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Re:Ask HN: How to protect old parents from evolving AI based... by JohnFen on Wednesday June 26, 2024 @12:46PM (#40801912)
Why are you considering your parents as some sort of special case? Your question is equally appropriate regarding anyone of any age.

In any case, I would advise everyone (including your parents) to have a safe word/phrase such that everyone knows that if that word or phrase is not used in a important communication, then it isn't really from them.

Beyond that, the usual safety rules apply: never click on links, never talk to businesses if they call you (look up their number and call them back if it seems important), etc.

Re:Ask HN: How to protect old parents from evolving AI based... by badrunaway on Wednesday June 26, 2024 @12:52PM (#40801976)
So, my reasoning is little stupid but it goes like this. I am in my 30s. Let's say if I lose all my money in a scam also - I have time to earn it back and still make it back. Whereas our elders (parents are 60+) who have savings and rely on their savings and can't really earn now - and also have lot of medical bills to pay with their age ==== for them it's like one-shot ending right? That's why I considered them as special case.
Re:Ask HN: How to protect old parents from evolving AI based... by JohnFen on Wednesday June 26, 2024 @12:58PM (#40802043)
That's not stupid reasoning, and I don't know you or your parents. But in the short snippet you wrote, I was interpreting your question as being based on the supposition that your parents are somehow too naive or inexperienced to understand and protect themselves. That's the part that I question.

Particularly since the answer to your question is no different than if you asked the question about anybody of any age.

Re:Ask HN: How to protect old parents from evolving AI based... by badrunaway on Wednesday June 26, 2024 @01:04PM (#40802084)
I guess I need to tell them to not even send any personal detail / bank detail to anyone including me. I sort of felt like may be there is a better solution than just trusting them to follow this. Like we have insurance for death kind of scenarios and medical insurance.. some sort of systematic protection would have been better.