smart home and IoT

IoT Devices in Seniors’ Homes – Part 1

Currently, there are many internet-connected (IoT) devices available for homes and businesses. Seniors and caregivers may find some peace of mind from the safety benefits of these devices. This post is the first in a three-part series discussing IoT devices. I’ll discuss what value IoT devices can provide seniors and their caregivers. Additionally, I’ll discuss possible privacy concerns using IoT devices.

Series: Protecting Senior Citizens Online

More seniors are going online using phones, tablets, and computers for conducting personal business, getting news and information, staying in touch with friends and relatives through social media, pursuing romantic interests through online dating, conducting ancestry research, and many other very positive reasons. However, as the online senior population grows, it becomes increasingly important to provide the education, resources, and support for protecting seniors online.

Protecting Senior Citizens from Phishing, Viruses, and Malware

As noted in my previous post Protecting Senior Citizens from Online Scams, scammers can use Social Engineering (or Phishing) in the form of false emergencies, financial scams, or tech support scams to steal personal information from unsuspecting seniors, such login credentials for bank and brokerage accounts. They can also use links in emails or web sites to deliver a payload and infect an unsuspecting senior’s computer with viruses or malware. Viruses and malware are types of malicious software that can damage your files (and possibly your computer), hijack your computer without your knowledge for nefarious purposes, or steal personal information for identity theft.