Checking That News! Information has an expiration date! What is the date on the website? No? Red Flag. Do they cite where they got the information from? If not, Red Flag. If they do… Is the cited source the original source? If not, go back to #2. If it is…? How old is it? Are there available updates? Places/things notorious for out of date information: Social Media “Special interest” sites Internet forums Where to get up-to-date information? Straight from the horse’s mouth as applicable (your bank, government office, etc) Find good, reputable sources for applicable information. Don’t be afraid to ask experts in the field And a quick update on COVID-19 on Maui (valid 3/14/20): https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/14/breaking-news/two-visitors-on-kauai-test-positive-for-coronavirus-county-officials-announce/ Plus Arstechnica’s updated FAQ on it: https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/dont-panic-the-comprehensive-ars-technica-guide-to-the-coronavirus/
EARN IT? More like BURN IT! (3/14/20 Part 2)
The EFF has brought to our attention some BAAAAD legislation that’s being drafted. Even worse, its actually bi-partisan, coming from Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). They go into a LOT of depth, and we’ll be going over this. S.3398 – EARN IT Act of 2020 If you’re afraid of government over-reach, unintended consequences, the safety and security of your online life, and freedom of speech? This is a show for you! This’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/MauiOnline . Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.
Packing up and moving to a new computer! (3/7/20 Part 1)
So, you need to move from one computer to a new computer. This is often called “migrating,” and we’re here to help you do it! Migration – Part 1 Its a little project, lets be honest, but it can be well worth your time. What do you do? What do you need to prep? We tell you!
Its Moving Time! Readying your new computer! (3/7/20 Part 2)
So, you got your new computer, your got your old computer, and you’re ready to move in! You’re excited, you’re looking forward to the nice shiny machine, but… are you ready? Migration – Part 2 Jonathan goes over more moving tips and tricks!
Where’s the best spot for your wifi? (2/29/20 Part 1)
So, you got a nice wifi router. You spent a bunch of money on it. But, are you setting yourself back with bad placement? WiFi tricks! What’s the best way to get the best bang for your buck on your internet? And can you reuse old routers to improve your network? https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/02/the-ars-technica-semi-scientific-guide-to-wi-fi-access-point-placement/ https://www.howtogeek.com/104469/how-to-extend-your-wi-fi-network-with-simple-access-points/ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-turn-an-old-wi-fi-router-into-an-access-point/ Jonathan really likes Ubiquiti access points if you want to get yourself an easy way to expand your network! Q&A can also set these up for you!
Tax software! Forbes has a list! (2/29/20 Part 2)
Disclaimer: we are not tax professionals. Period. If you have any questions, ask a tax professional, not us! Its tax season! And you know what that means to you! Some of you need a tax professional. But some of you can do it yourself! Tax Resources 2020 For those going the DIY route, you’ll be happy to know Forbes has an article on the 6 best tax software programs! We’ll be talking about that today! Nerd Wallet also has a great article as well! Need to buy some software? Amazon might sell what you’re looking for!
Be secure on your phone! (2/22/20 Part 1)
Got a smart phone? Did you know its pretty much a computer? You probably take security seriously on your computer, so you should take it seriously there too! Mobile Security! So, tips and links to help you out! Use a PIN, Pattern, or Fingerprint reader. PINS and Patterns (android) are nice because you can change them, let other people know them if you need them to get into your phone, and you can change them. Fingerprints and biometrics are convenient, but aren’t foolproof. Also, whether or not they’re protected by the 4th and 5th Amendments is unclear right now. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/01/feds-forcing-mass-fingerprint-unlocks-is-an-abuse-of-power-judge-rules/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/court-rules-against-man-who-was-forced-to-fingerprint-unlock-his-phone/ Encrypt your phone. Its an easy way to protect your data, photos, contacts, and more. It doesn’t incur much performance hit these days. If you want to sell your phone, just resetting it doesn’t make your data unrecoverable. Encrypt THEN reset. https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/7-reasons-encrypt-smartphone-data/ https://gizmodo.com/why-you-should-be-encrypting-your-devices-and-how-to-ea-1798698901 Don’t jailbreak/root your phone. This is often done to add customizations or run pirated apps. You can break the security of an iPhone doing this, leaving you with little or no protection. Pirated apps from outside the official stores run significant risk of having malware. If you use wifi a lot or travel a lot, get a VPN service. https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-a-vpn-and-why-you-need-one
Don’t be a Pirate! Yaaaaar! (2/22/20 Part 2)
Computer piracy is probably more common than people admit. Especially in the business world. All those companies have tons of money, so no problem, right? Sorry, afraid not. Yarrr! Its illegal! Obviously, yeah. You want to save some money, but it could get you in trouble with the law. Employees (especially disgruntled ex-employees), even customers who know you’re pirating can actually report you with the possibility of getting a cash reward/bounty if you get busted. nopiracy.org The fines can be pretty bad (they’ve got rewards to pay out). https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/10/software-piracy-claims-can-ruin-your-business-and-reward-those-responsible/ While unlikely, a software vendor could possibly request an audit to make sure you’re in compliance. https://redmondmag.com/articles/2010/09/01/beware-the-bsa.aspx Its not safe! Trojans, malware, and viruses oh my! Many common programs have inexpensive alternatives, even free/open-source ones. LibreOffice or OpenOffice (OSS). GIMP, Inkscape, and Scribus for some of Creative Cloud. Affinity and others for cheap. Do you really NEED the big fancy name software? Being paid/legit means you can get support from the company. Important for updates. Important for compliance within your industry (HIPPA).
Looking a little more at Web Email! (2/15/20 Part 1)
So, webmail. Webmail – A comparison Its easy to get, easy to use, but is there more to consider about it? Do you have to move a lot? Are you getting ready to change ISP? Do you have special features you need? Yeah, there’s lots to think of! https://itsfoss.com/secure-private-email-services/ https://thatoneprivacysite.net/email-comparison/ http://blogs.mdaemon.com/index.php/2017/02/09/email-safety-tips-for-end-users/
Fake News, Fake Snooze… (2/15/20 Part 2)
Fake news. Fake News! Or is it? Whether we like it or not, its now a part of our cultural landscape, just like annoying reality TV shows and pop songs that get stuck in your head. “No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.” ~H.L. Mencken Newsguard, one of our favorite plugins, is getting a subscription. It might be worth checking out. And some fun links to help examine your thinking: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ https://yourbias.is/ The podcast and the Wednesday replay is brought to you by Audible! Get a free audiobook and 30-day trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/MauiOnline !