Data Doctors Tech Tips

Despite the fact that most of you continue to use the same password on many of your online accounts, I'm going to remind you that you're playing right into the hacker's hands. We've repeatedly suggested that you consider using a password management tool, such as LastPass, but for some, it's still too complicated. For those that can't make a software password manager work, there's a simple low-tech option you can use... Write your passwords down. You can simply create a secure indiscreet document on your computer or smartphone that contains all your passwords. Don't actually use the word password anywhere, especially in the file name and use a secret code for your actual passwords. By creating your own form of 'encryption', such as randomly adding four characters to your actual passwords, you'll keep them safe in the event someone figures out that it's your password list. Breaches are occurring at an alarming rate, so if you have to choose between using the same password everywhere or writing them down, you know what we'd recommend you do!

A series of cleverly crafted credible looking warning pop ups are doing a good job of tricking a lot of users these days. Not only can it trick users because they look so real, they can often lock your computer with a helpful message that someone is available via a toll-free number to help you with your infection. Those of you that have always taken comfort in thinking that because you use a Mac OS based compute and that you don't have to worry about these kinds of scams should think again. The bad guys don't care what kind of computer you're using and will target everyone with links to rigged websites that they'll post all over the Internet and across social networks including the comments sections of highly controversial topics. The reality of the security software industry is that the last thing they want you to do, is try calling them directly when you have an issue. They'll never encourage you to call a toll-free number. The look and feel of your primary security program is what you should get familiar with, so you can recognize a real warning when it appears. The quickest way to sniff out a scam is when they post a toll-free number, so now you'll know!

Whether it's your first time or a regular task, getting absolutely everything you need packed before a trip can be a challenge. The last thing you want to have happen is to forget a key item that can make the difference between a good trip and a great trip.and#160; If you need help remembering to review everything before your next trip. there's an app for that! It's called PackPoint and it's available for both Android and iOS smartphones. The PackPoint app take into consideration your gender, where you're traveling to, the potential weather at our destination, how long you'll be there and what you plan to do. Based on how you answer these questions, it will assemble a packing list that is custom tailored to your trip. The suggested items for packing on the list are yours to check as you refine the list for your specific needs. Once you're done creating the guide, you can copy it into another program or share it with your travel companions via email. PackPoint: https://www.packpnt.com

Those of you that work in a large office, particularly one that has an open floorpan full of desks or cubicles know that your PC is completely accessible whenever you step away to attend to something away from your desk.and#8232;and#8232; It can be a lot worse if you are surrounded by co-workers that like to play games with their follow workers when they forget to lock down their computers.and#8232;and#8232; Keeping wandering eyes from sneaking a peak at your spreadsheet or documents while your away is really easy if you can remember to lock down your system every time.and#8232;and#8232; Windows users can quickly secure their systems by holding down the Windows icon key and tapping the letter 'L'.and#8232;and#8232; Apple computer users can protect themselves by pressing Control-Shift-Eject together or if you don't see an Eject key, try Control-Shift-Power instead.and#8232;and#8232; Of course, none of these tactics will do much good if you don't have a login password setup, so make sure you do.and#8232;and#8232; This tip isn't just for business users as parents can adapt the same habit to keep their kids from using the computer when mom and dad aren't watching or haven't been given permission.

No matter how hard we try, the backlog in our Inbox requires our constant attention in order to stay on top of things, so figuring out better ways to manage the load is an ongoing pursuit. An attempt to harness all of the noise in your inbox is through the view of a CRM prism. CRM or" Customer Relationship Management" is an essential process for just about every business these days, but it's a unique idea for email.and#160; A tool known as Streak is attempting to leverage the power of CRM processes in email. The driving force was born out of the frustration from having to jump between programs in order to stay on top of things, especially since we all spend so much time in our email program. By installing the add-on to your Chrome browser, you can use the templates for many of the common business tasks you deal with every day. Another cool feature are the 'snippets' that are pre-staged bodies of text that you can quickly use to respond to common inquiries. You can learn all about this awesome tool at https://www.streak.com as well as download their mobile apps to have the same options on the go.

For those of you that are in business, you probably have a sense of how powerful Twitter can be, but may not understand how to leverage it for your organization. It should all start with a strategy so you aren't just wasting time on any social platform. As Twitter goes, understanding who is following you and how engaged they are is a good first step in developing that strategy. One of the best ways to review all of this on your profile is by using free tools such as SocialRank. Since we know that Twitter is often nothing more than a popularity contest, finding those that are popular and focusing on their conversations is a sold way to engage. Your follower's location can be important in some cases, so this tool will allow you to identify the best followers by setting the location filter with the area you want to focus on. Filtering users by information in their bio can also be a great way to find those that have strategic value. Start taking a good look at the people that are already following you to make better use of Twitter from now on:and#160;https://www.socialrank.comand#160;

Holy cow! Have you seen this video yet? It's pretty embarrassing... these are the kinds of messages that may start reappearing in your Inbox or most likely through social media messages. They know that if they can get you so concerned about what's being shown on the video, you'll forget all those lessons you've been taught to protect yourself. Once you land on the scam sight that has the incriminating video of you posted, you'll see a play button that won't work. You'll be told you need to update something in order to see the video, which is the trap. If you focus on seeing the video instead of what they are actually trying to get you to do, you can quickly become their next victim. This simple but effective method of tricking users is popping up again, because when it works, they can silently access anything on your computer. The lesson hers is to never, ever install anything that pops up on your screen... always manually visit the update site for any program that you have installed.

Brainstorming with your peers to come up with new ideas will most often require someone to take lots of manual notes of what ends up on the shared brainstorming board. Being the one tasked with taking all the notes for on-going meetings can get to be a bit much, so if that's you, today's tip is just for you. Wouldn't it be great if you had an app that could simply take a picture of any whiteboard and convert it to a PDF? Well, there is an app for that and it's called Office Lens from Microsoft. The app is designed to capture all the notes, clean them up and even straighten the image if you are forced to take the pictures from a side angle. This last feature is especially cool, since you can rarely position yourself exactly in the center of any large gathering. Your images can be saved as a document, PDF or left as an image or shared via OneDrive or to your OneNote profile. Another cool use for the app is snapping pics of business cards, so you'll never have to try to sort them out later. The app works with the following devices: and#8232;Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.officelensandhl=en_US iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-office-lens-pdf-scan/id975925059?mt=8 Windows - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/office-lens/9wzdncrfj3t8

Anyone that's been sailing on the Facebook social media ship for any length of time will most certainly have Facebook barnacles on their profile. That's what we call apps that have attached themselves to profiles as a regular course of how most people use Facebook and apps that use Facebook Connect. Don't be fooled just because you never really used the app; once you connected, they are in the background with access to your profile info. You'll probably be shocked to see how many companies that you have given permission to access your profile information.and#160; We highly recommend taking a look at this setting on a regular basis to ensure that in the future, these barnacles don't accumulate without your knowledge. You can see what's attached by clicking on the down arrow icon in the upper right corner, then Settings and then on the Apps and Websites section. Review the list of items that are currently able to access your profile info and get rid of the ones that you know you don't need. Here are the instructions: https://www.facebook.com/help/170585223002660

The first time that I saw a super high resolution picture printed directly on glass, it was so breathtaking, I had to know where I could get this done for my images. You're likely aware of my constant search for all things related to digital photography and this discovery was no exception. As it turns out, you can order your own prints on glass right from your PC in just a matter of minutes. A company called 'Fracture' has created on online ordering system for uploading your pictures to be printed in one of eight sizes that range from 5x5 up to 22x29 inches. The prices now range from $17 for small prints and up to $135 for their largest prints. In just a couple of days, your precious image will be printed onto glass and protected with a backing before it get's sent to your home or business. It's one of the most impressive ways to present your images, especially if you can light it up from above. Get printing on glass atand#160;https://www.fractureme.comand#160;