Google Safe Search

Google Safe Search

Tutorials
GOOGLE SAFE SEARCH Google offers a feature that may help deter explicit material that can come up on your screen when your child is doing a simple Google search for homework.  To make sure Google Safe Search is enabled, open your Google search screen.  You must be signed into your Google account for this to work effectively.  Looking at the screenshot below, on the bottom right, is the settings tab, click that to open, click on Search Settings.  It opens the following screen.  Be sure the “Turn On SafeSearch” is checkmarked.   Scroll down and hit SAVE!! Another feature of safe search, it will decrease the amount of inappropriate images.  Do a google search, click the IMAGES tab, right beside the All.  On the RIGHT of the screen you should…
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Phishing – Don’t take the Bait!

Phishing – Don’t take the Bait!

Guidelines, Hazards, Tutorials
What is phishing? Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need — a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company — and to click a link or download an attachment. Learn about the purpose behind phishing attempts and how to identify them to avoid getting scammed. Purpose of phishing If there's a common denominator among phishing attacks, it's the disguise. The attackers spoof their email address so it looks like it's coming from someone else, set up fake websites that look like ones the victim trusts, and use foreign character sets to disguise URLs. Phishing attempts may be aimed at…
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What is Zoom?

What is Zoom?

Apps, Reviews, Tutorials
What is Zoom? Zoom is a platform that offers remote conferencing by combining video conferencing, online meetings, chat, mobile collaboration.  It can be utilized by anyone and is free for meetings that have less than 100 participants and have duration of 40 minutes or less. You will have to set up an account.  A guide for doing this is located here:  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360034967471-Quick-start-guide-for-new-users#h_b0c98dfa-d90f-486d-9617-71ab7b41a273 A guide for hosting a meeting for family and friends is located here:  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362613-How-Do-I-Host-A-Video-Meeting- If you have been sent a meeting invite, a guide for joining the meeting can be located here:  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting As always there are some safety tips to keep in mind when utilizing Zoom.  USA Today did an excellent job of summarizing some safety tips. Here is the link:  https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/04/02/how-to-keep-zoombombing-hackers-away-zoom-safety-tips/5113080002/.  Please review it before using zoom.Additionally, always remember to be…
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Social Media Time Limits

Social Media Time Limits

Apps, Hazards, Tutorials
"I can't believe how much time I waste on Facebook," a friend told me. "I really should just get rid of it." My friend isn't alone. Plenty of people feel they get little value out of social media, and yet they continue to use it more than they would like, often to the detriment of their productivity and their mental and spiritual well-being. Facebook isn't the only offender. People throw their hands up at Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and other apps and websites all the time. Still, not everyone wants to quit social media for good. If you're not willing to quit cold turkey, you can limit the amount of time you spend on social media per day. For example: "I'll spend no more than 10 minutes per day on Facebook," or…
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Youtube Parental Controls

Youtube Parental Controls

Tutorials
YouTube is home to tons and tons of great videos, and a lot of them are useful orinstructional for children to watch. It has everything from science videos todocumentaries for kids to humorous skits to early learning shows. While this can be a great way to introduce a new subject to your children, what happens when the video is over and they start looking for other things to watch on their own?With over 100 hours of videos uploaded to YouTube every minute, it’s likely they could watch something that’s not suitable. After all, it’s not all funny cat videos. That’s why it’s a good idea to utilize YouTube’s parental controls. It’s already built in and does a decent job at providing a first line of defense against displaying inappropriate videos.…
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Is Privacy Really Private?

Is Privacy Really Private?

Tutorials
The Department of Homeland Security Privacy Act Statement says a Privacy Policy “provides protection to individuals by ensuring that personal information collected by Federal agencies is limited to that which is legally authorized and necessary and is maintained in a manner which precludes unwarranted intrusions upon individual privacy.” Source That means, anytime a ‘company’ asks for your personal information (identification, financial, geographical, etc), they are required to have a Privacy Policy that you can view; that specific Privacy Policy will inform the registrant of how their information will be collected, used, and protected. Information collected will depend on who is collecting it and what it is for (ex: bank and personal information for credit cards or loans; name and email for an account on a website). Have you ever wondered…
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