Tag Archives: technology

Tech Savviness… Email Savviness … & More

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FBI Deadline for DNS CHANGER IS

JULY 9, 2012  

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Email Savviness:

How many of us have thought that the ‘rules and regulations’ implemented by our workplace management is put in place to  protect us? I bet most of us are grumbling about the Internet restrictions imposed by management at our workplace.  Did you know there is an ePolicy Institute?  You can find out what the ePolicy Institute thinks is worth “protecting employees from”.  What are eRisks, eRights, eResponsibilities? Can employers ‘legally’ read your email? Is it OK to email your kids during work hours? What is ‘social engineering‘?  The next time you have an opportunity you may want to visit the website.  There is much to learn.  In addition they have free literature.  Click this link to go to the website-  Search the ePolicy Institute.

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Tech Savviness:  Router Passwords

In a previous tech4boomers post we discussed the importance of using up-to-date equipment.  In particular old routers, which may not be providing you with the best service.  Equally as important is knowing how to protect your home network from unauthorized access.  PASSWORDS are very important when it comes to protecting your Network.   Below are some guidelines I found in an article recently. Click on the link provided to get the full details.

Though no password is foolproof, you can build a better password by combining numbers and letters into a complex and unique string. Remember to change both your Wi-Fi password (the string that guests enter to access your network) and your router administrator password (the one you enter to log in to the administration console–the two may sometimes be the same). via How To Lock Down Your Wireless Network | PCWorld.

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Healthful Computing:

iPad users will want to pay attention and be careful of their body posture when using this device.  Read what the article I found in the New York Times Science section recently had to say:  The scientists studied 15 experienced tablet users in their natural viewing positions. Placing a tablet on the lap created the greatest strain, the researchers found, because it forces the user to look down at a steep angle, causing head and neck flexion – a particular hazard for users who are doing a lot of typing. via WELL – Really? The Claim – Using an iPad can strain your neck. – Question – NYTimes.com.

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BuddyTV Guide App

According to what I have read this APP is worth looking into 🙂

  • Speedy
  • Find what you want to watch in 20 seconds or less
  • Tailors to your TV tastes.
  • Even changes the channel for you.

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I hope this is helpful 🙂

What is a Jailbreaking APP Anyway?

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Recently tech4boomers was ‘put on notice‘ about a jailbreak app which appeared in a post (F.lux).  It suggested that Apple users might want to investigate this software. Not too long afterwards, one of our followers informed us that the software is a ‘jailbreak app’. The follower was concerned about what repercussions would ensue should they use the jailbreak app.

So here is the scoop about Jailbreaking Apps:

iOS jailbreaking is the process of removing the limitations imposed by Apple on devices running the iOS operating system through the use of custom kernels — such devices include the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and 2nd generation Apple TV. Jailbreaking allows iOS users to gain root access to the operating system, allowing them to download additional applications, extensions, and themes that are unavailable through the official Apple App Store. via iOS jailbreaking – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
♦ What does APPLE say about Jailbreaking APPS?

Reasons NOT to Jailbreak your iOS device

Void warranty.

  • The first  reason not to I’ll be examining is Voiding Your Warranty. This comes as one of the greatest concerns to most users contemplating a jailbreak for their iOS device – simply because most of us aren’t able to shell out another couple hundred for a new device…
  • Next we have “Bricking” Your Device. This by far is the worst possible outcome that can happen when attempting the jailbreak process. Bricking your device results in your device just displaying the Apple icon till it drains your battery and then no longer turning on…

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I hope this is helpful 🙂

Tech News Overload….

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It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the great and useful things to know that are happening on the technology front.  That’s why in upcoming Posts the format for tech4boomers will change to short burst of information with links to the web pages, or apps, or guidelines  etc., which will give you quick access to the things that interest you most. You will also want to visit DIGITWIRL, which has great suggestions and tips for organizing your technology world. A link to the website (Great Technology Tips) is available under BLOGS I LIKE.

The topics covered in this Post are : Health Apps, Healthful Computing, and How to Buy a Router.

HEALTH APPS

appear to be everywhere, and there seems to be one for everything.  I don’t know why I was surprised to read about these weight loss apps in a Nutrition Newsletter that I received in the ‘snail mail‘, but there they were prominently placed on a page all by themselves as the latest way to keep track of what you are eating by using an app on your smartphone, or computer.  Below are some of the APPS that were suggested, along with the links to them. I’ve read that free apps are just as good as any of the ones which charge a fee in this category.  Why don’t you check them out for yourself using the links below which goes with your device.

Name of APP – MyFitnessPal – FREE

  • ANDROID USERS – Lose weight with MyFitnessPal, the fastest and easiest to use calorie counter for Android. With the largest food database of any Android calorie counter (over 1,700,000 foods), and amazingly fast food and exercise entry, we’ll help you take those extra pounds off! There is no better diet app – period.via Calorie Counter – MyFitnessPal – Android Apps on Google Play.

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Name of APP – Lose It! – FREE

  • iPhone Users: Succeed at weight loss with Lose It! Set goals and establish a daily calorie budget that enables you to meet them. Stay on track each day by recording your food and exercise and staying within your budget. The average active Lose It! user has lost more than 12lbs and more than 85% of our active users have lost weight. Lose It! is completely free via App Store – Lose It!.
  • ANDROID USERS – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fitnow.loseit

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HEALTHFUL COMPUTING!

tech4boomers  has often written about the importance of being careful to protect your eyes when you are at the computer. Check out the tips at this site:
http://office-ergo.com/eyestrain-neck-pain/

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DO YOU NEED AN EQUIPMENT UPDATE?

When was the last time you updated your computer equipment?  I know many of us are trying to save those dollars, but it could be possible that by not evaluating whether your current computer equipment is serving your best interests both economically and aesthetically, and you could be paying more than you need to.  Take a look at the article, which appeared in PC World Magazine recently about Routers.  It will help you to check what steps you should take in deciding what is best for your technology purposes.

How to Buy a Router, By Armando Rodriguez, PCWorld May 3, 2012

Buying a router may not be at the top of everyone’s to-do list, but a new model can mean the difference between enjoying Netflix in HD and seeing a grainy mess of substandard video.

  •  Are you still using the router that your Internet service provider gave you? If so, you might not be getting the best results possible. Routers that ISPs provide tend to be older models running custom firmware, and the download and upload speeds from these routers may not match the speeds you pay for.via How to Buy a Router | PCWorld.

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See you at the next Post.  I hope this is helpful 🙂

FBI & DNS Changer: What’s it all about?

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Glossary

DNS  – short for Domain Name System (or Service or Server), an Internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Because domain names are alphabetic, they’re easier to remember. The Internet however, is really based on IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name, therefore, a DNS service must translate the name into the corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name http://www.example.com might translate to 198.105.232.4. via  http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/DNS.html

Malware – short for malicious software.  Malware is software designed to disrupt a computer’s operation, gather sensitive information, and/or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. via http://www.wikipedia.org/

Rogue DNS server – a rogue DNS server translates domain names of desirable websites (search engines, banks, brokers, etc.) into IP addresses of sites with unintended content, even malicious websites. Most users depend on DNS servers automatically assigned by their ISPs. via http://www.wikipedia.org/

SOHO Network – can stand for single office/home office network. via http://www.wikipedia.org/

ISP – an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is an organization that provides access to the Internet. The FBI has provided information to ISP’s that can be used to redirect their users from rogue DNS servers to the ISP’s own legitimate servers. DNS-changer-malware.pdf (application/pdf Object).

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Jared Newman, PCWorld,  has written a thorough article about DNS Changer. Below is a summary of that article, and what the FBI wants and warns users to do to be ready for what’s coming.

  • PC Users have until July 9, 2012 to remove DNS Changer Malware. After July 9, the FBI will ‘throw a switch’, which will prevent infected computers
    from accessing the Internet.
  • DNS Changer is a Trojan. Trojans conceal malicious software, and are not good for your computer.
  • DNS Changer redirects computers to hacker-created Websites. It also prevents computers from updating or using anti-virus software.
  • If users do not remove DNS Changer before the July 9 deadline, they ‘ll have to load anti-virus software by disk or USB drive.
    Users who do not have access to a second PC for downloading software will be at a disadvantage.

You can read the detailed article by clicking this link – http://www.pcworld.com/topics/security.html

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Guidelines for what you should do:

1) If this is all too complicated, hire a computer professional to help you.  🙂

2) Find out if you’re infected by visiting the DNS Changer Check-Up site by clicking this link – https://forms.fbi.gov/check-to-see-if-your-computer-is-using-rogue-DNS  (It checks the DNS resolution of your PC; however, it does not install more software).

3)  Infected users can check the DNS Changer Working Group for a list of anti-virus software to fix the problem. http://www.dcwg.org/

4) Avira offers a repair tool specifically for DNS Changer. To view Avira site click this link – https://www.avira.com/en/search?q=repair+tool&x=0&y=0

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Go directly to the FBI website for more details by clicking the link below

http://www.fbi.gov/

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I hope this is helpful 🙂

Getting a Grip on AutoCorrect!

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It’s downright embarrassing!  Causing my professionalism to be questioned!  Yes, you know what I’m talking about  #@%! – AutoCorrect!

Someone is putting their words in my messages! Recently I sent a message discussing something I thought showed that I was comprehending the subject and in the middle of the sentence was the word ‘toot‘!   The list is long of those AutoCorrect/Autocomplete moments; however, it seems we can’t live with, or without it. Just in case you want to remove it or venture into finding out how to control it more to your liking, here are some tips that i found for Android, iPhone, and iPad users.

First, let’s review some of the selections for inputting information with the keyboards provided by your mobile devices.  For example, you may find Swype easier to input text on your mobile device. Here’s a brief description:  Swype   is an input method for touchscreens where the user enters words by sliding a finger or stylus from letter to letter, lifting only between words. It uses error-correcting algorithms and a language model to guess the intended word. It also includes a tapping predictive text system in the same interface. Swype is designed for use on touchscreen devices with a traditional QWERTY keyboard. via Swype – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

♦ According to Swype, it’s a faster way to input messages.  Maybe this will help you to control those AutoCorrect errors (?) Swype provides basic/advanced training guidelines, which you can get at this link: http://www.swype.com/

♦ Android users can find a Tutorial for Swype  right on their mobile phones.  In addition, there is Swype Help with more details.

To find the tutorial  take the steps below:

  • Select Settings
  • Select Language & keyboard
  • Select Swype settings
  • Scroll down to find Help
  • Choose Tutorial

If you decide you want to stay with “Touch input” I suggest you take the Tutorial for how auto-correction works.

Use the steps below to find the tutorial

  • Select Settings’
  • Select Language & keyboard
  • Select Touch input
  • Select Tutorial

Touch input users may also want to consider adding their often used personal acronyms to their Personal dictionary, which is an option available right beneath the Tutorial. Choose the Edit personal dictionary, and add your words.

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iPhone users can check out Business Insider, which has some suggestions for “teaching” your phone new words among other ideas.  http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-fix-iphone-auto-correct-2012-2#

iPad users can turn autocorrect off using the settings options.

I hope this is helpful.  See you at the next Post 🙂

The Facts Are In… From The FLA

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The Fair Labor Association (FLA)  has completed, and made public, their report about labor conditions at Foxconn.  Below is a summary of what I found at their site. As always you can click on the link to read the full disclosure at  the FLA website.

♦ FLA’s investigation found that within the last 12 months, all three factories exceeded both the FLA Code standard of 60 hours per week (regular plus overtime) and the Chinese legal limits of 40 hours per week and 36 hours maximum overtime per month.

♦ During peak production periods, the average number of hours worked per week exceeded 60 hours per worker.

♦ There were periods in which some employees worked more than seven days in a row without the required 24 hours off.

♦ Full worker survey data is available at http://www.fairlabor.org/affiliate/apple.via Fair Labor Association Secures Commitment to Limit Workers’ Hours, Protect Pay at Apple’s Largest Supplier | Fair Labor Association.

I was wondering how many people still  felt that Mike Daisey’s way of  getting this information out still should be judged so harshly.  Before he presented this information in his show,  I don’t believe many of Apple’s customers (myself included) knew much about  how the Apple products are made in China.  Here is an excerpt of an article by Mark Radcliffe that I found  in my readings about Mike Daisey I would like to share with you. As always click the link to read the entire article.

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Mark Radcliffe notes that discoveries of more violations at Apple’s Foxconn manufacturing plant in China prove that Mike Daisey wasn’t as wrong as once thought…

I wrote about this controversy last week, so I’ll try not to repeat too much of my argument. But my point is that the level of condemnation employed by most journalists against Daisey strikes me as misplaced. I find it troubling that there was such a frenzy to tear him down, when at the end of the day, it was still his show (and the general truth behind it) that is largely responsible for shining the light of scrutiny on the labor practices of the world’s richest company. There was an OCD-esque desire to throw out the baby with the bathwater as soon as a few smaller details were in contention.

But almost no one simply acknowledged that he did go to China. He did visit factories. He did talk to workers, all in an effort to know the truth. The headlines imply he made it all up while sitting on his couch at home. We should have two different levels of scorn for someone who lies about everything sheerly for fame, and someone who merely stretches the truth to help raise awareness about a labor rights issues. via Mike Daisey’s Lies Appear To Be Mostly True @MarkRadcliffe — The Good Men Project.

It’s certainly worth thinking about what Mark Radcliffe has to say on this topic.  I would also like to share a quote with you that I found before I close this Post>

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Martin Luther King, Jr. quote

Eye Ergonomics

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I am certain that many of you spend hours working on  your desktops, laptops, mobile phones, then there is  Twitter, Facebook, Email,  Excel, Word, APPS, etc. etc.  Have you considered that all of this constant viewing of computer screens during the many hours of a given day  is having an impact on the ability for us to focus with our eyes?  I know I have not been thinking about the strain, although I have suffered from headaches. I have also had blurred vision during the course of the day, along with  neck and back pain.  That’s why I was interested to learn about a New York Times article by Mickey Meece, which offers solutions for eyestrain caused by computers. via Easing Eye Strain With the Right Lenses – NYTimes.com.  After reading the article, I thought it would be helpful for you to know what else I found out, so here is my synopsis.  As always you can click on the links provided for more details.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a temporary condition resulting from focusing the eyes on a computer display for protracted, uninterrupted periods of time. Some symptoms of CVS include headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, redness in the eyes, fatigue, eye strain, dry, irritated eyes, double vision, polyopia, and difficulty refocusing the eyes. These symptoms can be further aggravated by improper lighting conditions (i.e. glare or bright overhead lighting) or air moving past the eyes (e.g. overhead vents, direct air from a fan).via Computer vision syndrome – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Presbyopia is a condition where the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects with age…The first signs of presbyopia – eyestrain, difficulty seeing in dim light, problems focusing on small objects and/or fine print – are usually first noticed between the ages of 40 and 50 . . .via Presbyopia – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

What can you do about eye strain?

♦ In the article by Mickey Meece he discusses special purposes glasses which enhance your ability to see the computer with a sharper focus.

♦ Here’s a list of suggestions I found at the Ergonomics website:
How To Prevent or Treat Eye Strains?

  • Take breaks by getting away from the computer desk for a few minutes
  • Eyes need to focus at different distances from time to time. It’s a good idea to follow the “20/20 rule” — every twenty minutes, look twenty feet away for twenty seconds
  • Every 20 minutes, blink 10 times by closing your eyes as if falling asleep (very slowly). This will help rewet your eyes.
  • Blinking is very important when working at a computer; it rewets your eyes to avoid dryness and irritation
  • Massaging the temples with your eyes closed for a minute may alleviate the symptoms
  • It is recommended that the viewing distance be around 45 inches away at horizontal eye level or 35 inches away with a 30-degree downward gaze angle
  • The general rule is to keep viewed material as far away as possible, provided it can be read easily. There is no such thing as sitting too far away from the screen as long as you can comfortably read what is on the screen! And don’t forget that you can increase the font on the screen by zooming into the webpage, document or changing the resolution on the screen.
  • keep viewed objects at about the same distance if you have to look back and forth a lot eg. Reading paper documents and looking at the screen to perform a task
  • Looking downward means more of the eye surface is covered by the eyelid, and two other things happen: the eyes unconsciously blink more, and they produce more lubrication

Computer glasses put the optimum lens power for viewing your computer screen right where you need it for a clear, wide field of view without the need for excessive focusing effort or unhealthful postures. The simplest computer glasses have single vision lenses.

a. This lens power relaxes the amount of accommodation required to keep objects in focus at the distance of the computer screen and provides the largest field of view

b. The lenses can be tinted to remove reflections of light from the front and back surfaces of your lenses that can cause eye strain. They also reduce glare caused by harsh overhead lighting found in many office environments. Read more about these unique computer glasses via Computer Eye Strain – Eyestrain.

I hope this is helpful! 🙂



The Scoop from IE about Online Privacy

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Many of us are  in a quandary, and at our wits’ end trying to figure out what to do about this online privacy thing.  I mean can we control what companies find out about us?  If yes, what does that do to our ability to surf online for information?  Does it put us as a disadvantage because we setup controls?  In fact, an article appeared in PC World By John Ribeiro, IDG News Feb 21, 2012, which reports what Google says about how newer cookie-based features are affected by Microsoft’s IE.  One example given was “Like” buttons in Facebook. Check out the full article via Google Says IE Privacy Policy Is Impractical in Modern Web | PCWorld.

Let’s review what P3P is: The Platform for Privacy Preferences Project (P3P) is a protocol allowing websites to declare their intended use of information they collect about web browser users. Designed to give users more control of their personal information when browsing, P3P was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and officially recommended on April 16, 2002. Development ceased shortly thereafter and there have been very few implementations of P3P.  Microsoft Internet Explorer is the only major browser to support P3P.
via P3P – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

It’s all very complicated! We covered what Google and Mozilla are doing about the online privacy concerns for users.  Below is a short summary of the highlights I thought you might want to know about , which Internet Explorer (IE) has posted on their Blog.  I urge you to use the links provided in this post to check out the information when you have time to read it for a thorough understanding, and how it may (or may not) affect you.

Highlights:

  1. Is Google circumventing the privacy preferences of IE? Yes. via Google Bypassing User Privacy Settings – IEBlog – Site Home – MSDN Blogs
  2. What does IE recommend to their users how to protect their privacy? One example IE gave is that IE9 has tracking protection which can protect you from Google.
  3. IE blocks third party cookies by default unless the site has a P3P Compact Policy Statement.
  4. IE has a Tracking List available for IE9 users.  Click this link to learn more via Tracking Protection – Microsoft Windows.

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When you finish reading up on all the things you can do to protect yourself,  read the article by Karl Bode at the link provided below.  His comments about “snoopvertising” will be a reality check!  via Press Realizing New Privacy Bill of Rights Won’t Do Much – ‘Do Not Track’ Doesn’t Mean What You Think it Means | DSLReports.com, ISP Information.

Perhaps what would be useful here is a quote I found from 1999!

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Polly Sprenger Email 01.26.99

The chief executive officer of Sun Microsystems said Monday that consumer privacy issues are a “red herring.”  “You have zero privacy anyway,” Scott McNealy told a group of reporters and analysts Monday night at an event to launch his company’s new Jini technology. “Get over it.” via Sun on Privacy: ‘Get Over It’.

I hope this is helpful ! 🙂

The Scoop About Online Snooping

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Just when you thought you understood how to handle the privacy protection issues, they pull us right back in. That’s why many of us are worried about how Google’s new privacy policy will affect our privacy online, and what we can do to have a say about how information is currently collected about us, and how it is manipulated.  Last week we delved into the use of  various tools provided by Google to allow us to put a stop to some of the information being collected about us in order for Google and other ‘first party(cookie) sites”  like Amazon to sell Ads.  For example,  consumers may not know that when they  go directly to first party sites (e.g. Google, Amazon) data can still be collected on them before they are given the option to “Opt-Out”.  It appears that the “Opt-Out” option works best with third party sites. Read more about how to Opt-Out and what controls you really have  at:  Network Advertising Initiative.

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I have listed some of  the topics reviewed by  Associated Press via Google’s new privacy policy: 6 key issues you need to know | NJ.com.

  1. Can Gmail, Google Plus, YouTube, users prevent personal data from being collected?
  2. Which Google services are covered by the privacy policy?
  3. What role does the U.S. Federal Trade Commission have in overseeing Google’s treatment of personal information?

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And, do not forget to check out what Mozilla’s Firefox has available to avoid tracking  in their new release.

Firefox for Android includes the Do Not Track privacy feature in this release, making Firefox the first browser to support Do Not Track on multiple platforms. Mozilla created Do Not Track to give users more control over the way their browsing behavior is tracked and used on the Web. The feature, which lets users tell websites that they wish to opt-out of online behavioral tracking, is now easier to find in Firefox Preferences. via Mozilla Delivers New Version of Firefox – First Web Browser to Support Do Not Track on Multiple Platforms | The Mozilla Blog.

I hope this is helpful 🙂