information on how to turn it on and what you must do in your settings once logged into your account. This can sometimes feel like it takes longer to get to your account, but it is worth the security.
Scams are when someone tries to trick you into doing something online that gives them access to your information or your accounts, or even asks for money. Here are some examples:
- You are emailed by what appears to be someone you know asking for money due to an emergency.
- You get an email or call from what appears to be a reputable company, online store, bank, charity or even government entities like the IRS, Social Security Administration or Medicare asking you to click a link. This could be saying you owe money or more taxes or your computer may have been infected, for example.
- You meet someone through an online dating app or portal that is not who they say they are and may even scam you into giving them money.
It happens to a lot of very smart people. Those committing the fraud are good at what they do, constantly changing their approaches to make it easier for people to unknowingly engage with them. It is a crime and reporting it can help stop those bad actors from doing it to others. You can learn more about reporting fraud here at Report Fraud or Identity Theft.
For more information about staying safe online, check out these resources:
Older Adults: Navigating All This New Technology
While most older adults are online, some still feel frustrations with learning all the new technology and knowing how to feel safe online. As someone with a bleeding disorder you may be advised to use technology related to your health, such as electronic medical records (apps and portals such as MyChart), telemedicine visit with your health care provider, or even be asked or offered to use a device to track or monitor your health (smart watches, prophy tracking apps, etc).
It is understandable to feel overwhelmed or even angry when our computers, smartphones or other devices meant to make our lives easier aren’t working right. Like any tool, technology is evolving and does take attention, care and needs updates. You can also find support for your technology questions at many senior centers, public libraries, family members or friends who are tech savvy.
Did you know there are webinars and online classes available to explain some of the basics and how to stay safe? If you want more information, please visit the resources below: