Please don't click ANYWHERE in an unsolicited email!
Recently I've noticed an increase in emails from companies from which I've previously ordered, and that is certainly to be expected in this temporary shift away from in-store purchases. Unfortunately, though, hackers and scammers are also increasing their email efforts taking advantage of the increase in online traffic.
It's really best to just delete unsolicited emails without even reading them, but if you do open one-- for your safety, do not click on any links in the email. Do not click on any links in the email. Do not click on any links in the email. Got it?
Why? When you click on a link in the email three things may/could happen:
1) Clicking may initiate the download of a harmful piece of software on your computer; you will not visually see this happen.
2) Clicking sends a cookie back to the company to verify that you are indeed a "live" person which encourages them to only send additional mail.
3) Clicking can take you to a website that has been created as a clone; the website may look authentic as a way to encourage you to go ahead and login with your account information. Then the sender will have captured your login information to use on the "real" site.
What should you do?
1) If an email contains a link asking you to verify your personal information, access that site directly by opening your browser and entering the URL yourself (not via the link in the email). This assures you are on the legitimate site, and if there is anything wrong with your account, a message will appear on that site.
2) Delete the suspicious email immediately.
3) If you mistakenly click on a link and then give them your login information, immediately change your passwords on any site where you've used the same password.
Unfortunately, scammers and hackers will probably always be at work so this is a tip to remember even after we make it past this pandemic.
Hope this finds you safe and healthy. As many of you, we here in Kansas are in a stay-safer-at-home mode. Hope you are able to use this time to tackle all of those "I'll do it when I have the time" tasks. :-)
If you have a friend who wants to subscribe, feel free to share this link: https://bit.ly/tuesdaytechtip2020
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Tech Tools to use Now!
As many of us continue the stay-at-home mode of operation (by choice or mandate), now is the time to think about how your tech tools can help us. I've received several questions this past week beginning with "How can I/What's the best way.......?" So let me share some of my recommendations:
1) Thank heavens we have tools to help us stay in touch with friends and family! For video chatting, all of the apps below allow multiple users and most will work on any device
2) Now is the time to switch to "contactless payment" solutions. They allow you to use your phone or watch to pay at the store or online WITHOUT you having to use the touchpad at the store's checkout. We've used Apple Pay for the past year because it is safer than using our credit card. The merchant never has your credit card number; Apple generates a different account number for each transaction.
3) Schedule a pick up or delivery for your groceries. I'm so thankful we began using Walmart Pickup last fall (not many options here in our town). I place the order online and then at the selected time, we simply pull up in our car and the groceries are placed in our car. Now......in the past several weeks, items have been limited or are out of stock and pickup times have been shortened. But, it still keeps us out of the store. You may want to checkout these options:
Walmart Pickup - order online or with the Grocery app
Instacart
Your local grocery may have their own pickup/delivery service
4) Start checking out books digitally and read them on your phone, tablet, Kindle, or computer. These are the apps I use. Registration will require your library card number and in the state of Kansas, we also have a State of Kansas library card available for free that allows additional access.
Libby (newer version of Overdrive; I think it is easier to use)
Overdrive
CloudLibrary
If you want to learn how to use any new tools, the links I provided will take you to a website where you can learn more. If you need more help, let me know.
If there are tools you are presently using that you think others might find beneficial, please share.
Use this week to learn and grow in your knowledge of tools that can help you navigate the next few months. Consider limiting your time on digital news sources; none of us need the anxiety produced by that activity!
Need some encouragement? Enjoy this video from Portugal that our older son shared with us a few days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70tcUNgd8IM&feature=youtu.be
1) Thank heavens we have tools to help us stay in touch with friends and family! For video chatting, all of the apps below allow multiple users and most will work on any device
- FaceTime - Apple devices
- Skype - multi-platform
- Facebook video chat (or FB Messenger) - multi-platform
- Zoom - multi-platform; we are using this for our Sunday School class to continue meeting and doing our lessons weekly; last Sunday we had 15 people successfully join the session and most of them are older than me! It is my new favorite tool as I get ready to teach my university "Computing for Seniors" class online rather than in person. Zoom has wonderful tutorials and if you are in a group, only one person needs to create an account and then send the session link to everyone else in the group. The free version allows for 40-minute sessions, but if you need longer, you would just end the session and reconnect at the end of that time.
2) Now is the time to switch to "contactless payment" solutions. They allow you to use your phone or watch to pay at the store or online WITHOUT you having to use the touchpad at the store's checkout. We've used Apple Pay for the past year because it is safer than using our credit card. The merchant never has your credit card number; Apple generates a different account number for each transaction.
- Apple Pay - Apple devices
- Google Pay - Android devices
- Venmo - all devices
3) Schedule a pick up or delivery for your groceries. I'm so thankful we began using Walmart Pickup last fall (not many options here in our town). I place the order online and then at the selected time, we simply pull up in our car and the groceries are placed in our car. Now......in the past several weeks, items have been limited or are out of stock and pickup times have been shortened. But, it still keeps us out of the store. You may want to checkout these options:
Walmart Pickup - order online or with the Grocery app
Instacart
Your local grocery may have their own pickup/delivery service
4) Start checking out books digitally and read them on your phone, tablet, Kindle, or computer. These are the apps I use. Registration will require your library card number and in the state of Kansas, we also have a State of Kansas library card available for free that allows additional access.
Libby (newer version of Overdrive; I think it is easier to use)
Overdrive
CloudLibrary
If you want to learn how to use any new tools, the links I provided will take you to a website where you can learn more. If you need more help, let me know.
If there are tools you are presently using that you think others might find beneficial, please share.
Use this week to learn and grow in your knowledge of tools that can help you navigate the next few months. Consider limiting your time on digital news sources; none of us need the anxiety produced by that activity!
Need some encouragement? Enjoy this video from Portugal that our older son shared with us a few days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70tcUNgd8IM&feature=youtu.be
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
How to Safely Disinfect Your Smartphone
I just read there are 10 times more germs on your smartphone than on your toilet seat!! Yuk!
So let's talk about how to clean it (your phone, not your toilet seat) :-)
In an unprecedented move yesterday, Apple Computer edited its recommendations for cleaning your iPhone. You may find their update helpful:
"Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents."
Additional cleaning tips for iPhones can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207123
What about Android devices? I chatted with a Samsung rep just a few minutes ago and they "haven't yet released recommendations for disinfecting your phone". But, from all I've read online, I believe the Apple tips in the article above can be followed for most Android phones. If you want to research it yourself, just Google "how to disinfect Samsung Galaxy" or whatever model you have. I'm guessing within a day or two Samsung recommendations will be forthcoming.
Hope you can enjoy your week despite all that is going on in the world. :-/
So let's talk about how to clean it (your phone, not your toilet seat) :-)
In an unprecedented move yesterday, Apple Computer edited its recommendations for cleaning your iPhone. You may find their update helpful:
"Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents."
Additional cleaning tips for iPhones can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207123
What about Android devices? I chatted with a Samsung rep just a few minutes ago and they "haven't yet released recommendations for disinfecting your phone". But, from all I've read online, I believe the Apple tips in the article above can be followed for most Android phones. If you want to research it yourself, just Google "how to disinfect Samsung Galaxy" or whatever model you have. I'm guessing within a day or two Samsung recommendations will be forthcoming.
Hope you can enjoy your week despite all that is going on in the world. :-/