 Listen up! Not all email services are created equal. Let that sink in a moment. What do we mean by that? Put simply, we mean that email service should not be a “crapshoot.” Choosing an email service needs to be more than a question of convenience. You need to balance ease of use with security and reliability. Some of the most popular email services just don't cut it. At the bottom of the barrel is Yahoo Mail, which has suffered countless security breaches. One of the worst breaches, dubbed Yahoo Bleed, was left unpatched for more than two years while sensitive user data was being “bled” out of server memory. In fact, according to The Daily Scam, Yahoo Mail is the “worst email service on the planet.” They cite the incidence of hacked user accounts, along with the number of email scams that are launched by users with Yahoo email addresses. What’s inside these scam emails? “We have found that the vast majority of scam or hacked emails from Yahoo contain the same type of thing over and over…a single, malicious link that can cause a computer infection if clicked,” according to The Daily Scam. Running a close second for the worst service is AOL, which has morphed into an advertising company. The user interface buries the email inbox in a sea of “news” and ads. They run a close second in the sheer amount of hacked email accounts, followed by Hotmail (now called Outlook.com) in third place. You may recall that Yahoo and AOL were purchased by Verizon, and will soon come under one umbrella known as Oath. This is not expected to change the user accounts, but the company is asking users to change passwords since hacker attacks compromised more than 500 million accounts. What about email accounts provided by your Internet Service Provider (Charter, ATT, etc.)? These accounts tend to lock you into service with that provider, and the reliability of the email server is questionable. Here are the best personal email providers: Gmail, the top free email service, takes quality and security seriously. It’s hard to go wrong with a Gmail account. iCloud works great with Apple devices, and provides both security and reliability. Then there are paid services, such Fastmail.com and Runbox. They value your privacy, and they never sort through your email in order to send you advertising. They’re also ad-free and offer 24/7 support. For businesses reliant on Microsoft Outlook for email, Office 365 powered by Exchange is also a top pick. Do you need help setting up the best email service for your needs? Call Asheville Digital Lifestyle today.   Pexels.com image. CC0 license. Wi-Fi problems can drive you batty! Wi-Fi is amazing – it takes a wide spectrum of tech devices and gives them a way to talk to each other. These days you can sync up your computer, tablets, smart phones, home alarm systems and thermostats, even some refrigerators via the magic of Wi-Fi. Along with this convenience comes complexity, and when your Wi-Fi stops working, where do you begin to get it working again?
Here’s our list of the Top 3 Wi-Fi Tips and Tricks Wi-Fi problems can drive you batty! Wi-Fi is amazing – it takes a wide spectrum of tech devices and gives them a way to talk to each other. These days you can sync up your computer, tablets, smart phones, home alarm systems and thermostats, even some refrigerators via the magic of Wi-Fi. Along with this convenience comes complexity, and when your Wi-Fi stops working, where do you begin to get it working again? Here’s our list of the Top 5 Wi-Fi Tips and Tricks. 1. REBOOT! REBOOT! REBOOT! What are your symptoms? Dropped connections, websites loading slower than dial-up molasses, devices not showing on the network – the list goes on. Time to try the good, old-fashioned reboot. Pay a visit to the back or your router, disconnect the power cable for ten seconds, and then plug it back in. If you have a separate modem, reboot that, too. When your router comes on again, if your troubles appear to be over, this might be all you need to do. For some reason, routers seem to need an occasional reboot. Maybe they just need to drop some of that extra baggage from working 24/7. However, if your router needs frequent rebooting, it’s probably warning you of deeper problems. 2. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! Location in the house is important. Don’t keep your router hidden in the guts of your office. Give it a place of prominence, where its signal path looks clear. Your router should be as high in the room as possible and should be out in the open to ensure maximum distance. And make sure that antenna is sticking straight up! If your router is not installed in a central location, if you have a very large house, or if the walls of your house block wifi signal, ADL can help you pick out the right equipment to have strong wifi everywhere. 3. WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN Your WiFi router is a little computer, and to ensure it's working at tip-top performance it should be running the latest version of its internal operating system, known as firmware. This involves logging into the router (typically by typing its web address into your web browser) and checking for firmware updates. If this makes you nervous, we'd be happy to do it for you on our next visit. STILL NOT WORKING? If you’ve tried all the steps above, but your router is still unstable or needs frequent reboots, it might be time to spring for a new one. New routers are relatively inexpensive and the cost is well worth eliminating your Wi-Fi headaches. In a best-case scenario, you might find your new router is far superior to your old one. As technology keeps improving, so does performance. Not sure which new router is best for your system and needs? Make an appointment with Jenson at Asheville Digital Lifestyle, and he’ll get your system humming joyfully. |
AuthorJensen Gelfond is the Founder of Asheville Digital Lifestyle. He helps people use their technology more effectively and joyfully. Categories
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