Category: Technology Tips

Streaming Music Apps – Part 1

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Smartphone Apps, Technology Tips

Streaming Music Apps

I’ve used Pandora for streaming music for years. Whether I’m on a road trip or just driving to Staples, it’s been easy and convenient.  Recently though, I’ve been hearing more about Spotify.  And that set me to wondering what other streaming music apps are out there. I wanted to find out what other options I have.  Are these other apps free? How many commercials do I have to listen to? And what are my options for commercial free streaming? (Please note that some of the links included may be affiliate links.  If you click on them, Geek For Hire may receive a small commission.)

Research:

c|net is a website that I’ve liked for a while as it gives good explanations to technical subjects.  Naturally I looked to see if they’ve done any research on this subject as a place to start.  In a recent article, they listed their top six streaming music apps:streaming music apps

  • Spotify
  • Apple Music
  • Tidal
  • Amazon
  • Pandora
  • Google Play

Pandora:

Since I’ve used Pandora for years, I already know what I like about it.  Streaming music is free (as long as I listen to commercials every five or six songs). I’m able to choose songs I like or don’t like via the thumbs up/down buttons. I can search for and find music I like, even the first CD recording from a local band. While I don’t really like the commercials, I do like that Pandora will occaisionally give me the option to watch a longer video for an hour of commercial free play. I also don’t like that you are allowed only so many thumbs down clicks per hour.  But all-in-all, it’s worked well for me, for years.  Pandora Streaming Music

Google Play:

Of the other five that c|net mentioned, I tried Google Play first.  Since it’s Google, I easily signed in with my Google login info. There are two options: the Indivicual plan for $10/month and the Family plan for $15/month for six people.  Both come with the first 30 days free. I clicked on “No thanks” and moved on.  There were a number of playlists available on the first screen.  Since none of those appealed to me, I quickly typed a favorite band into the search box and clicked the play button.

I noticed right away that there are the same thumbs up and down buttons I am used to on Pandora. Once the music was playing, I switched back to the Notes app on my iPad, and continued listening as I typed.  When the first song was done, another song, in the same genre but different band started playing.  So far, so good.  And also, so far no commercials!  (We’re on song number six now with no commercials and only one earned a thumbs down so far!)  Google Play Free Trial.

Conclusions:

Check back next week for my review of the remaining four streaming music options and my favorite choice.

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

Private Search Engines & Your Internet Safety

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Google, Internet Searching, Privacy, Technology Tips

When we first started using Google, who would have thought that we’d want Private Search Engines in 2018? Privacy on the internet is something we used to take for granted. No one knew that we were logging into weird sites or making questionable purchases.  That’s all changed now.  Google tracks us.  Facebook tracks us. Even Amazon knows that we bought those pink Ugg boots at Marshalls.

Last year I learned about a search engine that doesn’t track our searches. I have installed it on my phone, my tablet, and my laptop.  It was easy to do.  While my level of trust with technology is somewhat lower than it was five years ago, I do feel good about using DuckDuckGo.

But as I started researching this article, I wondered what other search engines are out there. It turns out that there are several from which to choose.

PRIVATE SEARCH ENGINES:

DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is the one of the first private search engines I became aware of.  I found that the app was easy to install on all of my devices.  I like their privacy policy which is described on their website:Private Search Engines

“DuckDuckGo does not collect or share personal information. That is our privacy policy in a nutshell.”

However, SearchEncrypt doesn’t think DuckDuckGo is as secure as it could be.  Here’s a description of its major flaw on the SearchEncrypt website:

“DuckDuckGo is a private search engine. It is adamant about spreading privacy around the internet. However, there is one issue we discovered that raises privacy concerns. Your search terms, while they may be sent over your network in an encrypted form, show up in plain text in browsing history.  DDG may work well for reducing advertiser tracking, avoiding filter bubbles, and limiting data profiling, however as this post explains, it may not offer the protection from surveillance organizations that some think.”

StartPage:

StartPage was originally developed in New York as the Ixquick private search engine.  It was then acquired by a Dutch company and so most of its growth was in Europe.  Now, they are becoming more well known around the world, including the US. They do utilize Google to get their results. I like how they define “Personal Information”

“Information is regarded as personal when it tells something about a human being who is or can be (uniquely) identified.
This definition stems from European law, which applies to StartPage, and is intentionally broad in order to provide a high level of privacy protection. This means, for example, that not just names and e-mail addresses can be personal information, but also numbers or other identifiers, such as your IP-address, to the extent that they link other information to a specific human being.”

SearchEncrypt:

According to HackerNoon, this is a newer edition to the private search engines. But SearchEncrypt is gaining users.  Here is HackerNoon‘s description:

“This private search engine uses local encryption to secure your searches. It combines with AES-256 encryption with Secure Sockets Layer encryption. Search Encrypt then retrieves your search results from its network of search partners. After you’re done searching, your search terms expire so they are private even if someone else has access to your computer.  Search Encrypt is a relatively new addition to this list, but it is growing quickly. Its Alexa Traffic Rank of 878 indicates that it receives millions of visitors daily.”

More About Private Search Engines:

If you’re looking for other private Search Engines, you can find a few listed in this article.

How do you do your Internet searches?  Are you using Google, Yahoo!, or something else?

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 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 on 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 days for free by clicking on this link: Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

(Any links to products or services in this post may be affiliate links. If they are, we may receive a small commission when you click on it. Rest assured, your price will be the same!)

 

Spear Phishing – What to look for

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Technology Tips

I learned a new term today.  Spear phishing.  I’ve talked about phishing before in several blogposts, but spear phishing was a totally new term to me. As you might have guessed, it’s just like phishing, but way more targeted.  They’ve got enough information about you to make you think they are legit.  And that seems to be enough for you to fall for their schemes and give them even more information about you.  But don’t fall for it!

There are several commonly used techniques including:spear phishing

  1. Flattery
  2. Trusted Source
  3. Social Engineering

Spear phishing via flattery:

This is when someone contacts you, either via an email, text, or other direct message.  The message is from someone that you admire.  They compliment you and ask you for some sort of assistance.  Once you fall for the deception, they’ll ask for more and more of your personal information.  In this article from Wired, the author actually provided her Twitter information, including her password.  Here’s a short blip of her story:

“A few weeks ago, I got a direct message on Twitter from one Larry Summers. Yes, the Larry Summers, if that nasty little aquafresh checkmark beside @LHSummers was to be believed.  Larry Summers of Harvard. Larry Summers of the World Bank. Larry Summers of the Treasury Department, for the love of god.”

Now that you know the end of the story, you can see where this is going. But, if you had been a fan of Secretary Lawrence Sanders, you might have been fooled too.

Spear phishing via a “Trusted Source”:

In this case, you receive an email from (what appears to be) someone you know. Most likely it is a work colleague, someone that you have corresponded with in the past.  They’d like you to take a look at a document (which they have conveniently attacthed) before it gets published.  Or, they’ve forgotten the password to access the company database for a specific file.  It all seems very inocuous, and, because it is from someone that you trust, you fall for the bait.

Spear phishing via Social Engineering:

Social Engineering requires that the “spear phisher” do a bit of research about the target.  They’ll learn the person’s title, the name and title of their boss, the name or subject of the person’s current project, maybe the name of one or two of their subordinates.  Then they will send an email which appears to be from a company the target is working with.They’ll make a specific request, adding enough personal information to be believable.

How do you protect yourself from Spear phishing?

  1. Don’t click on links until you have verified the end target of that link.  Is it going to companyname.com or companynome.com?  Tricky, right?  Look carefully!
  2. Don’t open any documents in an email until you have confirmed with your colleague that they actually sent it.
  3. Don’t call the phone number or reply via the information included in the message.  Use a phone number or email that you already have on file for that person.

Have you been the target of a spear phishing attack?  How did you deal with it?  Did you fall for their deception?  Let us know 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

(Any links to products or services in this post may be affiliate links. If they are, we may receive a small commission when you click on it. Rest assured, your price will be the same!)

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Tech Purchases from China and the New Trade Tariffs

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Technology Tips

How will the trade war with China impact our tech purchases?

Last Friday, when the President announced new trade tariffs with China, and then when the stock market tanked two days in a row, I got a little concerned about the impact those tariffs might have on technology and the average consumer.  I’ve spent the weekend reading the news and mentally processing what this might mean to our tech purchases.

One thing that struck me was the mania that has been attached to this story.  The hyped up media isn’t helping us keep a clear head so that we can approach the impact of this news with clarity.  I’m looking for more clarity about this story and am finding clear thinking in the finance news.Tech Purchases - Made in China

When I talked with Chris Eddy about this, he indicated that paying more attention to intellectual property would be a good thing.  But how will that impact our tech purchases?

On the Market Watch website, they are pretty optimistic that the tariffs will not have a negative effect for these three reasons:

“Here are the three trade numbers that show that a trade war is less likely.

• In 2017, the U.S. imported $506 billion worth of goods from China.

• Trump is talking about tariffs on only a small fraction in the range of $50 billion-$60 billion.

• China’s response is very weak. In a tit-for-tat, China would have proposed duties on U.S. goods worth around the same amount. Instead, China is proposing duties on $3 billion worth of goods.”

So, just in terms of raw numbers, the impact of the tariffs is fairly small. The tariffs will apply to less than 12% of all imports. On the Investopedia website they name some of the sectors which will be targeted:

“Trump’s tariffs on China are expected to target aeronautics, modern rail, new energy vehicles and high-tech products. … Tech hardware and machinery are among the largest U.S. import categories, and, in our view, are at risk,”

In looking through all the news stories, I tried to find someone (anyone!) who would tell me how this might impact the average consumer and their tech purchases.  USA Today has projected small increases in consumer goods:

“Amazon, which buys in bulk and operates on thin margins, could pass along only a 1% or 2% higher price to consumers, says Daniel Ives, chief strategy officer and head of technology research at GBH Insights.

Similarly, tariffs on imported parts such as semiconductors might raise the price of a laptop by only about 3%, Hufbauer says.

Other retailers could be affected as well, depending on the final list of 1,300 products that the U.S. has said it will target.

“A family of four will end up paying about $500 more to buy (clothing, shoes, fashion accessories and travel goods) every year” if those products are subject to 25% tariffs, the American Apparel and Footwear Association says.”

So, we could see a small increase on tech items of 3% or so.  Unfortunately the adage of “Buy American” doesn’t work so well with technology since so much of it is manufactured in Asia.

For additional reading, check out these articles and opinion pieces:

In the meantime, we’ll continue to help you keep your technology good to go, so that you can spread out those new tech purchases!

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

(Any links to products or services in this post may be affiliate links. If they are, we may receive a small commission when you click on it. Rest assured, your price will be the same!)

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Security Summit Thoughts – Hack-Proof Your Mac or PC

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Hackers, Microsoft, Phishing, Ransomware, Technology Tips

Last week I attended Microsoft’s “Virtual” Security Summit.  I have the word virtual in quotes because I didn’t have to travel anywhere.  My son and I watched the live streaming video in our living room! While I like the buzz of meeting new people, staying at home and learning new things has its advantages as well.  The Summit was primarily targeted towards management of large enterprise firms, I did pick up a few nuggets of information that will help the average person with the security of their machine as well.

First tip for Security:Security

Make sure the user permissions on your account are set to “Standard User” and not “Administrator”. This cuts down on the chance that viruses or other malware can be easily installed on your machine. This also protects a random bad operator from installing a bitcoin mining operation on your machine.  You provide the computer and electricity, they get the benefit.  If anyone has ever installed the SETI program on their machine, it would work similarly to that.  (The “Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence” program gave the opportunity for ordinary computer users like Chris Eddy to allow SETI to use some of their computer operating power.)

Next:

Make your machine harder for the bad guys to get access to. Use a very secure password, set up two-factor authentication wherever you can. Install updates to your Operating System as soon as they are available.

Finally:

Use good security practices. Patti Chrzan, head of Microsoft’s cyber-security fraud division said this:

“90% of all cyber crime starts with a phishing email”

A reminder that the phishing email is an attempt to get access to your personal information, like your birthday or password.  A phishing email might also install a virus, ransomware, or other malware.

Being hyper-alert of every click, and every email you open puts you way ahead of the average person. Even if the email seems legit, never click on a link in an email from a corporation until you have confirmed its legitimacy.  Call the company to confirm that your account has been hacked, or your password was changed, or a large purchase was made.  Never take the word of an email at its face value!

The highlight of my day was when Microsoft retweeted my comment:

security

Just because you have an antivirus installed, does not automatically make you secure. You must have good personal systems in place too.

Past blogs you may find helpful:

Information about Geek For Hire, Inc.

I’ve created a Free Report on what to look for to protect yourself from “phishing” scams. Click here to receive it!

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.

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.

 

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What is the Cloud and how do I use it?

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Cloud, Dropbox, iCloud, Technology Tips

We’ve had several people ask us recently about the Cloud.  They’re not sure if they should use it, and they are especially not sure if they should trust it!

I’m here to say “YES!”, you can use it and you can trust it. But let’s go back a step or two.

What is the Cloud?

The term “cloud” is used to describe the nebulous place in the ether where you can store documents, files, movies, spreadsheets, and more. Essentially, it is online storage similar to an external hard drive, or a thumb drive. You use it in the exact same way: to store your files in a secure location. But don’t take my word for it.  Here’s a great description of the Cloud from PC Magazine:

“In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive. The cloud is just a metaphor for the Internet. It goes back to the days of flowcharts and presentations that would represent the gigantic server-farm infrastructure of the Internet as nothing but a puffy, white cumulus cloud, accepting connections and doling out information as it floats.”

Here’s my little picture of how it works:

How do I use the Cloud?

Use the Cloud the same way you would any storage device. Configure your account so that the documents you choose are uploaded, and so that any time you make changes to those documents, those changes are uploaded as well.  I have configured my account to upload photos I take on my smartphone up to my Dropbox account.

How much will it cost?

Many providers have a small “starter” program for free.  You can expect to store up to a gig or two for free. For many of us, though, that would cover maybe a few months of photos! Bigger plans are available based on the amount of data you want to store. For example, my Dropbox account is ten dollars a month for one terabyte. One terabyte is way more than I need, but it’s their smallest plan so that’s what I use.

Who do you use for Cloud storage?

I have used Dropbox for ten years, at least, and really like it.  Other providers include Amazon, iCloud, Google Drive.  Dropbox, and other providers, let you access your stored data from anywhere.  I can open a file on my phone when I’m out of town, or on my tablet.  I’ve even accessed and printed a document at a public library.  Talk about convenience!

Let us know if you need help setting up a Cloud account, especially if you want to make sure it uploads changes to any document in near real time.

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!

What I learned at Social Media Marketing World

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Social Media, Technology Tips

The first few days of March saw me in San Diego at the annual Social Media Marketing World hosted by Social Media Examiner.  I learned so much and hope to pass some of that information on to you.  If you have a website or blog that you want people to find, read on!

Search Engine Optimization:

Probably the most important thing I learned is that your website must be optimized so that search engines, primarily Google, can find you.  It doesn’t really matter how much you’re posting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Unless you already have major name recognition and a huge fan base, people will find and follow you on Social Media via your website.

Key word development:social media marketing world

Finding your best keywords is an art.  And “Key Word” is a bit of a misnomer.  Your “Key Word” is actually a phrase that people would use to find you.  Some tools to get you started include Google Keyword Planner,  Ahrefs, and SemRush.  Another thing to know about is Long Tail Keywords which are much, much longer phrases and not just a word or two.  Think about it.  Do you want someone coming to your site because they typed “hiking boots” into the search box?  Or would you rather have someone who types in “Scarpa Terra GTX size 42”?  The first person is browsing; the second is ready to buy.   A good tool here is the LongTailPro and the KWFinder websites.

Are you listed?

It’s important that your business can be found on different directories. This is especially important for a local business.  Moz can help you see which directories have you listed, where you have incomplete or inconsistent info, and gives you links to help correct any errors.  I like Moz because they basically show you what you need to do yourself (for free!) to get listed.  But they also have a (reasonably priced) service to do all the leg work for you.

Back Links

Another thing that helps your site rank higher with Google’s analytics is to have plenty of back links. Many of the presenters at Social Media Marketing World expressed the importance of back links. A back link is a link on another webpage that links back to your site. This does need to be done carefully and strategically however.  The site that is linking back to you has to have a good reputation.  A site that only lists back links, usually done for a price, will actually make your site rank lower as a result.  Backlinko helps you strategically make a plan to get quality back links.

General Resources:

The presenters at Social Media Marketing World were so generous in sharing their material.  Here are just a few of their websites to learn more about SEO and Social Media:

Remember: If you can’t be found, you don’t exist!

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

(Any links to products or services in this post may be affiliate links. If they are, we may receive a small commission when you click on it. Rest assured, your price will be the same!)

Instagram Account Security

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Technology Tips

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about Facebook, and how to make your Facebook Account more secure.  You should be doing the same thing with your Instagram account!  Here are some suggestions to make your Instagram account more secure.

First – Change Your Password!Instagram Account Security

I know I’ve said this before.  (You’re tired of hearing me say this, aren’t you?)   You should change your password on all of your banking, social media, email, etc. accounts at least once a month.  Ideally, you should use a different password for each account.  You should also use a password that contains upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Check out my tips from last weeks blog.  If you think your account may have been hacked, you should change your password right away.  (By the way, I use a password protected document to keep track of my passwords.)

Make your Instagram Account Private:

From Instagram: “When your account is private, only people you approve can see your photos and videos on Instagram.  Your existing followers won’t be affected.”  Essentially this means that your account will be shared with friends only.  If your Instagram Account is not set to Private, every post can be viewed by anyone.  So, for my personal account, I have it set to private.  For my business account, it is all public.  Remember, if you choose to un-follow someone, they will no longer be able to see your posts or other information.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication:

Two-factor authentication makes any account that you log into more secure.  Many banks require two-factor authentication.  When you enable 2FA on your Instagram Account, Instagram will send you a code to you via text or email that you will need to enter in order to access your account.  Generally, once you have logged into your account from a specific device, you won’t need to do the 2FA thing again, unless you log out.

What did I forget?  How do you keep your Instagram Account as secure as it can be?

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 check it out.)

Password Tips For More Secure Banking, Social Media

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Technology Tips

It seems like recently all I’ve done is advised people to change their passwords.  Friends have had their Messenger hacked, other friends are sending out spam emails.  Here’s the official Geek For Hire word on the subject:  You Can’t Change Your Passwords Too Frequently!  So, the big question is – how do you pick a good password?   We have several tips to follow here.

Whatever you do, don’t use any of these passwords!Common Password ListFirst, don’t make the password too easy to guess.  We like the recommendations in this Lifewire article.  Their first step is to pick a favorite phrase and turn it into an acronym.  Here are some examples from their article:

  • “You know nothing, Jon Snow: yknjs
  • Can’t See the Forest Through the Trees:  cstfttt
  • If the Shoe Fits, Wear It:  itsfwi
  • The Last Mile Is Always Uphill: tlmiau
  • Honey Badger Doesn’t Care: hbdc“

Passwords should be AT LEAST eight (8) characters long and those are all to short.  You could use something like:

“The Quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” or tqbfjotld which is nine characters.

The next tip is use letters, numbers, and special characters.  A study done a few years ago estimated that a password with six alphanumeric characters would take a computer 103 years to crack.  Eight characters, including special characters like “@”, “%”, and “#”, would make it that much harder, and take much longer, to crack.

My recommendation for a good password?

Take a favorite phrase and turn it into an acronym:

“So long, and thanks for all the fish”  =  “slatfatf”

Then, add a capital letter, a number, and a special character so that

“slatfatf” becomes “S1@tFatf”

Longer is always better.  If the website allows you to use more than eight characters, please do!

You could then add “Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy” or hgttg” to the end (or beginning) of “slatfatf”.  Your password could then become “S1@tFatf*hGttG”

Play with different passwords that will work for you and keep them in a password protected document on your computer or in the “cloud”.  Another trick I use is to type the new password into my (password protected) document, then I’ll copy and paste it into the password field of the website I am accessing.  That way I’ll be sure not to have any typos.

One final word from David Balaban, computer security expert, as quoted in Business.com:

“It is recommended to use the longest possible passwords that online services allow and leverage a reputable password management solution to store them. Furthermore, you should safeguard the vault with a master passphrase that’s about 30 characters long. Make sure it’s not a quote from a novel or anything that can be found on the internet. Importantly, all of your passwords should be generated randomly and make little sense, or no sense at all. If you can remember it and tell it to someone, it’s not a good password.”

 

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 check it out.)

Co-Working Space – Things to consider

Posted on by Gail Eddy in Technology Tips

More and more people are starting small at-home businesses to share their passion with others or simply to supplement their regular income.  The newest term for this is “side-hustle”.   One problem is needing space to work without taking over too much of your dining room, or bedroom, or the coffee table in the living room!  A solution many people use is to head to a coffee shop.  But that doesn’t always fit the bill.  It’s sometimes noisy with conversation, or (gasp!) coffee grinding. The WiFi may be choppy, or you may only be allowed to use it for a defined period of time.  Another option is to find a co-working space.   A co-working space provides a place to work outside of your home.  It generally is quiet, plenty of desk space, and good WiFi. They may even offer access to a printer, coffee, and snacks.

I recently joined a co-working space and I am thrilled.  Sure, I have a separate office at home, but sometimes my office space is not conducive to the work I have to do.  I noticed a year or so ago, that for certain tasks I was more productive outside of my home office.  But the nearby coffee shops just were not cutting it for me. When I heard about a local co-working space, I checked it out and signed up that day.

Here are some things you should look for in a co-working space:

WiFi:

co-working space wifi
Yeah, that’s fast WiFi!

Is the WiFi fast and consistent?  Ask them what kind technology they use and what their bandwidth is.  (Bandwidth = how many people can use the WiFi at the same time without noticing a slowdown.)  Mine has a T1 installed so it is super-fast, and even if the space is full, not likely to run into slowdowns.

Printer:

Do they have a printer available for you to use?  What is the charge per page? Or are there a certain number of pages you can print for free? Is it color or black & white? Front & back, or one side only?

The space:

Is it clean? Is there natural light? (Mine has plenty of windows, but all on the north side of the building.  I don’t expect it to get too hot in the summer.)   Is there a choice of places to work?  For example, regular desks, standing desks, counter areas, etc.  Everyone works best in different configurations! If you do use a chair, are they comfortable and supportive?

The Perks:

Is there coffee available? Is it good coffee?! Tea? Other snacks?

Green:

Are the owners or managers conscious of the environment?  Does the space use alternative energy – solar or wind? At a minimum, is there a place to recycle paper?  If they have beverages available, what kind of cups do they provide? Styrofoam? Compostable? Mugs and glasses?

What kinds of amenities are important in your co-working space?

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 check it out.)

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