(917) 572-3468
  • Home
  • Our Services
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Elated Clients

The Benefits Of Having A Digital Calendar

5/29/2013

0 Comments

 
calendar, digital calendar, Google Calendar, organizer, time saver
A digital calendar has many advantages over a paper calendar.
If you still use a paper calendar instead of a digital calendar you are missing out.  There are quite a few ways that having a digital calendar especially in today’s world where more and more people have smartphones is better than a paper calendar.

For me perhaps the biggest one is being able to share my calendar with my wife and vice-versa. She can see my schedule at a glance and I can see hers. If I need to schedule something I can look at my wife’s calendar to see if there is a conflict. I don’t have to tell someone that I need to check if my wife planned something since I can already see her schedule.  I also allow my son who lives with us to see whether or not I have an appointment without him seeing the details of it.


I also can refer to past events quickly wherever I am. Most people do not keep paper calendars for years unless they have to for business reasons and/or tax purposes. They may have to search to remember where they put their paper calendar. Further if a paper calendar is lost then what?  I may miss a scheduled appointment or have to call and reconfirm an appointment that I wasn’t sure of. With a digital calendar I can go to a computer, smartphone, etc. With a digital calendar you can go back years unless you erase an event after it occurs. I do not recommend that you do this and I do not erase events after they occur. A digital calendar hardly takes up space on a smartphone, iPad, etc. and you can access it offline as well. This is great for when travelling.  If I am in a foreign country, I do not have to worry about incurring roaming charges for accessing it. I also do not have to worry about being somewhere without internet access. While I do not have events that go back that far, my Google Calendar allows me to go back to 1980 to see dates on my digital calendar. A paper calendar does not give me anywhere near this flexibility.

If I have an event that occurs the same time on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis I only need to enter it once and provide the recurring information. It is automatically added for the recurring dates. If I need to reschedule or cancel a date, I can do it for just that date. The recurring pattern is maintained for the other dates. Talk about a timesaver.  Further if I need to change of cancel an appointment on a paper calendar a pencil can erase it but what if you only have a pen? Cross it out and if changed reenter it. It can get sloppy either way.  With a digital calendar you can delete or move it as needed. You also have a limited amount of space to write information on a paper calendar.  On my Google Calendar I have never gotten to the limit but I know there is a much higher limit.  I can add website links if need be. I also can attach a file that I need the same way I can attach a file to an email message.

With a digital calendar, I can change my view whenever I need to.  My default is daily but I can instantly change to a weekly, monthly or custom view. If I have a “week at a glance” or “month at a glance” calendar I am stuck with that view. 

Now this is not a generational thing.  My sons who are 19 & 21 both use a paper calendar. My wife and I use our digital calendar which is Google Calendar.

Yes there are advantages to using a paper calendar. Should there be a syncing problem between devices you could forget an appointment or if there is a power failure you could have issues accessing it but the advantages of a digital calendar greatly outweigh the disadvantages.

So do you use a paper calendar or a digital calendar?  If you currently use a paper calendar will you at least consider trying a digital calendar such as Google Calendar?

If you want to know more about how you can digitalize your calendar I am available for that and to help you better use your technology.  I can be contacted at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com .

Feel free to join the conversation and post comments and questions on my Facebook page at Computer Concierge NY LLC  . There also are tips there to better use your computer, smartphone,  iPad and other technology you may have or are thinking of buying.





Computer Concierge NY LLC provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside NY vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.

0 Comments

Tech Precautions To Take In Advance Of The Blizzard

2/8/2013

0 Comments

 
Bayside NY, nyc, new york, in queens ny, queens, queens ny, Bayside queens
Winter in Bayside NY. Picture taken by Mike Klubok of Computer Concierge NY LLC.
With the impending arrival of the 2013 blizzard please look at the attached link.  http://mashable.com/2012/07/03/charging-solutions/ about some ways you may be able to recharge your devices in the event you lose power. (If you are charging your phone inside a garage make sure the garage door is opened.) Cell phone towers may be down and you may lose internet service but keep in mind that most smartphones have a built in light that could come in handy during these times.  Also at this time if you are not using your cellphone, keep it charged. Use your phone as sparingly as possible to preserve power.  Dim the display on your smartphone to preserve power.  On a personal note, since I will not be using my cellphone during the evening I will be turning it off to preserve my battery in case we lose power.  Also use text messaging to reach out as this is likely to be more successful.  One thing people did after Hurricane Sandy was to use wireless networks where free Wi-Fi is offered such as Starbucks (inside or outside).

Before retiring, it will be a good idea to disconnect electrical power to televisions, computers, printers, etc.  Have copies of any prescriptions.  Use a smartphone if you have one or a phone with a camera to take a picture of them.

If you bank online, you may want to make sure that all bills that need to be paid in the next several days are accounted for and that you have money in your accounts to cover any recurring and other payments that you have set up.  If you lose power, you may not be able to pay these bills and transfer money between accounts till power is restored.

Most of all be safe.  Unless you absolutely have to go out, stay indoors.  Being safe is of utmost importance. Use common sense.  Fill up water bottles, tea pots, etc..

As always I can be reached at (917) 572-3468 for your technology problems.

My Facebook page provides information on the current goings on in the technology field. There are tips to better use your technology. For timely information, please visit and "Like" my page.


Computer Concierge NY LLC  provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside, NY vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.
0 Comments

How To Stay Safe When Shopping Online

11/28/2012

 
Picture
More and more people are doing some or all of their holiday shopping online.  It can be exciting to see all the online bargains that are out there.  Shopping online can be safe if you follow the online safety tips below:

1.    Make sure your security software which includes anti-virus protection is up to date.  Not having up to date security makes you an easy target for viruses and other unwanted intrusions.

2.    Only shop at a secure site.  A secure site has “https” at the beginning of its website address.  “https” means that the site is secure and that it encrypts the information that it sends. 

3.    Don’t use a public wireless network.  In the event there is a keystroke logger on that public computer you are using or sniffer intercepting data over a public Wi-Fi network you do not want to put information out there that can compromise your personal information. See my post on computer safety in public.  http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2012/09/computer-safety-in-public.html

4.    Use credit cards instead of debit cards. Credit cards offer a much better level of protection when compared to debit cards. Further a debit card may put a freeze on your bank account that is in excess of the amount you are purchasing.

5.    Always monitor your account statements to ascertain that there are no unauthorized charges to your account.  An aside here is to NEVER give out personal information should you receive a phone call, email, letter, etc mentioning that there is an issue with your account.  Hang up (if it is a phone call) and call the number on the back of your credit card.  The person calling could be trying to get personal information from you in order to steal your identity. 

6.    As more and more purchases are being made from mobile devices, password protect your smartphone and/or tablet. Should it fall into the wrong hands, personal information is much more difficult to get.

7.    Don’t let browsers store passwords for you.  Further you should have a different password for every account you use and the passwords should be difficult to crack. See my post on creating strong passwords.  http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2012/06/you-need-secure-passwords-for-your-accounts-how-to-make-one.html

8.    Don’t use public computers.  They are only as safe as the security the computer is using. Again see my post on computer safety in public. http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2012/09/computer-safety-in-public.html  
If you still decide to use a public terminal make sure that you log out after using it.

9.    Phishing scams are more common at holiday time.  If you receive an email saying that personal information is needed (passwords, social security numbers, birthdate, etc) do not give this information out.  Someone may be trying to steal your identity.

10.    Many credit cards offer a temporary credit card that allows you to set an amount and timeframe for using it.  Think about using one from your credit card provider if they offer it. 

11.    Don’t click on links in emails as they may not take you to the site you think you are being taken to. Many phishing scams involve emails from what seem like legitimate sites such as banks, online stores, etc  but actually send you to a phony site where they can gather your information to steal your identity.

12.    For those who are still concerned about shopping online, when you go to a restaurant do you pay by credit card?  If so, that card goes through your waiter, cashier and who knows who else.  There are a few chances to get the information needed to charge purchases to the card.

One last thing.  Trust your gut feeling.  If something appears shady during any part of the purchase process it very well may be, do not complete the transaction.  Leave the site.

If you have additional questions about shopping safely online, I can be reached at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com  

My Facebook page provides information on the current goings on in the technology field. There are tips to better use your technology. For timely information, please visit and "Like" my page.

Here’s to wishing all of you a very Happy Holiday Season.




Computer Concierge NY LLC provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside, NY vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.

Should You Upgrade Your Computer to Windows 8?

11/16/2012

 
Picture
So you may have heard that Microsoft recently released the much anticipated Windows 8 operating system. It sure doesn’t look like those previous operating systems of Windows that you have seen. Don’t despair since Windows 8 was made with the future in mind as it works well with touchscreens and you will be seeing more touchscreen personal computers over the next few months.

One of the first things you will notice is that there is no start tab. You’re wondering how to turn the computer off. Going to either the upper or lower right hand corner will bring up a bar known as the charms bar. The bottom icon there that looks like a cog a bicycle chain goes around is the Settings icon. Either click on it or if you have a touchscreen tap it and you will see the Power icon at the bottom. Select that and select “Sleep” “Restart” or “Shut Down”.  You no longer are wondering how to shut your computer off.

You also by now have probably noticed that the screen instead of showing the familiar icons on your desktop show tiles. Each of these tiles represents an app (Programs are now referred to as apps like the apps on your smartphone and your friend’s Mac programs which are also referred to as apps). Some of these apps show information. The weather tile shows the weather for the location noted. You can put a calculator app to do arithmetic operations. One great thing about this new screen is if you are looking for a file, setting, or app just start typing the name of it. Once you start the search screen will show. You can see where your search query for apps, settings, files. Also expect to see more Windows 8 phones out there in the next few months. Don’t despair about not seeing a desktop. There is a desktop tile. By tapping it if you have a touchscreen or moving your mouse to it and left clicking, the old traditional desktop (without the start tab) will show.

One disadvantage of the new Windows 8 is when you go to delete a file there is no longer a confirmation asking if you wish to do so.  No last chance to change your mind. However all is not lost. By going to the recycle bin and right-clicking on it, choose Properties, and check the "Display Delete Confirmation Dialog" box. You now will have that last chance to make sure that you truly want to delete that file.  Another disadvantage is a longer learning curve going to a new operating system. The advantages however outweigh the disadvantages.

So should you upgrade to Windows 8? Windows 8 Pro is available for $39.99 but that is only until January 31, 2013. Unless you are upgrading from Windows 7 you will need to reinstall your apps. I upgraded due to business considerations since I will be setting up new computers that use Windows 8 and training people to use it. There is the learning curve I mentioned earlier and you need to get used to not having a start tab. File Explorer (formerly Windows Explorer), is a lot more user friendly, security is improved and boot time is faster making it a possible investment if you are still using Windows Vista or Windows XP. That said, given the age of your computer if you are using XP or Vista, replacing your computer may be a more feasible option. If you have XP or Vista currently, while Windows 8 requires a minimum of a 1GHz processor I would recommend a minimum of 2 GHz. Other than the tiled apps, there is not a real big change between Windows 7 and Windows 8.

If you have additional questions about Windows 8, I can be reached at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com  

My Facebook page provides information on the current goings on in the technology field. There are tips to better use your technology. For timely information, please visit and "Like" my page.

Computer training and many types of computer repairs can be done remotely. If you or someone you know needs either training to better use your computer or repairs I am now doing it on a remote basis in addition to in person locally.
http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2012/10/joinme-how-to-use-to-allow-someone-to-remotely-view-and-control-your-computer.html takes you to a narrative to use Join.me. It is a very user friendly site and it is easy to temporarily allow control of your computer. I also did an online video as well which is on the following link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyRSqpYNVQY



Computer Concierge NY LLC provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens, NY area. This includes Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellerose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside, NY vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.

Join.me When You Need To Share Your Computer With Someone Remotely

9/29/2012

 
Picture
If you are having a problem with your computer, someone elsewhere can view your screen and remotely control your computer temporarily to fix the problem. Join.me is a good program to use for this purpose.  I have used it to help others fix their computer problems as well as show them how to better use their computer. It is very user friendly, easily installed in under a minute and no account setup is needed.  There is both a free and pro version.  I personally have not found a need for the pro version which currently costs $149 annually or $19 if you choose to use it by the month.  For either version you can send files between all users.  Note that if you are not connected to the internet you cannot use this or any other program to share your computer with someone remotely or to view someone else's. You also have the ability to talk online or have an online chat using Join.me as well.  As mentioned, the whole process of downloading the Join.me program and placing the toolbar on your computer takes under a minute.  When you first go to Join.me you will see a screen that looks similar to the one below.  Under, "share your screen" click on "basic" and then click on the orange arrow key.  This will begin your download.  Follow the prompts and the Join.me toolbar will be in the upper middle of your screen.  If you need to view someone else's screen enter the 9 digit code that the person sharing your screen gives to you and press the green arrow. 
_

Picture
By just sharing your screen, you can use Join.me for doing a presentation as well.  It is more than just a program to use if you have a computer problem or to solve someone else’s. I also know of a husband and wife who reviewed travel plans using it when one of them was out of town.  These are just by using the free version.  The pro version offers you such features as presenter swap, meeting scheduler and international conference lines. Whether or not you feel a need to use the pro version is up to you but as you can see, the free version has some good uses.

If you have additional questions about whether sharing your computer, I can be reached at (917) 572-3468 or email me at mike@computerconciergeny.com  

My Facebook page http://on.fb.me/MikesCCNY provides information on the current goings on in the technology field. There are tips to better use your computer and smartphone. For timely information, please visit and "Like" my page.






Computer Concierge NY LLC, provides expert computer and technology services in the Queens New York area, Including  Albertson, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellrose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside vicinity.  Our web services are provided worldwide.

Boomerang

10/27/2011

 
For those using Gmail who wish they could schedule their messages for future delivery Boomerang is for you.  You can write that email now and schedule it to automatically be sent at the date and time you choose.  You do not need to be logged in to Gmail, the internet or have your computer on at the time scheduled.  An advantage of this is when sending an email to someone outside your time zone, you can make sure they receive the message first thing in the morning their time.  Say you're emailing a friend/customer in London during the early evening your time.  You can schedule the email to be sent 8AM their time so they receive it during the start of their day while you are asleep. It will be closer to the top of their inbox.

You can design a birthday card, anniversary card, etc. attach it to an email a few days prior and have the email sent to that person on that special day. You may forget to send it but Boomerang won't.

While you can use Google Calendar for reminders, you also can use Boomerang as an email reminder service. You can set an email to be sent to you reminding you of a meeting, to pay a certain bill, etc.  Further if you receive an email confirming an event, you have the ability to send it to Boomerang.  Boomerang will remove it from your inbox and put it there at the time you designate to remind you of the event. If the confirmation mentions a date and time, Boomerang will suggest a date and time to send the reminder.

You can also set up a reminder for you to follow up on a message you send. You can set it to remind you to follow up if the person you sent it to does not respond or regardless if the person responds or not. The reminder will go to your inbox at the top and is marked unread.  You also can use this feature for a cleaner inbox. Boomerang will store a message on their server and return the email to your inbox at the time you note that you need it.

Go to http://www.boomeranggmail.com/ to download the program.

Do You Think Setting Up Your Computer Is As Easy as Taking It Out of the Box and Following the On Screen Instructions?

10/6/2011

 
My 17 year old son who is somewhat tech savvy got a new laptop computer last month. As such, I did not expect him to ask me for help in setting up his new computer. Even afterwards he had a question since his screensaver was not working properly which I promptly fixed for him.It got me thinking and realizing how much more there is to setting up a computer than just taking it out of the box, making the necessary connections and following the on screen instructions. I always knew, but with my 17 year old asking for help did not realize how much more it truly is.


Here are just a few things to consider: 
1. Do you know which programs need to open when you start your computer? Unnecessary programs opening   
     when you start your computer up will slow start time.
2. Do you have a system recovery disk should you ever need it?
3. Do you know the correct update setting for your computer to use? Make the wrong selection and you are  
     more likely to get a virus or have another computer problem.
4.   Do you know what to do when your factory installed antivirus program expires? This will occur shortly after  
      you purchase your new computer. The right move will keep your computer virus free and save you money in 
      the long run.
5.  Do you know how to set up your computer to find and open your favorite programs and files quicker?

If you live in Queens or Nassau County, NY call me at 917.572.3468.  Installing computers is just one of the technology services I offer.  I also provide expert computer training as well as training on your iPad, iPhone or Android  in the convenience of your home (seniors a specialty) as well as computer troubleshooting, printer setup, computer repair, computer support,wireless networks, and more.


iPhone training, iPad training




Computer Concierge NY LLC, provides expert computer services in the Bayside, NY area, Including Queens, Albertson, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Bellrose, College Point, Douglaston, Floral Park,  Flushing, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Jamaica Estates, Kew Gardens, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Mineola, Munsey Park,  New Hyde Park, North Hills, North Shore Towers, Oakland Gardens, Plandome, Rego Park, Roslyn, The Bay Club, Thomaston, University Gardens, Williston Park, Whitestone and Other Areas in the Bayside vicinity. 


How I Backup My Files.

6/30/2011

 
Possibly due to my posts about the importance of backing up files http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2011/05/so-why-do-you-not-back-up-your-files.html as well as being the owner of Computer Concierge NY LLC, I have been asked how do I back up my files. Let me first say that for any of the products I mention, I have not received any compensation or assurances, hints, discounts, etc of compensation as of June 30, 2011 for mentioning the products in question by anyone.

I use an external Western Digital Hardrive Model #WDBAAA6400ABK-NESN that I purchased from Amazon. It provides for automatic and continuous backups. If any file of mine is changed it is backed up when I close the file. When I have had to rebuild my system, it has worked fine and I was able to restore all my files. Further if I need to go back to a previous version of a file I am able to do that as well. My personal setting is where I can go back up to 5 file versions prior to the current one. I also have backups on several DVDs I keep offsite that I update about monthly. One of these is constantly updated while for the other DVDs it is a 1 time deal once the DVD is filled. Should there ever be some sort of catastrophe at home or if the external hard drive fails, I have a way of going offsite and getting back the contents of my files. It is recommended that you have another backup away from your computer should this instance occur.

I also am a Dropbox user.  I have blogged about Dropbox in the past.  http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2010/06/dropbox-a-real-good-program-for-file-sharing-and-accessing-files-away-from-your-computer.html I recommend it for all. You can sync up to 2 gb for free to your Dropbox account. However there are ways to get even more storage free. The most common is suggesting it to someone and when they become a Dropbox user from your suggestion both of you get an extra 250mg of storage. 

This is the backup system that works for me. What type of backup system you need depends on various factors. For those living in Queens and Nassau County, NY call me at 917.572.3468. I can determine the backup plan that is best for you. Many people think a hard drive failure cannot happen to them. Nothing is farther from the truth. You need to have a backup plan and follow it before it is too late.

Maps Online - Part I

6/6/2011

 
Some may remember the days of going to the neighborhood gas station and getting a free map to plan your trip or if it was a trip farther away, writing and getting directions from the oil companies such as Sinclair, Esso, etc.  Well those days are long gone.  They have been replaced by online maps, GPSes and even smartphones. 

For online mapping there are 4 primary websites: Bing Maps, Google Maps, MapQuest and Yahoo Maps.  Bing Maps, MapQuest and Yahoo Maps will be covered in this blog.  Google Maps will be covered in a future blog. 

Bing Maps is the new map on the block comparatively speaking.  The map allows you to get directions for driving, walking or public transportation.  It also is easy to send the directions to your email or cell phone.  You can get directions based upon current real time traffic conditions though this is generally limited to the major thoroughfares. Directions do note at the end of the route if you have reached a certain location that you have gone too far which is a nice touch.  The "What's Nearby" feature is also useful.  I found it easy to zoom in and out using the road view and arial view.  Where it has already been photographed, the Streetside view has clear pictures an certainly clearer than the heralded Google Maps. However when moving along the street in Streetside view there is not an indication of about where you are.  I do like the 3D views with which you can rotate/pan and zoom functions. That said, it is relatively slow to open and also to go from view to view as well as going to the location you choose.  There is certainly room for improvement here.  Also if you wish to reverse your route after you have gotten directions, you need to go back to the search page. This is not a good thing. 

MapQuest has a lot of the features that the others have with 1 notable exception. You cannot use your scroll wheel to zoom in and out on the map. You can only get directions by car.  No walking, public transit, etc. directions can be obtained using MapQuest.  It has a street view known as 360 view but the areas available are relatively few and slower than expected.  I did not find 360 view to be user friendly. Like the others, there is a way to search for businesses in the area.  MapQuesthas a drop down menu of choices or you type your own in the search bar under "Find a Business".  A real good feature of MapQuest when searching for directions is you can get turn by turndirections if you wish.  This and Google Maps are the only ones of the 4 maps where you can do this.  Bing Maps allow you to go to the text indicating the turns and click to go to the location on the map but MapQuest's turn by turn directions is preferred. 

Yahoo Maps offers live traffic and a points of interest finder.  It also computes a route rather quickly.  Yahoo Maps is better used to computing a route by car. There is not a way to determine a route by other means.  Yahoo Maps is also the only map that I am reviewing that does not have any drop down menu for locating businesses. Google Maps does have a very limited one which is stretching it a bit and will be covered in a future blog as noted earlier. You also can use it to find a business along the map that is showing on the screen.  This is done by typing the category in the search bar under "Find a Business on a Map".  It is more of a no frills map to mainly be used for directions by auto and finding a business.  There is no street view like in Bing Maps or Google Maps.  Further you cannot get a map for turn by turn directions or click on the text directions to go to that part on the map.

One final note here.  All 4 maps allow you to click to change a route by dragging any part of the route.

Also for those subscribing by email to my blogs, please check your spam settings if you are not receiving them.  Some have noted that the email of this blog has gone to their spam folder.  It should be marked as "not Spam".

Password Protection Revisited

5/29/2011

 
A few months back I did a post on password protection.  http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2010/06/password-protection.html.   As a follow up there are additional items to consider regarding password protection.  My previous post mentioned that a secure password should have a minimum of 8 characters.  The thinking regarding this minimum number is changing to where a minimum of 12 and up to 14 characters should be used for a secure password.  Microsoft has a website where you can check your password strength as shown.  http://bit.ly/1F3MKA  They recommend a minimum of 14 characters. 


An important thing to consider is when you set up a user name and password on a site, you may have to answer at least 1 security question.  This is in the event you forget your password, the site will ask you a question that you need to answer correctly in order to regain access to your account.  Perhaps the most common is asking for your mother's maiden name.  As I am noting in the next paragraph, be careful of how you answer these questions.  You do not have to give a correct answer but remember the answer you give.

A while back I wrote on how your future employer gets to know you before they meet you.  http://computerconciergeny.com/3/post/2010/06/your-future-employer-how-they-get-to-know-you-before-they-meet-you.html  In it I mentioned why you need to be careful about what you post online.  Here is another reason.  What you post can directly and indirectly be used to obtain information that can answer those security questions and not necessarily posted by you.  For example the question of your mother's maiden name.  If your mother is a Facebook friend of yours and uses her maiden name as part of her name, there is the answer to the question of your mother's maiden name.  For the question of your mother's maiden name, you may want to use something else like a neighbor's last name, a friend's maiden name, etc.   Discover Card asks the question "What city were you married in?"  If you have been married more than once, you can use the city of your first marriage.  I think you get what I am saying here.  During the 2008 presidential election, Sarah Palin's personal email account was hacked because a lot of her personal information was out there and the hacker knew the information needed to answer her security question.

In closing, be careful again of what you post online.  This information can be used to access online accounts that you would not want others to access.

Capturing What You See on Your Screen

5/16/2011

 
Ever want to grab part or all of what you see on your screen? Want to email some or all of what you see on your screen? The Snipping Tool is for you.  This tool is included in the Windows7 and Vista operating systems. To access it go to the "Start" tab and in the search bar type in "snipping tool". You will then see the icon to click for the Snipping tool at the top left of the start menu .

Note that you are limited to what you are able to see on the screen view.  You can select all of what you see or some of it. You have the choice of a rectangular snip, free form snip, window snip or full screen snip. You select this by selecting the down arrow in the drop down menu next to "New".  With the rectangular snip, you are able to snip in a rectangular form  what you see on your screen.  The free form snip is just that.  You can snip whatever shape of your screen view to capture whether it be a triangle, circle, etc.  With the window snip you select a window that you have opened that you wish to capture.   The full screen snip is just that.  What you see on your screen is what is captured. 

Once you have captured your screenshot, you can make your own notes and/or highlight selected areas on what you just captured in the captured file.  You also have the ability to email your finished product.  You also have the ability to save your capture.

The Snipping Tool is a handy tool and can make your computer life a bit easier.  Give it a try sometime.

Take College Courses Online for Free

5/6/2011

 
On the web there are many good sites for learning to put it mildly. But did you know you can take college courses online for free? For some of these you can listen online to prerecorded lectures/discussions. http://www.ocwconsortium.org/ has a listing of courses online.  MIT has courses there as well on  http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm . Another good site is http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/whats-on.html. The latter has mainly courses on audio. Among other colleges having open courseware are Tufts, Notre Dame and Yale a pretty good selection to say the least.  Just do a google search for "opencourseware".  Best of all they are free! A lot also have downloadable handouts as well. You also can search on youtube.com for lectures and courses.  Type the name of the college or university followed by lectures or courses and see the selection available. A good way to continue your lifelong learning with no admissions application, tuition, fees or other costs.

A Concern About Yahoo Calendar

4/28/2011

 
Earlier this week I was helping a friend who uses Yahoo Calendar and was having issues with it. What I found was cause for concern. I did a little research using my existing Yahoo account which I do not use much anymore. Let me first start by saying that between Friday February 18 and Monday February 21 the calender that was in beta version for Yahoo was released as their new version. My friend had prior to February 18 converted from the older calendar version to the beta version and was having issues with the beta version. This past Friday that version was still in beta. With my Yahoo account I successfully converted my calendar to the beta version. I saw this disclaimer which led me to believe I could switch back if I was not satisfied with the beta version (see the disclaimer terms noted in 2). I switched to the beta version with the intent of switching back as there was nothing in the disclaimer to make me believe I could not switch. As a matter of fact,what was mentioned was what I would lose if I decided to switch back. However, when I tried switching back there was not a way for me to switch back. Upon further searching, I found a link that I cannot switch back to prior version. While I certainly do not think that Yahoo deliberately is setting up people to switch, I do feel that given the disclaimer I should have been able to switch back. With Yahoo Mail,one can choose from their current version, classic version and beta version switching as you see fit. Why can you not go between the old and new Yahoo calendar versions? I will add here that if you have had an existing Yahoo account, you are not presently required to switch to the new calendar. However if you were to now open up a new Yahoo account, you are given the new calendar version. 

My concern is that there are likely others who made this switch but were not able to switch back.  As I noted, in Yahoo mail you can go back and forth between 3 versions including the beta. Why not allow the same for their calendar especially in light of what I had mentioned? If anyone from Yahoo reads this and wishes to respond, I will publish their response. We all know Yahoo has been having issues as of late and has reduced staff. They should step up here. When I used their service on a more frequent basis, I was satisfied. I note that Google's email service and calendar surpassed them a while back. Their new calendar still does not have quite a few features that Google has but it is improved and I like the interface better than their previous calendar. I hope that Yahoo does the right thing and allows those who use the new Yahoo calendar to revert back to the previous version if they wish.

Password Protection

3/21/2011

 
Just like you want a good lock to protect your home and valuables from unwanted intruders, you want a good password to protect your financial and other personal data from prying eyes both online and offline. A good strong password will allow you safer online transactions.

A few years ago, a computer professional using the name of John P. wrote how quickly he could crack a password based upon the password length and types of characters used while on a computer. For 3 characters it was 0.86 seconds using all types of characters (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, characters) and .02 seconds using only lowercase characters in your password.  For 8 characters the times were 2.10 centuries and 2.42 days respectively. The assumption is that you were not using a word in the dictionary. Going from 8 to 9 characters increased the time to 20 millennia and 2.07 months respectively.

That said, certain websites financial websites in particular have a protocol that must be followed when setting up a password on their site. 

A good password includes upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols and has a minimum of 8 characters. There are password checkers out there to check the strength of your password.  A good one is Passwordmeter.com  

“Whisper32” is a freeware password manager program to download.  You can store passwords on it.  You need to have a password to open your saved file.  Click to open Whisper32 download.

You also should NEVER use the following as passwords as they will make it easier to crack your password:

a.      Your name & other personal information like birthday, spouse’s name, SS#, etcb.      Sites namec.       “Password”d.      Dictionary words in any languagee.      Sequences or related characters – 123456, abcdef, 222222
While we are on the subject of passwords, it is easy and convenient to enable the option to remember passwords.  This will enable anyone using the computer being used to log into the site without knowing your password.  Especially when using a laptop, you should disable this option whenever it is given.  It is another layer in staying secure. Needless to say always disable when you are on a public computer.  Also when you are on a public computer, before you leave and you are still using the web browser remember to delete all browsing history, cookies, etc.  In Internet Explorer 8 select the Tools option from the menu.  Then select "Internet Options" and then "Browsing History". Select "Delete" to delete. 


By following the above, you will make your internet browsing much safer and secure from hackers and intruders.

    Categories

    All
    11021
    11357
    11358
    11361
    11375
    2 Factor Authentication
    2-factor Authentication
    Account Access
    Activate Product
    Activation Code
    Activation Key
    Android
    Android 5.0
    Android 5.0 Lollipop
    Android Phone
    Anker
    Anthony Weiner
    Aol
    App
    Apple
    Apple Iphone
    Apple Iphone 6
    Apple IPhone 7
    Apple Refurbished
    Apple Store
    Apple Store Nyc
    Apps
    Automobile
    Auto Renew
    Avoid Being A Crime Victim
    Backing Up
    Backup
    Banking
    Banks
    Battery
    Battery Life
    Battery Phone
    Battery Power
    Bayside
    Bayside Computer
    Bayside Computer Repair
    Bayside Computers
    Bayside Computer Training
    Bayside Ny
    Bayside Ny Computer
    Bayside Ny Computer Repair
    Bayside Ny Computer Training
    Bayside Queens
    Bayside Queens Computer
    Bayside Queens Computer Training
    Bay Terrace Shopping Center
    Bay Terrace Stores
    Beach Pictures
    Best Apps For Iphone
    Best Buy
    B&H
    B&H Photo
    Bing
    Bing Maps
    Blizzard
    Blizzard Warning
    Boomerang
    Bus Routes
    Bus Schedule
    Buying A Computer
    Buying A Printer
    Byod
    Calandar
    Calendar
    Calendar Google
    Camera
    Cellphone
    Cell Phone
    Cell Phone Batteries
    Cellphones
    Central Queens Y
    Central Queens YM & YWHA
    Change Password
    Charging Your Phone
    Cheap Flights
    Cheap Gas
    Cheap Gas Near Me
    Client Relationships
    Cloud Computing
    Cnet
    College
    College Tips For Parents
    Communicating
    Communication
    Communications
    Compare Gas Prices
    Computer
    Computer And Seniors
    Computer Concierge
    Computer Concierge Ny
    Computerconciergeny.com
    Computer Concierge Ny Llc
    Computer Concierge Ny Llc Computer Concierge
    Computer For Seniors
    Computer Help
    Computer Help Computer Concierge
    Computer Installation
    Computer Maintenance
    Computer Problem
    Computer Problems
    Computer Repair
    Computer Repair Bayside
    Computer Repair By Me
    Computer Repair Forest Hills
    Computer Repair In New York
    Computer Repair In Ny
    Computer Repair Near Me
    Computer Repair New York City
    Computer Repair Nyc
    Computer Repair Queens
    Computer Repairs
    Computer Repairs Bayside Ny
    Computer Repairs Great Neck
    Computer Repairs Queens Ny
    Computer Repairs Whitestone
    Computers
    Computer Safety
    Computer Safety Tips
    Computer Senior
    Computer Seniors
    Computer Services
    Computer Setup
    Computer Skills
    Computer Skills Forest Hills
    Computer Skills Manhattan
    Computer Skills Queens
    Computer Solutions
    Computer Support
    Computer Trainer
    Computer Training
    Computer Training Bayside
    Computer Training Bayside Ny
    Computer Training Forest Hills
    Computer Training Great Neck
    Computer Training Queens
    Computer Training Queens Ny
    Computer Training Whitestone
    Computer Troubleshooting
    Computer Virus
    Connection
    Contacts
    Contacts App
    Continuing Education
    Control Key
    Courses
    Create An Email
    Crime
    Criminal
    Criminals
    Ctrl
    Cyber Monday
    Cyber Monday Special
    Declutter
    Declutter Your Life
    Deflategate
    Deleted Photos
    Desktop
    Desktop Computers
    Desktops
    Digital Calendar
    Disaster
    Disaster Planning
    Documents
    Donald Trump
    Douglaston
    Douglaston Computer
    Douglaston Computer Repair
    Douglaston Computer Training
    Douglaston Ny
    Douglaston Ny Computer
    Douglaston Ny Computer Repair
    Douglaston Ny Computer Training
    Downloads
    Dropbox
    Education
    Efficiency
    Efficiently
    Election
    Email
    Email Access
    Email Account
    Email Accounts
    Email List
    Email Tips
    Emergency
    Emergency Call Numbers
    Emergency Contacts
    Emergency Management
    Epson
    Ethernet
    Evernote
    Excel
    Express Settings
    External Hard Drive
    Facebook
    Facebook.com
    Facebook Friends
    Facebook Graph Search
    Facebook Newsfeed
    Facebook Privacy
    Facebook Settings
    Facebook Tip
    Facebook Training
    Family Feud
    Fax
    Faxing
    Fax Zero
    File Recovery
    Filing
    Find Code
    Find My Phone
    Flash Drive
    Flashlight
    Flashlight App
    Flickr
    Flights
    Floral Park
    Flushing
    Flushing Meadows Park
    Flushing Ny
    Flushing Ny Computer
    Flushing Queens
    Flying
    Football
    Forest Hills
    Forest Hills Ny
    Forest Hills Queens
    Forest Hills Queens
    Forest Hills Queens Ny
    Forest Hills Queens Ny
    Forgot Password
    Frankenstorm
    Free
    Free Advertising
    Free Calendar
    Freeware
    French Quarter
    French Quarter New Orleans
    Gadgets
    Galaxy
    Galaxy S
    Galaxy S6
    Gas
    Gasbuddy
    Gas Buddy
    Gasbuddy Com
    Gas Prices
    Gcal
    Gcflearnfree
    Get Activation Code
    Gmail
    Gmail Account
    Gmail Calendar
    Gmail Tips
    Gmaps
    Gogo Inflight
    Googel
    Google
    Google+
    Google Account
    Google App
    Googlecalendar
    Google Calendar
    Google Calender
    Google Contacts Iphone
    Google Contacts Sync
    Google Docs
    Google Drive
    Google Mail
    Google Maps
    Google Maps Directions
    Google Map Search
    Google Play
    Googleplus
    Google Search
    Google Search Bar
    Gplus
    Gps
    Great Neck
    Great Neck Computer
    Great Neck Computer Support
    Great Neck Computer Training
    Great Neck Ny
    Great Neck Ny Computer
    Great Neck Ny Computer Repair
    Great Neck Ny Computer Training
    Great Pictures
    Groups
    Hacked
    Hacker
    Hacker News
    Hacking
    Hard Drive Failure
    Heartbleed
    Heart Bleed
    Heartbleed Bug
    Heartbleed Virus
    Hilary Clinton
    Hillary
    Hillary Clinton
    Hillary Clinton 2016
    Hillary Rodham Clinton
    Holiday Season
    Holiday Shopping
    Holiday Travel
    Home Buying
    Home Search
    Home Selling
    Hotmail
    Hot Spots
    How Secure Is My Password
    How To
    How To Add Wireless Printer
    How To Free Space On IPhone
    Hurricane
    Hurricane Sandy
    Icloud Security Breach
    Identity
    Identity Theft
    Images
    Instagram
    Instagram Blizzard
    Instruction Manual
    Insurance
    International Travel
    Internet
    Internet Safety
    Internet Safety For Kids
    Internet Search
    Internet Security
    Ios
    Ipad
    Ipad Advantages
    Ipad Apps
    Ipad News
    Iphone
    Iphone 6
    Iphone 6 Features
    I Phone 7
    IPhone 7
    Iphone Apps
    IPhone Security
    IPhone Storage
    Ipod
    Ipod Touch
    Itunes
    Jet Blue
    John Podesta
    Joinme
    Join Me
    Keyboard
    Keyboard Keys
    Keyboard Shortcuts
    Landline
    Laptop
    Learning The Computer
    Libre Office
    Life Learning
    Light Rail
    Linkedin
    Linked In
    Linkedin Accounts
    Linkedin Networking
    Linkedin Profile
    Little Neck
    Little Neck Ny
    Local Gas Prices
    Lollipop
    Long Island
    Lost
    Lost Phone
    Louisiana
    Mac
    Magicjack
    Magic Jack
    Maintenance
    Make Room On IPhone
    Making Your Computer Personal
    Malware
    Manhattan
    Manual
    Mar-a-lago
    Mardi Gras
    Mardi Gras World
    Microsoft
    Microsoft Excel
    Microsoft Office
    Microsoft Surface
    Microsoft Surface Advantages
    Microsoft Windows
    Microsoft Windows 10
    Microsoft Word
    Mike Klubok
    MM-Qcamera-Daemon
    Mobile
    Mobile Phone
    Mobile Phone Computer Concierge
    Mobile Phone News
    Mobiles
    Modem
    Money Saving Ideas
    Money Saving Tips
    Monthly Calendar
    Ms Office
    Ms Windows
    Multiple Listing
    Music Recognition
    Must Knows
    My Calendar
    Nassau
    Nassau County
    Network
    New Computer Installation
    New Email
    New England Patriots
    New IPhone
    New IPhone 7
    New Orleans
    New Samsung Galaxy
    New Samsung Phone
    Newsfeed
    Newsfeed Settings
    Newyork
    New York
    New York City
    New York Computer Help
    Next IPhone
    No Contract
    Nomorerobo
    Nomorobo
    Northeast
    Northeast Blizzard
    North Shore Towers
    North Shore Towers Computer
    North Shore Towers Computer Repair
    North Shore Towers Computer Training
    Norton Security
    Ny
    Nyc
    Ny Computer Help
    Online
    Online Accounts
    Online Banking
    Online Bill Payment
    Online Bill Payments
    Online Calendar
    Online Chat
    Online Ordering
    Online Payment
    Online Payments
    Online Privacy
    Online Retailing
    Online Security
    Online Shopping
    Open Office
    Ordering Online
    Order Online
    Organization
    Organize
    Organize It
    Organizer
    Organizing
    Organizing Tips
    Organizing Your Trip
    Owners Manual
    Pace University
    Paper Calendar
    Parents Of College Students
    Passcode
    Password
    Passwords
    Password Safe
    Password Security
    Pay Bills Online
    Paying Bills
    Pc
    Pc Computer
    Pc Repair
    Pc Support
    Pdf
    People
    People App
    Personal Information
    Personally Identifiable Information
    Phone
    Phone Camera
    Phone Charger
    Phone Charging
    Phone Solicitors
    Photo
    Photography
    Photo Recovery
    Photos
    Pictures
    Planetfone
    Planning
    Plans
    Post Office
    Powerpoint
    Presidential Candidates
    Presidential Election
    President Trump
    Printable Calendar
    Print Cartridge
    Print Cartridges
    Printer
    Privacy
    Privacy Settings
    Private Information
    Product Key
    Providence
    Providence Ri
    Public Computer
    Public Computers
    Queens
    Queens Computer Repair
    Queens Computer Training
    Queens Library
    Queens Ny
    Queens Ny Computer
    Queens Ny Computer Repair
    Queens Ny Computer Training
    Queens Ny Repair
    Queens Ny Training
    Queens Real Estate
    Real Estate
    Realtor
    Recover Deleted Photos
    Reduce Printing Costs
    Reducing Your Printing Costs
    Reference
    References
    Refurbished
    Refurbished IPhone
    Reminders
    Renew Subscription
    Repair
    Repair Disk
    Research
    Reviews
    Rhode Island
    Ri
    Roaming
    Robocall
    Robocalls
    Roger Goodell
    Router
    Running
    S5
    Safely Shopping Online
    Safe Online Holiday Shopping
    Safety
    Safety Tips
    Sales
    Samsung
    Samsung Electronics
    Samsung Galaxy Note 4
    Samsung Galaxy S5
    Samsung Galaxy S5 Features
    Samsung Galaxy S6
    Save Money
    Save Time
    Saving Money
    Savings
    Scam
    Scan
    Scanner
    Screen Shot
    Search
    Secure Password
    Security
    Security Essentials
    Security Question
    Seniors
    Settings
    Setting Up A Wireless Network
    Sharing
    Sharing Your Computer
    Shazam
    Shazam App
    Shazam Online
    Shop
    Shopping
    Shortcut
    Shortcut Keys
    Shortcuts
    Skype
    Smartphone
    Smartphone Functionality
    Smartphones
    Snag A Job
    Snipping Tool
    Snowstorm
    Social Media
    Software
    Songs
    Spam
    Spreadsheet
    Spreadsheets
    Storage
    Storage Usage IPhone
    Storing Personal Items
    Summer Vacation
    Support
    Surface
    Surface Advantages
    Syncing
    Tablet
    Tablet Computer
    Take Photo
    Tech News
    Technology
    Technology Services
    Technology Solutions
    Technology Trainer
    Technology Training
    Techsupportalert
    Telemarketers
    Telephone
    Telephone Solicitor
    Terms Of Service
    The Apple Store
    The New Iphone 7
    The Security Question
    Time Management
    Time Savings
    Tom Brady
    Top Secret
    Training
    Transit
    Travel
    Travel And Leisure
    Traveling
    Travel & Leisure
    Traveller
    Travelling
    Travel Plans
    Travel Precautions
    Tripit
    Trip Organizer
    Trump
    Twitter
    Two Factor Authentication
    Undo Send
    United Airlines
    United States Post Office
    Usb Drive
    User Manual
    Vacation
    Vacation Photos
    Vacation Pictures
    Verify Email
    Verizon
    Verizon Store
    Verizon Wireless
    Viber
    Virus
    Vpn
    Vzw
    Waterfire
    Ways To Save Storage On Iphone
    Webcam
    Weekly Calendar
    What Is An Iphone
    Whatsapp
    Whats App
    Whatsapp Messenger
    What Song Is This
    What’s The Name Of This Song
    Where Is My Phone
    Whitestone
    Whitestone Computer
    Whitestone Computer Training
    Whitestone Ny
    Whitestone Ny Computer Repair
    Whitestone Ny Computer Training
    Whitestone Queens
    Whitestone Queens Computer
    Whitestone Queens Computer Training
    Wifi
    Wi Fi
    Wi-Fi
    Wi-fi
    Wiki
    Wikihow
    Wikipedia
    Wikitravel
    Windows 10
    Windows 2010
    Windows8
    Windows 8
    Windows Key
    Windows Live
    Windows Live Hotmail
    Winter Storm
    Winter Storm Stella
    Wireless
    Wireless Internet
    Wireless Network
    Wireless Printers
    Www Google Com
    Yahoo
    Yahoo Calendar
    Yahoo Mail
    Yahoo Maps
    Youtube
    Zip Code

✕