Facebook Impersonators

If you use Facebook, at some point you've probably received a "Friend Request" from someone who is already one of your friends.  This means their account has been hacked.  Most of us just "ignore" the request, but there really are a couple more steps you should take.  (Thank you, Ginger Lewman, for the tips).

"Unfortunately, too many really smart people make the wrong choice: they ignore it. And the impersonation continues and dupes more people and spreads like wildfire. It’s like swatting flies — if we ignore them, they only breed and end up bothering us more!

In 2017, we want to be better digital citizens and help each other out when we see this. There are 2 things you want to remember when you see a fake-friend requesting fake-friendship:
You 1) REPORT and 2) BLOCK. And in that order.

When we all immediately REPORT and BLOCK, the fake account is reviewed by Facebook and frequently taken down. The more of us who report, the quicker it is taken down. And the more often you report, Facebook remembers you as a good person and listens to your reports quicker (I think).

Here are a couple links to help you 1) REPORT and 2) BLOCK (in that order)

• How to report a FB account that is impersonating you:
  https://www.facebook.com/help/174210519303259
• How to report a FB account that’s impersonating someone else:
  https://www.facebook.com/help/167722253287296 "

Ginger Lewman works for ESSDACK in Hutchinson, KS (formerly employed by USD 253, Emporia)

Google Photos update

Annually, Google brings developers together from all over the world to showcase new products and updates.  Last week, no new products were showcased but some pretty impressive updates/features were shared.

Those of you using Google Photos to create a backup of your photos might be interested in two impressive new features that gives you the ability to :
1) easily share your photos with others, and
2) create both soft cover and hard cover books from your photos
This video showcases these two new features.

A reminder for Windows users this week:  Remember to install updates as recommended by your computer.  Doing this helps keep your computer safe from viruses and hackers.  Many of you have computers that have been set to automatically install updates as they are shut down.  If not, click Install when you are notified there are updates waiting to be installed.
Caution:  If the message asks you to pay or upgrade to a premium account, that is not a Windows update.  You should never have to pay for a necessary Windows or Avast update for your computer.

Boost your smartphone's speaker

Do you ever wish the music or sound coming out of your smartphone was louder?  Do you ever worry about not hearing the alarm you set on your phone?

Try putting your phone (speaker on the bottom)  in a glass cup or bowl or even a plastic cup. You can get up to a 20% boost in your sound by doing this.  Experiment.

If you'd like to watch a quick 1-minute video showing how to do this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14rkzbWQpxM

Zedge has it all - ringtones, wallpapers and more

Would you like to personalize the ringtones on your smartphone?  Or choose a different wallpaper (background)?

Then you may want to check out Zedge - http://www.zedge.net/app/
The Zedge app is rated MUCH higher for Android phones (like Samsung, LG, Google, Motorola, etc.) than for iOS (iPhone) since a recent update.  So, if you are an iPhone user you may not find it has a lot to offer right now.