Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Wednesday, January 12, 2022.
Topics covered in this issue…
• Prevent unauthorized charges by ‘locking’ your bank cards
• Q&A: Can just anyone use Xfinity’s secure WiFi hotspots?
• Upgrade your desktop PC by adding USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
• Every wonder why athletic shoes are called ‘sneakers’?
• Info about my photo / file recovery service
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Today’s Quick Tip….
Prevent unauthorized charges by ‘locking’ your bank cards
Do you worry about hackers and scammers stealing your credit or debit card info and using it to buy things with your money? Or even worse, draining your bank account(s) completely dry?
Unfortunately that’s a valid fear because it happens to countless victims each and every day.
Being protective of your card info and judicious about the places where you use your cards can go a long way towards keeping your accounts safe, but in today’s world there are no guarantees.
Today I’m going to tell you about a little-known tool that’s available to most cardholders that can really help prevent fraudulent charges.
It’s called a “Card Lock”, and the odds are pretty high that your card has one. To find out just log into the account you use to manage the card and look for a button or link that says “Lock this card”, “Lock card” or something similar.
With some cards the Lock/Unlock setting will be front and center as soon as you log in to the account. For others you’ll find it under a “Security” or “Manage Card” tab.
If you’re concerned that locking your card will prevent recurring transactions or scheduled bill payments from going through, don’t be. Any pre-existing recurring charges will be paid.
However, new transactions such as purchases, cash advances or ATM withdrawals will be denied.
Simply unlock your card when you need to use it, then lock it right back after the transaction is complete. This entire process takes just a few seconds with most banks’ mobile apps.
And now, one final tip for this topic…
Most everyone has a PayPal account these days. If you have one, chances are you also have one of PayPal’s debit cards.
Luckily, PayPal debit cards can be locked as well. Just sign in to your account, click on your debit card and finish up by clicking Lock card.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips…
• Q&A: Can just anyone use Xfinity’s secure WiFi hotspots?
A reader wants to know if she can use Xfinity’s secure WiFi hotspots even though she isn’t an Xfinity customer. This post has the answer.
• Upgrade your desktop PC by adding USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
USB 3.2 Gen 2 is vastly superior to earlier generations of USB ports. This post explains how to add five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports to your desktop computer.
• 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 Pick…
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 (#ad)
Looking for a generator that doesn’t require gasoline or diesel fuel to operate?
This awesome kit from Jackery could be just what you’re looking for.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Every wonder why athletic shoes are called ‘sneakers’?
You probably know that athletic shoes are often called ‘sneakers’. This post explains why.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Apple paid out around $60 billion to App Store developers in 2021
• Facebook’s request to dismiss FTC’s antitrust lawsuit has been denied
• Twitter’s Explore tab will begin hiding blocked and muted accounts
• Pokémon Go: Police fired for chasing Snorlax instead of robbers
• Crypto scams are the top threat to investors ‘by far,’ say securities regulators
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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?
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com