Community Corner
AUTHOR ABBY STOKES OUTLINES ONLINE SAFETY TIPS AT THE SAMARKAND
Area senior adults learned to safely navigate the Internet during an educational seminar led by Abby Stokes, author of “Is This Thing On,” and hosted by The Samarkand, a faith-based, not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community operated by Covenant Retirement Communities.
“The Internet opens a world of opportunity for people of all ages,” says Tim Ficker, executive director at The Samarkand. “Giving senior adults a wireless primer provides them with the knowledge and confidence they need to embrace everything that technology has to offer.”
During Stokes’ appearance, approximately 53 senior adults learned about Internet safety, mobile banking, online shopping, and payment sites such as PayPal. She also discussed the importance of choosing effective passwords when setting up online accounts.
“Ninety percent of passwords can be broken in 20 minutes or less,” says the technology maven. “It’s vital to choose a secure password that cannot be easily guessed.”
Stokes recommends following these five tips when choosing a password:
• Avoid using public information, such as birth dates or family names.
• Use at least eight characters.
• Use a combination of letters and numbers.
• Use at least one capital letter.
• Write down your password in safe place.
For those having difficulty coming up with a password, Stokes offered sample passwords that anyone can easily translate and remember.
For example:
• Dont4g3t = Don’t forget.
• sKOObsdiK = kids books (backwards)
Although online shopping is a convenient for people of all ages, Stokes says the first rule is to avoid anything that makes you uncomfortable. “There is no obligation to shop online,” she explains. “If you choose to shop, however, follow these guidelines:
• Get a separate credit card for online shopping.
• Test the waters with familiar website stores, such as Macy’s or LL Bean.
• Pay attention: When checking out on the payment page, look in the website address box. It should change from http:// to https://. Think “S” for security.”
Avoiding online scams and SPAM starts with following good “netiquette,” Stokes says. For starters:
• Always blind carbon copy (BCC) when sending a group email to respect the recipient’s privacy.
• Delete previous recipients’ email addresses before forwarding an email.
• Always include a specific subject so the recipient is confident who is sending the email.
“The Internet brings the world to our fingertips,” Stokes says. “It’s an honor to work with communities like The Samarkand to help seniors develop the technical skills that will enrich their lives.”
Stokes concluded her presentation by discussing how to safely research information about travel, health and finance.
Abby Stokes has helped almost 250,000 people understand and navigate the latest technology and tools including the Internet, computers, tablets, smart phones and email. She says she firmly believes that, “If my mother can learn the computer anyone can.”
About The Samarkand
The Samarkand, a faith-based, nationally accredited, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, is located at 2550 Treasure Dr., Santa Barbara, Calif. It is administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior services providers. Covenant Retirement Communities serves 5,000 residents at 15 retirement communities nationwide and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on The Samarkand, call 877–231-6284 or visit www.TheSamarkand.org.