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PhillipG851492
Contributor ⭐
February 3, 2026

How AARP is Encouraging Poor Data Security among its members

  • February 3, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 1647 views

The primary method that people infect their computer with a virus is through HTTP internet links in emails.  The golden rule of security is to never click on an internet link from an email.  So it is surprising that the AARP Newsletter has very little information, but lots of internet links.

 

You may ask, what's the harm?  People can choose not to click these links, right.

 

The harm is that AARP is training Seniors to click on links in emails.  Instead of perpetuating this problem, AARP should be encouraging all businesses and governments to stop the practice of including links in their emails.

    2 replies

    cat0w
    cat0w
    Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐
    February 25, 2026

    @PhillipG851492 

     

    What type of security do you have on your computer? I have McAfee Total Protection.

     

    The safe links will show https. You can see what the link is by placing your mouse pointer on the link and looking at the bottom left of your screen. See example image below.

     

    httpsimage2026.jpg

     

    https definition

     

     
     

     

     

      P
      PhillipG851492Author
      Contributor ⭐
      February 25, 2026

       I just use Windows default anti-virus and Outlook.  I get the same thing.  Would you notice an extra character in the link.  That is all it takes to take you to a spoof website.

      The point of the post is about building a habit of using Links in emails, instead of directly accessing the website from a browser and navigating the site.

       What you may not know about viruses is that until they are discovered and added to the Known-Virus list of the Anti-Virus software, they are running in the wild and can seriously impact someone that gets it.  The best defense is to change habits, Do Not Click on any links in emails.

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