Don’t want to allow nosey people to see your house? Try this!
How to stay safe on public Wi-Fi
You don’t leave your front door unlocked. So why would you use public Wi-Fi networks without protection? Defend your private data from cybercriminals in public places with these five tips.
Stay safe on public Wi-Fi networks by avoiding significant risks
If you listen to The Kim Komando Show and Kim’s podcasts, you know about digital dangers. Accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks can heighten these risks even more.
Cybercriminals use public Wi-Fi to spy on unsuspecting users like you. They’ll create fake networks called “honeypots” to steal your info. Despite these risks, many people still use public Wi-Fi to bank and shop.
Sound familiar? Doing this makes it easy for bad guys to steal your identity. They could steal your bank password, credit card details or Social Security number.
You’re not safe while traveling, either. A whopping 25% of tourists have been hacked through public Wi-Fi while abroad, TravelPulse reports.
It’s time to upgrade your security strategy. The next time you want to connect to public Wi-Fi, follow these four steps.
1. Be cautious
Public Wi-Fi is open to everyone, which makes it a prime target for criminals. And every device is susceptible, whether it’s your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Several threats lurk behind links and tucked into programs that seem legitimate otherwise.
Therefore, you need an offensive strategy whenever you join a public network. Here are some things you should be skeptical of:
- The network itself: Just because a public Wi-Fi network pops up and asks if you want to join doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. If you’re at a coffee shop or hotel, ask an employee for the specific name of their Wi-Fi network. Scammers will sometimes create networks called “Coffee Shop” or “Hotel Guest” to make you believe you’re connecting to the real thing when, actually, you’re not.
- Links: Scammers can make links look enticing — but it’s all a trick. Look for red flags like outrageous claims or download prompts.
Here’s a little trick. To see what’s hiding behind a hyperlink, see what shows up in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen when you hover your mouse over it.
Stop annoying political texts
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I’ve heard from the presidential candidates, their families and every politician within a 100-mile radius. The texts don’t stop in October of an election year, especially when it comes to a presidential election.
Calling all YouTubers: Starting Oct. 15, you’ll be able to upload YouTube Shorts up to 3 minutes long. The Shorts player is getting streamlined, too. They say these updates are to put creators front and center, but all this really translates into is “Use us instead of TikTok.”
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Minor tech annoyances can seem small at the moment. But in the grand scheme of things, they can cause stress and wasted time. If you don’t want tech issues to have a significant impact, cut them off with these tech life hacks.
Dropped your phone in water?
Forget the bowl of rice. This video uses low sound frequencies to literally pull the liquid out of speakers. Caveats: It won’t help with water trapped in the USB port or SIM card slot. You need to turn your phone on for this to work, so if it’s had a dunk, let it dry for at least 24 hours before you try.
👻 If the broom fits, fly it: Most smart doorbells let you change the tone to something more festive around the holidays. For Halloween, yes, I’m talking about a witch cackle or howl. Open your doorbell app, go into the settings, and look for something like “chime tones” or “doorbell theme.” In the Ring app, it’s under Devices > Audio Settings > Chime Tones.
🙃 Bingo, bang-o! It’s National Cybersecurity Month. The National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (what a mouthful!) made a bingo card for businesses.
It’s not the holidays without a Hallmark movie or five … And here’s a link so you can print this list out if you want.
5 things you should never put on a resume
In life, few rewards come without risk. Take your dream job, for instance. If you want to land that position you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to make a great first impression.
When you’re applying for jobs, that all comes down to your resume. Every little detail makes a big difference. For example, a small mistake could take you out of the running for a job you’re qualified for.
Master Excel with these 5 genius tricks
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You can’t keep track of everything on paper. Excel can play a significant role in your daily workload. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro user, there’s much to learn — like these five useful Excel tricks.
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When surfing the web, you might encounter a few confusing acronyms. Take VPN, for example. You might shrug and scroll past it if you don’t know what it means. Just like that, you could miss out on the best internet privacy tool.
Update your iPhone: iOS 18 is live for every model newer than the iPhone X. No Apple Intelligence (aka Apple’s take on AI) until next month, but it’s still worth updating. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Follow the on-screen steps, then you’re good to go.
Using free antivirus? Here's what it could cost you
The internet is dangerous and laden with hidden threats. Luckily, antivirus (AV) software can spot lurking dangers that want to take over your computer. Tap or click here to find out why you need antivirus software.
You may consider a free version if you’re looking for an antivirus tool. A few solutions won’t cost you a dime, which can be appealing. But, as with all things, you get what you pay for.
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Remote interviews are the present and the future. Why? The pandemic forced many companies nationwide to move to a remote system nearly overnight.
Now that we’ve been operating remotely for a while, many employers have seen the positive benefits of having remote employees. Increased productivity is one of them.
Take notes for me: Google Meet can do that now. It’ll autogenerate a Google Doc with meeting notes and then attach it to the calendar invite. Look for it across Google Workspace (the paid work version) by Sept. 10.
Small business owners: Simplify your life with one financial tool that does it all
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Are your finances as organized as you’d like them to be? Come on, be honest. For most business owners, the answer is a reluctant no.
As your company grows, you will have more expenses, contractors, KPIs and hands managing it all. If your communication happens through email, over the phone, in messages, and via spreadsheets, you will hit a wall sooner or later.