Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

guide you through, from the most basic steps in easy-to-understand

language. Because we assume you’re new to computers, the book pro-

vides explanations or definitions of technical terms to help you out.

All computers are run by software called operating systems,such as

Windows. Because Microsoft Windows–based personal computers

(PCs) are the most common type, the book focuses mostly on

Windows functionality. Specifically, we use Windows Vista and Internet

Explorer in most of our examples. But rest assured that the majority of

the advice in this book about staying safe online works no matter

whether you use a Mac, a Windows-based PC, or a Linux machine.

Why You Need This Book

You’ve probably decided it’s time to go online to take advantage of all

the Internet has to offer, but you hesitate to take the plunge because

you hear all these stories about predators, scams, and spam. Well, here’s

a shocker: Even if you’ve never gone online, your information is out

there from a variety of sources, and you are at risk. By going online and

doing so safely, you may be able to mitigate your risk while learning

your way around. You may also discover how to help protect your fam-

ily online.

With the simple step-by-step approach of this book, you can get up to

speed with the Internet and learn the ins and outs of smart, defensive

computing.

You can work through this book from beginning to end, or you can

simply open up a chapter to solve a problem or help you learn a new

skill whenever you need it. The steps or bulleted lists in each section get

you where you want to go quickly, without a lot of technical explana-

tion. In no time, you’ll start picking up the skills you need to become a

safer Internet user.

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Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies

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