Tips & Hints

* 9 scary personal details Google collects about you

TechViews.org Android, Browsers, Email, Google, Mobile Devices, Online Dangers, Privacy, Tips & Hints

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Our readers know that we have been warning about Google’s personal data collection since we went live. Google is, without a doubt, the worst offender of privacy online. However, we all need to wade through Google’s services from time to time, so we tend to ignore that simple truth.

And a huge number of people still use – and like – Gmail either as their main service or a backup. And if you use an Android device, you must have a Gmail account, but that doesn’t mean you need to use it all the time.

A brief glance through our listing of previous articles will show multiple times we’ve tried to help cure people of their Google addiction. Unfortunately, Google’s business model is about spying on us and reselling our personal information to whomever will buy it. And folks … there are a LOT of companies and government agencies that want to know about us.

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* Cyber Security is now a Girl Scout Merit Badge

TechViews.org Internet Security, Tips & Hints

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The Girl Scouts have come a long way since making clothes for dolls. With today’s emphasis on technical security and computing skills, the Girl Scouts now offer a Merit Badge in Cyber Security.

The Boy Scouts have already offered a series of Merit Badges on various skills related to computing. Now the Girl Scouts have joined the ranks to teaching our kids the importance of protecting themselves online.

Starting next year, they will now have an opportunity to earn a badge in cyber security. The new badge will be available to participants from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. The cyber education program will encourage girls to pursue a career in cyber security. Members will learn about data privacy, cyber bullying, and how to protect themselves online.

This is one of the best releases of news for training our youth that has come along in a long time. If you have children in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, please encourage and support them to achieve these Merit Badges.

It’s important for their future and ours.

Be Safe – Backup Your Data Regularly!

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*Block Spam calls & SMS on Android with these five apps

TechViews.org Android, Mobile Devices, Online Dangers, Smartphones, Tips & Hints

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Spam used to be just about email (and that nasty canned stuff). But now it is following us to our smartphones in the form of spam-texts and robo-calls. You could opt for not responding to those texts, or answering calls from unknown callers, but then you run the risk of missing an important message.

Most of the time, it’s about things that don’t interest you or information or products you’ll never use. Nonetheless, you still have to deal with them, just like regular emails & phone calls.

Getting rid of spam calls/SMS on your Android device is actually as easy as using one of the following apps. These Android apps will help make those annoying calls and texts not show up in your inbox.

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*Google’s interest-based ads can be controlled

TechViews.org Google, Online Advertising, Tips & Hints

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Don’t you hate it when an ad about a product or service you recently looked for tends to follow you around the Internet?

Most of the time, this is thanks to ad networks. An ad network is made up of companies that share information they know about you so you see ads you’re more likely to click on. While that’s scary, it also means you can opt out in one place and it applies to many companies, as in the case of Facebook and the Digital Advertising Alliance. However, Google has another ad-targeting system you need to know about.

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*Ready to cut the cord on Google?

TechViews.org Google, Microsoft, Privacy, Tips & Hints

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People are beginning to realize that Google is recording and reselling their personal data. On top of that, that personal data is being sold to unknown (to us) advertisers, corporations, and government agencies.

How can they do that? Well I don’t know many people that read the User Agreements (EULA) that we are asked to approve every time we use a new online service. Next time … take the time. You’ll be surprised how much you are allowing other companies into your personal matters.

But that’s another story.

That being said, Google is the largest of the data collection companies we normally use, followed right after that by Facebook and Microsoft (through Windows-10). Many tech- conscious users are beginning to move away from Google, some are even cutting the cord completely.

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* How to clear out your browsing data from Android browsers

TechViews.org Android, Browsers, Mobile Devices, Tips & Hints

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Android mobile devices come with a basic, built in browser. While basic, the stock browser is really quite adept and fast in its use.

You may, if you choose, also install alternate browsers for use. The more popular ones are Firefox, Chrome, Dolphin & Opera (I use Dolphin).

Regardless which browser you use, our readers by now know that browsers collect and store information about your web activity, regardless to whether you are using a desktop or laptop computer, or a mobile device.

There are multiple reasons why deleting cookies, clearing the cache, and removing browsing history can benefit not only your privacy but also your devices and browsing sessions more generally.

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* 10 cybersecurity myths inside corporate culture

TechViews.org Internet Security, Malware, Online Dangers, Tips & Hints

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There are a lot of misconceptions out there concerning the importance of cybersecurity. Most people just hear the term and think it is someone else’s responsibility. But the most common misconceptions about cybersecurity may surprise you. See if you’ve heard a few of these myths and what the truth is.

Myth #1: The only worthwhile targets are large corporations

Everyone is a target and no one is immune from cybercrime’s impact. Of the companies that experienced cyberattacks in 2016, 31% were small and mid-sized companies that had less than 250 employees.

Myth #2: Users aren’t facing that many threats in a given day

The average organization with 1,000 to 3,000 employees will see anywhere from 11 to 20 incidents in a single day. Larger organizations that have 3,001 to 5,000 employees? Well, they’re a bit busier and see 21 to 30 incidents a day. The largest organizations that have 5,001+ employees will see 31 to 50 incidents in any given day, all according to McAfee Labs’ Threats Report.

Myth #3: Outsiders are the bad guys

Though you may not want to think about your own staff and users acting against you, it happens more often than most people realize. Roughly a third of all incidents are actually caused by insiders, whether that’s due to negligence, accident, or actual malicious intent. This number is backed up both by a Radware report and a study conducted by Verizon.

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