Cybersecurity workshops for seniors offered on Tuesdays in Sumter

Sumter Senior Services and the Air Force Association Swamp Fox Chapter have joined to assist senior citizens concerned about becoming victims of cybercrime. For five consecutive Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 26, the organization will present a series of presentations on the basics of cybersecurity at the SSS center at 119 S. Sumter St.

The CyberGenerations Program for senior citizens marks "the first time ever the program will be presented to an audience," said Cheryl Moye, vice president for communications with the Swamp Fox Chapter and member of the board of directors for Sumter Senior Services. "Sumter is one of five test locations throughout the world for the program. There are more than 200 AFA chapters around the world, and there are 392 Swamp Fox Chapter members."

The AFA Swamp Fox Chapter is a nonprofit service organization that also provides scholarships and other assistance, she said. The CyberGenerations Program is free and open to anyone 55 or older, Moye said. "A lot of seniors use computers, and this is a great opportunity for us for the very first time to teach to seniors."

The workshop, which will be taught by Lt. Rachel Sax, who is on active duty stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, will provide information and resources to help seniors "identify potential cyberattacks directed at them or their loved ones."

Each workshop will begin at 10 a.m. and will last no longer than one hour, Moye said. Time for questions and discussion will be included. The first presentation, on Feb. 26, is the introduction, or Cybersecurity 101, which will provide the basics of cybersecurity, including physical threats to cyber safety and the importance of personally identifiable information. Subsequent workshops, also taught at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays - March 5, 12, 19 and 26,x include:

Password Management: The importance of maintaining good password hygiene and tips on creating strong, unique passwords.

Common Internet Threats: Raise awareness about malware, social engineering methods (phishing, vishing, etc.) and public Wi-Fi tips to avoid becoming victims of cybercrime.

Internet Scams and Fraud: Different types of scams targeting seniors, how to recognize false customer service calls, identity theft and online shopping tips.

Social Media Safety: Understanding privacy settings, becoming mindful of the various social media scams and information about social media etiquette.

In addition, workshop participants will be provided with self-help resources with direct contact information for government and local resources. Among these are The CyberGenerations Self-Paced Guide, which acts as supplementary material with additional information on the topics discussed during the presentations and The CyberGenerations Senior Citizens' Cyber Safety kit that includes CyberGenerations Self-Paced Guide for the participants with additional material for each module.

Workshops will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesdays through March 26 at Sumter Senior Services, 119 S. Sumter St. Anyone 55 years old or older is eligible to join the presentations. Moye said pre-registration for the free workshops is not required, but she asks that potential participants contact her at cheryl.r.moye@outlook.com or (229) 251-9083.