Facebook Quizzes

If you spend any time on Facebook, you've seen an example of what I'm writing about today.  It's those seemingly innocuous quizzes or questions that appear on your newsfeed that ask you for a quick response in the Comments. Name of your first pet, where was your first flight to, your first car, the name of your fifth grade teacher, you favorite vacation spot, etc.  Any time you respond with personal information on Facebook you provide would-be scammers with information that can be used to hack into your accounts.  

Often the questions being asked are the same or similar to ones that are given as choices for security questions when you create a new online account.  When you answer these quick quizzes, you provide information publicly thus decreasing your online security.  So, just don't do it....even if you're tempted when you see responses from your friends in the Comments section.

One other tip to consider when setting up a new online account and you need to provide answers to security questions.  Lie......yes, lie.    Do not answer them with the correct information.  That will provide an extra layer of security.  However......if you lie, remember to record your lies somewhere so you are able to answer the security questions correctly if needed.  :-)

Searching TV subscription services

If you've switched to streaming TV (YouTube TV, Netflix, Roku, Philo, etc.), it can sometimes be difficult to locate the platform/service that has the TV show or movie you really want to watch.  You can certainly search each platform you've subscribed to, but there are some websites/apps that search across all the TV streaming services (including the free ones) that can help streamline your search. Below are three you may want to try:

Reelgood - If you're looking to find a certain show or movie, Reelgood allows you to search over 150 streaming services. In addition to the website, Reelgood also has apps for your smart TV as well as for your iPhones and Android phones.

JustWatch - JustWatch is very similar to Reelgood except that it will also make recommendations for new movies or shows based on your previous searches.  There are also apps available for download if you prefer searching using an app rather than on the web.

Roku - If you use a Roku device to access your streaming shows, once you have connected any of your streaming services to it, you will be able to use the Roku Search to locate shows.  The Roku search has improved greatly over the last several years!  And, of course, you can download the Roku apps from the App Store or Google Play Store.

I'm not a TV watcher, so I've not used any of these three search methods.  However, I've talked with people who seem frustrated (including my husband) when trying to locate certain shows once the switch from cable TV to streaming subscriptions is made, and I think these three "tools" may be very helpful.

Transcript from YouTube

I'm not sure how I/we ever got along without "how-to" videos from YouTube - how to repair a home appliance, how to make a mask, how to do something on our phones, etc.   Often, I save a particularly helpful YouTube video for possible future reference, but at times I've wished I also had the information to refer back to without watching the video or I've wanted it in a printed format.  I was recently reminded that a transcript is available for almost every video on YouTube (Unless the creator disabled that feature).

How do you access a YouTube transcript that you can then read or even print?

1. Click on the 3 little dots below the YouTube video (and to the right side of the word Share)
2. Select Open Transcript. The transcript will open with the timestamps but the timestamps can be Toggled off by clicking on the 3 vertical dots on the Transcript title bar.
3. If you'd like to print the transcript, you will need to Copy and Paste the transcript into a word processing document to print.  There is not an automatic print command within the transcript box. 
   
   1. To Copy/Paste - select/highlight all the transcript text, right-click to select Copy, open your word processing program, right-click and select Paste.)  Then that document can be printed.

That's all there is to it!  This may be a tip you just want to "file away" for future reference when you need it, and also, hopefully remember it when you want it.  (If you have any tips for being able to remember something for future reference, PLEASE let me hear from you!)  :-)

Have a terrific Tech Tuesday; fall is on its way!

Printing webpages

Do you still print webpages to save information for later? I do; I occasionally print out recipes if I want to keep them or even articles I use in my Computing for Seniors class or for Sunday School. Today's tip is from a screencast I made 4 years ago; I found it when I was looking for something else. This screencast shows how to print a webpage without all the ads/extras from a laptop/desktop computer, but the information is also partially applicable to phones and tablets. Take a look-- http://screencast-o-matic.com/u/uTc/printingtips (best viewed by clicking the square in the lower right hand corner to display fullscreen view)

In the screencast, I talk about:
1) using the Printer-Friendly icon on a webpage
2) selecting just the text you want to print
3) looking at your Print Dialogue box and choosing just the pages you want to print as well as printing in black and white
4) using the "Reader's View" on Apple products to print without advertisements and graphics. 
Update since the screencast was made:  Reader's View on an iPhone is now denoted by an upper case A and a lower case A at the left edge of the address bar, not the three lines mentioned in the Screencast; see the illustration below:



Note:  I do use Reader's View on my iPhone quite often, not just when printing webpages.  I find that reading news stories is made so much easier by clicking the Aa and selecting Reader's View.

Vishing

Last week I was contacted by a friend who received a very authentic looking email (often these are from Amazon or Paypal) alerting them to a purchase they had made.  In the email, it said:  "If you haven't made this purchase, please call us at ............"  Well, of course, they hadn't made the purchase and it frightened them, so they called the number, then later asked me what to do.  My tip for today is:  NEVER EVER call the number in an email or click on the link in a questionable email.

You may have heard of phishing, but what is vishing??  Vishing is a slight variation of phishing that scammers are using to get you to give up your personal information and access to bank accounts.  Instead of enticing you to click on a link in an email, you are asked to call a number. Another method is a phone call alerting you to a problem with your account.  The scammers/fraudsters then ask you for your personal information to help solve the "problem."

So, what should you do? 
1)  Access the account in question - Amazon, Paypal, etc. - with your browser. Log into your account to view your recent activity.  This will indeed reflect if there are any questionable purchases on your account.  Usually, you will not see the transaction mentioned in the email or over the phone.
2)  Delete the email in question after checking your account.
3)  IF you happen to give private/financial information after making or receiving a questionable phone call, change your password on your bank account and credit card accounts, monitor those accounts for activity and alert your bank or credit card company.  
4) If you believe information was given as a result of a vishing email or phone call, you should contact  The Federal Trade Commision online or at (888) 382-1222

Remember, scammers often rely on creating a sense of urgency for you to respond. Do not respond.  There is always plenty of time for you to check it out on your own, without their help!

Care of Airpods and other wireless earbuds

Do you use wireless earbuds - Airpods, Galaxy Buds, or another brand?  I became an owner of a pair of Airpods about 18 months ago when we switched our cellphone service.  The Airpods were a "gift" for making the switch.  :-)  I wasn't sure how much I'd use them but they became a part of my walks everyday, and I love them!  Listening to podcasts while walking makes the 50+ minutes go by much more quickly!  Daily use, though, invites an accumulation of earwax, sweat, skin cells, etc. on the tiny mesh screens of the speakers in the earbuds.

The recommendations for keeping your earbuds clean are not difficult or time-consuming, but there are some definite "do's" and "do nots".  
DO:
1) Wipe gently with a soft cloth - a clean Microfiber cloth is recommended
2) Use a slightly damp - not wet - Q-tip and gently wipe the mesh screens covering the speakers. You don't want water getting into the speakers.  Even though a "damp" Q-tip does not introduce much moisture, allow the earbuds to dry thoroughly before putting them back in the charging case.
3) Wipe the charging case with a Microfiber cloth or damp lint-free cloth
4) Use a toothpick VERY GENTLY if you notice a large amount of earwax or grime that needs removed

DON'T:
1) Run the earbuds under flowing water or dip them in soapy water.
2) Use a harsh brush on the fine mesh screens; this can harm the speakers.

So, I've added earbud cleaning to my weekly technology "to-do" list....the price we pay for owning different pieces of technology! 

Have a wonderful Tech Tip Tuesday.  I'm ready to head out the door for my morning walk.....with the latest podcasts queued  up and ready to go!

Wait to post those Facebook travel photos!

Facebook and Instagram are social media; we use both of these platforms because we want to share with others or want to keep up with what our family and friends are doing.  Spring and summer post-COVID travel photos have once again been populating the content on my News Feed.  I enjoy reading about people's travels and enjoy looking at their pictures, but it makes me worry about those people who are traveling because they are broadcasting to the world that their house is empty. Their posts and photos can invite would-be thieves into their homes while they are on vacation.

So, my tip today is just a reminder:  Wait until returning home to share on social media about your travels.  I encourage you, too,  to wait and share photos of any of your social gatherings until you are home, not while you are at an event.  Posting information in "real time" is fun but not always the safest thing to do. You may be sharing your posts only with "Friends" but there are many ways that those posts can make their way out into the public.

We've had the opportunity to travel to Pennsylvania several times this summer and were beginning to feel a little more comfortable with travel.  We planned a trip to Tahoe with family this coming Saturday but the smoke from the fires and increased concerns with the Delta variant caused us to cancel those plans yesterday.  I'm so ready for things to be back to "normal."  But until then, I guess I'll have to enjoy other people's travels on Facebook.......after they return.  :-)

Have a wonderful Tech Tip Tuesday!  Stay safe and try to stay cool.  

Jeline