UMES aims to help seniors learn new technology
Technology can be fun and useful, but it can also be dangerous, especially when it comes to what personal information you provide online. According to the F.B.I. seniors are the most likely age group to be victims of fraud, especially online.
That’s part of the reason the librarians at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) are including Computer Security and Health and Medical Information as part of their free four week “Connecting Seniors to 21st Century Technology program.”
“There’s stealing your identity, and so much stuff going on these days right, so it’s really important to know exactly what you’re doing and basically be smart,” said Rufus Johnson, one of the class participants.
On top of showing seniors what ways to safely put personal information on the computer, the classes will also teach them how to decipher between credible and non-credible medical information websites.
“You talk about computers and it can be kind of scary for people, but we want them to just feel comfortable with whatever type of device they have in their home or whatever they would be using,” said librarian Sharon Brooks.
Brooks said she and other librarians received a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and that allowed them to fully fund the program.
Class participant Evelyn Christy said she wants to feel more familiar with technology for both work and pleasure. She said she has a kindle now, but as an employee at UMES she has to put student’s personal information into a computer as they walk in.
“I’m dealing with students social security numbers, with their id number and then with the money and credit cards,” Christy said.
To protect yourself the F.B.I. recommends making sure the websites you use are reputable, never giving your social security or credit card number unless the site is secure and you know what it’s going to be used for. Most importantly, don’t be fooled by flashy websites if you feel uneasy ask someone who you trust to verify the site.
If you’d like to sign up, or get more information, just call (410) 651 6621.
