Showing posts with label hometechhacker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hometechhacker. Show all posts

HomeTechHacker: 6 Online Shopping Tools You Should Be Using

Sunday, June 25, 2023

By Marlon Buchanan

Much like regular shopping, online shopping is a skill. 

There are tools you can use to save money, shop more securely, better organize your shopping lists, and more. 

Here are seven online shopping tools you should be using.

Buy Nearby

Buy Nearby is a Chrome extension that shows you local businesses selling the items you’re looking at on sites like Amazon and eBay. It will actually use markers on Google maps to show where the items are located.

ReviewMeta

ReviewMeta is a free tool that analyzes Amazon product reviews and tells you how reliable they are. It will identify some of the shady business that goes on with Amazon reviews and even gives you an adjusted review rating after filtering out some of the more unreliable and suspicious reviews.

ReviewMeta is available as a Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extension.

CNET Shopping (formally InvisibleHand)

CNET Shopping, formerly known as InvisibleHand, is a great comparison shopping Chrome extension. While browsing products on the web, CNET Shopping will show you how much that product costs at other popular online stores such as Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, Target, and more. Never overpay again!

CNET Shopping is available as a Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extension.

OneCart

Do you have wishlists at Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and other retailers? Do you hate having to go to different sites to see what is on each list? That’s where OneCart comes in. OneCart works with all the major online shops to allow you to create a universal wishlist that isn’t limited to an individual site. When you look at items in your wishlist, you can see what the price is at each of the retailers that carry them. You can also organize the items on your wishlist into folders.

OneCart is available as a Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extension.

PackageRadar

Keeping track of all the shipping tracking can be overwhelming when you do a lot of online shopping. This is especially true if you shop at a lot of different stores. 

The Package Radar website or app can take all of your shipping information and keep it in an easy-to-read dashboard. It supports all the major tracking services around the world. One less online shopping headache to deal with!

Two-Factor Authentication
Two-Factor Authentication

If you are doing a lot of shopping online, you should be using two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. I’ve previously written about why 2FA is important and which 2FA methods are best

But I’ll say here, try to use some form of 2FA with all your accounts if it is offered. If you’re online a lot, you are more susceptible to cybercriminals and should take precautions.

Want to learn more about thwarting cybercriminals? 

Check out my book, The Personal Cybersecurity Manual: How Anyone Can Protect Themselves from Fraud, Identity Theft, and Other Cybercrimes.

If you’re doing a lot of online shopping, you owe it to yourself to use tools to save money, shop securely, and shop more efficiently. Try out some of these tools to improve your online shopping experiences.

Marlon Buchanan
Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology. 

If you have questions or comments about this article you can contact Marlon through his website or on Twitter.

Read more...

HomeTechHacker: 5 Reasons You Should Consider a Chromebook for Your Next Laptop

Monday, May 22, 2023

By Marlon Buchanan

What’s a Chromebook?

Chromebooks run ChromeOS, a Linux-based operating system featuring Chrome web browser as its primary interface. 

Most other laptops run either Windows or macOS. Chromebooks are designed to primarily be used while connected to the Internet because most ChromeOS applications are in the cloud.

Chromebooks have done well in the education market. Many schools have adopted them as a budget and security-conscious alternative to Windows laptops and iPads. My son’s school recently switched from iPads to Chromebooks because they found them less expensive and easier to support.

Reason #1: Chromebooks cost less

Most Chromebooks cost less than $400. A good, fully functional Chromebook can be found for $300 or less. That is less than the average cost of a Windows laptop and significantly less than Apple laptops.

Reason #2: Chromebooks have excellent battery life

Chromebooks are renowned for their battery life. You can find many that get 10-12 hours off of a full charge. 

Most Windows laptops can’t make it through a whole business day of regular usage without a charge. The MacBook Air and Pro get closer to Chromebook battery life but at a premium price.

Reason #3: You use a laptop and a large tablet

Chromebooks can double as Android tablets. Popular touchscreen models come with the Google Play market installed and run most Android apps, including games. You can easily turn your laptop into a large and fully functional Android tablet.

Reason #4: You value security

ChromeOS is more secure than Windows by design. They are much stricter on the type of software that can be installed, and their default security settings are designed to keep you safe. Also, as a less popular OS, they aren’t as enticing for hackers to exploit. The reduced popularity combined with the increased security means fewer exploitable bugs than Windows and MacOS. No OS is completely secure, but ChromeOS leads the laptop pack.

Reason #5: You don’t really need MS Office apps

Many people buy Windows laptops because they want to run Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides can create documents that do most of what you want them to do and they can run on any computer with a modern web browser. You can even save your files from Google in MS Office formats.

I’m sure some of you have occasions where you have to use MS Office. 

You can buy an Office 365 subscription with the money you saved from not buying a Windows or Mac laptop and access Office Online. If you purchased a Chromebook that also runs Android apps you can you simply download the Office Android apps for free.

A couple of reasons not to buy a Chromebook

#1: You use a lot of Microsoft or Apple software


If you are deep in the Apple ecosystem, or you are a power user and rely heavily on various Microsoft software, you are going to be better off with a MacBook or Windows laptop. You can’t add a lot of desktop-based software to Chromebooks, and they don’t integrate seamlessly into other ecosystems.

#2 Your Wi-Fi isn’t very good.

If you aren’t going to be in places with a stable wifi connection to the Internet then your Chromebook will be a waste of money. This is somewhat true for most portable devices without a cellular connection, but for a machine built to access services from and store files in the cloud, this is extremely true.

Marlon Buchanan, HomeTechHacker
Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology. 

If you have questions or comments about this article you can contact Marlon through his website or on Twitter.




Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Smart Home Tech that can increase your home’s value

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Looking to increase the value of your home and at the same time increase the convenience of your home and enjoy it more? Why not add some smart home tech?

Smart home technology has come a long way in recent years, and it's no longer just a futuristic concept. 

With a wide range of devices and systems available, it's easier than ever to transform your home into a smart home, and the benefits go beyond just convenience and comfort. 

One of the major advantages of smart home tech is that it can increase the value of your home, making it a smart investment for homeowners.

One of the key ways that smart home tech can increase the value of your home is through energy efficiency. 

Many smart home devices are designed to help you save energy, such as smart thermostats that can automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule and energy-efficient smart appliances. 

By reducing your energy usage, you can save money on your monthly bills and make your home more appealing to potential buyers. 

I personally use and recommend an ecobee Thermostat.

Another way that smart home tech can increase the value of your home is by increasing security and safety

Smart security systems can alert you to any unusual activity and allow you to monitor your home remotely, giving you peace of mind whether you're home or away. Smart door locks and smart garage doors can also provide an extra layer of security, and smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can help protect your home from potential hazards.

In addition to energy efficiency and security, smart home tech can also make your home more comfortable and convenient

Smart lighting systems allow you to control the lighting in your home from your smartphone, and smart home assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home can make it easy to control other smart devices and perform tasks like setting reminders and playing music. 

These features can make your home more attractive to potential buyers and increase its value.

There are many different types of smart home tech to choose from, and it can be overwhelming to decide which devices are right for your home. 

Some popular options include smart thermostats, smart security systems, smart lighting systems, and smart home assistants. It's a good idea to do some research and consider your specific needs and budget before making any purchases. 

You can find advice about which smart home devices to buy using my simple HomeTechHacker Technology Advisor. Give it a try!

If you're thinking about selling your home in the future, it's worth considering how smart home tech can increase its value. 

While it may require some initial investment to install smart devices and systems, the benefits can far outweigh the costs in terms of energy savings, increased security, and convenience. 

By making your home more appealing to potential buyers, you can potentially increase its value and get a better return on your investment.

Go make your home smart today!

Marlon Buchanan, HomeTechHacker
Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology. 


If you have questions or comments about this article you can contact Marlon through his website or on Twitter.


Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Why You Should Use Multi-Factor Authentication

Monday, March 20, 2023

Duo Mobile
By Marlon Buchanan

Are you worried about being hacked? Do you worry about cybercriminals breaking into your online accounts? If so, you should be using Multi-factor authentication (MFA).

MFA is a security process that requires users to provide multiple pieces of evidence, or "factors," to verify their identity before accessing a system or service. This is in contrast to traditional authentication methods, which typically only require a single factor, such as a password. 

The multiple factors include:
  • A password, passphrase, or personal identification number (PIN) – Something you know
  • A token, smartcard, or key – Something you have
  • Biometrics like a fingerprint, voice recognition, or a retinal scan – Something you are

Hardware key
You’ve probably been using multi-factor authentication for years. When you go to an ATM machine to withdraw money, you insert an ATM card (something you have) and then enter a PIN (something you know). This is using multiple methods, or factors, to authenticate that you are you and can have access to your bank account.

Multi-factor authentication can use 2, 3, 4, or more methods of authentication. Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is a type of multi-factor authentication that requires only two methods. The ATM example above is 2FA. So is your bank emailing or texting you a one-time authorization code when you log in to their website.

MFA has become increasingly important in recent years due to the proliferation of data breaches and cyberattacks. With traditional single-factor authentication, a hacker only needs to obtain a user's password in order to gain access to their accounts. With MFA, even if a hacker manages to obtain a user's password, they still need to provide additional evidence of their identity in order to access the system or service.

Yubi Key
MFA is an effective security measure because it makes it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to a system or service. Even if a hacker manages to obtain a user's password, they still need to provide additional evidence of their identity in order to access the system or service. This added layer of security can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

In addition to providing increased security, MFA can also improve user experience by reducing the risk of account lockouts and other security-related issues. With traditional single-factor authentication, users may experience account lockouts if they forget their password or enter it incorrectly. With MFA, users have additional methods of verifying their identity, which can reduce the risk of account lockouts and make it easier for users to access their accounts.

Marlon Buchanan
I recommend that everyone use MFA when it is offered. Most social media and financial accounts offer some form of MFA. 

If you are interested in learning more ways to protect yourself online, be sure to check out my book, The Personal Cybersecurity Manual: How Anyone Can Protect Themselves from Fraud, Identity Theft, and Other Cybercrimes, available at Amazon and in bookstores everywhere.

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.

See other HomeTechHacker articles here

Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Add Wi-Fi 6 to your home without buying a new router

Monday, February 20, 2023

By Marlon Buchanan

Do you have slow or dead Wi-Fi spots in your home? Do you want to speed up your Wi-Fi and make sure you can take advantage of the speed your new laptop or mobile phone can handle? Have you waited to upgrade and improve your Wi-Fi because you don’t want to replace your Wi-Fi router? Maybe all you need is a Wi-Fi 6 access point!

What’s Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the latest Wi-Fi standard. It is faster and more stable than its predecessors. Theoretical speeds for Wi-Fi 6 top out at 250% of the previous standard, Wi-Fi 5. As a bonus, Wi-Fi 6-certified devices come with WPA3, the latest Wi-Fi security standard. They also come with MU-MIMO, which helps Wi-Fi speeds when there are multiple devices connected.

What’s a Wi-Fi access point?

A Wi-Fi access point, sometimes called a wireless access point, connects to a router, switch, or hub via Ethernet and emits a Wi-Fi signal for connecting to your network. Wi-Fi access points are used for extending a wireless network.

You can add a Wi-Fi access point to your home network anywhere you have an Ethernet network connection. You don’t need to replace your router at all, as an access point can work with your Wi-Fi router. The best practice is to make the wireless access point Wi-Fi names and passwords the same as your router’s Wi-Fi networks to make it work seamlessly with your Wi-Fi devices.

Wireless access points can be really helpful if there’s a spot in your home that has a weak Wi-Fi signal. And, of course, you can use access points to add faster Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 6 to your home.

Wi-Fi access point
Recommended Wi-Fi access points

There are lots of good Wi-Fi access points, but I generally recommend TP-Link access points for most people. I personally own the EAP 610 as it has a great combination of features and prices. If you want a Wi-Fi access point and want to save some money and aren’t interested in Wi-Fi 6, I generally recommend (and own) the TP-Link EAP 225.

Marlon Buchanan, HomeTechHacker
You can find more recommendations for Wi-Fi access points by using the HomeTechHacker Technology Advisor or by checking out my Buyer’s guide

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.


Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Sell Your Old Tech For Money

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

By Marlon Buchanan

Did you get some new tech this holiday season? Maybe a new phone or a smart TV? What do you do with the tech it replaced? How about get some money for it?

Here are a few ways to get rid of old tech you aren’t using anymore while putting a little money in your pocket.

SellCell

SellCell is now my go-to for selling old cell phones. They are an aggregator; They’ll show you what all the top used cell phone companies (e.g., Declutter and BuybackBoss) are paying online and then you can choose which service you want to use to easily offload your phone. Sometimes you’ll get a bonus if you go through SellCell instead of directly through the used cell phone company.

Contrary to their name, they provide this service for more than cell phones. You can use them for tablets, wearables, gaming consoles, and more.

eBay

eBay is probably the online place you should sell your old items if you want to maximize your profit. However, it takes time to set up an eBay account, and time to properly set up a competitive listing. You also have to manage shipping and communication with potential buyers. If you are up for that, this is a great place to sell all of your electronics.

Swappa

Swappa is a human-powered marketplace that cuts out the middle person. It’s a platform where buyers deal directly with sellers, but with a focus on tech. They provide you with pricing data so you can maximize your sale. Buyers pay a small fee, but sellers don’t, which makes it different than eBay. You’ll have to set up an account to use the platform.

Game Stop Trade-In

Did you know Game Stop has a trade-in program for more than games and gaming consoles? They accept cell phones, tablets, headphones, and more. Using the Game Stop website or app, you can find up-to-date trade-in values for your gear. But, you have to take the gear to a local shop to trade it in.

When you trade in items, you can get store credit or cash. You’ll get a higher payout if you choose store credit. If you happen to be a Power Up Pro Rewards member at Game Stop you’ll get a 10% bonus on your trade-ins.

Amazon Trade-In

Okay, technically this option doesn’t give you cash for your old tech. But, if you’re like me, Amazon credit is basically cash because of all of the things you buy there. The process is simple. You go to the Amazon Trade-In Store and search to see if the item you want to trade-in is eligible. Assuming they accept your item, you then answer some questions about its condition. Amazon quotes you a value and if you accept it you can print a label and ship it to them.

Assuming they accept the item, you’ll get an Amazon gift card for the agreed-upon amount. If they don’t accept it, they’ll send it back to you for free. In some locations, you can drop off the item instead of shipping it.

Best Buy Trade-in is a similar program, except you end up with a Best Buy Gift card.

Donate it

You can always donate your items if none of the options above work for you. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local charities accept all kinds of different tech donations.

Sure, they don’t pay you for your electronics. But if you get a receipt you may be able to deduct them from your taxes, which is like money in your pocket. Talk to your accountant for details on whether or not this will work in your situation.

I’ve had good experiences donating old tech to Goodwill and local charities. I’ve also bought electronics from Goodwill, so I’m thankful for others who donate too!

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.

Marlon's previous columns can be found here



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: 5 Ways Smart Homes will change over the next 10 years

Monday, December 19, 2022

Marlong Buchanan, HomeTechHacker.com
By Marlon Buchanan

Technology is constantly changing. Even more than that, every year it changes at an even faster rate than it did the year before. 

Because of how fast it changes, predicting the future of any technology can be difficult. 

However, after consulting my crystal ball, here are five changes I see happening to the smart home in 10 years:

1.  Our smart homes will be more automated

Today, smart homes are much better at remote control than automation. Smart home residents primarily interact with their smart devices by sending commands via apps on their mobile device or a voice assistant (e.g., “Alexa, turn on the lights.”). 

In 10 years, most of these commands will be unnecessary. Smart homes will automatically do things for you based on the time of day, whether or not you are home, and all the information it has. 

The beginnings of this exist today with devices like smart thermostats that can adjust the temperature for you based on your presence, habits, preferences, the current temperature, etc.

2.  Smart home devices will all be interconnected

One of the biggest frustrations with smart homes and smart devices is getting devices to talk to each other from different manufacturers, based on different standards, and built to work in different ecosystems. 

It can be frustrating to have a smart light switch and a lamp connected to a smart plug in the same room, where one smart device only works with Google Assistant, and the other only works with Alexa. It would be difficult to issue one command to either assistant that turns all the lights on in that room. 

With the rise of newer technologies like Matter, which is backed and being adopted by most major smart home device manufacturers, all smart home devices will be able to talk and integrate with each other in 10 years.

Future tech
3.  Most devices in your home will be smart

Most of the day-to-day devices in your home can already be smart. 

However, some of these smart devices don’t add much functionality to their non-smart alternatives, and/or they are cost-prohibitive. 

As our devices become more interconnected, smart devices of all kinds will become more useful and prevalent, and thus their relative prices and availability will also improve.

4.  Smart sensors will be everywhere in the smart home

Right now, motion, temperature, light, and humidity sensors are the most prevalent types of sensors in the smart home. 

In the future, advances in embedded technologies, communication protocols, and portable battery life will make all kinds of sensors easier to install. 

Imagine sensors reading the temperature and water quality out of your faucets, health sensors reading your temperature and heart rate, air quality sensors determining the healthiness of the air you’re breathing, and more. 

These sensors will power the smarts of your home. Speaking of which…

Artificial intelligence will combine all data
5.  Artificial intelligence will combine all the data coming from your smart home to make it truly smart.
 

The smart home will use artificial intelligence to mine and interpret the data coming from your smart devices and smart sensors and combine them with your preferences to do things for you that you aren’t even thinking of. 

Running out of milk? Your smart home will know and order things for you. 

Getting ready to take a shower? Your smart home will already know what temperature you like the shower and set it perfectly. Are you getting sick or need medical attention? Your house can call a medical professional based on information from health sensors and what it knows about your health conditions. Your smart home will be smart enough to save your life!

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Precautions You Should Take When Using Public Wi-Fi

Sunday, November 27, 2022

By Marlon Buchanan

Most businesses that directly serve consumers, like hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and retail shops, provide Wi-Fi for their customers. 

This means that even if you are using a device that doesn’t have a cellular connection, like many tablets and laptops, you’re almost always close to a place that can give you access to the Internet via public Wi-Fi. 

While this is a great convenience, it's not without risk. The convenience and number of people using public Wi-Fi also make it an attractive target for cybercriminals.

Although most public Wi-Fi hotspots are safe to use you should still protect yourself by taking the follow precautions:

Use a VPN

I recommended using a virtual private network (VPN) to limit how much your activity is tracked on the Internet. A VPN can also protect you on public Wi-Fi by providing an extra layer of encryption on all of your activities. When using a VPN, hackers trying to employ a man-in-the-middle attack will have to decrypt the information they’ve stolen in order to use it, which takes more time, resources, and know-how than most hackers are able to spend.

Turn off file sharing services

It’s unlikely that you want to share files with anyone else connected to the same public Wi-Fi as you, so you should turn off sharing. Leaving sharing on enables hackers to exploit your system with malware. You can turn off sharing in the control panel of both MacOS and Windows, and you can even set sharing to automatically turn off when connecting to specific networks.

Stick to HTTPS sites

HTTPS is the secure and encrypted version of HTTP. It can protect you from man-in-the-middle attacks. However, make sure to pay attention to any warning your browser may give, even about HTTPS sites. Some hackers will attempt to give you a fake/invalid SSL certificate in order to make an HTTPS site look trusted. Your browser should detect this, but you have to pay attention to the warning.

Turn your Wi-Fi off

If you aren’t actively using your Wi-Fi to connect to a network, go ahead and turn it off. Wi-Fi devices still transmit and receive some information even when they are not connected to a network. Although the chances are small, it’s possible for a cybercriminal to exploit your Wi-Fi even when you aren’t connected to a network. As a bonus, you’ll have better battery life!

If your mobile device has antivirus software, turn it on

This is good general advice, but it’s especially important if you connect to public Wi-Fi. Antivirus software can detect common pieces of malware on your system.

Double-check that you are connecting to the right Wi-Fi network

Hackers will sometimes use an access point with a legitimate-sounding Wi-Fi network name to trick users into connecting to it. Then they can proceed to monitor everything you do over the connection and place malware on your device. Double-check the Wi-Fi name and credentials with the business providing the public Wi-Fi.

Using public Wi-Fi is convenient, but not without risks. If you take the precautions above you’ll significantly reduce the chances of anything nefarious occurring.

Marlon Buchanan
Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author,
IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology. 

You can find these and additional tips about cybersecurity best practices in his book The Personal Cybersecurity Manual: How Anyone Can Protect Themselves from Fraud, Identity Theft, and Other Cybercrimes.

Previous columns can be found HERE





Read more...

Book review: The Personal Cybersecurity Manual: How Anyone Can Protect Themselves from Fraud, Identity Theft, and Other Cybercrimes

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The Personal Cybersecurity Manual by Marlon Buchanan

Cybercriminals can ruin your life—The Personal Cybersecurity Manual teaches you to stop them before they can.

Cybercrime is on the rise. Our information is more valuable and vulnerable than ever. 

It’s important to learn to protect ourselves from those who wish to exploit the technology we rely on daily. Cybercriminals want to steal your money and identity and spy on you.

You don’t have to give up on the convenience of having an online life. You can fight back and protect yourself and your loved ones, all with the tools and information in this book.

This book will teach you to protect yourself from:
  • Identity theft
  • Ransomware
  • Spyware
  • Phishing
  • Viruses
  • Credit card fraud
…And so much more!

Don’t be a victim of cybercrime. Anyone can follow the information in this book and keep hackers and other cybercriminals at bay. You owe it to yourself to read this book and stay safe.
What others are saying about The Personal Cybersecurity Manual:

“A simplified and highly reliable guide to security/safety in Cyberspace from an expert in the field.”
- Reedsy Discovery
“This manual not only provides a comprehensive overview of common cyber attacks you need to be aware of, but offers very doable cybersecurity practices for preventing hackers from infiltrating your home network and personal information.”
- Goodreads Reviewer
The Personal Cybersecurity Manual paperback and audiobook are available at Amazon and bookstores worldwide. The ebook can be found in the Amazon Kindle store.

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Tips for Protecting Yourself From Cybercriminals on Social Media

Sunday, October 23, 2022

By Marlon Buchanan

Social media can be great for sharing information, consuming information, and connecting with people, but it’s also a treasure trove of opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit. Here are some of the cybersecurity issues with social media and how you can protect yourself.


Protect Your Identity and Privacy on Social Media


You may have published a lot of information about yourself on social media that can help cybercriminals commit identity theft and fraud. 

Have you looked at how much information you share in your profiles? Or the personal details you share in posts and tweets? 

In general, to protect yourself from cyberattacks you should refrain from sharing:
  • Your location data (GPS coordinates, IP address, etc.). Make sure the social media service you are using removes location data from pictures that you upload, or remove the location data yourself.
  • Personally identifying information (e.g., your full name with your middle name, your birthday, photos of passports, credit cards, and driver’s licenses). 
    • This includes information you might use as the answers to security questions like the name of your first pet, where you were born, your mother’s maiden name, etc.
  • Pictures of the exterior of a new home you just bought. Cybercriminals will use this information in phishing attacks and to try to commit identity fraud.
  • Photos of your young children and grandchildren. Photos, combined with names and other information, can be used to commit identity theft. 
    • The problem with identity theft of young children's information is that no one is usually checking their credit record. When those children become adults they may find they already have 10 years of bad credit and banking history that they have to fix.

Now, I know some of this seems drastic. If you are tightly controlling who you share information with, you can share some of these things on social media (like pictures of your children). But if you don’t 100% trust or know everyone you are sharing this information with then you shouldn’t share it, which leads me to my next recommendation.

Don’t “Friend” or “Connect” With People on Social Media That You Don’t Know

Although this advice is most applicable to Facebook and LinkedIn, it more generally applies to other social media networks like Instagram (e.g., who you allow to follow you). 

Your Facebook and LinkedIn profiles are a goldmine for identity thieves. One way these fraudsters try to compromise your identity is by getting access to more details about you by becoming part of your social media network.

Beware of Fake Profiles (Impersonation)

Another way scammers attack after friending you is by cloning your account. Once they are your friend, they can use that information to create a profile that looks just like yours, and then use that account to friend people you know, posing as you, in order to get access to your friend’s information, and run scams on them much easier because that friend thinks they are interacting with you.

You could also be the target of someone impersonating someone you know on social media. Make sure you really know who you are conversing and sharing information with. Just because it comes from an account that looks like your friend doesn’t mean it is your friend.

Social media platforms can be great communication tools, but they can also be exploited by cybercriminals. Taking these extra precautions can help you, your friends, and your family stay safe.

Marlon Buchanan
Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology. 





Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Jazz up your holiday displays with programmable LEDs

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

LED Strip
By Marlon Buchanan

After reading the title of this article some people are thinking that it is way too early to think about holiday lights. 

Others, on the other hand, are thinking it's never too early to get started! 

No matter where you sit on this spectrum, this article will give you some tips for jazzing up your holiday lights using LEDs.

Look for connected LEDs

You can find LED lights everywhere. Compared to older incandescent lights, they are more energy efficient, run cooler, and are capable of displaying many different colors. 

However, if you buy a plain set of lights, chances are it simply comes on and goes off when you plug it in and doesn’t change colors.

LED String
You can also find lights that have control boxes that will let you cycle through a few colors and/or patterns.

But, it would be better to get a set of lights you can control remotely, such as ones that are Bluetooth enabled or Wi-fi enabled. 

These lights are likely to have more patterns and features than other lights. And, you often don’t need a timer, as you can usually program them through an app. 

You may even be able to control them with your preferred voice assistant.

“Siri, turn on my holiday lights!”

Not to mention, many connected LEDs can integrate with each other to create coordinated light displays. You can potentially coordinate multiple light displays if the lights have multiple colors and patterns.

Addressable LED string
Look for individually addressable LED lights

The holy grail of LED lights are individually addressable LED strips and strings. 

Most LED lights can only be one or two different colors at a time. 

In contrast, individually addressable LED lights allow control of each individual light by itself, so your strip can be just about any combination of colors. 

This allows you to create impressive animated light displays.

Another advantage of individually addressable lights is that you get a ton of color choices. Most lights are 24-bit, meaning that each LED can be 16.7 million different colors. You can also control how bright they are too.

If you want to have the ultimate control you can pair individually addressable lights with a separate controller, or even build your own controller!

LEDs on the fence

I got the addressable LED light bug a couple of years. In addition to augmenting my holiday displays, I use LED lights year-round for themed lighting, kitchen and bedroom accents, and more. You can see videos of these lights in action in this article where I describe the lighting at my home.

Where to find the right LED lights

If you're looking for LEDs that fit some of the criteria, you’re in luck! Here are my recommendations for LED lights and controllers. Here you can find connected and addressable lights that will fit your needs. I also have recommendations for DIY LED and ready-to-go LED kits in the HomeTechHacker Shop.

Best wishes with your holiday display!

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: Prepare Your Home Technology for Outages

Saturday, August 27, 2022

power lines go down frequently
By Marlon Buchanan

Fall and winter in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park are prime seasons for outages. Power lines, cable lines, and fiber lines are above ground and near many trees. Every year I’ve lived here I’ve experienced at least one utility outage.

The smart home devices and other technology in your house probably rely on power, cloud services, and Internet service. How do you prepare your home technology for when these services are down? Below are some tips.

Know what happens when you have an outage

In order to know what outages to prepare for, think about the ones you’ve had recently. Did your power go out last year? For how long and how many times? Does your Internet service provider (ISP) frequently have outages? Has your cloud smart home hub service gone down?

You can do some testing. You probably already know what happens when there is a power outage. What about when you lose Internet service?

Run a test for this by simply unplugging your modem from your router or ISP. What still works in your house and what doesn’t? Make note of what doesn’t work right, and what doesn’t have a workaround. This will help you plan later. Here are some things that may not work properly:
  • Smart plugs, speakers, switches, thermostats, etc.
  • Home security system
  • Surveillance cameras
  • Streaming services

Do some testing
Dealing with Internet and cloud service outages

You’ve done your Internet outage testing and determined what works and what doesn’t. Are there things you can’t live without? You have a couple of options depending on your situation:
  • Replace important devices that require an Internet connection to work with ones that don’t. Not every device in your home needs to be smart. Also, some smart devices can still work even without an Internet or cloud service connection. Remember, cloud services can go down even when your Internet connection is working. For example, your smart thermostat may rely on a service that goes down. Try to look for devices that will still give you key functionality even when the service provider is having problems.
  • Have a backup (failover) Internet connection. You could have two wired services, but when one goes down the other might too if the outage was caused by a downed tree line. This is why I decided to implement cellular failover Internet in my house.
Dealing with power outages

Loss of power is the outage most of us are pretty familiar with. All of us have experienced some type of outage caused by a storm, accident, or even scheduled brownouts. What should you do to protect and prepare your smart home? Here are some suggestions:
  • Buy a whole-home surge protector – Often power outages are preceded by power surges which can damage your home electronics. A whole-home surge protector will provide protection.
  • Connect key electronics to an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) – UPSs are great for keeping devices running during short power outages and allowing you time to gracefully shut computers down so no data or files are lost.
  • Get a whole-home UPS or a generator – These can keep some or even all of your electronic devices running during a power outage. There are lots of different kinds. Prices can go from the hundreds to the tens of thousands for installation, but it might be worth looking into.
Have a plan
Have a disaster recovery plan

What happens when the power comes back? Internet? Do things need to be rebooted or reconnected? Make sure you have a plan for how to get things back up and running quickly when the outage is over. The more complicated your home technology, the more detailed this plan may need to be. When an outage happens, you’ll be glad you were prepared.

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: 5 Back to School Tech Picks

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

By Marlon Buchanan

It may feel like summer is just getting started. However, before you know it, kids (and adults) will be back in school again. 

Now is a good time to prepare. 

Here are five technology picks that will make school easier and better for the student(s) in your family.

1. Chromebook
Chromebooks are great choices for students in elementary school all the way through college. They are inexpensive, secure, and easy to use. Most secondary schools have standardized using Chromebooks for their classrooms. I’ve been recommending Chromebooks for years. There are a lot of good Chromebooks, even at budget prices, and here are some specific Chromebooks I recommend for students and everyone else.

2. Portable power bank
Laptops, smartphones, wearables, and tablets. Everyone has portable electronic devices. Their biggest flaw is that they need to be kept charged. A portable power bank can really help out if your devices start running out of juice because you forgot to charge them and aren’t near an outlet. Everyone should have one, especially on-the-go students. There are many good ones out there, and I recommend a couple of them in my HomeTechHacker Shop.

3. Portable earbuds
Students love to listen to music, TikTok, and YouTube videos on bus rides and in between classes. A set of earbuds are almost a necessity. You can splurge on AirPods or Pixel Buds, or you can find many budget earbuds that perform great for under $50.

4. Accessory organizer
Another problem with being a student on the go is organizing all of your accessories. The Incase Accessory Organizer is compact but incredibly useful. It has places to store charging bricks, portable power packs, pens and pencils, USB cables, earbuds, and more. No more searching around your backpack or purse for what you need.

5. Sunrise Alarm Clock
This sunrise alarm clock is great for students of all ages. Who wants to wake up to loud and jarring alarms or music? How about waking up to the light as intended by our bodies? Getting up on time is a struggle for everyone, especially students. If you can’t sleep in, using this alarm clock is a good alternative. It can also produce natural sounds and function as a nightlight.

The student in your life will thank you for any of these items and will be much better off for having them. You might want to pick up one or two of these for yourself too!

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: 3 Reasons You Should Cut the Cord

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Marlon Buchanan
By Marlon Buchanan

Are you ready to cut the cord? To me, cutting the cord means no longer relying on cable/satellite service for your TV viewing. 

Instead, cord-cutters use some combination of streaming services and an antenna.

I finally got around to cutting the cord in 2019. Here are some of the reasons I did it, and why you should consider it.

You could save money

There is a good chance you’ll save money using streaming replacement services like YouTubeTV and SlingTV instead of cable and satellite. This will in large part depend on how many streaming services you end up subscribing to, and what channels you need. One thing that is great about streaming services is that there are no hidden fees. The price they state is the price you pay.

You can save even more if you can use an antenna to get your local stations. My personal experience is that I saved a significant amount of money by cutting the cord, especially when you consider I was already paying for some streaming services. Speaking of which…

You already have to stream your favorite shows

You’re probably already using services like Disney Plus, HBO Max, and Netflix. Moreover, more and more shows are exclusive to their proprietary streaming service. Some of these shows are not even available on cable or cable replacement services. You are already streaming video, so why not cut the cord completely?

No contracts


In order to get the best rates from satellite and cable TV providers you usually have to commit to a contract. Canceling your service can cost you, and some will charge activation and/or installation fees if you come back.

Some streaming services offer discounts for annual subscriptions but you can always choose a monthly subscription and cancel whenever you want. 

Also, you don’t have to call someone and deal with the “retention” department when canceling. It can all be handled online. And, you can come back whenever you want with no fees involved in canceling or subscribing.

Some streaming services I only use for parts of the year. I cancel or pause them when I’m not using them which helps me to save more money.

Some things to consider before you cut the cord


Cord-cutting isn’t for everybody. Even if you think it is for you, make sure to consider the following:
  • You may not save as much as you think – Streaming services have been raising their prices. But, so have cable and satellite companies. However, you may end up paying more if you have your cable service bundled with your Internet service. If you cancel your cable service, your Internet bill may go up.
  • You’ll have lots of choices to manage – There are so many streaming services. It may take some time to find the right mix of services to meet your needs.
  • You need good Internet service – Streaming services will be frustrating if your Internet service has low bandwidth or is unreliable. Also, many Internet service providers impose data caps and will charge you overage fees. You should improve your Internet service first if you have any of these issues. I ended up switching to a better and faster service with no data caps that actually cost me less than what I was paying.

Cutting the cord may be a great option for you. Just be sure you’ve considered the advantages and potential disadvantages.

---
Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology. He lives in Lake Forest Park.



Read more...

HomeTechHacker: 7 Wi-Fi Router features to look for

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Marlon Buchanan
HomeTechHacker
By Marlon Buchanan

Your Wi-Fi router is the most important network device in your home. 

It plays a large role in your home network’s security, speed, and stability. 

Here are 7 features to look for if you are in the market for a new Wi-Fi router:

1. Guest network capability
You want to have a separate network for guests for security purposes. It keeps your home network devices safe from potentially compromised devices that you don’t control. It also allows you to keep your primary home network password private.

2. Mesh capability
Strong Wi-Fi throughout your home is sometimes hard to achieve with just one device providing your Wi-Fi access. A mesh Wi-Fi router system provides multiple points of Wi-Fi access all integrated into one system. This is especially useful if you have a larger home, or have trouble spots where Wi-Fi coverage is spotty or slow.

If you aren’t sure if you need a mesh Wi-Fi router system you don’t have to start off buying one. You can buy a router that has the capability to integrate into a mesh system so you can expand in the future.

3. Automatic firmware updates
Keeping your router up to date is one of the most important ways to keep your home network secure. New exploits are found frequently and these updates contain fixes that protect against new security vulnerabilities. Your router should at least be able to notify you of available firmware updates.

4. Management App
Older routers have basic features that you can access and configure by logging into a website and navigating the web pages for the features you want to configure. Many newer routers come with apps that make navigating all of these features easily and conveniently done from the comfort of your mobile device.

5. WPA3
WPA3, or Wi-Fi Protected Access 3, is the latest standard for securing Wi-Fi connections. It uses more powerful encryption than WPA2, better protecting your network from snooping hackers. Most Wi-Fi devices don’t yet support WPA3, but newer devices do and soon it will become ubiquitous.


6. MU-MIMO

MU-MIMO, which stands for Multiple User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output, is a Wi-Fi technology that increases the capacity and efficiency of your router’s Wi-Fi connections, allowing it to handle more WiFi-intensive activities such as streaming and gaming. This technology is more important if you have a lot of Wi-Fi devices on your network.

7. Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the latest Wi-Fi standard. It is faster and more stable than its predecessors. Theoretical speeds for Wi-Fi 6 top out at 250% of the previous standard, Wi-Fi 5. As a bonus, Wi-Fi 6-certified devices come with WPA3 and MU-MIMO.

Look for these seven features when shopping for a Wi-Fi router. If you get one that has Wi-Fi 6, it is likely to have many if not all of the other features as well. Check out my HomeTechHacker Technology Advisor for personalized advice on which Wi-Fi 6 router to buy.

Marlon Buchanan is a best-selling author, IT Director, and founder of HomeTechHacker.com, a website with free resources to help you make the most of your home technology.



Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP