August Meetings 2019
August 1, 2019 - Password Manager Apps, If This, Then That (IFTTT)
Clicking Unknown Links = Stranger Danger!
CLUB QUESTIONS
Clicking Unknown Links = Stranger Danger!
CLUB QUESTIONS
Password Managers
We now all live in the age of password protection, but what happens when you have created (and use) more than just a few passwords, like a dozen or two dozen? That's where a Password Manager App can come in very handy. This type of app will not only organize and protect your passwords, but they will often help create them for you and make sure they are strong enough for Internet use. Always get third party apps from a trusted source (IE the App Store, Google Play). The video goes over five of the best free password manager apps available now.
We now all live in the age of password protection, but what happens when you have created (and use) more than just a few passwords, like a dozen or two dozen? That's where a Password Manager App can come in very handy. This type of app will not only organize and protect your passwords, but they will often help create them for you and make sure they are strong enough for Internet use. Always get third party apps from a trusted source (IE the App Store, Google Play). The video goes over five of the best free password manager apps available now.
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IFTTT
If this, then that is a web-based free service that allows users to create tasks in a simple computer programming language, or applets. An applet is triggered by changes that occur within other web services such as email or social media. For example, IFTTT could send an email when a hashtag is used, or it could automatically post to Twitter when a video is uploaded to YouTube. IFTTT is a way of making your own shortcuts on a growing assortment of devices and things (phones, computers, homes, cars, IoT, etc). IFTTT started eight years ago and is available to all Windows and Apple computer users as well as Android and iPhone users.
If this, then that is a web-based free service that allows users to create tasks in a simple computer programming language, or applets. An applet is triggered by changes that occur within other web services such as email or social media. For example, IFTTT could send an email when a hashtag is used, or it could automatically post to Twitter when a video is uploaded to YouTube. IFTTT is a way of making your own shortcuts on a growing assortment of devices and things (phones, computers, homes, cars, IoT, etc). IFTTT started eight years ago and is available to all Windows and Apple computer users as well as Android and iPhone users.
August 8, 2019 - Amazon's Choice, Typical Spam Email, Where Do My Downloads Go?
If you click that unknown link, you'll think less of yourself.
CLUB QUESTIONS
If you click that unknown link, you'll think less of yourself.
CLUB QUESTIONS
Amazon's Not-so-Choice Choice
For those of you how have shopped on Amazon.com once or twice, you've probably all seen those prominently displayed "Amazon Choice" banners atop various products. You might think that Amazon had actually vetted said "Choices" but you'd be wrong most of the time. Yet another algorithm is deciding what's best, but for whom? and how? The parameters for becoming an Amazon's Choice recipient have far less to do with being a good and useful product than you might think. For some more specific stories about Amazon Choices gone bad, take a look at this detailed story on the subject.
For those of you how have shopped on Amazon.com once or twice, you've probably all seen those prominently displayed "Amazon Choice" banners atop various products. You might think that Amazon had actually vetted said "Choices" but you'd be wrong most of the time. Yet another algorithm is deciding what's best, but for whom? and how? The parameters for becoming an Amazon's Choice recipient have far less to do with being a good and useful product than you might think. For some more specific stories about Amazon Choices gone bad, take a look at this detailed story on the subject.
Typical Spam Email
If you use email, you've experienced spam before. It falls into your inbox with some sort of urgent request, maybe it says your account has been closed or quarantined, and you must reply quickly to regain control of your possibly breached account. More than likely it's just more spam trying to scare you into clicking on a button or link that it just sent you. If you click on spam's link, it will take you to a login page (or something similar) to your account where the spammer will harvest every bit of info you input on that page. While it's not always possible to recognize spam emails, some are very authentic looking, there are a few things you can look for that might help give them away.
If you use email, you've experienced spam before. It falls into your inbox with some sort of urgent request, maybe it says your account has been closed or quarantined, and you must reply quickly to regain control of your possibly breached account. More than likely it's just more spam trying to scare you into clicking on a button or link that it just sent you. If you click on spam's link, it will take you to a login page (or something similar) to your account where the spammer will harvest every bit of info you input on that page. While it's not always possible to recognize spam emails, some are very authentic looking, there are a few things you can look for that might help give them away.
In the above example, you can see a few flaws in this spam email, A) the return address is a bit of a giveaway, this is too long and too random to be something from a company like Apple. B) if there are obvious spelling and grammar mistakes, you can be sure that it was created by a non-English speaker, probably not the kind of email you would get from an American company. C) The spammer will always provide you with an easy way to fix whatever problems the email declares you have, it will be a button or a link with some sort of "call to action" on it. It is important to NEVER click on any of these email links. The entire purpose of this email was to get you to click on the "verify account" button, most surely the page that link took you to would have been harvesting your information. If you look a little closer at spam email, the falsities will often show thru. Allow common sense to prevail.
Where Do My Downloads Go?
Maybe you've downloaded something from the internet and the website says the file was downloaded properly, but you can't find it on your computer. Sound familiar? Well, below are a few short videos that show you where to find your downloads from the most popular browsers.
Maybe you've downloaded something from the internet and the website says the file was downloaded properly, but you can't find it on your computer. Sound familiar? Well, below are a few short videos that show you where to find your downloads from the most popular browsers.
Downloads on Microsoft Edge Downloads on Mac Computers
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Downloads on Chrome
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These are just a few of the videos on the subject available on YouTube. Keep in mind, altho most browsers default downloads to their download folder, this can be changed in preferences.
And for those of you smart phone users, take a look at this article on how Android deals with downloads. And Apple users can check out this illustrated article on where iPhone puts downloads. |
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August 15, 2019 - How to Print a Webpage, Basic Smartphone Settings, Music-Map.com
Unknown links bring only trouble 'round these parts.
- Hoss Cartwright
CLUB QUESTIONS
Unknown links bring only trouble 'round these parts.
- Hoss Cartwright
CLUB QUESTIONS
How to Print a Webpage
Maybe you've come across a web page that you'd love to print, but you're not sure how to do it. It's easier than you think. You can even print out a web page WITHOUT the ads (if you are wanting to print out an article or essay and leave the ads out). The video below goes over how you can manually highlight copy and get around the ads.
Maybe you've come across a web page that you'd love to print, but you're not sure how to do it. It's easier than you think. You can even print out a web page WITHOUT the ads (if you are wanting to print out an article or essay and leave the ads out). The video below goes over how you can manually highlight copy and get around the ads.
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For those of you looking for an even easier way to print out a web page without all the ads, you can use the free services offered at Print Friendly where all you need is the URL of the webpage you want to print, Print Friendly will guide you thru the rest of it. Check out their video here > |
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Basic Smartphone Settings You Should Check
Your smartphone is a computer in your hand, and whether you use Android or Apple (iPhone), there are some basic settings that you should check and adjust as necessary before anything else. Many times the phone manufacturer sets some of the phone's preferences in their favour, so if you don't go in and take a look at them, you'll never know just what info your phone is giving away. Below are videos that cover some of these basic settings on Android and Apple.
Your smartphone is a computer in your hand, and whether you use Android or Apple (iPhone), there are some basic settings that you should check and adjust as necessary before anything else. Many times the phone manufacturer sets some of the phone's preferences in their favour, so if you don't go in and take a look at them, you'll never know just what info your phone is giving away. Below are videos that cover some of these basic settings on Android and Apple.
13 Settings on Android 7 Settings on iPhone
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Fun Websites
Another fun website on a musical theme is Music Map. With a very simple interface, you can type in a musician or band's name and watch the screen propagate with similar bands. It's a fun way to find artists similar to ones you like, the closer they are to the artist you chose, the more likely you'll like them. Try it out for your self by visiting Music-Map.com.
Another fun website on a musical theme is Music Map. With a very simple interface, you can type in a musician or band's name and watch the screen propagate with similar bands. It's a fun way to find artists similar to ones you like, the closer they are to the artist you chose, the more likely you'll like them. Try it out for your self by visiting Music-Map.com.
August 22, 2019 - Outlook for Email, Firefox Monitor,
Darth Vader: I am your Father, but I'm also an Unknown Link.
Luke Skywalker: Then I want nothing to do with you!
CLUB QUESTIONS
Darth Vader: I am your Father, but I'm also an Unknown Link.
Luke Skywalker: Then I want nothing to do with you!
CLUB QUESTIONS
Outlook For Email
Outlook organizes your emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, and to-do lists, all in one place. If that seems like a lot of stuff for one app to do, you're right. It makes for a somewhat clunky interface, which offers the user menus on menus in terms of navigation. Outlook has been around for a long time and is used by many Windows 10 users. Below is a video that goes over all the basics and a few advanced features that is a much see for any Outlook user. The video goes over adding contacts, emails and calendar dates as well as configuring the app to your personal preferences in terms of look and feel of the layout.
Outlook organizes your emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, and to-do lists, all in one place. If that seems like a lot of stuff for one app to do, you're right. It makes for a somewhat clunky interface, which offers the user menus on menus in terms of navigation. Outlook has been around for a long time and is used by many Windows 10 users. Below is a video that goes over all the basics and a few advanced features that is a much see for any Outlook user. The video goes over adding contacts, emails and calendar dates as well as configuring the app to your personal preferences in terms of look and feel of the layout.
Firefox Monitor
The Firefox browser from Mozilla has recently introduced the Firefox Monitor, a feature that allows you to visit a website, plug in your email address and then Firefox runs it thru a set of filters to see if the address has been hacked or otherwise compromised. Give it a try here for free.
The Firefox browser from Mozilla has recently introduced the Firefox Monitor, a feature that allows you to visit a website, plug in your email address and then Firefox runs it thru a set of filters to see if the address has been hacked or otherwise compromised. Give it a try here for free.
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Monitor only tells you where your account has been hacked, not necessarily how to fix the problem, but then knowing the problem is half the solution. The other half probably has to do with you changing your passwords.
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