Privacy Tips
March 3rd, 2020
In an analog world, the personal address book was gold. They were curated, edited and sprinkled with exclusive numbers that weren’t widely available. Contacts who gave you their unlisted numbers gave you, by extension, their trust. Close your address book and put it away, and no one could read it.
That was then. A digital address book doesn’t reside safely in a desk drawer. It’s in your phone, labeled “Contacts” and as vulnerable to…... Continue reading >
January 28th, 2020
If you’re new to password managers, an introduction is in order. A password manager is an application that you use to automatically generate unique passwords for each of your accounts. You provide security for all of these passwords by entering a single master password into the privacy manager itself.
Why are password managers useful? Think of all the apps, online stores, banks, social media accounts you regularly use. There are a lot, right? Each…... Continue reading >
December 5th, 2019
Private companies are tracking your every online move and using that data to rate your behavior as a consumer. It’s valuable information, and it’s now available for you to see. As explained in this recent piece in the New York Times, you can request your file—the records that determine your secret consumer score—and find out just what these companies know about you. Fair warning: They know a lot. And if you want to try to shake…... Continue reading >
September 11th, 2019
Sometimes you don’t want anyone to know what you’re looking at on the Internet. No need to justify or defend that position; you just want to be anonymous. That’s what the private browsing, or incognito mode, on your browser is for, right?
Private is not Anonymous
Browsing in a “private” setting will block cookies, prevent any web addresses from auto-filling your address bar and keep no record of your history….... Continue reading >
May 16th, 2019
A prompt to restart your computer or phone for a software update usually leads to a groan and a vow to do it later. And then later comes and you…vow to do it later, again.
Here’s a tip: Do it now, not later.
The reason for updates (yes, they’re tedious) has a lot to do with the current state of digital defenses and making sure all users and their…... Continue reading >
March 25th, 2019
More than 60% of people are susceptible to believing fake research or news that’s based on opinions and fabrication. The internet is full of that kind of “information.” We all need to be careful.
If your kids are doing research online, they’ve got at their fingertips a powerful tool that gives them access to valuable information and resources that were once hard to find or out of reach entirely. But with the good…... Continue reading >
October 6th, 2018
As parents, we take the time to teach our children the lifetime skill of brushing their teeth. Often there are tears, even tantrums, but we persevere because we know that good dental hygiene is really important. Excellent dental habits lead to healthy teeth, can help you save money, and will even allow you to smile more. Believe it or not, teaching your child about the importance of diligent online privacy habits is equally important, because being careless…
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September 6th, 2018
Is there a vulnerability hidden in your smartphone or laptop mics and cameras? Is someone truly listening through your active listening devices such as your Alexa or Google Home? Are you being watched? Parents, are your kids being watched?
The reality is that nothing—including hardware—is truly safe from hackers. There are ways to protect your smartphones, computer webcams and even your baby…
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September 6th, 2018
You’re waiting on an oil change at the car dealer, and it’s easy and “free” to connect your tablet to the public WiFi so your child can play an online game. Once you click “Accept & Agree,” you’ve gained access to the free WiFi and digitally told the business that you agree to their terms for using this service. Unfortunately, there are hidden costs of using that free public WiFi.
The term “free” is something…
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September 6th, 2018
It is difficult to turn on the television or browse news online today without being assaulted by another privacy breach by a major company. In coverage of the latest hack or security lapse, you may have heard the term “third-party hosting” and wondered exactly what it means and how it relates to your online privacy. This is an important concept for families to understand, as third-party hosting is considered the weakest link…
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