Have you ever had a voicemail left on your phone in a foreign language? Word 365 has lots of amazing features and one of these is it’s dictate function. Simply open a blank Word document, go to the home screen and press Dictate. On the pop-up screen click on the settings icon and then on ‘spoken language’ to select the language. Now click the microphone on the pop-up and aim the speaker on your phone at Word and you will get a translation into English in text on the screen.
It may look like a real email from a business you use, but if you hover over or right-click the sender’s name, you’ll be able to see the email address it has actually been sent from. The sender’s name may look legitimate, but often the email address will contain a small spelling error or could simply be a random assortment of numbers and letters.
It’s no longer a given that fraudulent emails will be riddled with errors, but it’s still surprisingly common in phishing emails. Other things to look out for: is the email consistent in how it looks? Is there a mix of US and UK English? Does it use different font styles or even random sizes? These are all things that may signal it’s not genuine.
Often scammers will mimic official-looking emails in an attempt to get you to part with your data. But check the little details the fraudsters might have missed. Are the copyright dates correct? Is the brand logo an old or discontinued version (or pixelated)? Does it match the style of previous emails you’ve had from the company or business?
Always remember, we’ll never (ever) ask you for sensitive infomation. So if you get an email asking for such details, or requesting you click on a link to supply them, it’s a red flag. Do not provide any personal information or click on any link in an email you’re unsure about. Such links may contain viruses that can infect your computer or even install ransomware.
Scammers will also stress the urgency of your actions in the hope you don’t take the time to check whether it’s real or not – for example, saying your account is about to be closed, or that there is a payment issue on your account. Do not click the link. Instead, to check the status of your account.
“The cloud” refers to servers that are accessed over the Internet, and the software and databases that run on those servers. Cloud servers are located in data centers all over the world. By using cloud computing, users and companies do not have to manage physical servers themselves or run software applications on their own machines.
The cloud enables users to access the same files and applications from almost any device, because the computing and storage takes place on servers in a data center, instead of locally on the user device. This is why a user can log in to their Instagram account on a new phone after their old phone breaks and still find their old account in place, with all their photos, videos, and conversation history. It works the same way with cloud email providers like Gmail or Microsoft Office 365, and with cloud storage providers like Dropbox or Google Drive.
For businesses, switching to cloud computing removes some IT costs and overhead: for instance, they no longer need to update and maintain their own servers, as the cloud vendor they are using will do that. This especially makes an impact for small businesses that may not have been able to afford their own internal infrastructure but can outsource their infrastructure needs affordably via the cloud. The cloud can also make it easier for companies to operate internationally, because employees and customers can access the same files and applications from any location.
Moving your files, photos and documents online to the cloud is one of the smartest computing decisions you can make. With your most important files stored safely online, you don’t need to panic about your laptop seizing up or your external hard drive breaking down. Even if your computer is lost or stolen, you’ll still be able to access your documents or photo collection online through the cloud. But, with all the cloud storage options out there, how do you pick which one to use? Some make transferring files a seamless task, whereas others are more trying. Follow our advice to free up more of your precious time. Below, we cover some key things to think about when choosing your cloud storage service, such as whether you should pay for it and features to look out
That depends on how much storage space you need. Many of the big-name services offer between 2GB and 5GB for free, which isn’t much. But some offer more, including Google Drive, which gives you 15GB free of charge. If you want more space, you’ll need to pay an annual or monthly fee. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up multiple free accounts and enjoying a sizeable combined amount of storage. But this could become confusing and annoying – and you probably don’t want to spend too much time going through all your accounts to find one specific document.
Not all cloud storage services offer the same functionality, so make sure you pick one with all the features you want. Here’s a list of some key ones to think about:
| Cloud Storage Providers | Best For | Storage space plans |
|---|---|---|
| iCloud | Apple Users (ipad, iphone) | 5GB, 50GB, 200GB & Unlimited |
| Dropbox | Light data users. | 2GB, 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, Till Unlimited. |
| Google Drive | Teams & Collaboration | 15GB, 100GB, 200GB.. Till Unlimited. |
| OneDrive | Windows users | 5GB, 50GB, 1TB, 6TB, & Unlimited. |
BY KATIE BINNS
The number of WhatsApp scams has rocketed by more than 2,000% in the last 12 months, according to analysis.
Fraudsters are targeting WhatsApp users and hijacking their accounts. It’s a distressing experience that leaves victims feeling embarrassed and devastated. Yet, personal stories of it happening to people recounted on social media demonstrate anyone can be vulnerable to being tricked.
SEE MORE: New fraud rules for online shoppers
WhatsApp has two billion users – meaning fraudsters just need to scam a tiny fraction of users to make money.
Here is everything you need to know to avoid becoming victim to a WhatsApp scam.
This is where scammers use WhatsApp to impersonate family members or friends in difficulty and in particular need of money. This type of scam has evolved from fraudsters impersonating a bank, police or HMRC.
It starts with a message from an unknown number, claiming to be a loved one who has just lost their phone and got a replacement. It gives them a reason for having a different number, and means they can just use a generic term like ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’, ‘Sis’ or ‘Bro’.
The story they tell varies, but centres on the a claim that because they have a new phone they don’t have access to their internet or mobile banking app and therefore need urgent help to pay a bill. Any attempts to call to verify their identity is often fobbed off with talk that there is a problem with the microphone.
Victims then transfer money to an account thinking they are really helping out their loved one. On average victims lose £1,950 this way.
If you receive a text message with a six-digit WhatsApp code that you were not expecting, you may be a target of the scam.
It’s the kind of code you would need if you were setting up a new account, or logging in to your existing account on a new device.
If you have not initiated this request, you should see this message as a red flag. It could be a fraudster trying to log in to your account.
In the next step of the scam, you receive a WhatsApp message from a friend asking for the six-digit code. Horrible truth: it appears to come from a genuine friend because your account has already been hijacked.
If you don’t spot it is a scam you will end up sending the access code for your own account to the scammer. The hijacker can go on to message your friends, family and contacts, and pretend to be you. They can access your group chats where they can see private information. They can try the six-digit code trick with new victims. They may even pretend you’re having a crisis and ask your contacts for money.
WhatsApp Gold is a scam claiming to be a special version of the messaging app used by celebrities and rich people with access to hidden features. It first appeared in 2016 and has a record of reappearing every few years – its latest appearance was in 2020.
As the coronavirus pandemic is having us lean on apps like WhatsApp more than ever before and leaves us open to the need for novelty it shouldn’t come as a surprise. But any messages you receive urging you to update to WhatsApp Gold should be immediately ignored.
According to those who have been targeted, a message will drop into your inbox saying that a special version of WhatsApp is available.
The message reads along the lines of: ‘Hey Finally Secret WhatsApp golden version has been leaked, This version is used only by big celebrities. Now we can use it too.’
A link will invite you to download WhatsApp Gold. However, in reality, these links can be riddled with malware that lock you out of your phone or steal valuable personal information.
Social media users have recounted how the WhatsApp Gold hoax appeared with a video called the ‘Dance of the Pope’ in an effort to persuade victims to open the link
Yes, WhatsApp does introduce new features all the time. But the popular app is very vocal about what it’s pushing out and when. Also watch out for the tell-tale sign of a scam: the spelling and grammar mistakes.
Any updates will occur through updating the app itself – and not through clicking a link embedded in a message.
Scammers send out fake Tesco, Asda and Marks & Spencer vouchers on WhatsApp. The messages look like they have been sent by a thoughtful friend and designed to trick you into clicking on the link to claim the voucher.
One such example is: “Hi, ASDA is giving away £250 Free Voucher to celebrate 68th anniversary, go here to get it. Enjoy and thanks me later !”
But the supermarket isn’t giving out any £250 vouchers at all. There are two classic signs that this is a scam: the spelling and grammar mistakes and, if you type in the URL mentioned in the offer, you will see that the page does not exist on Asda.
By Emily Long
Screenshot: Jordan CalhounYou’ve probably had the (legitimate) fear that your smartphone is listening or watching you. Your iPhone certainly isn’t without privacy risks, and you should absolutely audit your settings and all of your app permissions, but one helpful feature that Apple has built in is a visual warning when your device is queued up to record you.
There are two indicator lights in the status bar in upper-right corner of the iPhone screen that tell you when one or both of your recording functions are in use. A yellow or orange-looking dot appears when your device’s microphone is active. You’ll see a green dot when your camera (or camera plus microphone) is being accessed.
You’ll commonly see these indicator lights when using social media apps that allow you to record and post videos—Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, for example—but other apps that have requested access to your phone’s camera will also trigger the dots.
Smartphone photography is often associated with quick and easy snapping away. That’s because you can just walk around, point at something, click – and there’s your photo!
I’d like to take a different approach to smartphone photography. It is amazing that modern technology has put a camera in the back pocket of so many people. But I also know that it takes a lot more than the push of a button to make a photo that has meaning.
Wouldn’t it be great if by just a few adjustments you could elevate your smartphone photos from a simple record of the events and people in your life to photos that tell a story, have meaning, and are still beautiful to look at years from now?
You know, it really doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have. It’s about the person behind the camera and what that person is capable of.
With these 5 smartphone photography tips, you’ll be able to go from quickly snapping away to mindfully shooting with intent so you can start making beautiful smartphone photos.
The first thing you should be asking yourself when you pick up your smartphone camera is, what’s my subject? And secondly, why do I want to make this photo?
When you have an answer to these questions, it becomes easier to make a photo that tells a story, is full of meaning, and is interesting for other people to look at.
This may seem a little complicated to you, and I get it. But there’s no need to overthink this. It can be as simple as the desire to photograph a colourful flower, an overwhelming landscape, or the gorgeous faces of your grandkids.
Just stop and think for a few seconds about what you’re about to photograph. Why does it touch your heart? Why did it grab your attention?
You see, the next step is to figure out what the best way is to show that. It’s a lot easier to do that when you’re aware of what delights you in your subject.
Once you’re used to photographing like this, I can assure you the process of taking pictures with your smartphone will bring you more joy and your phone photos will become a lot better.
A very important choice in composition is the orientation of the frame.
It’s very common for smartphone photographers to shoot in a vertical orientation. Probably because that’s how you normally hold your phone. It’s also quick and easy to take a picture with just one hand.
And of course, there’s nothing wrong with a vertical photo. It’s more about the somewhat automatic way most smartphone photographers shoot vertically.
Because the truth is, a horizontal orientation is a better fit for a lot of photos.
So I’m encouraging you to change your default ‘shooting vertically’ mode to a default ‘shooting horizontally’ mode.
Photographing in a horizontal orientation seems like a simple thing, but it will have an impact on your mindset while you are photographing.
Why? Because when you photograph horizontally with your smartphone you need both hands. And somehow it’s difficult to take a photo with both hands and keep on walking without tripping over your own feet.
It forces you to stand still and pay attention to what it is you’re photographing. Which is a very important aspect of photography.
Photographing horizontal also has a big impact on the photo itself. It influences your composition as well as how you experience the photo.
Because there is a difference in the way we perceive a horizontal and a vertical image.
A horizontal photo is usually more dynamic and engaging. It’s easier to connect to because we have a horizontal view ourselves.
A vertical photo is usually more formal and static.
Turning on the grid in your settings will help you to take photos with straight horizontal and vertical lines.
A smartphone camera has a small sensor, the thing inside that captures the photo like the film in the old days. Because it’s so small it loves to have a lot of light. And natural light is the best!
It’s full of mood, flattering and beautiful. It also influences the colours, it emphasizes textures, and creates attractive contrasts.
Natural light can give the most simple things a magical touch.
So, take advantage of the natural light whenever it is present.
It’s also a good idea to have your flash turned off by default. Because then you can decide to turn on your flash when there’s no way around it.
If you leave it on Auto Flash, the camera will make this important decision for you, and that’s not something you want to leave up to the camera.
Using natural light to your advantage is not something you learn overnight. And certainly not by reading a blog post. But you can start by becoming a student of light.
You don’t even need a camera to study light. You can do that all day long just by observing the light and discovering all the different ways natural light touches your surroundings.
I understand it’s very tempting to use your zoom when you want your subject to be closer. But the thing is your smartphone camera has a digital zoom and not an optical zoom like most regular cameras.
This means your camera is fooling you!
It ‘zooms in’ by showing only a part of the whole, making it seem like you’ve brought the image closer. But all it does is cropping the image on the sensor and showing you an enlarged image.
That’s why zoomed-in photos always look a little blurry and pixelated.
If you want your subject to be closer, it’s better to walk towards it.
Your photos will remain crisp and sharp, while also making you into a more active and involved photographer.
It becomes more natural to walk around your subject and try out different things. So not only will you keep the image quality high, it also makes you a more creative and intentional smartphone photographer!
And that brings me to my last smartphone photography tip.
A lot of beginning smartphone photographers shoot from the same eye level perspective all the time. Eye-level is the way we usually see the world. It can work fine in a lot of circumstances but it’s not always the most interesting take on the world
So, next time try a different point of view.
You can kneel down and photograph from a low point of view. You can hold your smartphone camera high and get a bird’s eye view. Or how about photographing someone at the back?
You can also walk really close to a subject and photograph an interesting detail.
Changing your point of view is a great way to create variety in your photographs. And you can infuse your photos with personality and meaning. Because your point of view in photography can say something about your perspective on life.
As you’ve probably noticed, every tip is about photographing with your full attention. When you shift your mindset to shooting intentionally, you can create wonderful photos with that seemingly common camera you have with you all the time.
Since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, there has been an increase in online attempts to steal personal information or engage in fraud. According to new TransUnion research, 38% of consumers said they have been targeted by digital fraud related to Covid-19. Fraud attempts have as much as tripled during the Covid-19 Crisis, according to the ABA Banking Journal.
The pandemic has created a perfect storm for increased fraudulent activity. Many people, including bank personnel, have worked from home, possibly not with the same type of security measures that are available in the workplace.
Millions of people are out of work. Much business is being conducted online, and many retail establishments have not seen numbers recover since the pandemic started. More people are banking online and are increasingly anxious about their financial situation.
Scammers are trying to get a hold of bank information to steal money from the accounts or order goods for their own benefit. However, you can take action to combat these financial scams. Here is everything you need to know about this issue.
Online banking scams use fraudulent methods to obtain a person’s online banking information. Once scammers unlock personal information for personal and commercial bank accounts, they may make unauthorized transactions for their own benefit, take over the account entirely, or use confidential information to steal victims’ identities.
Fraudsters often commit online financial scams through sending a phishing communication through text message or email. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that American consumers lost nearly $2 billion to phishing schemes and other fraud tactics in a recent year.
The fraudster may create some type of ruse to try to get you to send them your Social Security number, online banking credentials, or other personal information. For example, the scammer might claim that they are your bank’s representative and are contacting you to:
The message may either contain a link to a webpage that tracks every stroke of your keyboard, or direct you to call a fake support number where the agent on the phone will ask for your personal information.
You may have heard of vishing, which is simply voice phishing by phone. It is a similar tactic but uses voice calls instead of text or email.
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to try to trick consumers into giving away their private information. For instance, they may use information gathered from a prior data breach or publicly available on social media to confirm certain details about you and make you believe a legitimate person is calling you.
Scammers like to target older people because they believe they are more vulnerable to identity theft due to less sophistication regarding technology and being more likely to share sensitive personal information.
You can avoid many financial scams by being proactive. Here are some ways to do this:
Try to familiarize yourself with common scams. Since phishing/vishing is one of the most common types of scams, be sure that you are on the lookout for the following signs:
Phishing scams sometimes lead to account takeovers in which the scammer changes the account login credentials, essentially locking the owner out. Thus, the scammer can make unauthorized withdrawals and purchases.
Phishing scams often involve links that contain malware, so be certain you know who is sending you an email before you click on a link or download an attachment. It’s always a better strategy to log in directly to the bank’s website that you type in your browser instead of clicking any link contained in a message.
Avoid giving out your account information to anyone. Only verify the least amount of information possible when calling into your financial institution. Set up a unique password when establishing financial credentials and avoid using the same passwords for multiple websites.
Use two-factor authentication where you receive a one-time-use code via email or text before your account will allow you to log in. Also, periodically change your password.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi while using online banking. Instead, wait until you get home.
A reverse email search tool lets you type in a user’s email to see who is really writing to you. This can help you discern if a scammer is contacting you.
Be careful with your personal information. Shred any document that contains your Social Security number or other private information. Avoid giving out or sending your information via unsecured electronic channels.
In the US you can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry by calling 1-888-382-1222 or calling donotcall.gov. Doing this will stop sales calls from real companies. It will not block calls. However, receiving a call from a company after you register may indicate that they are a scammer ignoring the registry. In the UK the best way to reduce nuisance calls is to register for free with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). They’ll add you to their list of numbers that don’t want to receive sales and marketing calls. It’s against the law for sales people from the UK or overseas to call numbers registered with TPS.
Regularly review your credit, credit card statements, and bank statements. Report anything that looks suspicious.
If you are a victim of a scam in the US, take these protective steps:
The pandemic brought many consequences, and easier access to personal banking information is one of them. However, by being vigilant and taking proactive steps, you can avoid scams and protect your finances.
Have you received a scam email or text that looked legit but wasn’t? How did you recognize it? Which signs gave it away? If you are a victim to online banking fraud, why do you think you fell for the scam? What did you do to mitigate the damage? Please comment below.
A mobile application, also referred to as a mobile app or simply an app, is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch.
The word “app” is an abbreviation for “application.” It’s a piece of software which comes pre-installed on your device or it’s software that you install yourself.
Apps typically run locally on your device, but can also run through a web browser. Apps can be found on your computer, your smartphone, tablet or other electronic devices, including smart TVs and smartwatches. Apps may or may not have a connection to the internet.
An app is a modern term for a software application, and it is most often used in reference to a mobile app or a small piece of software that runs on a website. Another word for application is program (although using the word program might make you sound dated).
There are three main types of apps: desktop, mobile, and web.
Desktop apps are usually much fuller than mobile apps and consist of all the features of a program, whereas the mobile equivalent is a simpler and easier-to-use version.
This makes sense when you consider that most desktop and web apps are built to be used with a mouse and keyboard along with a large display, but mobile apps are intended to be accessed with a finger or stylus on a small screen.
Web apps might be full of features too, but they have to leverage the capabilities of the internet connection and web browser program, so while some are heavy-duty and can perform well like mobile or desktop programs, most web apps are lightweight for a reason.
If an app is a mix between a web app and a desktop app, it might be called a hybrid app. These are apps that have an offline desktop interface and direct access to hardware and other connected devices, but also an always-on connection to the internet for quick updates and access to internet resources.
Some apps exist in all three forms and are available as not only mobile apps but also desktop and web apps.
An example is Microsoft Word. It’s available for computers in its most advanced form but also on the web, by subscription, and via a mobile app.
Other examples are Zoom and Skype which can be used in a web browser or the app can be downloaded to a PC or a mobile.
Those three examples are of apps that exist in all three app forms, but that isn’t always the case.
For example, you can get to your Gmail messages through the official Gmail.com website and Gmail mobile app, but there isn’t a desktop program from Google that lets you access your mail. In this case, Gmail is both a mobile and web app but not a desktop app. You can add it or remove it as desired.
Others (often games) are similar in that there are both mobile and web versions of the same game but maybe not a desktop app, or there might be a desktop version of the game, but it’s not available on the web or as a mobile app.
In the context of mobile apps, almost every platform has a repository where its users can download both free and paid apps. These are normally accessible through the device itself or a website so that the app can be queued up for download the next time the user is on the device.
For example, the Google Play Store and Amazon’s Amazon Appstore are two places where Android users can download mobile apps. iPhones, iPod Touch devices, and iPads can get apps through the Apple App Store straight from their devices.
Web apps load within a web browser and don’t need to be downloaded.
I hope these tips are useful. Please let me know if there is a subject you would like me to cover
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