Within the last month, I've received calls from clients asking me about the legitimacy of an email they've received.  There are actually two similar ones out there that I know of (and lots of variations), and I can tell you they are far from legit.  In fact, they are downright dangerous, financially speaking.

They go something like this:  You get an email from a well-known company, like Amazon, saying that your account has been hacked, a thief has bought a new iPhone with it, and we've locked your account down.  They ask you for access to your computer so they can "unlock" it for you.  While in your computer they see your account information, and who knows what else.  They also tell you that in order to fully unlock your account, you'll need to run a transaction of some kind.  In order to do so, you are directed to go to Target or Best Buy and purchase $500 gift cards to send to them.  

A similar scam goes like this:  You get an email from a well-known antivirus company saying that they are  going to renew your annual subscription for $400.  You email them back saying No!  The next day they send you an email saying that they've already charged you $400.  You call the number for customer service and they apologize.  In fact, they say they'll refund your credit card right now.  Next thing you know, they're saying that they made a mistake and accidentally refunded you $4000.  "Please send us $3600 to make it even again."  

You've got to be kidding, right?  Who would fall for these requests?  It turns out, many people.  Before we get too judgmental about the victims, I want to point out that the scammers' techniques have gotten a lot more sophisticated.  You ask for proof that they're really calling from, say, Amazon.  They tell you to look at your caller ID and google the phone number.  Sure enough, it's Amazon's number.  (It's a caller ID trick called spoofing. It only looks like they're calling from the number.)  When you share your computer screen with them, and they show you a charge from, say, Norton Antivirus on your credit card account, it looks real.  It's not.  They've prepared an image to look like your account.  And to top it off, the scammer's voice is so reassuring and nice.  They are very convincing.

How do you defend yourself against the scammers?  Here are some rules to remember:
1.  If you get a call from a familiar company telling you there's a problem.  Hang up, look up their phone number from their actual website, and then call it.  Ask if there's a problem.

2.  Organizations like banks, Amazon, and Norton will not ask you for access to your computer to show you things.  They will not ask you for your passwords either.  (Note:  A tech support company may ask you to share your screen, but that's fine--you called them.)

3.  Don't click the links in suspicious emails.  Don't return voicemail calls from the phone numbers they called from.  If they are bogus, that lets the scammer know they've got a live one on the line, and they will hound you.

4.  If you're suspicious, check out Snopes.com for list of common scams and hoaxes. If you think you've been scammed, call your credit card company or bank immediately.  You'll find an 800# on the back of your card that'll be answered 24/7.

Scams are nothing new.  They're not even new to the computer age.  As always, we need to be vigilant, but not scared.  When approached, it's okay to conduct your due diligence.  You owe it to yourself.  You are the one in control.

Few things are worse than being in the middle of a Zoom call, and the other attendees start yelling, "You're breaking up!"  "Your picture froze!"  "You sound like you're under water!"  All three of these afflictions are more than likely due to a slow WiFi connection.  So what can you do about it?

The first thing you should check is your WiFi speed, I use a free site called SPEEDTEST.net.  There you can see the time it takes between sending a request and receiving a response (called Ping), the time it takes to upload data (Upload), and the time it takes to download data (Download).  Download is what most people focus on to see how "fast" their internet speed is in a particular spot in the house.  If you're checking SPEEDTEST.net on your phone or a laptop, try moving from room to room to see how each location fares.  Speed is measured in Mbps, or Megabits per second.

Next, look at how many Mbps you are paying for with your internet service provider (ISP).  If you're paying Xfinity for 150 Mbps, and you're only getting 20, you're either far away from your router or there a lot of devices in your home eating up all of the bandwidth.  On the other hand, if you're paying AT&T for 25 Mbps, and you're getting 20, then you're doing alright.  If you're only getting 2 or 3 Mbps in the room where you use it most, then it might be time to upgrade with your ISP or look at some of the following options:

1.  Make sure your router is located out in the open, as opposed to under a desk or in a cabinet.  You want as clear of a path as possible for the signal to travel.  Placing it high on a shelf, or at least on top of the desk is a good start.

2.  Upgrade your router.  Do you have an all-in-one modem/router provided by your ISP?  Many times, these devices aren't as good as having a separate modem and router.  Buying your own router can be a big boost in performance, plus you will no longer have to pay for renting your ISP's router.

3.  Look into getting a mesh router system.  This is a router that is built to work with little satellite nodes around your house to keep a strong signal throughout.  Is it the same as a WiFi signal extender?  No.  Signal extenders create a separate network in a different part of your house.  Once you fall out of range of one network, you switch over to the other one.  They are typically less efficient and slower than mesh routers.  Mesh routers, while more expensive, keep you on one network all throughout your house and are more seamless, efficient, and faster.

4.  Try these other options:  You could always move your computer and router closer together.  Likely, though, you want to be able to work in your cozy den downstairs and don't feel like moving.  Also, you're router isn't likely to be easy to relocate from where it's connected to the wall.  And finally, you could try running a long ethernet cable from your router to your computer.  But where's the fun in that if you're partial to keeping your mobility?

If you try the steps above, you'll have more information that will help you find the right solution.  You will likely discover one of the options is easy and very effective.  If you have questions about how to fix your WiFi performance, or need help in setting it up, please contact me.

Since social distancing went into effect, our family has eaten every meal at home.  One benefit to dining in is that we're saving money.  Another is that we're discovering many new recipes.  We've also rediscovered some old ones, pulled from cookbooks that fell behind the George Forman Grill back in 1998.  Sometimes, however, we still get tired of cooking. Sometimes, we don't have the energy to even boil water.  At moments like this, we order out.  

Most of our favorite restaurants offer a curbside service, or an easy and safe indoor pickup procedure.  Still, if we're feeling sluggish, and can't remember if today is Tuesday or Saturday, we just don't want to go out.  (Many high-risk people simply cannot go out.)  For these situations, we use a food delivery app.

Three of the more popular and highest rated apps to deliver vittles to our door are:
• Grubhub
• DoorDash
• Uber Eats
​
There are quite a few more apps that offer food delivery service, and this isn't really a recommendation as to which is best–just a sample.

All of the apps will work on either iPhones or Androids and are free to download.  Once you open the app on your phone, you can set up an account, search to see if the app delivers from your favorite restaurant, and place your order.  You can pay securely online with the app, so when your food arrives, the driver can leave it on your front porch.  No fuss, no muss, no human contact!  (You also have the option to pay in person if you prefer.)

Which of these apps do I use?  I've used all three, and maybe even a couple more.  Most of them offer free delivery for a trial period.  After that, they typically charge you a small service fee and delivery fee.  Try a few of them and see which you prefer.  In my house, we look up the restaurant that we want to order from, and use the app that they've partnered with.  

During those evenings when the Zoom call goes too long, or I've mowed the lawn in a hurry before the thunderstorm hit, it's so worth it to use a food delivery app!  It's also a great way to help keep local restaurants in business.

Pro tip:  No matter if you're in the free trial or paying in full, don't forget to tip the driver!

​

With all of us shut in at home and unable to see family, friends, and colleagues, Zoom has become the unofficial video chat app for keeping in touch during the pandemic.  We use it in business for meetings.  We use it for family "reunions" where any relative across the country can join.  Everyone's invited, except Uncle Covid and Aunt Corona.  Chances are, you've heard of Zoom.  You've probably even used it.  But are you using it correctly, or at least getting the most out of your experience?  Here are 10 golden nuggets to help you:

1. Host a Meeting:  Yes, even you can host a meeting.  Signing up for a Zoom account is easy, and there is a free level of membership.  Once you have an account, you can schedule your virtual cocktail hour for any day and time. (It's 5:00 somewhere.)  Then invite friends via email or send them a calendar invitation.

2. Screen Sharing:  The host, and often the guests, of the meeting can share their computer screens to show everyone whatever important information they want:  A PowerPoint presentation, pictures of the grandkids, a website, a cat video.  You name it!

3. Compatibility:  You can use Zoom on any device--Mac, Windows PC, iPhones, Androids, and tablets.

4. Mute Yourself:  This one gets into the issue of etiquette.  Many users on Zoom don't realize how much background noise gets picked up when they are not muted.  Even moving your laptop on your desk creates a loud sound.  When you make a sound, your video box gets highlighted on everyone else's screen if it's loud enough.  This distracts guests from what the speaker is saying.  Unmute yourself when it's your turn to talk.

5.  Smile! You're on Candid Camera!:  Be sure to look at the camera.  You'd be surprised at the number of people who don't realize that everyone is looking into their ear or at their shoes. Think of yourself as being on TV and check the video box you're displayed in to see how you look.  If you're having a really bad hair day, you can always turn off your video.  Remember, as long as the Zoom meeting is happening, and your video is set to ON, your camera stays on--even if you navigate to a different screen on your computer.

6.  Step into the Light:  Try to have good lighting directed at your face.  You don't want to look like you're in the dark.  Sitting with a window behind you can backlight you and make you look like you're in the Witness Protection Program. 

7.  Facial Expressions:  While a step up from an ordinary audio phone call, video chatting still doesn't convey your emotions and demeanor as well as a face-to-face conversation.  Even though you're muted, you can wave, give a thumbs up, smile, etc.  You can also click on the Reaction Emojis to show how you feel.

8.  Chat Feature:  This is a great tool if you want to ask a question of everyone, or the host, or a specific user without disrupting the speaker.  Important note:  your one-on-one chat with your buddy won't be seen by the rest of the users in the Zoom meeting, but it's not private.  The host gets a transcript of ALL chat conversations.  So don't say anything bad about the boss or Aunt Martha!

9.  Zoombombing:  Many of us have heard about the security breaches that have happened recently, where nefarious people have crashed a Zoom meeting and displayed rude pictures or messages.  You can avoid this by not publicly posting your meeting on social media.  Assign a meeting ID and password, and only share it with your invitees.  You can also turn on the Waiting Room function that puts users in a virtual "room," and only the host can let them in.

10.  More Than You Can Shake a Stick At:  There are myriad ways and reasons to use Zoom.  My family has used them for work meetings, family get-togethers, attending a Passover seder, and a virtual happy hour.  How have you used Zoom?  I'd love to hear other ideas.  Please let me know by posting in the Comments Section!

Hi Friends,

I hope you are all healthy and safe.  The Coronavirus has put us in a bizarre situation where we need to keep ourselves sequestered from much of the human contact we need and are used to.  A lot of our connection with the outside world now is through our technology.  And it is times like these where we see just how good our tech is.  If anything malfunctions, though, I can't pop on over for a visit.  Fortunately, I can still help.

Through the magic of remote access, I can still diagnose and even fix your issues.  Sometimes, a simple phone call is all that's necessary.  Other times, you and I can use something called "remote desktop access" to solve the problem.  This is where you give me permission through a safe, secure 1-time code that allows me to not only see, but also control your computer.  (Once the session is over, I can't access your computer until you give me a new permission code.)  It works very well and actually costs a bit less than an in-person visit.  

If remote access sounds like something that interests you, I encourage you to let me know.  Just call me, and we can diagnose the best course of action for your needs–whether for tutoring or for fixing a problem.  Heck, call or email me even if you're not having technology issues.  I'd love to hear how you're doing regardless!

Take care,

​Jim