Last week I wrote about how to avoid scams and fraud, and since we can’t go back to the simpler days of snake-oil salesmen, I thought I’d follow up with a more detailed list of tips from The National Cybersecurity Alliance. You probably already know many of them, but there may be some you’ve forgotten or even some you’ve never thought of. So here goes.
1.) Know the red flags. If anyone contacts you and insists on payment by wire transfer or gift card, it’s a scam. Venmo and Zelle apps are reliable and safe ways to transfer money.
2.) Verify to Clarify. Be suspicious of emails, text messages, or phone calls that create a sense of urgency. Just last week a reader wrote that he had received a phone call from a person claiming to be his grandson who had been injured in an accident. After asking a few questions to verify, the caller hung up.
3.) When in doubt, throw it out. Be wary of clicking on links or downloading anything that comes from a stranger or that you were not expecting.
4.) Keep a clean machine. Keep all software on devices updated. To help, you can configure your device to automatically install updates when available. Besides providing new features, updates also install the latest security updates.
5.) Lock your devices. Always require a passcode to unlock your phone or tablet.
6.) Make a long, unique password. Length is more important than complexity. Create a password at least 12 characters long related to something you’ll remember. How about IL0vetheBeachB0ys! ? (If you use the Google browser, you can check the security settings to see if any of your passwords are compromised and should be changed immediately.)
7.) Own your online presence. Immediately configure the privacy and security settings on any new accounts, downloaded apps, or new devices.
8.) Share with care. Be cautious about how much personal information you provide on social networking sites. And here’s an interesting tip: just because a website asks you for your address or mother’s maiden name, it doesn’t mean you have to answer honestly. So, my mother can be a Rockefeller!
9.) People online aren’t always who they say they are. I’ve received emails from friends that just didn’t seem like something they would send. Instead of responding, I would send a separate email asking if they were trying to contact me.
10.) I don’t think I need to mention online dating – or should I?
Going online or even answering the phone is like driving down I-84. It is risky, but by taking the proper precautions, you can arrive at your destination safely.
BRAIN TEASE: Here is one for the gamblers in the audience. If I flip a coin twenty-five times and each time it comes up heads, would you bet the next coin flip is tails?
The name of the first commercially viable easy-to-use instant camera released in 1972 and invented by American scientist Edwin Land is the Polaroid Land Camera. I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Rhonda Spies, Bruce Johnson, Dave Lutgens, Donna Mollet, Lana Tepfer, Doug Nelson, Jess Birge, Rose Schulz, and this week’s winners Keith and Marlene Clymer, who may still have one in their garage or attic!
For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the bi-weekly, general-interest magazine that emphasized photos more than articles; and was published from 1937 to 1971 – peaking in 1969 with 7.75 million subscriptions, second to only Life magazine? E-mail your answers to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or mail it with a limited-edition photo taken by film director Stanley Kubrick when he was a staff photographer for this magazine.
Well, it has been another week, trying to remember to roll up the windows because I’d forgotten it can rain in The Dalles! Until we meet again, keep the tunes humming, the stories coming and the body moving.
“Worry is like a rockin’ horse. It’s something to do that don’t get you nowhere.” Old West Proverb
Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) – Mondays and Wednesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333)
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services – Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068); Skamania County Senior Services (509-427-3990).
Answer: Most people would say yes. But no matter how many times you get consecutive heads in a coin toss, the next coin has a 50/50 probability of being either heads or tails! This is called the Gambler’s Fallacy which is based on a belief that if a random act happens more frequently than usual, it will become less frequent in the future.
