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I know many of you are losing sleep worrying if some cyber crook is snooping around your Wi-Fi network, looking for information that will help them gain access to your username and passwords that will allow them to hack into your social media accounts, email and financial websites. Fear not, in our digital world it's nearly impossible for hackers to gain access to your home or business network.
Seriously. 99% of cybercrime requires user interaction, which means as long as you're not clicking on links in emails and text messages as well as not using weak passwords for your Wi-Fi router, you're safe. However, there's nothing wrong with checking your wireless router now and then to see if any unknown devices are connected. Follow these tips to keep the bad guys from connecting to your wifi and avoid being the free neighborhood hotspot. Download and use your router app. Every router manufactured in the past five years has an app that allows you to change your settings as well as see how many devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network. Your router app can remove unknown devices giving you peace of mind when you see a strange device show up on your network. You can also log directly from your router from your computer or smartphone to see what devices are connected. You would need your router's IP (Internet Protocol) address. If you're not familiar on how to achieve this, you would be better off using the app. Additionally, if you're using a router from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you should be able to call them and they can give you an idea of what devices are connected. Use an IP Scanner. An IP scanner is a tool you can use to find out what devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network. One of my favorites is Angry IP and it works on Windows and Mac devices. If you prefer to use your smartphone, try Fing. Both apps will scan your wireless (and wired) network to let you see what devices are connected. Other Tips to follow: Set up a Guest Network. If you have family members and neighborhood kids who insist on using wifi when you visit or have an office and you want your customers to be able to use Wi-Fi, setup a guest network access with your router. This will allow those guest to connect to the Internet without risking them access to your main network. Guest network access is great because you can turn off the guest network which prevents anyone from connecting whenever they want. Hide your Service Set Identifier (SSID). An SSID is the identifier for your wireless network. Its purpose is to let your devices know which network to connect to to join a home or business network. Under normal circumstances, your SSID is visible to help you easily connect to your wireless network. To keep your wifi network secure, you should go into your router settings and make it invisible. When it's invisible your home and business neighbors are well as criminals can't see your wifi name to connect. Only you will know and only the people you share with will know. Going Through a Breakup, remove your partner's access. If you're breaking up with someone, make sure you remove their devices from your wireless network. There's no reason someone you're no longer involved with should have access to your wifi. Same thing with employees you've let go. When you continue to allow them access, you increase the chances they can log into your network and conduct some malicious access. Change your Wi-Fi password from time to time. You know the drill, treat passwords like underwear. Change them frequently. Replace your router every five years. Internet technology changes frequently which means if you want those speeds your internet provider promised you, you need to switch out that router. When you change out your router, you also remove access to anyone who connected to your old one. Hopefully, this will help you keep an eye out for anyone who manages to get access to your Wi-Fi. If you have any questions, please reach out. I'm always available. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
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April is Financial Literacy Month. Started in 2004, the purpose of this month is to help people gain access to financial education and understanding of financial services and products. Individuals and businesses are still struggling with the effects of the global pandemic, but fortunately, technology can help solve the problems people experience with finances. If you're struggling with financial literacy as well as your finances, I encourage you to check out the following apps.
YNAB (You Need A Budget). This budgeting app works great because it helps you create a budget for yourself or your family. It works by streamlining your financial information from different sources into a single, easy to read interface interface that helps you focus on making decisions, not gathering data. By showing you how much money you have available you can set budget goals and you can spend without worrying we’re compromising your long-term goals. HoneyDue. If you are looking for a free app that works for couples, check out Honeydue. This app empowers couples to gain visibility into their finances and collaborate effectively on money matters. It offers the ability to link, loans, investments, and bank accounts for real-time tracking. Couples can oversee expenses as individual or shared. You also get bill reminders for upcoming due dates. Credit Karma. Credit Karma is a helpful app that provides you with valuable financial information. It allows you to see your credit score from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This app will also help you with approval odds with credit cards as well as free ID monitoring to help protect you from Identity theft. Stash. This investing app is for beginners. It offers automated investing with a Smart Portfolio, self-directed investing in stocks and ETFs, and a Stock-Back® Debit Card that earns stock rewards. Get personalized advice, market insights, and security features. Empower Personal Dashboard. This app consolidates your financial life, allowing you to link all your accounts for a holistic view. You can track your net worth, manage budgets, plan for retirement, monitor investments, and benefit from robust security features. Fiduciary services are also available for substantial holdings. PocketGuard is an all-in-one budgeting app that simplifies personal finance. Connect your accounts, categorize expenses, and get a snapshot of your finances. It helps manage debt and set SMART goals. Hopefully, this has introduced you to apps that will help you improve your financial literacy and maintain smart money management habits. If you have any questions, please reach out. I'm always available. Looking for More Useful Tips Tips? My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. You can view previous episodes on my YouTube channel. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. by Burton Kelso, The Tech Expert
If you're like me, you're probably always on the lookout for low-cost options when it comes to your streaming services. Traditional streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ are seeing skyrocketing price increases which are putting a strain on your budget. If you are looking to lower your streaming expenses you need to look at some of the free streaming services that are emerging as a popular option to replace subscription streaming services. Now there is a trade-off, instead of a monthly bill, you’ll have to endure advertisements. That’s how these free services make their money. If you're looking to find a good free streaming service for your family, check out these options. As of this writing, there is no one-size-fits-all replacement for live TV streaming services other than a digital antenna, but the right free service could help you stay entertained while keeping your wallet happy. There are a couple of dozen free streaming services on the web. Here are a few services I recommend: Pluto TV. Pluto TV is owned by Viacom and runs over 100 free channels. It runs on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku and PlayStation. Apps are available for Apple and Android devices. Sony Crackle. Crackle is owned by Sony, so it has a lot of Sony original content, plus programs and movies from other companies. You can watch some of your favorite TV shows, original programming and movies. It can be connected to a large variety of platforms such as TVs, mobile devices, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, and online. Tubi. A long favorite of mine, Tubi streams more than 12,000 titles. You can Stream anywhere and the service includes content from a plethora of other sources for kids of all ages and content that’s not streamed anywhere else. Freevee (formerly IMDb TV). Freevee is owned by Amazon and contains a lot of content -backed by Amazon. It offers on-demand movies and TV shows, live-streaming channels, and a small collection of original content. Roku Channel. The Roku Channel is an app for watching movies and TV shows that is attached to popular Roku streaming devices. Roku streaming devices and televisions come preloaded with applications that include the Roku Channel, but you also can get access to the content through smartphones, tablets, and computers. Hopefully, this article will help point you in the right direction as far as streaming services. There are more free streaming services out there. If you have time, check out some of the other services out there to see if it will be worth your time. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. AI isn't here to ruin your world, it's the opposite. It's here to make your life a lot easier. There's no complicated process to use Generative AI. If you can use Google, you can use AI and with the increase in applications of artificial intelligence, there are ways you can use it to your advantage in daily life.
Some of the things you can use AI for include: explaining in plain English what your doctor's report said or helping you create effective social media posts for your business. Maybe you need a recipe for a family gathering. You ask AI to help you solve issues and come up with solutions for problems you're having around the house as well as helping you with personal issues you're dealing with. AI can make daily life more pleasant, productive, and easy to manage. Read on to find out how. The term AI doesn't mean Generative tools currently available are living machines. It means that you can talk to these tools like you would a human. If you've struggled in the days of DOS, you know trying to talk to a computer in machine language is impossible. With the help of AI, you can sit in front of your computer or smartphone and have conversations with ChatBots who are there to help you. Think of AI as Google on steroids! There are many tools that you can use to help you with your journey to using AI. If you're getting started here is a list of ones to get started: ChatGPT: It's available from any web browser or you can download the app for iPhone or Android. You will need to create an account. The free version works for most people. You have the option to pay $20 a month if you think you need more advanced tools which are designed for people who are using AI at an advanced level. Perplexity: You can use it free on the web for general purposes. There’s also a $20 per month Pro plan if you want to be able to upload images and get access to advanced tools. AI.Google Bard: You can use it free from any browser on your computer or smartphone. It's completely free if you have a Google account. Microsoft Copilot: Use it on Chrome or Edge at Copilot.Microsoft.com. You need to sign in with an active Microsoft account. You can also download the Bing app to your iPhone or Android device. How do I talk AI's Language? AI communication works in the form of prompts. Prompts are a way of "programming" AI to give you the results you want. Choosing the right prompt is an important step. For example, if you’re working on creating a schedule for house cleaning, make you're putting in all of the information related to scheduling such as days you work and days you have off. What rooms do you want to clean regularly or on a casual basis? A good prompt would work like this: "I need help with my house cleaning schedule. I work Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm. I'm struggling with keeping up with laundry, as well as cleaning my bathrooms and kitchen. Can you come up with a schedule that will help me keep my house clean and organized?" You can revise this to whatever works for you. Let's get started. If you can think of it, there’s probably an AI tool that can do it. Rather than using Google to find answers, use AI. Here are some uses to get you started. Handyman: There are plenty of things that can go wrong around your house. Sometimes you need to know if you can fix these situations on your own, or know if you should just call a professional. Use the following prompts: "I spilled red wine on my carpet. Can you show me some effective methods of removing the stain" Another would be: "I think the pipes in my house are frozen. Do you have some simple home remedies to fix this issue?" Family organizer: If you have an overwhelming household, you can use AI as your family organizer to make your life easier. Use the following prompts: “Can you help create a schedule that will allow me to have lazy mornings, and make sure I get my kids to school at 7:55 am and start my virtual workday at 9:30 am." Another prompt could be: "For the following month, I have to work 8 to 5 Monday - Friday, take the kids to basketball practice on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. Can you help me create a schedule I can stick to?” Looking for Online Love: Creating an online dating profile can be a challenge because it’s hard to talk about ourselves! Instead of racking your brain to come up with the perfect profile, ask AI to help. Use the following prompts: "Can you help with my online dating profile? I need you to ask me a series of questions to figure out what things I need to include. Make sure the questions you ask are about me and the qualities I want in a partner." Another prompt would be: "Can you look at my current online dating profile and add some things to spice it up." You can then copy and paste your online profile to allow AI to read it and give you pointers. Business Brainstorming: It's easy to get stuck in a marketing rut when it comes to your business. Make AI can be your idea-generating machine. Feed the proper prompts that are related to your business, and watch as it shoots out creative business concepts. Use the following prompts: "I’m thinking about starting a new podcast. Can you be the marketing guru? I was hoping you could help me with a plan to get the word out. Where should I start?” Another prompt could be: "I have a newsletter that I've sent out for many years. I have a good size of subscribers. Can you help me think of ways that I could increase my subscribers?" Personal Chef. No, AI won't cook for you, but you can ask it to come up with a meal plan or help you prepare meals by telling it what ingredients and food items you have in your home. Use the following prompts: “I'm tired, but I need to prepare a meal for my family or four. Another prompt could be: "Can you help me with 3 quick and easy meals that I can make in less than an hour" Another prompt would be: "I need help with what foods to avoid. I am trying to lose 10 pounds. What suggestions do you have as far as meal choices?" Content creation concierge: Struggling to write website copy? How about material for your social media posts? AI can craft compelling website and social media copy, help with SEO (search engine optimization), and target the people you're trying to reach. Use the following prompts: “I need you to analyze the copy on the first page of my website to see if I have the right SEO to get more people to find my website" Another prompt would be: " I need you to come up with 7 days of social media content that will help me become more consistent with my social media posts." Hopefully, this will give you some ideas of how you can use AI in your day-to-day home or work life. There are even more AI tools that will help you generate images for your use at home or business, create spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, newsletters, and more. If you need a list of AI prompts for text or images, drop me a line and I can send you a cheat sheet to help you get more out of AI. Looking for More Useful Tips Tips? My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. You can view previous episodes on my YouTube channel. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. The New Year is here and I'm sure most of you have already decided on your resolutions. A fresh start is what many of you are looking for in 2024, so when you resolve to make positive changes to your personal life, take a moment to make some resolutions for your digital life as well.
Just like good personal habits help you live a longer and fuller life, good tech habits help your technology last longer and prevent you from falling victim to many of the scams out there that threaten your tech devices and your data. There are so many habits you should pick up when it comes to using your technology. Here are some important ones you need to use in the coming year. Get on Board with AI. Generative tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney took over the tech space in 2023 and their popularity will increase in 2024. These tools are essential replacements for standard web searches like Google allowing you to find information in one search rather than scouring the Internet for information. This is helpful if you need ideas for starting a business to helping your kids with homework. They also allow you to create websites, and PowerPoint slides and get help for anything home and work-related. Get started by downloading the ChatGPT app and use it rather than Google and watch your digital life transform. Build Your Human Firewall. Cybercrime is a human problem. Every device you own such as your smartphone, computer, and other gadgets is safe from hacks, however, if you accidentally click on a link in an email or text message, all of your systems can get compromised. By doing things like using 2-factor authentication for all of your online accounts, using a password manager, rather than trying to remember all of your online account credentials, and using passphrases rather than passwords, criminals will never get access to your devices. Sign up for a Technology Services Plan. In this day and age, technology is always changing which can make your digital lifestyle complicated. To ease that technology stress and confusion, you should sign up for a managed services plan for your home or business. Most tech support services plans can monitor all of your devices to give you a heads up if you have a device failing and they can provide 24/7 phone and remote tech support to help you solve problems with your smart home, smart TV, and any other device in your home and office. Configure Your Devices to Automatically Backup to a Cloud Storage Service. You can easily replace your computers, smartphones, and tablets. Your data, such as baby's first photos, wedding pictures, and holiday videos, can't be replaced when lost. Even if there was a chance to reclaim those old files it could cost thousands if you let us at Integral attempt to retrieve them from you. External hard drives can be used for backup, but most of you won't remember to plug them into your devices to have them back up. Resolve this year to have your devices automatically back up that information to the cloud. Unfortunately, there are no free services that allow you to do this, but most backup services average around $70 a year which is a small price to pay for the peace of mind knowing your files are safe and secure. Not sure what to use? Windows and Macintosh Computers: Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) will automatically backup your items to the cloud and keep older files for up to 30 days. iPhones and iPad: iCloud. (www.icloud.com) Apple starts you off with a small amount of storage for your tech devices, but for a small monthly fee, you can increase that storage to backup all of your important files on your iPhone, iPad and even your iMac and Macbook. Android Phones and Tablets: Google Drive. (www.google.com) Google follows the same model as Apple by giving you a free amount of storage space, but for a small monthly fee you can have all of your Android devices and your Windows and Apple computers backed up to the cloud. Use a Password Manager to Store Those Passwords. Hopefully, you're using different passwords for all of your online accounts. If you're not, you're risking identity theft and having your online accounts compromised. Cybercriminals are using a method called Credential Stuffing to get access to your information. With all of the data breaches that have occurred over the years, the is a good chance your user information is sitting on the dark web. Once your information is obtained, a criminal just needs to use your credentials to log in. Making sure you have a different password for each of your online accounts is a great deterrent. Keeping track of all of those passwords is the challenge, which is why a password manager is a good tool for you to use. Not the most secure method, but storing those passwords in your favorite browser is better than using the same passwords for your accounts. Edge, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera all offer an option to store your passwords. If you want a little more security, use LastPass (www.lastpass.com) or DashLane (www.dashlane) to store those passwords. Have a Good Balance between Screen Time and Real Life. Technology has been a great tool during the pandemic allowing us to stay in contact with family and friends, but if you've seen "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix, you know technology is designed to keep you addicted and plugged. It's even worse for younger members of your family with social media creating a host of mental and physical ailments. iPhone users can take advantage of Apple's Screen Time to track and control their smartphone use. Android users can use Digital Wellbeing to set limits on the time you spend on your devices. It helps if you block or unfriend negative people on your social media accounts. Also, set certain areas in your home as 'no tech' zones to help curb the amount of time you spend staring at your devices. Implement a Disaster Recovery Plan Whether it’s a power outage, natural disaster, or cyberattack, numerous unexpected events can take your business offline. The most important thing in these instances is to have a plan to get back up and running as soon as possible. A good disaster recovery plan will help you feel prepared and calm when things go awry. Add a Little 'Green' to Your Tech. One of the great things about technology is all of the environmentally friendly tech that is available. Focusing on 'green' tech can help your home and office finances. The first thing you should do is replace your standard light bulbs with LED bulbs. LED bulbs can save you up to $6 a year. A small amount when you think of one bulb, but think about how many bulbs you have in your home or office. If you haven't already, you should also invest in smart home hubs like Amazon and Google that can control items like thermostats, locks, garage doors, and other items to help monitor your home and office devices to help with your energy savings. Some utility companies will provide them to you, but once you have one in your home or office, you can program a schedule to make sure there is no waste when it comes to your utilities. Hopefully, this will give you some ideas of how you can keep and make technology resolutions for your technology for the new year. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Looking for More Useful Tips Tips? My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I live stream new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, When the holiday season rolls around, it’s not just Santa Claus that’s coming to town. Scammers, hackers, bots, and all sorts of other nefarious actors will always be around, waiting in the wings to take advantage of eager and ignorant consumers, travelers, and revelers. Beware, but do not fear! Here are some top tips to keep yourself, your loved ones, your data, and your finances safe and sound, enjoying the yuletide with concerns at bay.
1. Traveling with Technology. Turn on Find My Device to keep track of your gadgets as you're traveling. Stay off public Wi-Fi networks. Beware, many third-party power adapters are not made well and can cause problems with your device’s battery or power supply. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. If the device does become extremely hot or cold, let it return to normal room temperature before you turn it on. 2. Be careful when purchasing tech gadgets as gifts. There are tons of ads out there during the holiday season aiming to seduce you into buying new technological gadgets. Things like that fancy new smart razor for your husband; a sleeved blanket that pairs with your smartphone and glows in the dark; talking dolls, internet-connected coffee makers; and the list goes on. The biggest tip here is to pay attention to the brand. So many cutting-edge gadgets are poorly constructed or sacrifice quality for cheapness, many of them won’t even last until next Christmas. Only buy tech toys like these from brands you trust, and know that as a general rule, you get what you pay for. 3. Limit kids time on their devices. Schools are almost out for Winter which means your kids will want to spend more time on their tech devices. If at all possible, limit your kids to no more than 3 hours a day on their devices. No devices in their rooms and if you can make it work, connect their devices to a separate wireless network which you can turn off as needed. 4. Keep Tech in its Place. Probably most importantly, remember that the holiday season is a time of sharing, giving, love, and praise. Whatever you do, don’t let your technology take you away from those most precious moments with family and friends. You can use features on your phone like Do Not Disturb and Focus settings to suppress notifications and reduce distractions. You can set schedules and custom wallpapers to remind you to put your phone down. You could even disconnect completely and turn your phone off (don’t worry, you’ll be fine!). Technology has its uses, but when you are in the presence of loved ones, make sure the focus is where it should be. Hopefully this will give you some ideas of what you can do with you to be tech safe and productive during the holiday season. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. Winter is nearly here, which means you and your family will probably be spending more time inside huddled around your gaming systems and smart devices. Cyber crooks understand people young and old are playing games on their devices and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to trick you and your family into falling for a variety of scams.
It doesn't matter if you're playing 'Words with Friends, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Wordle or Roblox, you need to follow these best practices to protect your information. Check out my recommendations for keeping sensitive information secure and protecting yourself while playing online games. You probably didn't know this but online gamers are common targets for cybercriminals. You always need to have your guard up, because anyone you or your children encounter in an online video game could be a cyber crook who may try to steal your sensitive information. Here are some of the threats to your data security and safety that you may encounter while playing games online. Stolen accounts. Video game accounts are targets for cybercriminals because they are often linked to credit cards and contain important personal information. They are also valuable for the achievements and rare in-game items you earn while playing. These achievements make your gaming accounts valuable and can be sold to others. Doxxing. This occurs when crooks and other malicious players publish your home or office address publicly and usually with malicious intent. People will then use that to harass and target you, Swatting. Sometimes cybercriminals use your leaked personal information to send the police a false tip about a crime, which prompts them to send emergency services – such as a SWAT team – to your house. Harassment and cyberbullying. You aren't always at risk from cybercriminals. There are malicious people in gaming communities who commit acts of stalking and sustained harassment, which means incidents of harassment that originate from online gaming and can move into real-life environments. How You Can Stay Safe While Online Gaming Luckily, the risks of online gaming can be minimized with simple, but effective tips 1. Is your personal information floating on the dark web? There have been many online gaming sites that have suffered data leaks. In 2022, the companies that make Roblox, Elden Ring, and Dark Souls suffered data breaches. Do a quick check to see if your gaming credentials have been leaked on www.haveibeenpwned.com If your information has been leaked, immediately change the passwords for the gaming accounts that have been leaked as well as ones that were using the same password as those that were leaked. 2. Start using passphrases on your gaming accounts. If you stick to the old practice of using passwords, your accounts will continue to get hacked. A passphrase is a password created with two unrelated words that are combined to create secure protection for your gaming accounts. Using a unique, random passphrase with at least 8 characters for each of your gaming accounts can protect you from many online gaming threats. Need help creating one, visit www.useapassphrase.com 3. Use a Password manager. You might be reluctant to use a password manager for your gaming accounts because of the 2022 LastPass breach. Remembering all of your unique passwords is a nearly impossible challenge, so we recommend using a password manager to remember them for you. Whatever web browser you use, Chrome, Safari, Opera, Brave or Edge is great for saving all of those hard-to-remember passwords. 4. Enable 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) 2FA requires an additional method of authentication – usually a code sent to your email address or smartphone which helps prevent an attacker from getting into your account with just your credentials. Most online gaming platforms offer sophisticated 2FA options, as cyberattacks in online gaming are common. 5. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) while playing online games. A VPN is worth it for online gamers because threat actors who encounter you on a live gaming platform may be able to see your IP address, which can give away your location. Because a VPN hides your traffic, it also hides your location. Knowing your location is the first step in attacks like doxing and swatting. 6. Keep your gaming software updated. Don't ignore those updates, they are released because there's a credible vulnerability in the game you're playing. Software updates contain security patches that fix known vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals often target users shortly after the security patch is released in hopes of exploiting a vulnerability before users have a chance to update and fix it. 7. Pick an anonymous username. Never use your real name when playing games online. When you share your personal information like birthdays, names (including middle names), and age, a cyber crook actor can use any tiny piece of information to target you online. 8. Use a credit card to make purchases. Credit cards have more protection against fraudulent charges, so it’s recommended to use them instead of debit cards to make purchases online – including in video game stores like Steam. I hope you can use these tips to keep safe when gaming online. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help. Looking for More Useful Tips Tips? My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on my YouTube channel. With scorching summer temps in the forecast, it’s time to break out the hats and sunscreen to protect ourselves. And make sure you don't forget your favorite tech devices… they need protection from the heat too!
The summer heat can cause damage to your mobile devices when left out in the sun, but don't worry! Your favorite tech expert is here to drop some knowledge and help you prevent your smart devices from melting down. Check out these quick and easy tips to help keep your devices cooler in the summer heat. 1. Know the "safe range" for temperatures. Most tech devices are good to go in temperatures of 50° to 90° Anything warmer than this is asking for trouble. Laptop, smartphone, and tablet batteries are notoriously not heat-friendly and the components of your delicate hard drive or internal storage might expand—sometimes causing permanent damage which puts you at risk of losing documents, photos, and music stored on your devices. 2. NEVER leave your tech devices in a hot car. Treat your tech like a baby and don't ever leave it in a warm car—not even in the trunk. The temperatures in your car on a warm day are almost always going to reach outside the safe range of your device. If you must leave your tech in a car, make sure it's been turned off completely. 3. Avoid high humidity. Many laptops, tablets, and smartphones can experience electrical problems when the humidity is very high. Don't work outside with your device on days like this or you could fry your device. 4. Stay out of direct sun, if you can. Yes, heat usually comes with lots of direct sunlight. We've heard all the urban legends about your device's screen becoming damaged from sun exposure, but we can't find anything to support it. Either way, it's better to be safe than sorry. 5. Don't put your devices on ice if they start to overheat. If your smartphone, tablet, or laptop starts to show signs of overheating, place it under the shade to gradually cool off. Remember, do not put your device in the refrigerator or freezer; the rapid temperature change can cause condensation buildup that could damage the circuit. I hope you can use these tips to help you stay safe when you're using your devices this summer. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help! Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. We're well into summer which means many of you are involved with vacation trips, camp, and leisure days. Unfortunately, extreme weather is probably part of your summer plans which means you need to have a plan in place to stay safe from excessive heat, violent storms, and hazardous smoke from forest fires.
Even when your power and cell service are uncertain, your smartphone and other tech devices can help you avoid those uncertain times. Check out some tips to help you use your tech through major meteorological moments. Here's what you need to know: 1. Get a Digital Antenna. Digital Antennas equal free TV. Your local channels such as PBS, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox were meant to be free. Think about it. How many times has a storm knocked out your cable or satellite service? With an antenna, you can keep safe if your internet service goes out. Your local channels will still be able to get you the information you need to keep your home and family safe in the event of an emergency. When you get a digital antenna, make sure you re-scan for channels occasionally which will help you stay on top of emergency updates. 2. Download a weather app on your smart devices. It's rare that your cellular service will go out in extreme weather which is why it's a good idea to download and set up alerts on Apple’s Weather app, the Google app or a specialized weather app to keep you notified. Bookmarking web pages in your browser — like those for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Hurricane Center, or the U.S. Air Quality Index — is good for manual checks of current conditions. Also, your smartphone can also receive wireless emergency alerts from authorized federal, state, local, and tribal, authorities. Make sure these settings are enabled on your smartphone or tablet. 3. Get an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Home Hub. If you currently have an Echo or Google Home and you've cut the cord, it's time to upgrade. If you aren't familiar, the Echo Show and the Google Home Hub both have screens that are constantly showing news and other alerts. When there is severe weather in your area, these smart-home devices will show you what's going on. You can even take it a step further by programming the function into these devices to give you verbal alerts in the case of extreme weather. 4. Save Important items to Your Digital Wallet. Keeping track of all of your important documents is the last thing you want to do in extreme weather. If you can, upload your credit and debit cards to your digital wallet app on your phone. Also, make sure you have photos or pdfs of your health care cards and drivers license. Just about every major insurance company has its own mobile app that you can use for filing a claim, getting roadside assistance, and checking documents that are part of your policy. If you have not installed your provider’s app and set up your account on your phone, do it before you need to use it. 5. Stock Up on Power Sources. If the power goes out, you will need alternative ways to charge your phone. Technology like solar panel battery packs, a power cable for your car’s 12-volt dashboard outlet, or hand-cranked chargers. These tech items can keep your tech devices charged and ready to help you out. 6. Check out Gas Buddy and Google Maps. Extreme weather can often disrupt gasoline delivery and other items on the supply chain. Gas Buddy will not only help you find the cheapest gas prices, it also has an outage tracker feature, that can help you find working gas stations. Google Maps also you to keep track of Air quality as well as wildfires. It will also help you navigate the roads and alert you of closures if you have to evacuate during extreme weather. 7. Get a Weather Radio. In times of extreme weather, you can never predict what services you will lose. TV, Internet, and cellular signals can all fall victim to storms in your area. To keep everyone safe in extreme weather, the National Weather Service has a dedicated radio station that transmits around the country. A weather radio can help you get this important information. Also, most weather radios do not require charging and will work in all weather conditions. Hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to keep yourself safe from extreme summer weather. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help! Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. The summer months can be dangerous time for teens, as extra free time can lead them to do careless things like talking to strangers on online forums. If you're a parent of a tween or teen, you need to make sure you're speaking to your teens about the dangers of sharing sexual material online, especially because of the rise of sextortion scams targeting them.
Sextortion involves criminals reaching out and forming relationships with teens on social media platforms like Snapchat, BeReal, Discord, as well as online gaming platforms. With the help of AI, criminals are able to disguise themselves as teens to friend them and trick them into sending nude photos. Here's what you need to know: How does it work? Cyber crooks setup online profiles or steal social media accounts that appear to be around the same age as the victim. They then begin reaching out with friend requests on various online chat platforms, and then move the conversation to a platform such as Instagram where they can view the victim’s personal information and contacts. They then send the victim an intimate image and encourage them to take part in video chats or sharing their own intimate pictures. Screenshots are taken of intimate images and videos are recorded. As soon as an intimate image or video has been shared, the victim is told they have been recorded and that the recording or pictures will be shared online or with their friends and family unless a ransom is paid immediately. The scammers apply pressure to the victim and tell them the image will be deleted as soon as they pay. Some cases have incurred losses in the thousands of dollars, and these are just the cases that are reported. What's worse with sextortion, there have been instances of teens who feel they are put into a no-win situation with this scam and they take their lives when faced with public humiliation from having the photos and videos released to family and friends. What are some of the signs of a sextortion scam? Some tell-tale signs of a sextortion scam include but are not restricted to:
What to do if your teen has fallen victim to sextortion? If your children have fallen victim to a sextortion scam, then immediately support, without questions of why they did what they did, to ensure that they do not pay, and that they and you are prepared for how people may react if the images or video is released.
Hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to keep your teens safe from the dangers of sextortion scams. If you think you're being targeted, don't hesitate to reach out. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help! Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. |
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