Month: February 2021

IOS 14 Privacy Updates

Apple in February 2021 introduced the latest version of its iOS operating system, iOS 14.4, which was released on September 16. iOS 14 is one of Apple’s biggest iOS updates to date, introducing Home Screen design changes, major new features, updates for existing apps, Siri improvements, and many other tweaks that streamline the iOS interface.

In my opinion one of the biggest changes is the Updated Privacy protections require developers to get permission before accessing devices on a local network, and there are new options for limiting access to select photos or providing apps with only approximate location data. All apps are also required to get user permission before tracking them across websites, and new icons show up on the Home Screen when an app is using a camera or microphone.

For instance, one now can request Facebook not to pass our information to companies outside of Facebook which will eventually create a LAWSUITS war between Apple and Facebook. If you want to know how to tell Facebook not to sell your information to third party companies’ do a simple internet search “How do I stop Facebook from sharing my information with a third party?” and many results will pop up.

For your consideration below some steps to

  1. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
  2. Scroll down to “Your Facebook Information” and select “Off-Facebook Activity”.
  3. Select “Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity”
  4. Fallow instructions below

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How to send large files using dropbox

If you have to send us large files, follow these instructions to use the popular Dropbox service. So, you might be new to Dropbox. That is fine, it’s a really simple file sharing website. It is the most popular free to use cloud storage system. Great for file sharing or backing up any files or information you want for yourself.

Step 1: Sign Up

We are going to have to create an account. Go to Dropbox and go to the field where you would sign in.

The field should look similar to this. Click on the “create an account” link, which will have you fill out a few fields.

The fields are straight forward, they just need your name and email. Once that has been filled out, you may need to confirm your email address. If an email isn’t sent immediately, it should be sent when we’re setting up the files that you would like to share.

Step 2: Ignore Installer

If the following screen comes up after creating an account, you do not need to download the installer. You can do everything from the browser, and it isn’t necessary to set up any extra programs.

Step 3: Creating Folders

Head back to Dropbox and you should have a screen that looks like this. What we want to do is to create a folder. Click on the folder icon, and a new folder will immediately appear. Place the files that you want to share within the folder.

Step 4: Sharing the Folder

Right click the folder with the files you want to share, and hover over share, then click on “Invite people to collaborate…” Which will then send you to this.

Fill out the email address to who you want to send the files to, and a message indicating what it is. Click on Share, and job well done.

Beware Covid-19 Scams

With distribution of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration underway, scammers are trying to capitalize on the rollout. Vaccination plans will vary across state and local governments. Check with your state or local health department to learn when and how to get the COVID-19 vaccine. You can also talk with your health care provider, pharmacist, or health insurance provider to learn more.

Many Federal Agencies are sharing tips to avoid vaccine related-scams:

Don’t pay to sign up for the vaccine. Anyone who asks for a payment to put you on a list, make an appointment for you, or reserve a spot in line is a scammer.

Ignore sales ads for the COVID-19 vaccine. You can’t buy it – anywhere, including online pharmacies. The vaccine is only available at federal- and state-approved locations, such as vaccination centers and pharmacies.

Since the start of the pandemic, fraudsters have been bombarding consumers with pitches for phony remedies, and that’s unlikely to abate as the vaccines roll out and new tests hit the market.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says consumers should be on the lookout for these signs of vaccine scams:

  • Requests that you to pay out of pocket to receive a shot or get on a vaccine waiting list
  • Ads for vaccines in websites, social media posts, emails or phone calls
  • Marketers offering to sell or ship doses of COVID-19 vaccines

In short, you can’t pay to skip the line, reserve your spot, or join a critical trial. Be wary of any inbound calls or texts that ask for your Social Security number, financial details, or insurance information to reserve your spot.