A friend of mine asked if online bill pay was safe, or if this meant that once he pays bills online his financial information will get leaked. The answer is online bill pay is as safe as your bank is, so if you already trust your bank, you should be fine. I figured I would drop him a few more tips for stuff to watch out for online, and figured I could share them with "you" as well.
Email:
If you bank offers online bill pay, the danger is 0. All "online bill pay" does is you tell your bank the name of the company you want to pay, and your account number with them; if it's a big enough company, the bank will have their info already; if it's a small enough company, the bank will ask you to what address you would normally send the check and the name it would be sent to.
Then when you want to pay someone, you login to your banks website and just check the box for that company and how much you want to pay; if it's one of those big companies the bank just does all the "footwork" as if you had mailed in a personal check; if it's a small company (or even a person, I've sent my brother money this way), they will print a paper check and mail it to the address; then the person you paid will take that paper check and deposit it with their bank to get the money.
Your browser (the piece of software you use to browse web pages, Internet Explorer, or Firefox, or Chrome) does not have the information of "name / bank account number / billing address" so it won't automatically turn it over to a "bad" website.
Common online scams:
You aren't buying from xyz.com; you are buying from a seller on xyz.com, and they are the ones that screw you.
If you go to Walmart.com and buy a DVD player, Walmart isn't going to charge your credit card and send you a box of bricks and say they sent you a DVD player. They have to much to lose to just scam everyone that does business with them. But if you are on a site like ebay.com / craigslist.com and you buy an item that is being sold by "A. Nonymous" and they send you a box of bricks; you can try going after him but they will have cut all ties, and tomorrow will be selling again as "B. Nonymous". Even buying from a small companies website will usually work out just fine; the only thing I would caution you is "if it looks to good to be true it probably is" and if the transaction involves more than 'heres my money and address" then I wouldn't trust it.
A friend of mine goes online and finds some camera shop offering a CRAZY deal on a well known camera model. She pays for express shipping to make sure it will get to my sister in time.
A day later, a "pushy man" calls the house and tries to up-sell my mom. Saying that she really needs to buy a case for the camera, and extra batteries, and doesn't she want an additional lens so she can switch to far off shots. She agrees to some of it, but not all.
A day later (and remember, we wanted this shipped express), the "pushy man" calls back and says he can ship it out that day, but only if she will go to "random camera store review website dot com" and leave a positive review of this online camera store; once it's posted, she should email him the link, and he will have it shipped out overnight.
******
Monthly Service
I'm not exactly sure if it's a "scam" to just forget something; but automatic withdrawals from your credit card/bank will continue until you stop it.
I've gotten surprised more than once by paying another 6 months for an online game I stopped playing a month ago; but at least I can login and still PLAY. I heard a guy mention on a podcast that he discovered he had been paying 30 dollars a month for 6 years to some random website that had since shut down and no longer offered pornography.
******
Nigerian 419 scam; which is the Spanish Prisoner scam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Prisoner
"If you can send me a small amount of money, I can get access to a large amount of money and give you a percentage." Then you give some money, but now more money is needed, etc. Then someone says "hey give me some money and I can get the money you lost back". Basically: Never respond to strangers.
******
Using your email/twitter/facebook as a zombie
The most common way this manifests itself is you get a message saying something compelling and a link; if you click the link you will either come to a page asking for your login/password to your email/twitter/facebook or a webpage that has some code written in it that can trick your browser into downloading some code to your computer; or fool twitter/facebook into letting someone else post for you.
Then suddenly everyone in your address book / friends list gets the same zombie link, or a link to buy herbal viagra, etc.
You avoid this best by not clicking links in messages without first asking yourself if you think it might be valid.
Common invalid emails that you should be suspicious of the links:
It comes from someone you know, yet the words around it are not typical of the way they would write.
The message seems inflammatory IE: "You look ridiculous in this picture" "Did you not know you were being filmed?" etc.
It comes from someone you do not know.
The message is unexpected.
An email from your bank saying "Click here to login and read this important information"
It might be easier to explain what IS a valid link. If you clicked "Forgot Password" on a webpage and you get an email with a link to click to reset the password, that's probably fine. Otherwise, if I get an email from my bank/credit card that wants me to click a link, I just go to my browser and type in citi.com and then login there.
******
Using your computer as a zombie: Most often comes up when trying to view a video.
Because video software is still all over the map; it's possible you may have gotten to a website before that told you that you needed to install something before you could watch the video; you agree to install the software because you want to view the video. When you agreed to install the video player update, another small program was added to the computer that allows another person to use your computer for their own wants. This could turn out to be locking up your computer until you pay a "ransom" for it; or maybe using your computer and thousands of others to flood a website with traffic and bring it down.
*****
So what's a red blooded american supposed to do? Just be mindful that if the browser starts to ask you a question like "Do you want to speed up performance?" or "Do you want to update your video player?" You should go down to the taskbar along the bottom of the screen, right click the program and choose "Close" and try a different site. If it starts to ask even more questions, I would just restart the computer.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Monday, September 3, 2012
Changing Sticky Notes Font in Windows 7
Posted up on this site how best to change the font for the windows 7 sticky notes:
http://tinyempire.com/notes/changing-windows7-sticky-note-font.html
http://tinyempire.com/notes/changing-windows7-sticky-note-font.html
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sore Throat Remedy - Maple Syrup and Lemon
Take a whole lemon and squeeze all it's juice in the biggest coffee mug you have, pour in two tablespoons of REAL maple syrup, (not the fake stuff, the real stuff is just as easy to find, right beside the fake stuff and it tastes even better!) Then take your cayenne pepper and put two generous dashes in. Fill the rest of the mug with boiling water, sip and FEEL yourself immediately get better! Your sinuses will clear out, your head clears up, your throat calms down. I don't know why it works so well. It is also an excellent way to fight off becoming sick. Something about the maple syrup and lemon and pepper mixing to create some kind of magical reaction. Don't microwave it though, it kills whatever it is that's going on.
If you don't have all that the best thing is peppers, especially that cayenne. Jon has a real bad cold, so last night I made stone soup (basically beef broth with some potatoes, onions, and celery) I put a bunch of cayenne pepper in it. So much so that I who am not sick could barely eat it, Jon lapped it up, I think because he could finally taste something, and today he feels great!!
If you don't have all that the best thing is peppers, especially that cayenne. Jon has a real bad cold, so last night I made stone soup (basically beef broth with some potatoes, onions, and celery) I put a bunch of cayenne pepper in it. So much so that I who am not sick could barely eat it, Jon lapped it up, I think because he could finally taste something, and today he feels great!!
Twitter "Groups" Workaround
Funny. I'd been watching the "when is twitter going to get groups" conversation for a long time, and turns out your the president. I'm emailing you this because I felt the other "answers" fell short and you might no longer be following the topic.
In Twitter Settings>Notices>@Replies you can select "@ replies to the people I'm following".
If we could have this be the default behavior for all new users, and encourage existing users to change to this setting, the following solution could work:
For most of these conferences there will already be an "official" twitter account, for instance @podcampaz
If I create a message and direct it to @podcampaz only people who also follow @podcampaz will have it show up in their feed. Of course if you went straight to my page, you will see the tweets, so it's not "private" and if you wanted to hear what was going on at PodCampAZ even if you weren't there you would subscribe to them.
(Props to @cycomer for the idea)
If you wanted, you could even make groups like @phoenix @arizona @phx @phxNightLife @phxWork @smith123Family @youtube @RT @OH @twitpic @WolfParadeFans @SpencerKrugFans @WorldOfWarcraftPlayers
Maybe this is an alternative to #
************
I'll explain by example:
I follow PersonA and PersonB
I don't follow PersonC
Whenever PersonA or PersonB says: Hello World
I see it.
Whenever PersonA @ messages PersonB like: @PersonB I like cupcakes
I see it, because I also follow PersonB
Whenever PersonA @ messages PersonC: @PersonC I'll be in your town next week
I don't see it, because I don't follow PersonC
Now if I go to twitter.com/PersonA I can read all of the messages, but I won't have the @PersonC messages in my feed.
So as an example, I go to @phx2600 meetings, and I live in @cityofchandler. Assuming everyone who lives in Chandler follows @cityofchandler, and everyone who goes to the local 2600 meetings follows @phx2600, AND has @ replies to people they don't follow turned off, I could say:
@phx2600 meeting is tonight. I'm going to bring a box of junk and give away whatever I have, if you are late bring donuts.
and then right after that say:
@cityofchandler there is a broken water main at Kyrene and 56th st, but 58th is packed to, so if you are headed that way, take 60th st
If you only follow @phx2600, you only get the first message.
If you only follow @cityofchandler, you only get the second message.
If you follow both, you get both.
And if you follow neither, (like my dad in another state), you don't see either message.
And everyone sees my: w00t, I just got paid today! Now who do I owe money to?
In Twitter Settings>Notices>@Replies you can select "@ replies to the people I'm following".
If we could have this be the default behavior for all new users, and encourage existing users to change to this setting, the following solution could work:
For most of these conferences there will already be an "official" twitter account, for instance @podcampaz
If I create a message and direct it to @podcampaz only people who also follow @podcampaz will have it show up in their feed. Of course if you went straight to my page, you will see the tweets, so it's not "private" and if you wanted to hear what was going on at PodCampAZ even if you weren't there you would subscribe to them.
(Props to @cycomer for the idea)
If you wanted, you could even make groups like @phoenix @arizona @phx @phxNightLife @phxWork @smith123Family @youtube @RT @OH @twitpic @WolfParadeFans @SpencerKrugFans @WorldOfWarcraftPlayers
Maybe this is an alternative to #
************
I'll explain by example:
I follow PersonA and PersonB
I don't follow PersonC
Whenever PersonA or PersonB says: Hello World
I see it.
Whenever PersonA @ messages PersonB like: @PersonB I like cupcakes
I see it, because I also follow PersonB
Whenever PersonA @ messages PersonC: @PersonC I'll be in your town next week
I don't see it, because I don't follow PersonC
Now if I go to twitter.com/PersonA I can read all of the messages, but I won't have the @PersonC messages in my feed.
So as an example, I go to @phx2600 meetings, and I live in @cityofchandler. Assuming everyone who lives in Chandler follows @cityofchandler, and everyone who goes to the local 2600 meetings follows @phx2600, AND has @ replies to people they don't follow turned off, I could say:
@phx2600 meeting is tonight. I'm going to bring a box of junk and give away whatever I have, if you are late bring donuts.
and then right after that say:
@cityofchandler there is a broken water main at Kyrene and 56th st, but 58th is packed to, so if you are headed that way, take 60th st
If you only follow @phx2600, you only get the first message.
If you only follow @cityofchandler, you only get the second message.
If you follow both, you get both.
And if you follow neither, (like my dad in another state), you don't see either message.
And everyone sees my: w00t, I just got paid today! Now who do I owe money to?
How can I fix my problems?
"The worst thing that can happen is that, for people to get up everyday and wait for somebody else to make it right for them" -Rush Limbaugh 2007-07-27
Tips on contacting customer service
If you want some more useful info for your life, here's my quick story about how to call customer service for a billing problem:
If you have a problem with anyone and your only recourse is customer service, here are some tips to get your problem fixed faster when you get a bill that seems unusually high:
1. Don't panic.
2. I assume you just opened it and still have the bill in your hand. Read your bill, find out what looks to be the problem, do this even if you don't think you can find the problem, it will help you understand it when you talk to an agent.
3. Make a little note beside the unusual charge. Be ready to ask a specific question, to request credit for a specific charge with a specific reason.
4. Don't delay calling until the next day. Perhaps you need some information from another person, that's fine but you want to let the company know that you know something is up asap.
5. Have your bill in front of you, and when given an explanation about a charge, make a note.
6. Take notes in addition for anything you are promised.
7. "Can you email me the details of this call" -provides for a record of accountability in plain English and written down
8. "What is your first name or unique ID?" -In case you need to refer back to a specific call or promise
9. "If I don't hear anything back by x, what should I do?" -Use Google Calendar, or anything else to check back and see if charges have been reversed or credits applied.
10. Asking for a manager rarely helps.
11. When all else fails, write a letter.
If you have a problem with anyone and your only recourse is customer service, here are some tips to get your problem fixed faster when you get a bill that seems unusually high:
1. Don't panic.
2. I assume you just opened it and still have the bill in your hand. Read your bill, find out what looks to be the problem, do this even if you don't think you can find the problem, it will help you understand it when you talk to an agent.
3. Make a little note beside the unusual charge. Be ready to ask a specific question, to request credit for a specific charge with a specific reason.
4. Don't delay calling until the next day. Perhaps you need some information from another person, that's fine but you want to let the company know that you know something is up asap.
5. Have your bill in front of you, and when given an explanation about a charge, make a note.
6. Take notes in addition for anything you are promised.
7. "Can you email me the details of this call" -provides for a record of accountability in plain English and written down
8. "What is your first name or unique ID?" -In case you need to refer back to a specific call or promise
9. "If I don't hear anything back by x, what should I do?" -Use Google Calendar, or anything else to check back and see if charges have been reversed or credits applied.
10. Asking for a manager rarely helps.
11. When all else fails, write a letter.
Proper Mass Emailing
Just wanted to give everyone in my address book a quick tip about how to send an email to a whole bunch of people, without showing everyone's email address.
You first send the email to yourself, then "BCC" or "Blind Carbon Copy" everyone else.
I sent this email to over 30 people, but the only addresses you see, are yours and mine.
By the way, if you ever see a "Email this article to a friend" links, email it from and to your own email address, and then BCC that email to me. That way I know you didn't give my email address to someone else.
Or... just copy the text in the "address bar" and paste it into an email, and forward that to me.
Stuff in the address bar is the "http:" and the ".com" stuff. A full link looks like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8
Just wanted to share this tip with everyone in my address book, hope you have a good day!
You first send the email to yourself, then "BCC" or "Blind Carbon Copy" everyone else.
I sent this email to over 30 people, but the only addresses you see, are yours and mine.
By the way, if you ever see a "Email this article to a friend" links, email it from and to your own email address, and then BCC that email to me. That way I know you didn't give my email address to someone else.
Or... just copy the text in the "address bar" and paste it into an email, and forward that to me.
Stuff in the address bar is the "http:" and the ".com" stuff. A full link looks like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8
Just wanted to share this tip with everyone in my address book, hope you have a good day!
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