Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Update for Sunday, October 17, 2021.
Topics covered in this issue…
• Have any of the apps on your smartphone morphed into malware?
• Scam alert: Beware these dangerous ‘Social Security’ related scams
• How make your Android phone’s battery charge last a little longer
• How to earn extra cash from home, using your own computer
• Did you know albino animals have counterparts that are solid black?
• Info about my photo / file recovery service
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Today’s Quick Tip….
Have any of the apps on your smartphone morphed into malware?
If you have a smartphone you probably have at least a few apps on it that you’ve downloaded to perform some task or another.
Well here’s a little secret for you…
Just because an app was safe at the time you installed it, that doesn’t mean it’s still safe today.
Unfortunately, some legitimate (and truly useful) apps morph into malware at some point. This can happen in one of two ways:
1 – A hacker hijacks the app and inserts malicious code into it without the knowledge or permission of the app’s author.
2 – A hacker buys an app from its owner and then alters the code to make it do all kinds of nefarious things.
Regardless of how they got that way, newly-malicious apps can be made to do virtually anything a devious hacker wants them to do, including steal your personal and financial info from the phone, turn on the phone’s camera and/or microphone and use it to spy on you, and more.
The thing is, you’ll likely never know that an app on your phone has morphed into malware just by using it. You might experience some negative symptoms, but chances are you’ll never find out what’s actually going on with the phone.
That’s why you need to periodically check up on your installed apps to makes sure they’re still legit and safe to use. Here’s how:
1 – Type the name of an app into Google along with the words malware and spyware and see if any articles or news items pop up indicating that the app has gone over to the dark side.
2 – Revisit the app’s download page in the appropriate app store and read some of the most recent user reviews. If there’s a problem there will likely be numerous comments in the reviews explaining what’s going on.
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The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips…
• Scam alert: Beware these dangerous Social Security related scams
If you’re a retiree drawing a Social Security check every month, you should know that you’re a prime target for scammers. This post explains how to recognize and avoid the most common types of Social Security related scams.
• How make your Android phone’s battery charge last a little longer
Does the battery in your Android phone run down faster than it seems like it should? If so, here’s a very simple tip that can help extend your phone’s battery charges.
• How to earn extra cash from home, using your own computer
The Internet is jam-packed with fraudulent ‘Work from home’ scams. The opportunity discussed in this post isn’t one of them.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
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Rick’s Daily Tips is hosted by InMotion Hosting. Click here to find out why.
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Rick’s Daily Pick…
2021 Newest Dell Inspiron 3511 15.6″ Laptop (#ad)
If you’ve been putting off the purchase of a new laptop until the new Windows 11 machines arrived, they’re here!
This nice laptop from Dell offers an excellent balance of power and price, and I believe it’s perfectly suited for general home and Internet use.
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Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Did you know albino animals have counterparts that are solid black?
You’re probably aware that albino animals are solid white.
Well, there’s actually an opposite of albinos. These animals are melanistic, and they are (mostly) all black.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• A year later, Apple’s MagSafe continues to underwhelm
• EV range: Maximize an electric car’s potential
• Meet the startups changing mobility for emerging middle classes
• Apple poised to finish transforming its MacBook lineup on Monday
• Smartphone shipments fell due to ongoing component shortages
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Rick’s Photo / File Recovery Service…
Do you have precious photos and/or other irreplaceable files that you’d like to recover from a non-working computer?
Chances are I’ll be able to recover them for you, even if the machine won’t turn on or start up correctly.
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com