Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Topics covered in this issue…
• Be careful if you have ‘Find My’ enabled on your Apple device
• How to avoid falling for hoaxes and scams on Facebook
• How to quickly view the warranty status of your iPhone or iPad
• How to keep an eye on your dog (and toss him a treat) while you’re away from home
• March’s Tech Tips Giveaway: HP Pavilion 17.3″ HD+ Laptop
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Monthly Tech Giveaway….
We have a winner for February…
Congratulations to Alan S. from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for winning the Beelink Mini PC in February’s Tech Tips Giveaway.
March’s winner will receive an HP Pavilion 17.3″ HD+ Laptop (click for details).
The prizes featured in my Monthly Tech Giveaways include a combination of the best items I have received for testing and review and brand new items provided directly by partner companies.
All winners are selected at random. All Standard subscribers have an equal chance to win. All Premium subscribers have double the chance to win (their email addresses are added to the pot twice).
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Today’s featured tech tip….
Be careful if you have ‘Find My’ enabled on your Apple device
Apple’s “Find My” tool includes a fantastic feature called “Activation Lock” that can prevent a lost or stolen Apple device from being used by anyone who finds it or steals it from its rightful owner.
In a nutshell, it prevents anyone other than the owner from using or activating a ‘found’ device, even if they manage to reset it back to it’s factory default settings.
In order to disable the Activation Lock the person would have to know the owner’s Apple ID and password so they can log into their iCloud account. If they are unable to do so they won’t be able to disable the Activation Lock and start using the device.
And therein lies a potential problem for you…
If you forget the passcode to your iPhone or iPad you’ll have to reset the device in order to regain access to it. After the reset is complete you’ll also need to log into your iCloud account and disable Activation Lock by turning off “Find My”.
Yes, it’s your device.
And yes, you were able to successfully reset it back to its factory default settings.
But until you log into your iCloud account and disable Activation Lock on the device (by turning off “Find My”) it’ll be about as useful to you as a saddle on a goldfish.
That’s why it’s extremely important that you write down your Apple ID and password and store that info in a safe place. You’ll definitely need it if you ever get locked out of your device and end up needing to disable Activation Lock.
It’s also very important that you keep some type of documentation proving that you purchased the device in question.
If you’re ultimately unable to log into iCloud and disable “Find My”, Apple will disable it for you – but only if you have a receipt or some other type of acceptable document.
This page has the info you need in order to ask for Apple’s assistance with disabling “Find My”.
Bottom line: I strongly recommend that you enable “Find My” on your iPhone and/or iPad. Just make sure you’ll always be able to log into your iCloud account and that you’ll always have documentation proving that you purchased the device.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• How to avoid falling for hoaxes and scams on Facebook
This post explains what you need to be on the lookout for.
• How to quickly view the warranty status of your iPhone or iPad
It just takes a minute or two.
• 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.
Rick’s Daily Pick…
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, yet functional and extremely durable laptop backpack, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one than this at any price. I’ve been using mine and recommending it to others for years.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
How to keep an eye on your dog (and toss him a treat) while you’re away from home
This thing is awesome.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Hertz CEO steps down following Tesla EV purchase debacle
• YouTube now requires creators to disclose when realistic content was made with AI
• Report: Hackers can access your private, encrypted AI assistant chats
• This new attack uses the sound of your keystrokes to steal your passwords
• Google: Chrome’s new real-time URL scanner won’t invade your privacy
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com