October Meetings 2021
October 7, 2021 - H0me Wi-Fi Ch0ices in Vancouver, Most Common Amazon Scams, How to Report Scams and Fraud, How to Backup Your Computer,
Did you Hear the one about the Unknown Link -- Yeah, DON'T CLICK IT
Club Questions
Did you Hear the one about the Unknown Link -- Yeah, DON'T CLICK IT
Club Questions
Home Wi-Fi Choices
If you live in Vancouver, Washington, you might be wondering just how many choices you have for home internet providers. Wonder no more, below are several links to a few different lists of potential home internet Wi-Fi providers in the Vancouver area. These lists are just a starting point, please make sure to speak directly to any of the listed providers to make sure what the latest offers are, as they tend to change on a regular basis. And as always, please know that some of the lists may contain 'pay for play' advertisers on their lists. With these warnings in hand, take a look at the lists below...
BroadbandNow.com's list of top 6 internet providers
HighSpeepInternet.com's top 11 internet providers
Inmyarea.com's top 5 internet providers
InternetAdvisor.com's list of top 4 internet providers
DecisionData.org's list of top 4 internet providers
If you live in Vancouver, Washington, you might be wondering just how many choices you have for home internet providers. Wonder no more, below are several links to a few different lists of potential home internet Wi-Fi providers in the Vancouver area. These lists are just a starting point, please make sure to speak directly to any of the listed providers to make sure what the latest offers are, as they tend to change on a regular basis. And as always, please know that some of the lists may contain 'pay for play' advertisers on their lists. With these warnings in hand, take a look at the lists below...
BroadbandNow.com's list of top 6 internet providers
HighSpeepInternet.com's top 11 internet providers
Inmyarea.com's top 5 internet providers
InternetAdvisor.com's list of top 4 internet providers
DecisionData.org's list of top 4 internet providers
The Most Common Amazon Scams
Online scams are commonplace these days, and are found in all corners of the Internet. Amazon, as one of the biggest online marketplaces, suffers from a variety of scam techniques, some very basic and easy to avoid, and others that can be quite sophisticated. To learn more about some of the most common scams available on Amazon, take a look at this article.
Online scams are commonplace these days, and are found in all corners of the Internet. Amazon, as one of the biggest online marketplaces, suffers from a variety of scam techniques, some very basic and easy to avoid, and others that can be quite sophisticated. To learn more about some of the most common scams available on Amazon, take a look at this article.
How to Report Scams
Finding a phishing email in you inbox, or getting a spam text on your phone are becoming very common these days, but knowing what to do about them is sometimes a problem. Where should you report these scams, how can you help hinder these hackers?Below is a list of various resources regarding reporting scams.
Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission
How to report government related scams and frauds
Report scams to Amazon
Report scams to Bank of America
Report scams to Chase Bank
This list could go on for as many private companies there are in the world, but an easy way to find out how to report potential scams and frauds to a specific company is to do a Google search for...
"how to report scams to, yourcompanyhere"
Finding a phishing email in you inbox, or getting a spam text on your phone are becoming very common these days, but knowing what to do about them is sometimes a problem. Where should you report these scams, how can you help hinder these hackers?Below is a list of various resources regarding reporting scams.
Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission
How to report government related scams and frauds
Report scams to Amazon
Report scams to Bank of America
Report scams to Chase Bank
This list could go on for as many private companies there are in the world, but an easy way to find out how to report potential scams and frauds to a specific company is to do a Google search for...
"how to report scams to, yourcompanyhere"
How to Backup Your Computer
Whether you use a Windows computer or an Apple computer, the need to back up your files is important. There are several different ways to perform a backup, either via an external device, a built-in application or a cloud service. If you use Windows, here is how Microsoft recommends you back up your device. And for you Apple users, here's the official support page from Apple regarding backups.
Whether you use a Windows computer or an Apple computer, the need to back up your files is important. There are several different ways to perform a backup, either via an external device, a built-in application or a cloud service. If you use Windows, here is how Microsoft recommends you back up your device. And for you Apple users, here's the official support page from Apple regarding backups.
October 14, 2021 - A Story about Stolen Data, How to Stop Google from Tracking You, The Latest Reason to Quit Using Google Chrome, How to Clear Any Browser Cache,
Unknown Links lead to Trouble. Click them Not.
Club Questions
Unknown Links lead to Trouble. Click them Not.
Club Questions
A Story about Stolen Data
Each day, thousands, if not millions of people have personal data stolen from them and sold without their knowledge, from something as innocuous as an email address to something as personal as your social security number. This is a story of one man who dug deep to find out who was stealing his information and what he did to get it back. Along the way, he gives us some important tips on how we can do what he did, and how to better protect our personal data. To read more about this story, take a look at this article.
Each day, thousands, if not millions of people have personal data stolen from them and sold without their knowledge, from something as innocuous as an email address to something as personal as your social security number. This is a story of one man who dug deep to find out who was stealing his information and what he did to get it back. Along the way, he gives us some important tips on how we can do what he did, and how to better protect our personal data. To read more about this story, take a look at this article.
Stop Google from Tracking You
Did you know your entire Google history is accessible online? Everything you've ever searched for, or written in a gmail letter is online and can be accessed by you or any good snoop in search of dirt on you. There is a way to limit, and even delete, the info that Google has compiled on you. To learn more about how to delete all the personal information that Google has collected, take a look at this article.
Did you know your entire Google history is accessible online? Everything you've ever searched for, or written in a gmail letter is online and can be accessed by you or any good snoop in search of dirt on you. There is a way to limit, and even delete, the info that Google has compiled on you. To learn more about how to delete all the personal information that Google has collected, take a look at this article.
The Latest Reason
to Quit Using Google Chrome
Google has been well documented for its tracking capabilities of its users and a recent update to their Chrome web browser is just the latest reason that you might want to stop using Chrome and switch to another browser. The latest tracking nightmare for Chrome users comes in two parts. First, Google has ignored security warnings and launched a new Chrome API to detect and report when you’re “idle,” i.e., not actively using your device. Apple warns “this is an obvious privacy concern,” and Mozilla that it’s “too tempting an opportunity for surveillance.” Mozilla has publicly warned that Chrome is now “the only major browser that does not offer meaningful protection against cross-site tracking... and will continue to leave users unprotected.” To read the whole story, take a look at this article.
to Quit Using Google Chrome
Google has been well documented for its tracking capabilities of its users and a recent update to their Chrome web browser is just the latest reason that you might want to stop using Chrome and switch to another browser. The latest tracking nightmare for Chrome users comes in two parts. First, Google has ignored security warnings and launched a new Chrome API to detect and report when you’re “idle,” i.e., not actively using your device. Apple warns “this is an obvious privacy concern,” and Mozilla that it’s “too tempting an opportunity for surveillance.” Mozilla has publicly warned that Chrome is now “the only major browser that does not offer meaningful protection against cross-site tracking... and will continue to leave users unprotected.” To read the whole story, take a look at this article.
How to Clear Any Browser Cache
Your browser, which ever one you use, be it Google Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera, etc, etc, collects a lot of info about how you use it. Sometimes the information it collects can be sold to third parties without your knowledge, and others it can just slow down your computer. There is and easy way to clean any browser of its cache contents, to learn more, take a look at this article.
Your browser, which ever one you use, be it Google Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera, etc, etc, collects a lot of info about how you use it. Sometimes the information it collects can be sold to third parties without your knowledge, and others it can just slow down your computer. There is and easy way to clean any browser of its cache contents, to learn more, take a look at this article.
October 21, 2021 - Cache Vs. Cookies, Android is Always Listening, Smartphone Secret Codes, How to Use .vcf Files (contact backups) on Android,
If Y0u're Looking for a Good Time, Don't Click Unknown Links.
Club Questions
If Y0u're Looking for a Good Time, Don't Click Unknown Links.
Club Questions
Cache vs. Cookies
Both Cache and Cookies were fabricated to spice up up web site performance and to create additional accessiblity through storing some data on the client-side machine. We know that clearing our browsers often includes clearing cache and cookies, but what are they? and what is the difference, in any, between them? To learn more about how cache and cookies work, take a look at this article.
Both Cache and Cookies were fabricated to spice up up web site performance and to create additional accessiblity through storing some data on the client-side machine. We know that clearing our browsers often includes clearing cache and cookies, but what are they? and what is the difference, in any, between them? To learn more about how cache and cookies work, take a look at this article.
Android is Always Listening
Android is a mobile operating system created by Google, yes that same Google that lets you search the Internet (Google.com), email for free (Gmail) as well as many other internet services they offer to users for 'free.' Android is the operating system of over 80% of all mobile devices in the world, and apparently, they are always listening to their users, and collecting and selling their data, personal and otherwise. If you are a user of an Android device, you should take a look at this article.
Android is a mobile operating system created by Google, yes that same Google that lets you search the Internet (Google.com), email for free (Gmail) as well as many other internet services they offer to users for 'free.' Android is the operating system of over 80% of all mobile devices in the world, and apparently, they are always listening to their users, and collecting and selling their data, personal and otherwise. If you are a user of an Android device, you should take a look at this article.
Smartphone Secret Codes
Whether you use an Android phone or an iPhone, there are myriad secret codes available to you that can eliminate problems, or perform simple functions at the push of a few buttons. In the past, these codes truly were secret, only used by developers in the know, but recently a long list of smartphone secret codes got leaked to the public. To learn more about what these codes do and how you can use them, take a look at this article.
Whether you use an Android phone or an iPhone, there are myriad secret codes available to you that can eliminate problems, or perform simple functions at the push of a few buttons. In the past, these codes truly were secret, only used by developers in the know, but recently a long list of smartphone secret codes got leaked to the public. To learn more about what these codes do and how you can use them, take a look at this article.
How to Use .vcf Files on Android
If you've ever tried to backup and export your contacts on an Android smartphone to your computer or another smartphone, you may have experienced various problems. As each maker of Android based smartphones uses a slightly different method, it can get frustrating to say the least. For more general information on how to backup and export your contact list, including a video and some illustrated instructions, take a look at this article.
If you've ever tried to backup and export your contacts on an Android smartphone to your computer or another smartphone, you may have experienced various problems. As each maker of Android based smartphones uses a slightly different method, it can get frustrating to say the least. For more general information on how to backup and export your contact list, including a video and some illustrated instructions, take a look at this article.
October 28, 2021 - Best Laptops Under $1000, How to Check if a Website is Safe, The Release of Android 12, What is DuckDuckGo?
Clicking on Unknown Links, Makes Your Heart Sink.
Club Questions
Clicking on Unknown Links, Makes Your Heart Sink.
Club Questions
Laptop Shopping 2021
It's that time again, time to see what are the best laptops available for under $1000. Whenever you go to the Internet for advice on any products, remember that every site that's giving you advice might have a monetary incentive to recommend what it's recommending, it's called "pay to play" and it's very common with internet recommendations. There's also a thing called affiliate marketing, where the site will get a small piece of the sale, but this doesn't usually raise the price for the buyer. So, with all this in mind, we have included several different websites and their recommendations for best laptops under $1000.
PCGuide.com's choices for best laptops under $1000
DigitalTrends.com's choices for best laptops under $1000
LaptopMag.com's choices for best laptops under $1000
CNET.com's choices for best laptops around $1000
It's that time again, time to see what are the best laptops available for under $1000. Whenever you go to the Internet for advice on any products, remember that every site that's giving you advice might have a monetary incentive to recommend what it's recommending, it's called "pay to play" and it's very common with internet recommendations. There's also a thing called affiliate marketing, where the site will get a small piece of the sale, but this doesn't usually raise the price for the buyer. So, with all this in mind, we have included several different websites and their recommendations for best laptops under $1000.
PCGuide.com's choices for best laptops under $1000
DigitalTrends.com's choices for best laptops under $1000
LaptopMag.com's choices for best laptops under $1000
CNET.com's choices for best laptops around $1000
How to Check if a Website is Safe
There are millions of websites on the Internet, but knowing which ones are bad and might want to steal your data or do you harm, can sometimes be a problem. So how can you tell if a website is harmful or not? CNET has a great article, including some very helpful links to websites that can vet other websites for you in real time. To learn more about how to recognize bad websites, before you enter them, take a look at this article.
There are millions of websites on the Internet, but knowing which ones are bad and might want to steal your data or do you harm, can sometimes be a problem. So how can you tell if a website is harmful or not? CNET has a great article, including some very helpful links to websites that can vet other websites for you in real time. To learn more about how to recognize bad websites, before you enter them, take a look at this article.
Android 12 is Here
The latest version of Android introduces the biggest visual redesign in Google's history, and it delivers an exhaustive list of new features. Google usually alternates between rolling out new features and making design changes for new Android versions, but this time we're getting both at the same time. The result is the buggiest beta program from Google yet, with even the later Android 12 beta builds featuring phone-breaking bugs. To read more about why you may, or may not want to update to Android 12 (when you finally get the chance), take a look at this article from Android Central.
The latest version of Android introduces the biggest visual redesign in Google's history, and it delivers an exhaustive list of new features. Google usually alternates between rolling out new features and making design changes for new Android versions, but this time we're getting both at the same time. The result is the buggiest beta program from Google yet, with even the later Android 12 beta builds featuring phone-breaking bugs. To read more about why you may, or may not want to update to Android 12 (when you finally get the chance), take a look at this article from Android Central.
What is DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that offers a mobile browser app and a desktop extension, both aimed at allowing you to browse the internet without companies gobbling up your personal data. It promises to keep your searches private, anonymous and offers built-in tracker blocking, so the sites you visit have a harder time collecting information about you. To learn more about how DuckDuckGo works, take a look at this article.
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that offers a mobile browser app and a desktop extension, both aimed at allowing you to browse the internet without companies gobbling up your personal data. It promises to keep your searches private, anonymous and offers built-in tracker blocking, so the sites you visit have a harder time collecting information about you. To learn more about how DuckDuckGo works, take a look at this article.
