Data Doctors Tech Tips

It should be abundantly clear by now that using the same password on all your online accounts is a really bad idea. Using a unique password on all your accounts bypasses the threat of cyber thieves gaining access to all your accounts simply by compromising one account. The only way to properly execute this critical security step is to use some form of password management program such as and#160;https://www.roboform.com. It originally focused on providing users with info to fill out forms automatically, but it has evolved into a very solid password manager. It's free to use their basic services and they also offer a mobile app. One of the more interesting features that they provide is the ability to sign-in to multiple accounts at launch automatically. The whole point of these types of programs is to make it so you only need to remember one very long, complex password in order to use all your complex passwords on all your accounts.

While most of us can't wait to get back to traveling the nation or the world, until the pandemic situation is more under control, we'll have to settle for virtual excursions. Exploring other places around the world allows us to understand and discover new cultures and art along with the amazing natural wonders that await us all. We really like to tell people to check out the Google Arts and Culture site to virtually explore the world. They combine technologies that include their street views in 360-degree videos along with lots of art and culture through the website or their app.and#160; It's a great way to do some detailed homework for famous sites that you plan to visit down the road. and#8232;You can explore famous museums and artwork along with famous places that most people have on their bucket list. As you would expect, you can search by any number of topics or locations to start your explorations. It's a wonderful distraction from what's going on in the real world, so the next time you need to take a virtual trip in your mind, might we suggest you go to: https://artsandculture.google.com/explore

Whenever we hear about a salacious news story or some dramatic world event, it's not uncommon to jump onto a search engine to find more information. Blindly trusting the results that come up in a search query isn't nearly as safe as it used to be because there are so many cybercriminals trying to game the system. They quickly create websites that can appear to be legitimate news sources but instead are websites rigged to see if you are missing any updates or have holes in your security system. While the search engines do their best to quickly identify these rogue websites in their results, even being up for an hour or so can wreak serious havoc, so the bad guys keep doing it.and#8232;and#8232; Today's tip is designed to encourage you to change this behavior if it's your default move.and#8232; Instead of a general search, keep your trusted news sources as bookmarks in your browser or use their associated smartphone app to do your research.and#8232;and#8232; Apps like News360 aggregate a large number of news sources for any given story, so it's a great way to find the breaking news in a much safer way.

If you've started using Google's productivity tools that are the alternative to Microsoft Office, you may have noticed that it's quite different. They both provide the ability to create documents, spreadsheets and forms but they do it in very different ways. If you only use Google's tools with the built-in features, you're missing out on an entire universe of options just waiting to be added. In any of the programs, go to the 'Add-ons' menu, then click on 'Get add-ons' to open the add-ons that will work in that tool. Mailers, faxing, diagrams, label and lots of other useful tools can be added to your Google productivity apps. It's one of those hidden gems that can drastically change the power of each program, so take some time to explore the huge library. No matter which program you were in when you added it, the new tools will be available across all of the programs on the Google platform. New tools are added all the time, so make it a habit to check them out on occasion so you can keep improving your productivity.

Those fancy and expensive activity trackers that have become so popular, but a lot of people can't justify the cost. Obviously, paying the price for those wrist-worn devices is going to provide you with the most accurate results, or at least that's a common perception. But it turns out that they may not be any more accurate than an app on your smartphone according to a study that was posted in the AMA journal some time ago. Keep in mind, that this specific test was done in a laboratory and on treadmills instead of in real life, so it didn't take into consideration those times when you don't have your phone with you. The bottom line is that either can be a huge motivator for those trying to increase their activity level, so the lesson is that you don't have to spend the big bucks to get it done. You can find lots of free app in the various apps stores by searching for 'activity trackers'. Instead of waiting until you can justify spending the money for an expensive tracking device, why not get tracking right away with one of the many free apps for your smartphone?

In today's digital age, it's not uncommon to need some simple form of graphic design created for a variety of reasons. If you aren't much of a creative person or don't own any graphic design software, this can present a minor challenge. Fortunately, there are a number of online options that can get the job done and one of our favorites is called Canva. Not only does it bypass the need to pay for expensive software and install it first, but it's also been specifically designed to help those with lesser design skills. Within minutes of landing on the page, you can be creating numerous commonly needed graphic files for just about anything most people are trying to create. Because it's template-driven, it like coloring by numbers that result in professional quality graphics. If you want to include an image for your design, you can either upload your own or purchase inexpensive images from their professional library. It's one of the best ways to create DIY graphics, so bookmarkand#160;https://Canva.com for the next time you run into this need!

Data breaches seem to be reported almost daily these days and when you dig into the details of how it happened, in virtually every case it started with a targeted phishing attack. Cybercriminals are only looking for one person in an organization to fall for their fancy tricks, which is why they constantly change up their game. A simple way to sniff out an obvious scam is by using the 'hover' test over any links in the email message. You'll either see the destination website pop up via a smart icon or you may have to look in the lower-left corner of the email programs window to see the destination link. When what is in the email doesn't match the destination or look strange, it's probably a scam link. There are a number of online resources that can be used to test you Phishing IQ: https://www.opendns.com/phishing-quiz https://www.phishingbox.com/phishing-iq-test https://www.sonicwall.com/phishing-iq-test

We're all watching a lot more online video content these days and one genre that's worth digging into is documentaries. You can find lots of them on popular pay video streaming services, but there's a lesser-known alternative that we want to share with you. A website called Documentary Heaven has assembled an extensive library of documentaries that have been categorized by topic so you can quickly get to the content you're most interested in viewing. If you love tech and music as I do, their category listing makes it much easier to find the films that fit those topics. Unlike the other streaming services, Documentary Heaven offers their films for viewing for free on computers and mobile devices. Their catalog continues to grow, so checking back on a regular basis could introduce you to some really amazing documentaries. Check them all our for yourself atand#160;https://documentaryheaven.com

In today's Internet concentric world, when you start a new company or launch a new product, making sure you can get the web domain is critical. If you're in the process of developing either, coming up with the best name can be helped by the crowdsourcing website known as https://PickyDomains.comand#160; You essentially post the information that will help the people that offer to create names from all around the globe to get working on your project. You can specify certain words to be used or omitted, the length of the name or any themes you're trying to convey with the name. The cost of posting your project is determined by who you are willing to accept submissions from as well as some other details you choose. The best part is that it's not a one and done process because you can interact with those submitting ideas to help guide them to your ultimate creative goal. Picking the right name for your project is so important, so if you've run dry on your own, this cost-effective web tool could be worth every penny!

Being paranoid about those around you in public places sneaking a peek at what's on your laptop screen isn't a bad thing. The term visual hacking was created for this all-too-common situation when those around you may get a bit nosey. We're all trying to keep our distance these days, but someone that's looking over your shoulder from an angle can be stopped with today's tip. You can add a simple layer of protection on all of your screens with a product known as a privacy screen. This add-on will magically make your screen look like it's black to those around you because it requires viewing of your screen directly. These screens can be easily removed if you need to make a presentation, so it's not a permanent setup. If you want the same privacy on your mobile devices, you'll get a second benefit as they also serve to protect your screens from impact damage. Learn more about 3M's range of screen privacy products at: https://bit.ly/2CNJOiZ