Blog: Tech News & Tips - Page 13 of 27

Spam Calls on Your Smartphone? How Can You Minimize?

Posted on January 16, 2018May 6, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Smartphone Apps, Tips

Over the past few days I have been absolutely inundated with fraudulent callers, telemarketers, and just plan old spam calls. But the good thing is that I know what they are and can choose not to answer!

I’ve been using a new app on my iPhone called Call Protect. It works with my AT&T service and it seems to work very well. Here is a list of the spam calls I’ve received today:

It’s pretty annoying to receive all of those Telemarketer and Spam calls while I’m trying to work! If you have AT&T service, you can head over to the app store on your Smartphone to download and install this app for yourself.

I’ve been looking to see if Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile have a similar app and haven’t had any luck. If you know, please provide a link to the app in the comments below.

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has been providing computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PC’s for the past fifteen years. His company is highly rated by both the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and by Angie’s List. You can find more on our website, or give us a call 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area as well as remote service throughout North America.

We’ve been using Amazon Prime for the past few years. We like the free 2-3 day shipping and the online streaming. I haven’t tried the Kindle lending library yet. I’ll try that next! Prime is normally $99/year, but you can try it for 30 day for free by clicking on this link: Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial (Yes, we’ll get a small commission if you sign up.)

Nature Apps to Help You Explore the Great Outdoors!

Posted on January 9, 2018May 2, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Smartphone Apps, Tips

When you’re wandering around on a hike, you’ll sometimes come across a tree, or a plant, or a bird that you can’t identify. There are nature apps for that!

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Nature Apps for Trees:

Leafsnap is one of the nature apps for your mobile device – Smartphone or Tablet – that lets you identify trees from their leaves. Take a photo of a leaf, upload it to the app, and voila!, they’ll tell you what kind of tree it is! For now, it only identifies trees in the northeastern part of the US, but they are working on adding the rest of the country soon. Info is on their website: http://leafsnap.com/ (FREE)

Birds:

Sometimes identifying birds at the feeder or while on a hike can be challenging. This app lets you compare the bird in front of you to its photo on the app. There is a good written description of each bird and a sound file too. More info here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bird-guide-offline-bird-identification-app/id1122226312?mt=8 (FREE)

Mushrooms:

If you’re looking at mushrooms, want to identify them, and want to keep track of where you saw a particular species before, then Roger’s Mushrooms is the app for you. The app includes tutorials so that you can learn about particular species. More info here: http://rogersmushroomsapp.com/ ($4.99)

Noxious Weeds:

In Colorado, we have a lot of invasive species. This app helps you identify a particular plant with photos of the plant itself, leaves, and flowers. There is also a written description of each, including its height, habitat, and max elevation. More info here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/colorado-noxious-weeds/id833042035?mt=8 (FREE)

Clouds:

Did you ever wonder what kind of cloud you’re looking at? Is it likely to bring rain or are clear skies on the way? Coton is the app for you. It helps you identify the clouds you’re seeing, ventures a guess at your forecast, and gives you a little science lesson too! More info on their website: http://cotonapp.com/ ($1.99)

What are your favorite Nature apps for exploring? Let us know!

Information About Geek For Hire, Inc.

I’ve created a Free Report to protect you from “phishing” scams. Click here to receive it!

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has provided computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PCs for the past eighteen years. Angie’s List and the BBB rate Geek For Hire very highly. You can find more on our website, or give us a call at 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote service throughout North America.

Here’s a link to our Covid19 Policy.

We’ve been using Amazon Prime for the past few years. We like the free and fast shipping. With Prime, we have access to online streaming too. Prime is usually $119/year, but you can get a free 30-day trial by clicking on this link: Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More Tips Here:

Are VPNs worth it? More here.
Are you interested in learning more about Extreme Privacy?
We have seen a lot of Facebook hacking lately. Here’s what you should do ahead of time to keep your account safe.
And here are the 10 Password Mistakes you don’t want to make!

Your New iPhone: How to Set it Up For Ease and Security

Posted on January 2, 2018May 2, 2024 by Gail Eddy in iPhone, Privacy, Security, SmartPhones, Tips

Did you get a brand new iPhone over the holidays? There are some things you should do right away to make sure it stays secure and you keep being happy with it. Even if you’ve had your phone for several months, make sure you’ve taken care of these.

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Lock down your new iPhone:

First – you want to make sure your new iPhone can be locked down. Go to “Settings”, and scroll down to “Touch (or Face) ID and Passcode”. If you’ve already set up a passcode, you’ll need to enter it before continuing to these options. Decide if you want to use the Touch or Face ID, or if you just want to use a passcode. If you do want to use a passcode, we recommend that you select one that is more than four digits. You can select a custom alph-numeric code, or a custom numeric code.

Fine Tune Location Settings:

You’ll also want to lock down your Location settings. Click on “Settings”, and then “Privacy”. You can see which Apps get location data and turn off the ones that don’t really need to know where you are located.

Set up Siri:

When I’m on a road trip, I turn on “Hey Siri”. This allows me to have hands-free interaction with my iphone. To turn this on, click on “Settings”, and then “Siri & Search”. Slide the button to “on” to allow for Siri to listen. You can also select a language and voice for Siri on this screen.

Sharing Analytics:

Decide if you want to share analytics from your iPhone with Apple. Apple collects usage data and location information. To turn this off click on “Settings”, and then “Privacy”. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Analytics”. Make sure the button is turned off.

Targeted Ads:

Opt out of receiving targeted ads. Click on “Settings”, “Privacy”. Scroll to the bottom and click on “Advertising”. Slide the green button On to Limit Ad Tracking.

Save Your Photos!

This is a good time to decide what to do with your photos. Do you have a plan in place for saving them off of your phone? I have set up Dropbox to save my photos onto the cloud every day.

Add Shortcuts for Favorite Websites:

Do you have websites that you go to frequently? You can add them as an icon on your new iPhone screen by clicking on the up arrow at the bottom of your Safari screen. Slide the bottom row of options over until you see “Add to Home Screen”. Click on that, personalize the text, and then click “Add”.

What do you do to set up your new iPhone? Share in the comments below!

Year in Review from Geek For Hire, Inc.

Posted on December 26, 2017May 2, 2024 by Gail Eddy in anti-virus, Tips

It’s time for our 2017 Year In Review. This year has seen some big changes in Technology. But we focused a lot on keeping safe when you are using your computer and your Smartphone. It’s primarily about using common sense. Microsoft or Apple will not call you when you have a virus on your machine. Trickier, though are the emails which look like they are coming from a company you use and trust. We spent a good bit of time this year explaining how to protect yourself from scams.

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Keeping safe on the internet has been our prime focus throughout the year:

We started the year with how to protect yourself from Phishing Attacks. “Phishing” is when someone tries to obtain your personal information to log into your bank accounts, or hack your email to send scam messages. Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks
A few months later, we focused on phishing again in Phishing Expeditions
With the Holidays, everyone is just a little more vulnerable, and some people let their guard down when they are shopping online. Here was my guide to keeping safe online during the holidays: Holiday Phishing
Throughout this year, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of scammy phone calls our customers have been receiving. In the spring I wrote about how to tell if the person on the other end of the line is for real or not: 4 Ways To Tell if the Person Calling You is not a Scammer
Early this fall, we learned that the US Government has had software made and sold by Kaspersky Labs on their “Do Not Trust / Do Not Use” list for years. Here is my write-up about that issue: Kaspersky Anti-virus

Online Privacy

We wrote several times about online privacy. Keeping safe on the internet isn’t just about not clicking on those bad links. You also need to make sure that you are keeping your personal information private. Here are several articles about Online Privacy and Social Media:

We also talked about new technology:

With the new iPhone X getting so much attention with their new unlocking technology, we thought it was time to take a look at the history of Facial Recognition
And, Virtual Reality has made some strides in the past few years. We took a look at some of the changes: Virtual Reality Update

And the newest hot topic:

Just recently, Bitcoins and Blockchains have been back in the news. When we started looking at Bitcoins, they were priced around $100 per coin. Early in December, they crossed the $10,000 mark! What you need to know about Bitcoins and Blockchain

Memory Stick aka Thumb Drive aka Flash Drive

Posted on December 19, 2017June 7, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Data Storage, Tips

Last week a customer asked Chris to transfer a bunch of files from his computer to a memory stick. He handed Chris a brand new flash drive along with his laptop. I happened to be there when Chris was transferring the files. He was very frustrated at the speed at which the files were being transferred. You might say they were being copied at a “turtle’s pace”!

I asked Chris why it was taking so long. I thought that all memory sticks were pretty much the same except for their capacity. He then told me that memory sticks have different speeds. The less expensive ones will transfer files very slowly. The more expensive ones will be quick and snappy. He explained that USB 3.0 are generally much faster than USB 2.0. He also mentioned that the packaging typically only lists the speed if they are faster than 150mBps. The cheap memory sticks generally have speeds of 2mBps and don’t broadcast that “turtle’s pace” on the outside.Slow as a herd of Turtles

About 45 minutes later, Chris was done transferring all the files. If you need to copy files to a memory stick and don’t care how long it takes, get the cheapest one.

Expect to pay $15 for a 16gig memory stick that is reasonably fast, and about $20 for 32gig. Find our recomendations here.

I’ve created a Free Report to protect you from “phishing” scams. Click here to receive it!

INFORMATION ABOUT GEEK FOR HIRE, INC.

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has provided computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PCs for the past eighteen years. Angie’s List and the BBB rate Geek For Hire very highly. You can find more on our website or give us a call at 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote service throughout North America.

Here’s a link to our Covid19 Policy.

What you need to know about Bitcoins and Blockchain

Posted on December 12, 2017May 2, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Security, Tips

After a few years of virtually no mainstream news about Bitcoins, all of a sudden Bitcoins (and Blockchain) are back in the news again. Part of that has to do with Bitcoins recent upward trajectory to cross the $10,000 mark. (Here’s a great visual of Bitcoin’s growth in 2017.) I first explored the subject earlier this year in my blog entitled Digital Currencies and Bitcoins.

Since then, Bitcoins, Blockchains and other Digital Currencies have filled up my inbox. What is interesting to me is that, not too long ago Bitcoin, and other crypto-currencies, were not a trusted form of currency. Today, while it is still not trusted by the average American, they are being used by more and more people throughout the world. I’ve been learning that, as volatile as it is, Bitcoin is still more stable than several global currencies. Plus, Bitcoins provide privacy and independence that US currency does not.

I’m still learning, so I won’t pretend to know nearly enough about Bitcoins, Blockchain, or other Crypto-currencies. Here are articles I’ve read and podcasts I’ve listened to. If you’d like to learn more, explore this list. And then do more research on your own. Please let us know of any resources you’ve found that are particularly helpful.

Articles explaining Bitcoins:

Google Search
Bloomberg – 20171130 – Blockchain Is Bigger Than Any Bubble
Wikipedia – Blockchain
Forbes – 20171210Why Blockchain Is Real and Bitcoin is a Mirage
Coindesk – 20171212 – Trump Signs Defense Bill Authorizing Blockchain Study
Fortune – 20170822 – Bitcoin Ethereum Blockchain Cryptocurrency
CNBC – 20171201 – James Altuchers Bitcoin Predictions
Visualizing the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) Explosion
Six Most Important Cryptocurrencies (other than Bitcoin)

Podcasts about Bitcoins:

Bitcoins True Potential – Kevin Rose interviews Andreas Antonopolous
Unchained – Big Ideas from the Worlds of Blockchain and Fintech
The Bad Crypto Podcast
Let’s Talk Crypto – Bitcoin, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency – iTunes podcast by Barry Moore & Tom Galeski

Here are some books that may be helpful:

Let us know what other resources you’ve found.

5 Easy Steps To Delete Cookies On Your iPhone

Posted on December 5, 2017June 7, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Computer History, iPhone, Security, SmartPhones, Tips

Chris and I had a conversation this morning about the pesky news sites that limit the number of articles you can read each month. There are some newspapers that I won’t even read online because I get that nasty error message that says: “You’ve reached the limit! Subscribe now!” He told me that when he runs into that, the solution is to delete cookies on your iPhone.

WHAAAAAT?! I didn’t realize you could do that.

As I started looking into this, I see that there are other benefits as well. Just like with your computer, you do want to delete cookies on your iPhone regularly to keep your private information safe and secure. And, just like the rest of of the business world, there are companies out there who want to sell you an app to “take care of this for you”. Don’t fall for that trick! It’s easy enough to do it yourself.

5 Easy Steps to Delete Cookies on your iPhone

Open up your Settings
Click on “Safari”
Scroll almost all the way to the bottom of the page
Click on “Clear History and Website Data”
Confirm that you truly want to delete all of your history. This means that every page you’ve opened in your iPhone’s browser will be gone! This was a surprise to me, because I tend to save my open tabs so I can reference them again. If there are tabs that you have open on your phone that you would like to keep, it’s best to save them first, then wipe the history!

If you found this helpful, please share with your friends!

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Phishing Expedition’s – Keeping Safe During the Holidays

Posted on November 28, 2017May 9, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Malware, Passwords, Phishing, Tips

Several of our customers received a disturbing email over the past few days. Once customer received one that said her email was being discontinued. Another received one that said his bank account was being closed. I even got one that said my SIM card was being deactivated so I would effectively be without cell service! These are all “phishing expedition’s”.

Luckily I know the signs to look for to determine if an email is a phishing expedition or for real.

Make sure the email is really from a trusted source. If the email is from a friend, read it through before you click on any links. Does the email sound like it was written by your friend? Are you expecting an attachment or other link from them? Always check when you receive an email with a link or other attachment before clicking. Did your friend really send it?
Before I click on a link in an email, I hover my mouse over the link to see where the click will take me. When I hovered over the “Know More” link on the email I received, it goes to the website t.goddypuddy.IN/withLotsMoreTextFollowing. The “in” at the end of the website is a country code. In the US, we are used to seeing .com, .biz, .net, or .gov. In this case the .IN refers to India. So I know that the email originated in India. (Note that you can only do this on your computer, so don’t click on any links from your phone or tablet unless you know they are 100% safe!)
Does the body of the website match the Subject line? In this case, the Subject is that my mobile number is being deactivated. But the body of the email is completely unrelated talking about banks and the Supreme Court.
If your friend or colleague says they didn’t send the message, tell them to change their password and run their virus scanner ASAP!

What else can you do to stay safe?

Put a note on your calendar to change your email passwords at least once a month. Here are some tips to creating a strong password.
Be extra careful when surfing the web or viewing posts on Social Media. Malware is increasingly being spread that way.

Looking for more info on phishing expedition’s? Here are some past blogs:

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Tech Toys for the Holidays – Under $50

Posted on November 21, 2017May 9, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Tips

It’s that time of year! Time to look for fun tech toys for kids and adults alike! We’ve found a few that are inexpensive too!

For the Star Wars fans, there’s Uncle Milton Death Star Electronics Lab Kit for just under $30.
For preschoolers who are curious about their world, there’s the GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope – under $35.
Then there’s the Drone Force Vulture Strike Helicopter Toy which is around $33.
There’s always K’nex – one of my favorites! This building set has 618 pieces and is priced around $40. Plus there are so many sets that all work together.
If your kids want to explore the moon and its craters, you might consider an inexpensive telescope. If their interest develops, you can get them a better one later on. This one is about $40.
This cool kit lets you build 7 robots which can climb walls and windows! (This one is also just under $30.)
I always thought it would be cool to build a radio. Here’s an AM/FM radio kit for right around $37.
It wouldn’t be a Tech Toys list without the tried and true potato clock for about $13.

Let us know what toys you’re getting for the holidays!

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has been providing computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PC’s for the past fourteen years. His company is highly rated by both the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and by Angie’s List. You can find more on our website. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote service throughout North America.

Weather Websites and Apps for Traveling

Posted on November 14, 2017May 9, 2024 by Gail Eddy in Smartphone Apps, SmartPhones, Weather

The winter holidays are coming up and lots of folks will be on the road. I thought this would be a good time to revisit my list of favorite weather websites and smartphone applications.

NOAA – When you enter your city and state into the “Local Forecast” box, you can see just what is in store for your area. In addition, if there is a big storm coming, you’ll see a “Hazardous Weather Conditions” box across the top. I like the NOAA forecast because it is generally right on target. NOAA also has radar and satellite maps. By the way, NOAA stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is located right here in Boulder, Colorado!

Weather Underground – My favorite of all the weather websites is Weather Underground. I like it because I have several different weather stations to choose from in my town. In addition to the forecast, WU tells me what’s happening right now. When you click on the information from a particular station, you can also see if they have a webcam set up. Then you can see the snow and wind for yourself! Those webcams are especially helpful if you’d like to see the weather in a place where you are traveling to. You can also save favorite locations, so it’s easy to see what’s going on at Grandma’s house before you get there!

The Weather Channel – The Weather Channel has all the same information the other websites have. Because they consider themselves a news site, they’ve also got, what I can only call Weather Entertainment. Big Floods! Amazing Ancient Ruins! 20 Places Overrun by Animals! And More!! My favorite feature on the Weather Channel is their travel map found here. When you enter your starting place and destination, and the date you will be departing, the map calculates your route AND the expected weather.

NEXRAD – “Nexrad (Next-Generation Radar) is a network of 158 high-resolution Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service” This website shows the radar for the whole US, or just your state.

WeatherTalk – is a Facebook page. Colorado Weather Analyst Greg Berman gained recognition when he accurately forecasted the extent of the rains and subsequent Front Range floods in September 2013. If you’re on Facebook, I’d highly recommend this page to “Like” and bookmark. His forecasts include most of the Colorado Springs and other Front Range areas.

Aurora Alerts – And if you’re looking to see if there may be an Aurora in your neighborhood, check out the NOAA sun activity page.

What is your favorite of all the Weather Websites? Share in the comments below!

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has been providing computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PCs for the past eighteen years. Angie’s List and the BBB rate Geek For Hire very highly. You can find more on our website, or give us a call 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area as well as remote service throughout North America.

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