Living Tech
September 11th, 2019
Sometimes you don’t want anyone to know what you’re looking at on the Internet. No need to justify or defend that position; you just want to be anonymous. That’s what the private browsing, or incognito mode, on your browser is for, right?
Private is not Anonymous
Browsing in a “private” setting will block cookies, prevent any web addresses from auto-filling your address bar and keep no record of your history….... Continue reading >
May 22nd, 2019
A generation ago, some of us used to worry about our private conversations being overheard. Others, often derided as paranoid, suspected the government of eavesdropping on everything we say.
The rapid technological advances of today make those concerns seem quaint. The wired world has brought the “eavesdroppers” into the home and made them part of the family. These digital assistants answer our questions, play music we like, place phone calls for us, tell us…... Continue reading >
March 26th, 2019
When the Internet was newer, people used to joke about the most serious users being able to browse so long that some day they would actually reach the end. It wasn’t actually possible then, and it’s way less possible now. There are more pages, and the scrolling is endless. By design.
The term is Infinite Scroll, which describes a page-design technique and a Javascript tool that allows a site to keep feeding and…... Continue reading >
March 24th, 2019
Modern gaming revolves around online connectivity. Without it, playing games like Animal Jam and Fortnite is impossible. Although these games claim to be “free” to play online, there’s always a price to pay for this level of access. And in the case of online gaming, that price is a wealth of personal information that’s made available to gaming companies.
Downloading a mobile game typically prompts a series of requests for “permissions.” These have become…... Continue reading >
March 22nd, 2019
The Internet is a miraculous. Without it, the world would be exceedingly bleak.
But as with any tool, it can be abused by those looking to harm others. This is particularly important when considering children who have access to the Internet.
Online predators are a very real danger in 2019, and you need to know how to protect your kids from them. Following are steps you can take to do…... Continue reading >
February 16th, 2019
In the past decade children have been given access to the Internet at increasingly early ages. Whether it is on a tablet device in school or a home computer, the digital age has helped to open the doors to new learning opportunities. However, just as previous generations learned how to use the Dewey Decimal System, so too will today’s youth need to learn proper research methods online.
Mounting homework assignments and never…... Continue reading >
January 22nd, 2019
Fortnite is barely a year old, but it’s already an institution among gamers. In fact, people who don’t even play the game still find themselves doing Fortnite dances with their friends or watching YouTube videos of people playing Fortnite. But there’s more to Fortnite than meets the eye, and it’s something parents need to be concerned about.
Fortnite is free to download. It is wildly popular game and it has a huge presence on…... Continue reading >
January 4th, 2019
Kids today love their electronics, but how can you tell when a fun toy becomes a problem for your child? Video game addiction is real, and it is causing serious mental and physical health hazards for today’s children. Compulsively playing video games requires a detox regimen similar to that of other addicts, starting with admitting that there is a problem. Here are the signs to look for if you’re concerned that your…
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September 6th, 2018
When you go online through your home computer or mobile device, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) creates a 10-digit unique “name” for your computer. This “name” is based on info like what country you’re in, whether your ISP is private or belongs to a government organization, your type of network and other technical details.
If you use a different computer or device at work, or utilize…... Continue reading >
September 6th, 2018
They say that a vampire can’t come into your home until you let him in. It is the same with the vampires behind the free WiFi who you allow into your devices. To many people those two words are music to their ears, but they often aren’t aware of what is really at stake. What does “free” mean exactly, especially in this context? What are the privacy implications that come with it? The truth is, the…
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