Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Monday, January 3, 2021.
Topics covered in this issue…
• Here’s a simple tip for protecting your sensitive info
• Q&A: How’s the best way for all of our office PCs to access the same files?
• Scam alert: Beware the ‘Professional Squatters’ scam
• Q&A: Is Colonial Penn life insurance a scam?
• Info about my photo / file recovery service
Today’s Sponsor…
Maria Fontana – Growing aligned businesses and shifting mindsets for extraordinary entrepreneurs.
Have something you’d like to tell thousands of awesome subscribers?
Click here to sponsor the next available issue.
Welcome, new subscribers….
You can make sure these updates keep landing in your Inbox by adding my email address to your Address Book or Contacts List. Click here for instructions.
Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Click here to subscribe.
Today’s Quick Tip….
Here’s a simple tip for protecting your sensitive info
Do you often carry a USB flash drive containing sensitive information along with you when you travel?
Do you have info that you’d really prefer to keep private stored on a flash drive that remains on your desk next to your computer?
The fact is, most of us keep one or more USB flash drives that we use to store financial information or some other type of sensitive info on hand at all times.
Have you ever considered what could happen if yours becomes lost or stolen, effectively handing all of that sensitive info over to someone who might end up using it for nefarious purposes?
The danger of that happening is quite real, but there’s a very easy way to avoid it: Store your info on a USB flash drive that’s encrypted and protected with a strong password.
There are several ways to accomplish that:
1 – If your computer’s operating system provides a native encryption tool (Windows’ Bitlocker, for example) you can use that tool to encrypt and password-protect the info stored on the drive.
2 – Use a third-party open-source tool to encrypt the drive’s contents. You’ll find several good ones to choose from in this article by our friends at TechRadar.
3 – Purchase a quality USB flash drive with encryption technology already built-in. There are several good ones out there but I really like this one from Sandisk.
Of the three methods mentioned above, I prefer #3 because it’s so simple, easy and effective. Simply open the drive on your computer and assign it a strong password.
Bottom line: Keeping sensitive information on an unencrypted flash drive is dangerous, especially if you carry that drive along with you as you travel.
Secure your sensitive info by encrypting it and choosing a strong password to protect the encrypted data.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips…
• Q&A: How’s the best way for all of our office PCs to access the same files?
A reader asks for advice about the best way for everyone in his small office to access (and update) the same set of shared files.
• Scam alert: Beware the ‘Professional Squatters’ scam
Do you own a vacant home or undeveloped land? If so, read this post.
• 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.
Pro blogging tip…
Rick’s Daily Tips is hosted by InMotion Hosting. Click here to find out why.
Rick’s Daily Pick…
Anker USB-A 3.0 to USB-C Adapter (2 pack) (#ad)
Do you have one or more devices with standard USB-A connectors that you’d like to use with a newer device that only has connectors for USB-C?
These fantastic adapters from Anker will let you connect a favorite mouse, a standard USB flash drive or most any other legacy USB device to your newer MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or other USB-C only machine.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Q&A: Is Colonial Penn life insurance a scam?
A reader wants to know if Colonial Penn’s guaranteed acceptance life insurance plan is a scam. This post has the answer.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• Microsoft fixed a Y2K-style bug that broke Exchange email
• AT&T, Verizon reject request to delay their 5G launches
• Samsung’s new M8 monitor has a built-in smart home hub
• Cybersecurity 2022: More fraud, more fakes, more crypto scams
• University loses 77 Terabytes of critical research data due to backup error
Wondering how you can help me keep doing what I’m doing?
1 – If you’d like to help support my work, you can do so by leaving me a tip.
Every penny of your tip will go towards my blog’s web hosting and other related fees, which are substantial.
2 – You can Forward this email to a friend along with a short note of recommendation. (Just click the “Forward” button or link.)
Rest assured that anything you can do to help me keep helping folks will be greatly appreciated.
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.
Have a question, comment or suggestion? Hit the Reply button and reply to this email. I love hearing what you have to say…
Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com