Get out and stay out: For security reasons, don’t let sensitive files sit around on your desktop. On a Mac, select the file in a new Finder window. Open the File menu, hold down Option, then click Delete Immediately.
Firewall vs. antivirus: What's the difference and do you need both?
When it comes to protecting yourself online, there’s a lot of confusion. Between VPNs, two-factor authentication, antivirus software and firewalls, there are so many ways to protect yourself that it can be hard to track them all.
One big mistake people make is buying one service and wiping their hands clean. They’ll think, “Well, I got this highly-rated program, so I’m completely safe!” Sadly, that’s not enough.
To truly protect your gadgets, you’ll need to understand the programs you use. Firewalls and antivirus programs are incredibly helpful, but they often get confused with one another. People might use one and think they don’t need the other, weakening overall security. Thanks to our sponsor, TotalAV, we created a guide on these two safety tools: what they are, how they’re different, and how they can help you.
What is a firewall?
If you’re not entirely sure what a firewall is, think of it as a modern version of a medieval gatekeeper. Hundreds of years ago, guardsmen in armor used to stand by their city’s front gate, keeping a close eye on all the merchants who brought their goods in for trade. Your firewall is a digital guardsman watching the data streaming in and out of your system.
Just as an armored guard would halt suspicious visitors, so, too, does your firewall block questionable data from entering your system. A firewall is a protective barrier separating your devices from the dangers of the internet.
But it’s not like antivirus software, which neutralizes malware on your phone or computer. It also won’t scan for files. It’s just a guard that checks the network’s data flow and makes sure it’s safe before it flows into your device.
Guards are helpful, but they can’t fix or catch every problem. For that, you’ll need antivirus software.
What is antivirus software?
This is a critical asset in your safety toolbox. Antivirus software works in the background to keep you safe browsing the web. It’s designed to proactively search for and remove digital threats, like malware, Trojans and more.
Antivirus software is an essential part of your digital security system. A virus could slip into your machine after just one bad click or download if you don’t have it.
That’s because digital threats are ubiquitous; you’ll even find them on children’s websites. Sadly, even websites seemingly run by the government aren’t always safe. Criminals set up copycat sites that look like the real deal to get your guard down.
5 ways tech can help you feel safer at home
When I host a national radio show and podcast about all things tech, digital security is always in every program. Take your home’s router, for instance. An outdated model can put your entire network, files, and anything connected to it at risk for hackers. Tap or click for five reasons you need to replace that old router.
Apple patches bug that can cause your iPhone to crash over and over
(Updated Jan. 12, 2022 – Apple has released a patch to take care of the annoying bug detailed in the following article. Update your iPhone to iOS 15.2.1 and iPad to iPadOS 15.2.1 now to fix the problem. Step-by-step instructions on updating your device can be found at the end of this article.)
Security alert: Devices most commonly used to spy on spouses and partners [List]
When securing your tech devices, the big news and advice usually point towards protecting yourself from scammers and hackers. While this is important, threats can also come from somewhere closer to home.
Your phone can be used by strangers as well as people you know to track your movements. One man found a flaw in Google Maps that allowed him to follow his wife’s movements from his phone. Tap or click here for instructions on how to stop others from tracking you through Google Maps.
Privacy hack: How to password-protect files on Windows 10
How important is digital security to you? Most people take, at minimum, the basic steps to ensure their privacy on the devices they use.
Not everyone takes the extra steps they should to protect messaging privacy, though — and that’s a pretty significant mistake to make. It’s important to take time to encrypt your communication, like emails and texts. Without encryption, any computer-savvy criminal can intercept messages to steal your personal information. Making them unreadable takes care of that issue.
Virus alert: If you get one of these emails, delete it immediately
If emails seem like a safe and mundane part of your internet experience, you haven’t been paying attention. Using email is almost second nature for many at this point, but not everyone is aware of how easy it is to hijack emails for sinister purposes.
Where's your tax refund? Track its status with the IRS app
Whether we like it or not, tax season has arrived. We still have some time before April 15, but it’s definitely better to file now, rather than procrastinate and possibly miss the deadline.
It takes time to find all those receipts, files, confirmations and even your W-2s if you didn’t properly file them. But missing the deadline isn’t the only reason you should file sooner rather than later. Tap or click here for one important reason to file your taxes this week.
Windows 10: 5 pro tips you need to know
Microsoft recently announced Windows 7 will no longer be supported after Jan. 14, 2020. Die-hard users can still run Windows 7 on their PCs, but if there are any issues, Microsoft will no longer be of assistance.
What does this mean, exactly? Tap or click here to learn more about Microsoft’s announcement. It means it’s time to upgrade to Windows 10.