I’ve been fielding a number of calls about emails from Netgear lately, about a “Product End of Service Notification”. Some people think they are scams, while others believe the messages and want purchasing advice. If you get one of these messages, Don’t Panic. It’s probably not as bad as you think, nor is it worth … Read more
Starting a business? Running an online marketplace? This is a quick PSA to say: Don’t Pay for Reviews. I know, I bet this sounds like common sense advice, but for some, the temptation may come knocking. Don’t compensate anyone to leave you a positive review. If you get any emails or offers to boost your … Read more
When watching an on-screen progress bar, I often comment to my client that we shouldn’t put too much stock into the information it presents. If it shows a “Time Remaining”, we may see that figure swell and shrink with little rhyme or reason. A Percentage-style progress bar may creep towards 30%, and suddenly surge from … Read more
There’s been a lot of news lately about “Google issuing an alert advising 2.5 billion users to change their passwords.” And you didn’t see me blogging about it, because it simply wasn’t true. Around the globe, news media companies chose to be inciteful, not insightful. And I knew this reporting wasn’t quite right, even when … Read more
It is very common in the tech world, for one company to promote another, in order to boost business and earn commissions. I don’t go around looking for kickbacks, but I see and understand why companies seek referral bonuses and such. I am dismayed to report, though, that HP is now promoting a software that … Read more
I am frequently asked on Facebook, “How can you tell?“, when I call out a bogus poster. And there’s no short answer. There are many, many different tells. I’ll try to compile them all here, as a “Guide to Spotting Fake Facebook Profiles.” Major Giveaways Does their Facebook URL match their Display Name? A lot … Read more
Not sure if you’re looking at a legitimate picture on the internet? Altered images and deepfakes abound on the web, especially with the creative help of AI. Here are some tools that might help in detecting manipulated photos: AI Detection Tools AI-generated content may be easy for some to spot. Look closely and you may … Read more
If you use Apple devices, there’s a new feature in the latest OS updates called NameDrop. This function allows you to quickly and easily share contact info with other Apple device users. Simply place the two devices near each other, and NameDrop will appear! Each device user will get a pop-up, asking if they want … Read more
I need to explain to you about the Facebook Highlight Tag. It’s being used right now in a viral post, and you don’t need to be a part of it. Numerous posts right now are urging people to use the @Highlight tag in the comments or on their own posts, to find out who is … Read more
Amazon would have you believe that their reviews are authentic and reliable. But I want you to know they are far from perfect. Besides Brushing Scams, some Amazon sellers game the system by paying for positive reviews. And it works. Here’s how Amazon reviews are manipulated, with offers of Amazon Gift Cards. When a buyer … Read more