If there's one thing you do for your own computer safety, please, use strong, unique passwords! Doing so decreases your chances of suffering virus infection, account hijacking, identity theft, and even financial fraud. People continually re-use passwords, or create weak passwords, or don't change the default passwords on important devices like routers and smart home gadgets. … Continue reading How To Create Strong Passwords (2020 Edition)
Category: privacy
How to Check Your Voice Assistant Privacy Settings
Voice activated assistants are everywhere, but they may reveal more than you intend. Many of the major tech companies including Amazon, Google, and Apple have admitted to allowing human employees or contractors to listen to recordings in an effort to improve their services. There have also been instances of voice assistants activating accidentally, and at … Continue reading How to Check Your Voice Assistant Privacy Settings
The Risks Of Sharenting: When Parents Post Too Much About Their Kids Online (And How To Share Safely)
There’s been a lot of talk lately about “sharenting,” or parents oversharing information about their children on the Internet. Some parents believe they should be able to share their parenting experience as they see fit. But many children, as they grow older and realize the plethora of information that their parents have posted about them, … Continue reading The Risks Of Sharenting: When Parents Post Too Much About Their Kids Online (And How To Share Safely)
Internet Safety For Parents and Kids
Talking with your child about Internet safety can seem overwhelming, but there are some excellent resources available to help. Remember, protecting your kids online starts with protecting your computer from viruses and malware. Teach your kids to use strong, unique passwords, and to avoid oversharing photos and personal information. Monitor the sites your kids visit … Continue reading Internet Safety For Parents and Kids
How To Create Strong Passwords (2019 Edition)
It's more important than ever to make sure you're using strong, unique passwords. Passwords are one of your main defenses against computer viruses, account hijacking, and other Internet threats. No doubt you've heard the many news stories of tech companies who have lost customer data. Some of these incidents were caused by hackers, others may … Continue reading How To Create Strong Passwords (2019 Edition)
Why You Need To Delete Your Old Accounts
Most people let old accounts languish. But abandoned accounts are filled with information that can be used to send spam, spread malvertising, and commit cybercrimes. For example, I frequently get email messages from people I know, but haven’t talked to in a while. Invariably the email subject is blank or says nothing but, “Re:”. Sometimes the … Continue reading Why You Need To Delete Your Old Accounts
How To Prepare For A Windows 10 Upgrade
Microsoft's expiration of their free Windows 10 upgrade has PC users asking: Is it time to upgrade? Many people have delayed upgrading. That is to say, they’ve tried to delay upgrading… but Microsoft’s aggressive marketing tactics have gone from displaying incessant reminders, to downloading gigabytes worth of upgrade files without the user's consent, to performing upgrades in … Continue reading How To Prepare For A Windows 10 Upgrade
What You Need To Know About Windows 10
Many people have asked me about Windows 10. They want to know if they should upgrade, and how they can reconfigure the settings to avoid Win10's notorious privacy issues. Windows 10's default security settings are not conducive to consumer privacy, to put it mildly. (Microsoft isn't alone in this; it's become an increasing problem with modern operating systems.) … Continue reading What You Need To Know About Windows 10
How To Protect Your Web Browser
Your Web browser lets you access Internet sites, but it can also be a gateway for viruses, malware, and more. Here’s how to keep your browser protected and secure. (Don't miss my latest article for The Northwest Herald - Protect Your Window To The Internet by Triona Guidry) Remember that it’s vital to keep your browser up … Continue reading How To Protect Your Web Browser
How To Protect Your Privacy On Social Media Sites Like Facebook And Twitter
When was the last time you checked the privacy settings on your social media accounts? Once? Twice? Never? If you don't check periodically, you run the risk of having your account hijacked by hackers. Related article: Strong passwords key to social media privacy by Triona Guidry (The Northwest Herald) What do you mean by "social … Continue reading How To Protect Your Privacy On Social Media Sites Like Facebook And Twitter
