It's that time of the year again, lots of shopping for gifts!

Online shopping is easy, convenient and you can get great deals. In today's world, shipping charges are lower and delivery is fast.  Best of all, you don't even have to leave home, or your couch. 

Shop Safely Online

However, you do need to be careful online. Online shopping scams can be costly and lead to huge losses. Here are a few tips to help you shop safely online:

• Only shop at reputable online merchants that you trust.
• When shopping or banking look for secure websites, https instead of http, look for a lock on the left side of the hyperlink.
• Don’t click on links in email or on social media unless you’re 100% certain they are legitimate, even if it looks like a really great deal. 
• Monitor your online financial accounts, bank account and credit cards.
• Think before you click, certain transactions cannot be reversed.
• Be wary of deals that are too good to be true.
• Set up strong passwords for your online shopping accounts. 
• Review your order carefully for correct address before paying.
• Make sure you sign out of the website when you have finished shopping.
• Do some research before donating to online causes.

We hope that you will have an enjoyable experience shopping online this year for that special gift for your loved ones. 

if you have any questions, you can contact us at any time. 

During the Covid 19 pandemic, we have been offering lessons remotely using Zoom or TeamViewer. We are pleased to announce that we will  continue to offer these lessons. Many clients across Canada and USA have found it easy, convenient and safe to get the support they need by telephone, online and remote assistance.

Our offices at Suite 300, 25 Sheppard Avenue West were open for a limited number of private lessons  in the office with a personal tutor during the summer and fall. 

Following recommendations from the Health authorities in November, we will not be offering computer lessons to individuals, one on one or in home lessons during the lockdown period.  After the lockdown we hope to resume in home computer lessons and open our offices again. 

Health Precautions after lockdown:

The building management has taken extensive precautions to sanitise the building and placed markers for human traffic in and out. Regular disinfecting will be carried out during the day and social distancing protocols for all areas, including elevators, entrance, and exits.

Inside our office, there will be very limited number of people and each client will be in an enclosed office. The tutor will also wear a mask, face shield, gloves. All clients must wear a mask at all times during your visit.

Tutors will only see one client per day and their office will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised after each client.

In home lessons
When the health authorities lift lockdown restrictions, we will start to have a limited number of in home computer training sessions if there is a time sensitive or urgent need and Zoom or remote tech support is not an option. Our tutors will wear masks and face shields and gloves at all times and we also ask that clients wear masks.

We are taking extreme measures to make sure we can deliver in-person lessons in future in a safe and healthy environment.

Read more:  HOW REMOTE COMPUTER LESSONS AND TECH SUPPORT WORK
If you have any questions please call (647) 262 5658 or email info@seniorstechservices.ca

GIFT CERTIFICATES
Gift Certificates, valid for 12 months from date of purchase, are now available. Learn more.

2020 has been a difficult year for seniors and other older adults. As the year ends, what is the best present that you can give to grandpa or grandma? 

Computer training, or learning how to use an iPad, any other tablet or smartphone, can provide seniors with comfort, security and peace of mind.  Our gift certificates are now available. They are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.  

Computer lessons or tech support will be delivered on Zoom or in person when it is safe to do so at our offices, in home or even a coffee shop or park.  We will bring the Wi-Fi. 

When you purchase the gift certificate, include your email address in order for us to send the gift certificate to you by email to present to your special person. 

You can customise each gift certificate to your preference, 3 lessons, 5 lessons, 7 lessons and 10 lessons. Discount for higher lessons!

All gift certificates are final sale, non refundable.

Do you have any old laptop or tablet lying around that you don’t use anymore or need? You can help a poor family or senior, right here in Toronto. 
 
Seniors Tech Services is collecting used laptops and tablets for poor families and isolated seniors who cannot afford to buy their own devices.  They are donated to reputable charitable organisations who serve poor families and seniors. You will receive a letter of acknowledgement and a tax receipt from the organisation, depending on the condition of the device.
 
Your laptop or tablet can help children from poor families with online lessons, and seniors to stay connected with family and friends and attend virtual activities from seniors centres.
 
We will wipe all your data from the device and thoroughly clean and sanitise them before making arrangements for the donation.

In September we collected 3 tablets, one was brand new, from two clients and donated them to the Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care for their community hospice clients. 
 
Please let us know if you would like to participate in this program and we will contact you to arrange a safe, socially distanced pickup.

​Contact us here.

Are you tired of losing your important passwords every time you need to log in? Well, a password manager might be a good solution for you. This is an app that allows you to store multiple passwords in one place and easily log into websites without any hassle. The four most popular password managers are Lastpass, Dashlane, KeePass, 1Password.
 
Here are a few pros and cons of Password managers:
 
Advantages

1. Remember only one password, since the manager stores all of your passwords in one, single account.
2. Password managers can generate many random passwords for each of your accounts that are strong and difficult to crack.
3. Easy login: You can add a browser plugin in order to login into multiple website at a click. This may also be done through using an easy autofill feature. 4.Multiple devices: You can use the password manager on different devices. You can use the same, single password across different devices.
4. Keep more than passwords: Password managers allow you to keep websites, membership number, repeat prescriptions and more.

 
Disadvantages:

1. If you lose your device or someone gains access to your master password, they will have access to entry to all your secure accounts.  A great way to mitigate this risk is to use 2 factor authentication.
2. In 2015 a hacker gained access to a major password manager. However successful attacks have been minimal, and we believe the rewards of using a password manager is far greater than the risk.

 
If you want to read more on Password managers, here is a great article from How To Geek by Chris Hoffman: Why You Should Use a Password Manager, and How to Get Started’
​

It’s summer time and time to go outside. During this sunny period, we are also offering lessons and tech support to all our clients outside.  This can be in your backyard, restaurant patio, outside a coffee shop or even at a local park.
 
How does it work?

1. ​Call (647) 262 5658 or email info@seniorstechservices.ca to make an appointment.
2. Internet: No problem, your tutor will bring the internet to use for your lesson.
3. Notes and handouts will be provided.

 
Covid Safety Precautions

Your safety is our number one priority. All our tutors will wear masks, face shields and gloves during the lesson and keep as much as distance from you as possible and guide you. They only touch your keyboard, or iPad or smartphone when absolutely necessary. You are in control.  In addition, your tutor is tested regularly for Covid 19.
 
If you feel comfortable with an in person computer lesson, please feel free to contact us for further details.

Come and join our security experts at our June internet safety for seniors webinar. FREE!
Scammers view seniors as soft targets for online fraud. Learn valuable hints and tips to protect yourself on the internet.

This workshop will provide you with valuable information on how to protect yourself online and current threats, including:

• Covid 19 Scams targeting seniors.
• Phishing emails.
• Secure passwords/log in.
• Using public Wifi.
• Virus and malware.
• Dating scams.
• Identity protection.
• Much more…

There will be plenty of time for Q & A.

The Zoom link for the meeting or dial in telephone number will be provided to you by email when you have signed up.

​QUESTIONS
Please email info@seniorstechservices.ca or call (647) 262 5658 if you have any questions or comments.

Come and join our security experts at our June internet safety for seniors webinar. FREE!
 
Scammers view seniors as soft targets for online fraud. Learn valuable hints and tips to protect yourself on the internet. This workshop will provide you with valuable information on how to protect yourself online and current threats, including:
 

• Phishing emails
• Secure passwords/log in 
• Using public Wifi
• Virus and malware
• Dating scams
• Identity protection
• Much more…

 
There will be plenty of time for Q & A. Limited space, sign up now.