Protecting Your Digital Identity

The internet and social media have the power to improve the lives of senior citizens but also comes with many risks too. We need to be aware of the perks & pitfalls of today’s digital world.

Here is a quick list of some of the ways we can make ourselves less vulnerable to hackers and to help protect our privacy, security and our most sensitive information:

1. Change passwords regularly- at least every 6 months on all online accounts.
2. Create more than one email account- and reserve one only for your banking, investment and other financial accounts.
3. Frequently review your privacy settings on all your commonly used applications.
4. Avoid taking any online surveys or quizzes, even (and especially) if they seem harmless or trivial.
5. Avoid sending any confidential information such as credit card numbers via email or online “chat” type applications.

It is important to become educated about the uses and risks of social media and the internet as well as the best practices for staying safe and keeping your digital identity fully protected.