Computer Safety Tips Your Dad Needs to Follow

New scams keep appearing every year. Your dad doesn’t want to become a victim to fraud. One of the ways he can stay safe is by making sure he’s protected when he’s using his computer.

Caregiver in Water Mill NY: Computer Safety Tips

Here are some computer safety tips he needs to follow.

Cover or Disable a Video Camera When Not in Use

If your dad has a laptop or desktop with a built-in video camera, he should keep it covered or disabled when it’s not in use. This eliminates the risk of a hacker using it to spy on him.

He might not understand how to disable it and reactivate it. You can use a piece of painter’s tape to cover the camera eye when it’s not in use. That’s an easy and effective way of keeping the camera protected.

Don’t Accept Friend or Chat Requests From Strangers

If your dad uses social media at all, he needs to know he should never accept friend requests from strangers. If he gets one, he can ignore or delete it. He should limit his friends to family members and people he talks to regularly.

Mark and Delete Spam

Most email programs have built-in spam filters. Your dad should have them set to detect and remove spam. Some scam emails will still get through. If that happens, your dad should mark them as spam and move them to the spam box. Over time, his email program will get better at detecting spam.

He also should check his spam folder from time to time. He wants to make sure that nothing important has accidentally been classified as spam. If it has, there should be a button that allows him to mark that it is not spam and is a safe email.

Update Security Software Definitions Daily

Your dad’s security suite should be set to update at least once a day. Running scans daily is also advised. He wants a security suite that defends against viruses, malware, spyware, and hackers. He also wants to protect against phishing.

Don’t Avoid Companionship for the Internet

Companionship can also help your dad stay safe. If he has someone to talk to, he’s not as likely to answer a call from an unlisted number. Elder care services help with companionship. Caregivers come to his home and help him with chores, errands, and transportation while offering companionship. Call

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Caregiver in Water Mill, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.