Use Common Sense
A huge part of IT security is simple common sense. You’re smart enough to stay out of the bad parts of town. Stay out of the bad parts of the internet, as well. Otherwise, you’re likely to end up in trouble, with PC or phone infections, hijacked credit card info, or identity theft. It can […]
Be Smart. Know Domain Structure
Phishing is a huge problem. Thieves can create some amazingly realistic looking requests to log into various websites, capturing your password in the process. A basic understanding of how domain names works helps. If the linked website is yourbank.com, you’re safe. If it’s yourbank.somethingelse.com, it’s not. The last name before the .com is the highest […]
Block Nasty Ads
There are a lot of good reasons to block ads. First of all, if you use Adblock+, polite ads are let through by default. Second, hostile Javascript in ads is a favorite way for hackers to get into your Windows computer. Third, ads, intrusive ads, just suck. If you’re using a desktop or laptop computer, […]
Linux Rules the Computing World
Windows may rule the desktop computer world, but Linux rules the overall smart device realm. Your Android phone is Linux. Your Apple device is running an OS based on UNIX, a close Linux relative. Odds are your smart appliances are running it, as well as your router. Airplanes fly with Linux computers, so does the […]
Keep those Browser Add-ons Under Control
Add-ons are essential for web browsers. But too many can turn your browser into a dog. If your web browser has been dragging its feet lately, go into your settings and see what add-ons you’re using. You may have some on there that you never use, despite their being there using your system resources. […]
How About a Chromebook?
What do you use your computer for? Surfing the internet? Reading email? Creating/reading documents? Looking at pictures from your phone? You might be a good candidate for a Chromebook. The Chromebook is a computer that uses the internet to work. It does have an offline mode, but by and large it depends on a […]
Surf Safely Incognito
Your smartphone’s web browser has a secret weapon that will help you stay infection-free: on Chrome, it’s called incognito. Open a new incognito tab, and you have a session that’s “sandboxed,” i.e. anything that you do gets erased when you close the browser. Use the incognito function whenever you can. Your phone or tablet […]
Check that Rumor Before You Pass It On
Facebook is fake rumor central. Example: Jayden K. Smith the hacker. That one has been kicking around since 2009. When someone forwards you a message warning about some dire evil on Facebook, and asks you to pass it on, why not take a minute and type it into Google and see what comes up. […]
Does My Choice of Web Browser Make a Difference in how the Internet Acts?
Absolutely. The internet runs on an open standard: HTMl. Web browsers vary as to how well they translate it into the web pages that you see, Chrome and Opera are just about the best, Firefox and Edge are not too far behind. Apple’s Safari and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer bring up the back of the pack. […]
Offsite Backup Is Essential!
Hurricane Harvey, and the misery that southeast Texas has gone through, emphasizes the need for offsite backup. I’ve used Crashplan for years, but they are getting out of the consumer market. The best consumer offering out there appears to be Backblaze (backblaze.com). The point is that your data is valuable. Don’t lose it because a […]