Home & Small Business Technical Support
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What We Do
    • Residential
    • Business
    • Non-Profit - 501(c)(3)
  • Testimonials
  • Tidbit-Blog
  • Gift Cards
  • Appointments
  • Contact
    • Meetings

Tech Tidbits

Help & Advice from the GoTo Tech Guru
​for your everyday tech questions & problems

Microsoft’s new photos app for iOS & Android lets you quickly transfer pictures to a PC

4/30/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Microsoft is releasing a new Photos Companion app for iOS and Android, designed to make it much quicker to get photos from a phone to a PC.  The app works by temporarily linking (via QR code) to the Windows 10 photos app. You can send multiple photos over the same Wi-Fi network, and they appear immediately in the photos app.  The app doesn’t permanently link to a Windows 10 PC and is useful if you don’t automatically back up your photos to a cloud service.   Check it out here!
#windows #iphoneipad #android #wifi
0 Comments

How DNA from Genetic websites could be used against you

4/29/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Fears about the privacy of our data have become commonplace amid credit monitoring hacks and a political firm accessing Facebook users' information.  A recent arrest takes it one step further, raising questions about how our genetic information is being used and who has access to it.  

The arrest was made on the basis of genetic information using an open-source genetic database, GEDmatch, to explore family trees.  Anyone can use GEDMatch, a website for amateur and professional researchers and genealogists. The site's free tools allow people to enter their DNA profiles or genealogical data -- the information received from commercial genetic testing companies such as 23andMe or Ancestry.com -- so they can find familial matches with other users.  In short, the investigators tracked down DeAngelo based on genetic information provided not by him but by one of his relatives.

To find out how this was done and if your DNA can be used against you or any relatives, read here!

#security
0 Comments

Facial Recognition has a Race Problem

4/28/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Google was embarrassed when its algorithms incorrectly labeled a black couple as “gorillas.” Unable to stop its image-recognition algorithms working in this way, Google recently “fixed” its them by removing “gorilla” as a classification altogether.  The maker of smart GIF search engine Gfycat recently took on this similar problem — and by training its image recognition on non-white faces, it has been able to develop facial-recognition software that is far better than its rivals at recognizing non-white individuals.  Find out the latest about this tech here!
#news #security
0 Comments

Gmail Gets a Makeover

4/26/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Google has announced the first major redesign of Gmail's web interface in years, which is focused on quick productivity actions.  Features include attachments chips, hover actions, and hover cards to make the static inbox experience more interactive without the need for mulitple clicks.  Also surfacing are several labs features that were previously hidden in Settings > Labs, like canned responses, the ability to create multiple inboxes, and a preview pane to customize your preferences for different inboxes.  Get the latest here!
#news #google
0 Comments

FBI Has More Than 6,900 Devices It Can’t Unlock

4/24/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
The FBI has been unable to retrieve data from more than half of the devices it’s tried to access.  The Bureau was unable to access the contents of about 6,900 devices in the first 11 months of the fiscal year.  Get the scoop here!
#news #security
0 Comments

Fitness Tracker Heat Map reveals the location of Military Bases

4/22/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Strava is the maker of a fitness-tracking app that uses a phone’s GPS to track when and where a user is exercising. Last November, the site released a heat map showing the activity of its users from around the world, containing information across 3 trillion latitude and longitude points.  The result is a pretty image of people working out, but one analyst points out that the map makes it very easy for someone to figure out the locations of military bases and the routines of their personnel.  Read here how this determination was made!
#security #techgadgets
0 Comments

Police in China start wearing facial-recognition glasses

4/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Surveillance in China means the authorities know pretty much everything about you whenever you appear on camera.  Now police there have a new weapon with which to fight crime and capture criminals: high-tech glasses that allow for facial recognition at the push of a button.  Here's what's behind the tech!
#news #techgadets #security
0 Comments

Your emails may soon self-destruct

4/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you already love Gmail, you're probably going to like it more soon.  Google is coming out with a massive update for Gmail in the coming weeks and it's going to have some cool new features.  Among several other cool features like password protecting emails, there will be a self-destruct option for emails!  Yep!  To get the inside scoop, read here!
#google #security
0 Comments

Android phone users: Google may be tracking your every move

4/19/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Phones using the Android operating system silently transmit data back to the servers of Google, including everything from GPS coordinates to nearby wifi networks, barometric pressure, and even a guess at the phone-holder’s current activity.  As a result, Google holds more extensive data on Android users than some ever realize. That data can be used by the company to sell targeted advertising. It can also be used to track into stores those consumers who saw ads on their phone or computer urging them to visit.1 This also means governments and courts can request the detailed data on an individual’s whereabouts.  Find out here how and what Google is tracking!
#security #google
0 Comments

Cybercriminals are using your router to spread malware

4/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cybercrime, data breaches, and internet attacks are on the rise. In fact, it is estimated that the global economy will lose around $2 trillion by 2019 due to cybercrime.  Through your router, Hackers can hijack and harvest your personal information, commandeer your smart devices, install malware on your computer and redirect your traffic to fake websites.  This newly discovered malware campaign does precisely that. If you're not careful about, cybercriminals can quickly all drain your bank accounts without warning!  Enter Roaming Mantis, which propagates itself not via third-party app downloads nor phishing scams but via a technique known as DNS hijacking via your router!  Find out here how to protect yourself!
#virus&malware #android #security #wifi
0 Comments

Thousands of apps in Google Play Store may be illegally tracking children

4/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thousands of popular children’s apps available for download on Google Play may be violating child privacy laws, according to a new study, drawing more attention to big tech’s data-collection efforts.

The researchers found that potential privacy violations came in different forms. More than 1,100 children’s apps collect identifying information from kids using tracking software whose terms of service actually prohibit their use for children’s apps. Researchers also found that nearly half the apps are not taking “reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal information collected from children.”  Get the details and scoop here!

#security #android #google #chromebook
0 Comments

How to erase everything you ever searched for on Google

4/16/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
"The tech giant knows every car that you've thought of purchasing. It also knows more personal details, like what medical conditions you are ailing from, which coworkers you've tried finding information on, and where you're thinking about taking your next trip."  Here's how to erase everything you have ever searched for on Google.
#security #google
0 Comments

Wireless phone charging comes at a cost: your battery

4/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Your phone battery gets run down much faster with the wireless method, as compared to cable charging.  Although this phone is primarily focused toward the iPhone, the problem applies to all current-day rechargable batteries.  Get the scoop here!
#iphoneipad #android
0 Comments

Microsoft’s OneDrive now has your back in a ransomware attack

4/14/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Microsoft is building anti-ransomware functionality into its OneDrive cloud storage solution that can help mitigate the damage.  These are features that were first introduced for OneDrive for Business and that the company is now pushing to anyone who’s signed up for an Office 365 Home or Personal subscription. The features work together to help users recover their files in the event of a ransomware attack.  Read all about it here!
#security #virus&malware
0 Comments

Google's tracking you in a way you had no idea existed

4/13/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
With all the power Google offers you, there's a trade-off many people don't want to make... your privacy.  Find out here just how much Google knows about you!
Next Article: "How to erase everything you ever searched for on Google"

#security #google

0 Comments

Simple Change will Speed Up Your Internet

4/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cloudflare has launched its own consumer DNS service that promises to speed up your internet connection and help keep it private. The service is using https://1.1.1.1, an actual DNS resolver that anyone can use.  Cloudflare claims it will be “the Internet’s fastest, privacy-first consumer DNS service.” While OpenDNS and Google DNS both exist, Cloudflare is focusing heavily on the privacy aspect of its own DNS service with a promise to wipe all logs of DNS queries within 24 hours.  What is DNS and why does it matter to you?  How and why does 1.1.1.1 work?  Find out here how this simple change, which even novices can do,  could improve your internet experience.
#wifi
0 Comments

DC's Stingray Mess Won't Get Cleaned Up

4/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cell-site simulators, called IMSI catchers because they capture devices' International Mobile Equipment Identity codes, masquerade as legitimate mobile network cell towers to trick nearby cell phones into connecting.  Once linked, they can track a cell phone's location, or even surveil its messages and phone calls.  

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed for the first time that it is aware of unauthorized cell-site simulators, the surveillance tools often called stingrays or IMSI Catchers, in various parts of Washington DC.  Though some can scan up to a mile radius, most are fairly localized. But even this isn't much consolation in Washington, where embassies and government buildings are everywhere.  Find out the latest here.

#security #iphoneipad #android
0 Comments

Intel not to patch Spectre vulnerability for older processors

4/10/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Intel will not be issuing Spectre patches to a number of older Intel processor families, potentially leaving many customers vulnerable to the security exploit. Intel claims the processors affected are mostly implemented as closed systems, so they aren’t at risk from the Spectre exploit, and that the age of these processors means they have limited commercial availability.  Intel’s decision not to patch these products could stem from the relative difficulty of patching the Spectre exploit on older systems.  Find out more and if your Intel CPU is affected here.
#security #meltdown&spectre
0 Comments

Facebook Messenger scans messages before you send them

4/9/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Facebook scans the chats and images that people send each other on Facebook Messenger, making sure it all abides by the company’s rules governing content. If it doesn’t, it gets blocked.  Is Facebook reading messages more generally?  Get the scoop here!
#security
0 Comments

View Data Facebook Has Collected on You

4/8/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
In light of recent events, you might be concerned about your online data and privacy — particularly on platforms like Facebook.

Social media and technology platforms like Facebook and Google collect massive amounts of data on their users. That’s especially disconcerting when that data could fall into the wrong hands, like we’ve seen with the recent Cambridge Analytica data scandal.

You can take steps to shore up your Facebook privacy practices.  It’s also helpful to know the full scope of the personal information that the social media juggernaut collects.  Here’s how.

#security
0 Comments

5 ways to find a cellphone number online

4/6/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ever get a call from a number that you do not recognize?  Maybe it is a scammer pretending to be Google or Facebook, or maybe you really have won an all expenses paid trip to Sandals.  It is worth investigating, to say the least.  Here's how to lookup phone numbers!
#security
0 Comments

The Dark Web has your online identity for sale - Here's how to protect yourself

4/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Is your entire online identity up for grabs on the Dark Web for cheap???  The assortment of stolen data that was discovered is sobering - Netflix, Uber, Spotify and Airbnb logins (all yours for the low price of $10 each), email accounts like Gmail and Yahoo (as low as $1) and social media accounts (around $2 each).  Personal finance information like PayPal and credit card data is only around $250 each.

Based on the average prices of each kind of stolen account that are for sale on the Dark Web, if someone is going to purchase all the available items for a single person, the checkout price is just $1,170. Yep, one person's entire online identity is cheaper than a refurbished MacBook Pro.

So what can you do?  Find out here how to protect yourself!

#security
0 Comments

Why 5G cell towers could affect your health

4/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
The fifth generation wireless broadband technology is on its way.  It operates with a 5Ghz signal and will offer super-fast speeds when compared to 4G networks.  Unfortunately, there could be some negative health effects that come along with this new technology.  Find out how, why and what to look out for here!
#news #wifi
0 Comments

Lost in Space - A new Netflix series

4/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
An upcoming American science fiction web television series, Lost in Space by Netflix, is based on the 1965 series of the same name, following the adventures of a family of pioneering space colonists whose spaceship veers off-course.  Don't miss it's premiere on April 13th!  Here's a trailer and it looks great!
#movies
0 Comments

How to remove unwanted apps from Windows 10

4/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
There are probably a lot of apps in Windows 10 that you don't need or use.  They are actually not difficult to remove.  But be careful, some are not meant to be removed and if you do, Windows may not operate properly.  See here for tips on how to get rid of these and what not to.
#windows
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Free Weekly Blog Signup

    Blog Author

    I love technology and how it enhances our lives!  Just think, without the Apollo moon missions, we might not have calculators!  Imagine!!


    Archives

    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    Categories

    All
    Android
    Apple Mac
    $avings
    Batteries
    Chromebook
    Cloud
    ECommerce
    Email
    Google
    IPhone & IPad
    Meltdown & Spectre
    Movies
    Net Neutrality
    News
    Photography
    Reviews
    Security
    Self Driving Cars
    Software
    Tech Gadgets
    TV
    Virus' & Malware
    WiFi
    Windows

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What We Do
    • Residential
    • Business
    • Non-Profit - 501(c)(3)
  • Testimonials
  • Tidbit-Blog
  • Gift Cards
  • Appointments
  • Contact
    • Meetings