Janis Weber

A new year and new good habits. Organize those drawers and, oh my, that closet! I must be preaching to myself. I promise to get A Round Tuit. However, I am great at keeping my computer backed up and in good shape. Make this your resolution. Clean up your files and pictures. Get more organized. You will feel fantastic.

Let’s talk passwords. So many and so many places to keep them. Can’t remember them? Use a password book or an alphabetized address book. Use a pencil because you will be changing them periodically. Have them all in one booklet. Don’t rely on those stray pieces of paper you jotted them down on. Be honest, we all do it. Take time to write them in one location. Typing them on a spreadsheet is great but please only save this list on an external drive. If you save it on the hard drive of your computer, they will be hacked someday and thus stolen. I cannot emphasize this enough. Don’t give your information away. It is so dangerous.

Here are a few things you can do to stay protected:

• Change your passwords regularly – Do this at least once every few months. If you haven’t done so, you should change your LastPass master password ASAP.

• Never use the same password for multiple accounts – Through a technique known as credential stuffing, hackers use the same stolen passwords on different services, hoping to find duplications.

• Where available, always use two-factor authentication – This additional security measure makes it difficult for hackers to break into accounts without the security code sent to your phone or an authentication app. 

• Consider a password protection software like LastPass, NordPass, RoboForm, Keeper, Dashline, and iPassword. Currently I am using RoboForm for only 99 cents a month. Well worth it.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are essentially information collectors and trackers in the form of small text files stored on your browser by the sites you visit. Some are useful. For example, a cookie saved on your browser makes it so you don’t have to re-enter your log-in information every time you visit one of your favorite websites.

Cookies can also remember your shopping preferences so that you get a personalized experience when you visit the website. Others; however, track how you use a website, how often you go there, your IP address, your phone number, what types of things you look at and buy, and other information you may not want to share. Too many cookies can actually slow down your internet access.

Think of Hansel and Gretel. The two storybook children who left a cookie trail so they could find their way home. Great idea until an animal ate them up. When you go to a website, you can choose to leave a cookie trail to get back to this site faster and remember your credentials. Convenient for you, and for the hacker.

Many companies have you click “yes” so that they’re compliant with current privacy laws. This means that once you click, you’ve given the company permission to use your information as they see fit without worry of legal backlash.

Most of the time, cookies are no big deal. There are a few occasions, though, where you should decline cookies. Don’t worry. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to decline or simply want to decline for whatever reason, most websites will work just fine without collecting your information.

How to clear iPhone cookies:

Launch the Settings app and look for Safari on the list. Tap it. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Advanced. Head to Website Data. If you wish to delete all the cookies at once, tap Remove All Website Data and confirm your decision by tapping Remove Now. To delete cookies from websites one by one, simply swipe the websie’’s name to the left and tap Delete, or tap Edit in the top-right corner of the screen and tap the minus (-) icon near the relevant website.

I Make House Calls (I am fully vaccinated and masked if requested)

I will come to your home or office and help you with almost any predicament including repairs, upgrades, and personal software tutoring. I can be your resident “geek.” I have an endless amount of patience and knowledge with years of experience. Give me a text or call at 419-290-3570.

Definition of The Day:

A HACKER is a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data; informal: an enthusiastic and skillful computer programmer or user.

Janis Weber, B.A., owner of Ohio Computer Training & Support, is a professional computer adjunct instructor. E-mail any specific questions or comments to JwPCtutor@Gmail.com or contact her for assistance at 419-290-3570. Private tutoring and repairs are just a phone call, text, or email away.