Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

to devices, such as your computer, that connect with

the Internet) to route information to and from you.

They check which Internet browser you use (such as

Internet Explorer or Firefox) and whether you use a

Windows or Mac operating system (and which ver-

sion) to best display their Web pages on your monitor.

If you’ve been to the site before, they may have put a

cookie on your computer that identifies you when you

visit again and provides your preferred experience

automatically.

A cookieis a small piece of code that’s downloaded to

your computer. This code contains information about

you and your browsing or purchasing habits. Sites

such as Amazon.com might download a cookie, for

example, so that they can greet you by name and rec-

ommend books or music you might like, based on

which items you’ve looked at or purchased. Browsers

offer the option of choosing whether to block the

download of cookies or to specify sites you trust and

want to allow to download cookies.

➟ Information that isn’t essential but that you’re com-

fortable sharing:A company may ask how you heard

about its site, or it may ask you to rate products so

they can make other recommendations, for example.

This exchange of information is relatively harmless,

unless the sells your preferences to others to spamyou

(send you unsolicited offers). Still, providing these

pieces of information shouldn’t be mandatory, as they

aren’t required to complete a transaction or interac-

tion, in most cases.

➟ Information that youaren’t comfortable sharing:For

example, if you’re buying a book and the store asks

for your gender and income bracket, that’s highly per-

sonal information that isn’t required to complete the

transaction. If this information is optional, don’t pro-

vide it. If it isn’t optional, you shouldn’t do business

with that site. Period.

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Part I: The Foundation of Using the Internet Safely