Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

➟ Teach them not to list their IM names publicly, for

example on their social networking pages, or respond

to IMs from people they don’t know personally. Look

for options in their instant messaging programs to

help them set their profiles to private. (See Figure

11-2for such settings in MSN Messenger.)

Figure 11-2

Some IM programs have an option that allows friends

of friends to send instant messages to you. This

option is all about connecting people with common

interests. However, limiting access to your information

is harder using this approach, which is one of the real

concerns about adding strangers to your IM buddy list

Restrict contact to only those you know.

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Part II: Using the Internet While Dodging the Risk