Protecting Internet Accounts

Security experts say passwords for more than 2 million Facebook, Google and other accounts have been compromised and circulated online. When a malicious hacker gets a password to one account, it’s often a stepping stone to a more serious breach, especially because many people use the same passwords on multiple accounts. So if someone breaks into your Facebook account, that person might try the same password on your banking or Amazon account. Suddenly, it’s not just about fake messages being posted to your social media accounts. It’s about your hard-earned money. So do not use the same passwords for email, banks, and internet phone services. Another thing you can do to protect yourself is to make the passwords long and use a combination of letters and symbols while avoiding words that are in the dictionary. Lastly, it is important to change the password regularly.

Technology These Days

We don’t yet know what, if any, the implications will be for a generation coming of age in a digital era, and the question fills even the most tech-savvy among us with a mixture of wonder and trepidation. I grew up knowing what it was like not to be in front of a glowing screen and not being able to get online. Or in the process of getting online, there were all kinds of beeps and whirrs that resulted in not being able to use the land line. These days most people do not even have a home phone because cell phones and other internet phone services have replaced the need for a land line. It is true the pervasiveness of technology is shaping us, whether or not we like it — but perhaps it is also true that comparing the future with an outdated past is not going to beget any reliable answers anytime soon. Do you feel that technology has shaped your life in a negative or positive way? It is something that we cannot live without nor avoid in our lives. Socrates once railed on and on about how writing is going to ruin humanity because people will not need to remember things if they simply write them down. Clearly, there is more to the written word than he thought.

Time Savers

When you opened that new smartphone and smelled the sweet smell of the amazing phone services, did you ever once think about opening the instructions to find out how to use it? I thought so. The most amazing technological advances for everyday life would never see the light of day if the interface needed instructions. You only have to accidentally hit the space bar once to notice the webpage you are reading then scrolls down. We really do not need a 30-second voicemail prompt to tell us how to leave a message. Regardless of what industry you're in or what product of service you are selling, the key to success is connecting your brand with your customers. Every point of contact must be choreographed. Your customers must feel that you understand the way they think. So, any thoughts on these time saving technologies?

Going to Work Sick

Admit it, how many times a year do you go to work sick when you know you should have stayed home simply because you know that you cannot miss a day or getting that day's pay? The average adult gets a cold about two or three times a year, with each one lasting up to a week, or sometimes longer. Even though it can be tempting to go to work while you're sick, there are many reasons why you are better off staying home. First of all, you will get other people sick and they will not be entirely grateful for that present. Secondly, pushing yourself and working too much in the early stages of illness may actually prolong your recovery time. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to colds. If you must show up to work, disinfect touched objects such as phones systems, doorknobs, and computer keyboards, and consider avoiding sharing items such as pens.

Switching to Android

With all the hype going on since the release of the new iPhone, have you ever considered switch to something different, something unknown? You can read all you want about the different OS but without the test drive, you will not know for sure. One of the things that I liked about Android are the widgets. With Android, you can have a real-time weather or sports widget right on your home screen in any number of sizes. Another great thing is the Google integration because we all use Google for so many activities. Finally, the phone services are not that hard to master even though the wealth of menus and options. After five years of iPhone ownership, the gestures I use to control the device are deeply ingrained. The swipes, the pinches, the long taps – it’s all second nature and not something I wanted to relearn. Thankfully, Android and iOS share most common gestures and commands.

Relax This Weekend

As we approach the long weekend, it might be a good idea to take the time to relax. We ALL need to step back now and then and take a breather. It's impossible to go full speed all the time. One of the things that you can do is put all those emails and internet fax on hold. Being able to relax and recharge is important for maintaining health, energy and focus. Stress affects each of us in different ways, and none of them are beneficial to our health. Stress can weaken your immune system and cause uncomfortable physical symptoms like headaches and stomach problems, as well as insomnia and irritability. While the link between stress and heart disease is still unclear, studies have suggested that chronic stress that causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure may damage the artery walls. Some other things that you can do is call up an old friend and have a couple laughs. Try to get six to eight hours of sleep each night. Use "to do" lists to help you focus on your most important tasks. Approach big tasks one step at a time. For example, start by organizing just one part of your life -- your car, desk, kitchen, closet, cupboard or drawer.

Gen Y and Tech Security

Are you concerned about your teenager sharing too much information on his or her smartphone? A new poll from the Pew Internet & American Life Project suggests that while there is some room for improvement, American teens are finally starting to understand the privacy risks associated with downloading smartphone mobile applications. It seems that finally something is clicking with this younger generation. It is important to remember just how sensitive private information is in the digital age. There are numerous ways that people can mine private information in order to gain access to different accounts and scam people. Interestingly enough, when it comes to location tracking, there’s a massive gender gap: 59% of girls have turned off the feature either for an individual app or for their entire phone. Only 37% of boys reported that they disabled tracking in the same manner. How do you feel about location tracking and mobile privacy?