Cyber crooks are always devising new ways to extract private, personal, compromising data from us… whether it’s through fake Medicare calls or emails promising lottery winnings. If they’re not extracting data, they’re inserting it.

The latest phishing* expedition is related to the teleconferencing platforms Zoom, MS Teams, and Google Meet. Many of us are still becoming familiar with these and could find ourselves clicking into trouble. In some cases, hackers have sent very official-looking invitations to a Zoom or MS Team meeting and when one clicks on the link, it goes to another very official-looking site that asks for name, email, and password. If you respond, the hacker now has valuable information about you. So DON’T click.

In another example, a button in the invitation email to “open” the meeting was actually a link that downloaded malware. So DON’T open. Continue reading “Gone Phishing”

Have you noticed these QR codes popping up in many different places? QR codes, or Quick Response codes, were first developed more than 25 years ago in Japan by automakers. They were supposed to be the future of advertising but people lost interest in them when accessing the information they provided required another app to be downloaded to one’s phone.

Today’s smartphones have cameras that are sophisticated enough to point and read the QRs. You’ve probably seen QRs on packages, bills, and product packaging. Maybe you’ve seen one on a display in a store. The user scans the code and is automatically directed to a new source of information like a webpage or coupon page or a profile from social media. Some QR codes can send the user an image, a video or a PDF. They’re used to offer more information.

Try the one below to see what you find. To do so, open the camera on your smartphone, hold your phone up to the QR:

This image should appear at the top of your smartphone over the image of the QR:

Tap on this image and you will find the answer to this question:

Looking for something to read?

Now that you’ve experimented with our QR code, you’ll be ready to read other QR codes- maybe even in your doctor’s office.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: pixabay.com; QR created at QR Code Generator)

While we are all social distancing these days, many of us are using video conferencing to stay in touch with family members and/or conduct meetings.

Here are 10 Do’s and Don’ts to elevate the overall experience of a video conference.

Do: Mute your microphone whenever you’re not speaking — even if you’re alone in the room. Background noise can be an annoying distraction and stifle any meeting’s flow.

Do: Be aware of your video settings. Check if your microphone is muted before talking. Otherwise, no one will be able to hear you

Don’t: Position your camera too low, too high or hooked onto a different monitor. Weird camera angles can be very distracting — and unflattering — during video conference calls. Make sure your camera is eye level and on the monitor you plan to use for the conference.

Do: Make sure your room is well lit (side lighting is the best). Few things are worse than having a meeting while feeling like you’re talking to someone in a dungeon. Use natural light from windows or simply turn on the overhead light in the room to brighten up the conference.

Do: Wear appropriate clothing. You never know if you’re going to have to get up suddenly or if your camera might fall. So wear clean, appropriate clothing for your video calls.

Do: Your wall art or decorations should be appropriate and your surroundings clean. If your room looks like you just hosted a party, clean it or find a different room. This also includes your desk! Avoid having multiple coffee mugs, dishes and trash on the surface.

Do: Test your microphone before you video call. Nothing is worse than trying to share something critical, and not being able to communicate clearly because your audio clarity and volume are poor.

Do: If you’re in a group call without video, introduce yourself before you talk. Consider something like “Hi it’s Jim, I have a question.” While several programs will notify you as to who is talking, conference line numbers will not. Therefore, be polite and introduce yourself.

Don’t: Check or read emails or peruse articles while on the video call. It’s easy for other participants to tell if you aren’t fully focused and present during the video call.

Do: When you’re talking, look into the camera instead of looking at yourself talking on the computer screen. It will help others on the call feel like you’re 100 percent engaged and present.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: abcnews.go.com)

 

Now that we are using our devices more often than usual, do you find that the battery is running low faster and taking longer to recharge?

It is an easy fix, even for those of us who are not computer savvy.  The solution depends on what type of operating system your device has – either Android or Apple’s iOS.  If you don’t know what operating system you have, that’s not a problem.

You just need to do a search by going into your search engine, such as Google, and typing in “Why is my battery low on my iPad?” or “Why is my battery low on my Dell laptop?” You will find many solutions to your problem.  Pick the one that you feel most comfortable using.

You might also have a problem with the language used in these articles.  You can search for explanations of the things that you are confused about by typing it into the search engine. For instance, you can search for “Push” or “Fetch” if you are confused about how these words are being used.

If you are still having difficulty, you can always call someone from Generation X, Y or Z!

–Tidelines Editors

 

The Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) branches may be closed, but patrons can still engage with their library from the comfort of their homes. CCPL offers an array of digital resources, programming and services, and continues to expand these offerings every day. To learn more, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: CCPL)