Category: Privacy
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Cleaning computers and alternatives
Chromebooks are an alternative to Windows or Mac laptops and tablets. They are laptops that use Google’s Chrome operating system, often with a solid-state drive, decent battery life, and 11 to 14 inch screens. Having a keyboard, they don’t force you to tap-type on a screen and, of course, integrate with all of Google’s services…
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Falling
iCloud storage, you get some for free and then you pay for the rest, what a pain on your iPhone or iPad. But there are ways to manage what it being put in that cloud, maybe you don’t need to use as much. Apart from photos and music, quite a few apps will store or…
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Bits of Advice
Secure passwords that you can remember: You have heard the message, never use the same password twice and use a password manager to help you remember all those different and complex password. But, there are times that you have to know passwords, so here are some tips on making memorable and safer passwords. Make it…
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May Jollies
Hidden iTunes power search still there Not all software upgrades improve features. The iTunes store used to have a decent power search feature that would let you hone your search better and it has disappeared. Luckily, it is still available but you have to use a special link to the iTunes store to enable it.…
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Short Cuts and Privacy
Keyboard short cuts are still king. While Windows 8 is so gesture oriented, especially when you are using a touch screen, it is still useful to know some keyboard shortcuts. Alt+tab is the most wonderful way to switch between open programs. Ctrl+Shift+Esc will open the Task Manager which in Windows 8 can help pinpoint memory…
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Changes
Yahoo Mail, the basis for AT&T’s webmail, has changed its look and increased its storage limits. Although it is not truly unlimited, for most people, the inbox is open to keep all your email. This lets smartphone users, who use IMAP to read their ATT email, not worry any more about filling up their inbox.…
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Who’s your friend now?
Social bots? Automatic friends? They sound rather innocuous, sort of just ignore them kinds of things. However, researchers have created software robot, “bots”, that are savvy enough to try and become your “friends” across your social networks. They work by acting rather like a person, albeit a casual sounding friend. Yes, there is a human…
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Cold calls from Windows
Phone calls from “Windows” to help you with security problems should give you such a warm feeling for the big guy from Redmond, right? When you have paid a decent amount for a computer and then someone from a respectable sounding company calls you to let you know that your computer has alerted them to…
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Fire-up your web browser(s)!
Since the web browser is the focus point for many attacks on your personal computer, why do we spend money and time on firewalls and security software that does not seem to catch things like fake antivirus programs? I propose that you start using multiple web browsers, along with keeping up with security updates and…
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Exif, or How did you know where I was in that photo?
Recently, my mother sent me one of those news clips about how easy it was to find (read stalk) kids, just from a photo a parent took a smartphone and then posted it on some photo-sharing site. Like all of those news shorts, there was truth and hyperbole wrapped up in this piece she sent.…
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Staying a bit safer and private on the Web
Use temporary credit cards to avoid theft or repeat billing. Most all banks and credit card companies have a way to make a temporary card number, or something like a gift card. Using them will let you avoid a repeat billing you might forget about or risking a high credit limit card if someone gets…
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Tips to Keep Your Gear Safe During Electrical Storms
Surge protectors are the way to go, either a good one as part of an Uninterruptible Power Supply, or something for fast clamping. Or, to protect everything you can get a whole house surge protector. Anytime your surge protector trips, you should consider replacing it, even though there is a reset button, the electronics won’t…