FREE RESOURCES
Use these resources to learn a new skill or enhance an existing oneTCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 452
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #15
Set Up Bank Alerts – NOW!
Set Up Bank Alerts – NOW!
Here’s a tip that just might save your bacon: set up withdrawal alerts on your bank accounts. Many banks will send you an e-mail alert whenever money is withdrawn from your account via check, debit card, or transfer. Setting up those alerts will allow you to spot and report fraudulent activity BEFORE the money has already been siphoned into a cybercriminal’s hands.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Cut And Paste Files Or Text
Select what you want to cut and press Ctrl + X. Go to the place you want to move it to, then press Ctrl + V to paste it there.
Shortcut of the Week
Quickly Change Text in Microsoft Word
Highlight any text in Word and press Shift + F3 to change the case of the highlighted text. Pressing it once will uppercase, twice will lowercase, and 3 times will give the text proper case.
Jason’s Tech Corner
Submitted by Jason Risner – Solutions Engineer
And now for a slightly different security discussion:
If you have a vehicle with a push-button start, thieves can use a receiver to pick up and rebroadcast your key fob’s signal to your car. This allows the thief to enter, start, and drive away with your vehicle right out of your driveway or your work parking place.
The fix – either:
- Deactivate the key fob’s radio (and then re-activating it every time you want to drive the car), or
- Place the key fob inside a faraday pouch when not using it to enter or start your car.
My Truck was stolen! This could stop it from happening to you.
Follow-up explaining how to deactivate your key fob:
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 451
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #14
Work Computer And Devices Are Only For ONE Thing
Work Computer And Devices Are Only For ONE Thing
That is, WORK! Never mix personal web surfing and social media with company devices. If you want to check your Hotmail account or Facebook page, do it during your lunch break and on YOUR personal device. Over 600,000 Facebook accounts are hacked every day. If you’re using a company device to access a compromised account, you’re opening up a door to a hacker who can then get into your company’s network via your e-mail or PC. Bottom line, don’t use company PCs, devices, phones, or the Internet for PERSONAL use.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Switch to Airplane Mode
To get ready for takeoff, tap your touchpad with four fingers to open action center, and then select Airplane mode ✈. Select it again to turn it off.
Shortcut of the Week
Remove Items In Search Bar
Sometimes, users need to delete items or other text from an address bar or another autocomplete field. To perform this action, press Shift+Delete keys on any highlighted item. Pressing the down arrow key once selects the first address or result; pressing Shift+Delete deletes it.
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 450
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #13
DON’T Use Public WiFi Until You Read This
DON’T Use Public WiFi Until You Read This
We’re all guilty of it: connecting to free public WiFi. Whether it’s at the coffee shop, hotel, or airport, the temptation to check e-mail and surf the web is just too strong to resist. So BEFORE you connect to any free, public WiFi, make sure the connection is legitimate.
It’s not uncommon for hackers to set up fake clones of public WiFi access points to try and get you to connect to THEIR WiFi over the legitimate, safe public one being made available to you. Before connecting, check with an employee of the store or location to verify the name of the WiFi they are providing. Next, NEVER access financial, medical, or other sensitive data while on public WiFi. Also, don’t shop online and enter your credit card information unless you’re absolutely certain the connection point you’re on is safe and secure.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Get Their Attention With @ Mentions
In a channel, on the the Posts tab, type a message in the box. To get a team member’s attention, type @ and then start typing their name. The message will be flagged for them.
Shortcut of the Week
Quickly Increase Or Decrease Desktop Icon Size
While holding down the Ctrl key, scroll up or down on the mouse wheel to increase or decrease your icon size.
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 449
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #12:
The DANGERS Of Dropbox And Other File Sync Apps
The DANGERS Of Dropbox And Other File Sync Apps
If you’re using Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or other consumer-grade file sync and sharing cloud applications, listen up! These applications pose a huge threat to your company because company data can be spread far and wide without central oversight of what information is being shared with whom. Further, over 7 MILLION Dropbox accounts have been hacked, giving cybercriminals a path into the company’s network.
This is even MORE important if your company has access to and/or stores financial, medical, or other sensitive data. Using file-sharing applications like these are a clear and direct violation of data breach and compliance laws. Bottom line, DON’T USE THEM FOR COMPANY DATA and use only company-approved, business-grade file-sharing applications.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Ask Cortana To Schedule Events
Have Cortana add events to your calendar. Say, “Hey Cortana, set up a dentist appointment for May 1 at 3:00” or whatever you like.
Shortcut of the Week
Remove Formatting In Word From Any Pasted Text
When copying text from another document or Internet web page and pasting it into Microsoft Word, Word will keep the formatting of the text. To remove the formatting in Microsoft Word from any text, highlight the text and press the shortcut key Ctrl + Spacebar. The shortcut sets the text to the default font, removes the formatting, and even removes links.
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
How To Keep Your Laptop Secure
How To Keep Your Laptop Secure
You can’t beat the convenience of checking email and hopping on the Internet at (Wi-Fi) hotspots found in airports, coffee shops, bookstores, and even in some major parks. For the uninitiated, Wi-Fi hotspots are areas where you can use your wireless laptop to surf the Web and check email. Here is how to keep your laptop secure.
But the question you have to ask yourself is, just how safe is it to connect? With the proliferation of hackers, viruses, and identity theft at an all-time high, you are smart to be concerned. Wi-Fi spots are very attractive to hackers because they can use what’s called an “evil twin” connection to access your laptop.
An evil twin is a wireless hotspot set up by a hacker to lure people from a nearby, legitimate hotspot. For example, when you log in at your favorite coffee shop, you might actually be logging onto the evil twin Internet connection setup by the innocent-looking person working on a laptop at the next table.
The most dangerous evil twins remain invisible and allow you to do business as usual. But in the background, they record everything you are typing. Buy something online and they are recording your credit card information. Log on to your bank account, and they can grab your password. Some hotspots may even feed you a fake Web page after you log on asking you to update your billing information. this is the same tactic used in phishing scams.
So what can you do to make sure you are not giving an evil twin access to your laptop?
First, know the name of the hotspot you’re going to use by asking someone who works there. Some businesses will give you printed instructions that include the hotspot name. Again, be careful. Hackers will try to name their evil twin network by a very similar name as the real hotspot, and may even show up as a stronger signal.
The best protection you can have is connecting via your company’s VPN (a virtual private network). A VPN will protect your online information by encrypting your data and activity even if you’re connected through an evil twin.
If you don’t have a company VPN, you should assume that someone is looking over your shoulder and recording everything you type in. Therefore, the BEST protection without a VPN is to never type in information such as credit cards, passwords, or social security numbers when connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot.
If you suspect you access an evil twin and need help, give us a call at (608) 755-1524 or visit computer-center.com/contact/ for any of your computer-related needs.
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 448
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #11:
What To Do BEFORE You Go To Starbucks
What To Do BEFORE You Go To Starbucks
So you’re in the car on the way home from Starbucks, basking in the glow of consuming your triple-shot, low-foam, extra-hot pumpkin-spice latte when you suddenly realize your laptop has gone missing. You drive back like the caffeinated lunatic you are, only to discover no one has turned it in. What do you do? That depends on what precautions you have (or haven’t!) taken.
First, if you’ve properly encrypted your data, password-protected the access to your device, and shut down and logged off all key applications, you’ve got a bit more time to respond. But the first thing to do, whether or not you’ve taken those precautionary measures, is to notify your IT department (us) that you’ve lost your device. That will allow us to change passwords and lock access to applications and data a thief may gain access to via your unprotected laptop. We can also remotely wipe your device to make sure no one will be able to gain access to the data stored on your computer. (Which is also why it’s CRITICAL to back up your data on a daily basis!)
Next, change ALL the passwords to every website you log in to, starting with any sites that contain financial data (your bank account) or company data. If your laptop contained medical records, financial information, or other sensitive data (like social security numbers, birthdays, etc.), then you need to contact a qualified attorney to understand what you may be required to do by law to notify individuals who may be affected.
Quite simply, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; so make sure you’re engaging us to encrypt and back up your data, as well as put remote monitoring software on all mobile devices. Put a pin-code lock or password requirement to access a device after 10 minutes of inactivity, and get into the habit of logging out of websites when you’re done using them.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Cleanup Taskbar Clutter
Select Start ⊞ > Settings ⚙ > Personalization > Taskbar, and then choose Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
Shortcut of the Week
Enter The Same Text Into Multiple Cells At Once
In Microsoft Excel, you can enter the same data or text into multiple cells at once using the below simple steps.
- Highlight all the cells that you want to have the same text.
- Type the text you want.
- After typing the text, instead of pressing Enter, press Ctrl+Enter.
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 447
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #10:
Remove That Unwanted Freeware
Remove That Unwanted Freeware
Like it or not, PC manufacturers LOVE to stuff your brand-new PC full of “free” applications (they get paid to do it, so you’ve got a slim chance of getting one without a side of spamware). But clutter is the enemy of a speedy PC, and if you’re not using a particular software on a regular basis, it’s best to REMOVE it completely. That way you don’t have it sucking up processing speed AND leaving the door open to hackers and malware.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Connect With Other People In Windows
Learn from the community. Ask a question or participate in conversations with other Windows users.
Shortcut of the Week
Save Space, Show Favicons Only
An easy way to save space on your Internet browser favorites or bookmarks bar is to remove the bookmark’s description. Most can identify their bookmarks by the favicon associated with the page.
To remove the page title from a bookmark:
- Right-click on the bookmark
- Click Edit or Properties
- For the name of the bookmark, erase everything and then click Ok
- Repeat for each bookmark or rename to help you organize or remember it better
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 446
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #9:
If You Installed It, You Must Update It!
If You Installed It, You Must Update It!
There are thousands of hackers who get up every morning with ONE goal in mind: to find a new vulnerability in a commonly installed software (like Adobe, Flash, or QuickTime) to access your computer. That’s why these companies frequently issue patches and updates for KNOWN security bugs; and once a KNOWN vulnerability is announced via a patch, hackers get to work like crazy trying to figure out how to use the vulnerability and access those users who are lazy about installing updates. That’s why it’s important to update installed software programs as soon as possible.
Of course, if you’re a client of ours, we’re monitoring your network for these updates and handling them for you; but your home computers, smartphone, and other devices that may NOT be under our protection probably need a little attention.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Work Together While Remote
Once you’ve shared a document, you can work together with others at the same time. No need to put all those group projects on hold. You can tell who’s working on an open document by looking at the icons with pictures or initials in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Plus, you can see each other’s cursors and real-time edits as you collaborate.
Shortcut of the Week
Effortless Security From Anywhere
Life is happening online. LastPass puts your digital life at your fingertips, simply and securely.
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524
TCC Tuesday Tidbits Issue 445
Covid-19 and Working RemotelyA How-To Technology Resource
Welcome to The Computer Center’s Covid-19 resource center for small businesses. Our focus is to provide you with the information you need to keep your business running, collaborate with your team, meet with customers, and make the best of the current situation by leveraging technology. Visit www.computer-center.com/covid19/ for access to more helpful information.
IT Security Tip #8:
Bookmark The LEGITIMATE Websites You Frequently Visit
Bookmark The LEGITIMATE Websites You Frequently Visit
Here’s a sneaky trick used by many hackers: they purchase and set up a fraudulent website that is a close misspelling of a legitimate one. Example: www.faceboook.com instead of www.facebook.com. All you have to do is accidentally fat-finger ONE letter in the URL and up pops a very legitimate-looking fake copy of the site you were trying to get to – and the login and links are full of key-logger malware and virus landmines waiting for you to click on them. This is particularly important for any social networks you belong to.
Microsoft Tips for Windows
Choose Light or Dark Theme
Personalize your PC and reduce eye strain with Windows 10 light and dark themes.
Shortcut of the Week
Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
No Internet browser has every feature you want, therefore we suggest visiting the Google Chrome Webstore to install free extensions for your browser. Today, there are thousands of available extensions, games, and other add-ons that can be installed into your browser.
Have an unfortunate co-worker that’s not getting a copy of the TCC Tuesday Tidbits? Forward them your copy. Or, better yet, have them sign up at https://computer-center.com/tuesdaytidbits/
Submit your TCC Tuesday Tidbit requests and ideas to me by calling (608) 755-1524.
Sincerely,
James Pearson, President The Computer Center 39 S. Main St. – Upper Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 755-1524