Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Mean Daddy

Chances of you getting hacked = almost none
Chances of you falling for a scam = increases as you get older.
Chances of you getting phished = depends on your behavior but the average is about 30%

Black hats go for the low-hanging fruit. People who share things on FB or do copy-and-paste memes are good at following orders without question.They can do look-backs to find the suckers that followed directions. People who do email chains are also good marks. If you fall for social engineering schemes, you are a target. If you answer calls from unknown numbers or do call back, you are ripe for the picking.


23 posted on 12/23/2024 11:05:11 AM PST by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: AppyPappy

I’m glad I am somewhat pleasantly anti-social as far as on line stuff goes. I also use throw away accounts with bogus information so if someone gets into them, little of any value.

Over the past few years I’ve shut off or never renewed a lot of services and don’t miss them.

Less is more.

Windows will eventually go away here as those units die out.

I am mostly a Linux or Mac user these days.

Getting the spouse to move to Mac or Linux won’t be easy.


36 posted on 12/23/2024 11:55:00 AM PST by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]

To: AppyPappy
"Chances of you falling for a scam = increases as you get older."

I'm 73, wife is 72. We are both VERY wary and sharp now, but am concerned about the next 10 - 20 years (if the Good Lord blesses us that way).

46 posted on 12/23/2024 12:50:43 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (Marxism is a politics for the ugly, unwanted, uneducated, unhealthy, and insane.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]

To: AppyPappy

“If you answer calls from unknown numbers or do call back, you are ripe for the picking.”

That’s something I never do because they’ll leave a message if necessary. Only exception is if I’m expecting a critical call that day and then I’ll answer.

If I do happen to answer an unknown number, I never say “hello”. I’ll ask, “Can I help you?” With a weird accent. They (bots, I assume) hang up. It might the be that their algorithm is programmed to respond to “hello”, and anything else causes confusion.

Also never answer a question with a simple “yes” or “no”. Have heard that your voice speaking those words can be “spliced” into things for nefarious purposes.


60 posted on 12/23/2024 1:36:28 PM PST by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson