Category: Privacy
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Password advice, Lynda training, router setup pointers
Some new rules for passwords come from the US National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST.) As you make new passwords or change existing ones, don’t just go for the minimum you feel is forced on you, go with such improvements as: use more than eight characters in the password as more is harder to…
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What to believe, checking reliability monitor, check Google activity and what they know
How you can trust fast-breaking news on the Internet so that you don’t repeat wrong information? From OnTheMedia.org and their handbooks series, they advise: in the immediate aftermath, news outlets will get it wrong; don’t trust anonymous sources; don’t trust stories that cite another news outlet as the source of the information; there’s almost never…
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Take time off, IoT devices as services, Email sigs as marketing
Worthy of a reminder again is to take breaks from your computer. If you get caught up not paying attention to time, then try Time Out for the Mac (dejal.com, that is an ell not a one after deja), or Workrave (workrave.org) for PC. Micro breaks are for just looking away from your screen, and…
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Avoid being phished, distraction free computing, zero day exploits
Avoid being phished by emails from your “bank” or “credit card company” to change your password by hovering your mouse or pointer over the big button you are being tempted with and looking at the web address that your browser or email program will show right there or in the lower left part of your…
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Windows 10 privacy settings, guest account, don’t overshare on social media
Configure Windows 10 privacy settings while upgrading to Windows 10 and you will be ahead of the game. Using the Express Settings screen, though a few minutes quicker, turns on a lot of information sharing to Microsoft’s benefit. So, instead, click on the Customize settings choice as you are welcomed in the “Get going fast”…
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Cap Windows 10 data use, use two-factor authentication, consolidate task lists
It is important to monitor and cap data usage in Windows 10 if you use a cellular hotspot to connect to the Internet. Click the Windows logo button, then Settings, Network & Internet, Wi-Fi, Advanced Options and slide “Set as metered connection” to the On side. This way large updates and apps won’t download. Then,…
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Edge the safest browser?, smartphone myths, royalty-free photos, online file conversion, what Facebook see you as
Is Microsoft Edge the safest or least useful web browser? In Windows 10, Microsoft has a new web browser, Edge, which replaces the tried and true Internet Explorer, with somewhat rewritten innards. Microsoft hopes to have a much safer web browser. However, it is so new that it does not yet support extensions, plug-ins, or…
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Mac system prefs to explore, touch screens equal battery drain, multiple browsers, reverse lookup phone numbers
Mac System Preferences you should explore include: set Notifications to Do Not Disturb during certain hours to focus on work; setting up Hot Corners under Mission Control to trigger nearly anything, like putting your screen to sleep; program certain “abbreviations” to expand into full text using Keyboard’s Text tab; and explore what your Trackpad is…
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Long-term data, ejecting external media, Facebook face recognition
Keeping your data around for the long-term means that you should understand a bit more about how long different devices or media might last. Hard drives, solid-state drives, USB flash drives and CD/DVD discs are the physical options you have to keep your data with you. For short term, consider flash drives for data you…
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Mac location changes, Google SEO truthiness, security summary, lesser known hardware specs
You can automate Mac settings based on your location by using the free app Control Plane. When you have a Mac laptop, there are times you actually go to different locations, with different printers, sound muting needs, file sharing changes, maybe even turning on password prompting. With Control Plan you can set up different contexts…
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Patching, posting, scamming, repairing
Update or “patch” many Windows programs at one time with Patch My PC. Windows checks for its own updates but not all software will do the same unless you are actually using that program. And, most of us postpone such updates anyway. If you use Patch My PC, you can have it check for needed…
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Facebook newsfeed simplified
Facebook newsfeed simplified. Facebook has made changes in News Feed settings that should help you focus (or refocus) on groups and people you follow. When you see a story you don’t want to follow anymore, click the arrow by the story to tweak settings. And, while you are dealing with Facebook, check out their newer…