 A password manager keeps all your passwords in one safe place. Of the many challenges in the tech world, one of the most daunting is password management. There are two major issues:
A password manager solves your password security problems in two stages:.
  Online or in person, Asheville Digital Lifestyle keeps your mobile devices humming. It’s now possible to get help with your mobile devices without leaving the comfort of your home or getting out of your pajamas. Remote sessions allow you to temporarily share your screen so that we can solve your problems easily and with clear communication. If you’re wondering whether you should schedule a phone call or in-person session, here are some quick tips:
Mac or PC: https://www.teamviewer.us/teamviewer-automatic-download/ (choose the “Personal use” option when installing). iPhone and iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teamviewer-quicksupport/id661649585 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamviewer.quicksupport.market Either way you choose – remote or in person – Asheville Digital Lifestyle has your back for all your tech issues. Click the button below to make an appointment.   Where did you get your WiFi router? Most people get theirs from their Internet Service Provider (ISP). But did you know that having a router from you ISP means they are taking responsibility for the router’s security? Should that scare you? Maybe just a little. Take, for example, the recent vulnerability from Comcast that made stealing your Wi-Fi password all too easy. The truth is, ISPs have a checkered past when it comes to the router equipment provided to clients. So, do you trust your ISP to keep you safe? If not, It may be time to consider replacing your router. One great option is the Eero router, which is security-minded from the get-go. Eero is also an expandable system, which comes with a router and add-on “Beacons.” The Beacons are plugged into wall outlets in any room, and they extend fast, reliable service to all areas of your home or office. Need additional security? Eero offers an optional Eero Plus subscription that can protect your entire network from hackers, malicious websites, and malware. It bundles three top-quality security programs into one package, all for $99 a year:
Throw in automatic updates, and Eero is a great “set and forget” system, which gives you blindingly fast, reliable Wi-Fi and peace of mind against attacks. Find out more about Eero by clicking here. Don’t want to change your router yourself? Call Jensen at Asheville Digital Lifestyle for a security check of your Wi-Fi system. Here’s what we can do in just one visit:
  Even with a credit freeze, crooks are finding ways to open mobile accounts in your name. We’ve dealt with the subject of identity theft and credit freezes in previous newsletters. Some of you have taken the steps to freeze your credit so identity thieves can’t open new credit cards in your name. What about your mobile phone account? That’s protected by a credit freeze with the three big credit bureaus, right? Wrong! Crooks are finding new ways to open new mobile phone accounts using names of people who already froze their credit. That’s because mobile phone merchants don’t rely on the major credit bureaus. Instead, the mobile providers make their credit inquiries with the National Consumer Telecommunications and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE). NCTUE is a “shadow” 4th credit bureau – a separate credit check system used by mobile phone companies, utilities, and cable providers. Unless you freeze with NCTUE, fraudsters may be able to sign up for service in your name even if you’ve frozen your credit with the Big 3. You must freeze your telecom credit with NCTUE if you want protection. So far, so good, right? Well, there’s good news and bad news. First, the good news. NCTUE can freeze your mobile credit accounts. The bad news is that if you try to do it online, it’s a time-suck of gargantuan proportions! That’s because the program is handled by Equifax, one of the big three credit bureaus. Remember the now-infamous Equifax data breach? Between convoluted instructions and pages that show serious warnings on Google Chrome, the process can be quite frustrating. Fortunately, you can do this easily with a phone call to NCTUE. Here's what you need to know in a nutshell:
To learn more, visit the NCTUE home page. But do yourself a favor: take our advice and get your telecom credit freeze by phone! Need help with the technology in your life? Make an appointment with Asheville Digital Lifestyle today.   Calls from "Apple" or "Mictosoft" are coming in daily. Hang up! They are scammers. The calls are coming in fast and furious. They say your computer has a virus, or they want to sell you a "protection" plan. Ironically, it's THEM you need protection against. Just hang up! Don't give them any personal information, and NEVER give them remote access to your computer. Block their phone number so you don't get any more calls from them – but beware! They have multiple numbers. Calls like these are why you need to enroll in Jensen's Cybersecurity Class for Small Business, May 5. 2018, from 9 am - noon. Click below to register.   Fake error message! Never call a number and give out any information. Don't click. Force quit! Ever had your computer go “wonky” on you? A system error pops up, and you want to share a picture of your screen with someone who can help you figure out what to do next (such as Asheville Digital Lifestyle). What’s the easiest way to take a picture of your screen? On a PC All you have to do is press two keys, CTRL and Print Scrn (in the upper right corner of your keyboard). You can then paste the screenshot into an email or Word document (Press CTRL and the letter V to paste).  On a Mac You need to press three keys if you’re on a Mac: hold down COMMAND and SHIFT, then tap 3. A screenshot will appear on the Desktop with today's date in the file name, which you can then attach to an email (in the Mac Mail app, use the paperclip button, highlighted in purple at the upper right of the screen shown below).  Now if one of those troublesome messages pops up on your computer screen, you know how to take a picture and send it to Jensen for advice.
Need a tech tune-up? Call Jensen at Asheville Digital Lifestyle today. 828-354-0371  Is your WiFi network up to snuff? Click here for a free speed test from SpeedTest.net. Need to test your smart phone? Click here. How fast should your Wi-Fi be? Streaming a single high definition video requires 10 Mbps of download speed. Multiple devices stack, so a typical 2 person household will want at least a 30 Mpbs download speed to allow for a speedy connection even with multiple devices playing video while others surf the internet. Looking at speed test results, Ping is how quickly your requests to the internet are processed. Jitter is how stable your speed is. Any Packet Loss means your connection will be slower because not everything you send is making it to the server (a sign of an equipment issue or low-quality connection). Most internet connections are affected by how many of your neighbors are watching Netflix, so you may find a test during the evening is slower than a test in the middle of the day. If your eyes glaze over from the technical details, Asheville Digital Lifestyle can perform these tests for you, ensure your Internet and WiFi are in tip-top condition, and help update your gear if you don’t pass the speed test. Make an appointment today!   Pexels.com photo. CC0 license Do you have a Smart TV? What makes it so smart? Generally speaking, what makes a TV smart is a connection to the Internet. Today’s TVs hook up to the net via WiFi, but you'll need a strong Wireless Router system to stream in High Definition. Smart TVs make it easy to watch streaming content, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. Recently they’ve become more computer-like, accepting voice commands and offering the ability to stream the screen from your smartphone. Not long ago you needed an external box to take advantage of streaming services like Roku or Apple TV, but today many smart TVs come with robust streaming features already installed. Read more about Smart TV features here. Are you trying Smart TV for the first time? It’s not always easy to choose the right Smart TV setup or ensure that your WiFi is working well enough to stream in High Definition. Asheville Digital Lifestyle can make it easy and stress-free for you, helping you through the process. While we’re at it, if it connects to your WiFi network, Asheville Digital Lifestyle can help you set it up and ensure everything is working properly. ADL Security tipHow can you tell if your antivirus app is protecting you? Every antivirus program has an icon with its logo that remains on your screen (upper right on Mac and lower right on Windows). Familiarize yourself with that icon and every time you boot your computer, check that the icon is there and that there isn’t a warning (typically an exclamation point over the icon). Need a Digital Security Blanket? Malware is on the rise, and computer hard drives are fragile. BackBlaze Cloud Backup automatically backs up all of your personal files to a data center, which means if your computer fails, is taken down by a virus, or even if there's fire or flood damage, a safe copy of your data will be available to download. Read more about BackBlaze here. Asheville Digital Lifestyle can do a full security checkup on your technology including backup, security scans, and other crucial steps to ensure your personal information stays safe.   Pexels.com photo. CC0 license. Online searches for identity theft programs have skyrocketed since the recent Experian data breach. As identity theft protection services are poised to become a multi-million dollar business, the big question we should be asking ourselves is, “Are they worth the money?” The answer might surprise you. Probably not! Ironically, the data you must divulge to these companies makes you more vulnerable to exposure in the event of a data breach. Another factor is while these services may benefit folks who already are the victims of a data breach, they don’t offer much in the way of preventive measures. What they offer is akin to insurance that may help you if your identity is compromised or stolen. However, you may already have this kind of insurance through your credit cards, by way of Visa and MasterCard “zero liability rules.” A much better way to keep your identity (and your credit) safe is by placing a credit freeze on your accounts. Please click here to read our earlier blog post about using a free credit freeze for protection. The bottom line: As tempting as identity theft programs may seem, there are better ways to stay safe. Click on this link to learn more about why identity theft prevention services may not be worth the money. Unsure about how to protect yourself and your computer from hackers? Make an appointment with Jensen to review your options.   Pexels.com photo. CC0 license. Is anybody safe these days from credit card fraud and identity theft? The recent Equifax credit data breach seems to imply that even the big players are not secure from hackers and thieves.
Don’t panic. While nothing is foolproof any more, there are some strong steps you can take to protect your credit from hucksters and thieves. One of the best is the credit freeze. Wikipedia tells us that each year about 15% of identity theft cases involve new accounts. Criminals open credit in someone else’s name. Since banks and lenders require a credit report before opening an account, locking this information out with a credit freeze is an effective way to prevent anyone from opening a card in your name. Keep in mind, however, it will also keep you from opening new accounts unless you remove the credit freeze. Click here to learn more about using a credit freeze to protect yourself from identity theft. Protect your email password Your email account is your key to the digital kingdom. Keep it secret; keep it safe! When choosing an email password, go for something unique and impossible to guess. Never use your birthday or something people know about you. For example, if you drive a Rav4, don’t make your password Rav4. Also, given the number of data breaches, assume that any information held by the government such as your social security number and date of birth are out there in the criminal undergrond. Choose a password that is not easy to guess. It must not not contain any personal information (social security number, phone number, street number, etc.) that could be gleaned from a credit report or information you've given to the government. Your password could be a nonsensical sentence. For example, Chickens4love2run! If thinking up obscure passwords and organizing them becomes too much of a chore, Asheville Digital Lifestyle can help you setup a password management system such as Dashlane or 1Password. |
AuthorJensen Gelfond is the Owner Asheville Digital Lifestyle, helps people use their technology more effectively and joyfully. Archives
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