Avoiding Viruses and Battery Power

Here’s how to avoid malware in PC’s and Macs.

1. Stop using Internet Explorer; use Chrome from Google
2. Don’t click on links in Email.  Copy and Paste
3. Download software from original vendors.  Not Softonic or download.cnet.com
4. Make sure your anti virus is up to date.
5. Avoid using Java but keep it updated if you need it.
6. Avoid Adobe Flash Player.  Chrome doesn’t need it.

Mac users:  numbers 3, 5 & 6 may apply to you.

The overwhelming majority of our portable/mobile electronic toys use Lithium Ion or Polymer Ion batteries.  Those batteries have a 500 charging cycles to end of life.  If you drain your battery, that counts as one cycle.  If you drain the battery to 50%, that’s half a cycle.  If you use only 20% of the battery, that doesn’t count as a cycle.  Bottom line, keep it plugged-in when not in use.  Mobile phones users, that a charging cord with you.

thecomptuerguy@usa.com                 thecomputerguy2014.wordpress.com

www.rome2rio.com

Last week I was trying to figure out how to get from Portland Airport to Hood River on my own.  Then I discovered this web site:  http://www.rome2rio.com/   It can tell you how to get from A to B almost anywhere you would care to travel.  It includes trains, buses, planes, ferries and automobiles.  OK, so it won’t get you from SJD to Cabo Pulmo cheaply.  But, still worth a look.

Lost phones, Data transfer and backup, Amazon Prime Movies

By my count 10 people have lost smart phones this season. To my knowledge none have been recovered. Please don’t let this happen to you especailly if your phone has personal data. Step one is to password protect or use a finger print reader to gain access to the phone. Next step is to use remote software to locate and/or lock the phone. Here is the link for apple users: https://www.apple.com/icloud/find-my-iphone.html For Android users like me: https://www.lookout.com/features/missing-device Interestingly, I just googled “find my android phone”. Google’s number one search took me right to the exact location of my phone here in Baja with a map and pinpoint.

Buying a new computer (Mac or PC) and you need to transfer your data from your old computer to the new computer. Well, if you have Carbonite, you create your account on the new computer and Carbonite will automatically transfer your documents and photos.

Amazon Prime movies are now available in Baja using the free VPN service – hola.org. Hola is a free add-on extension for Chrome or Firefox browsers. Works on my Mac and PC. Amazon prime streaming music is available for free without any VPN’s.

thecomputerguy@usa.com             thecomputerguy2014.wordpress.com

Free Texting with Magic Jack – Mobile phone data usage

Magic Jack has a new App for Apple’s IOS mobile devices. You can use that app to text all phones domestic and international for free! For a fee Magic Jack mobile offers calling to a host of international phone numbers. You can download it to your Ipad. Just look for the “Iphone only” app section. Using the new app, I was able to text from my Ipad to a phone in the US and a phone here in LB.

Mobile phones can use a huge amount of data if you’re not careful. The default setting for Facebook Mobile is to run posted Videos automatically. Video uses a lot of data! You can change settings on all social media to specify how often they will call the mother server for downloads or play video. Remember, your monthly allotment of data includes all uploads and downloads. So, sending video or photos consumes a chunk of that data package.

thecomputerguy@usa.com         http://www.thecomputerguy2014.wordpress.com