Techish

Amazon Sidewalk shares your Internet connection with neighbors. Here’s how to turn it off.

  ·

Amazon is using our Ring doorbells and Echo smart speakers, among other smart home devices, to make a new kind of wireless network called Sidewalk. It automatically shares a slice of your home network with your neighbors’ devices, unless you OPT out of that function. Not everyone loves that idea. Nor do "all the people" like the idea of Amazon opting everyone "in." On Tuesday, June 8th, Amazon switched Sidewalk on — for everyone. If you don't love the idea of sharing your personal WiFi with everyone else around you, you have to opt-out of this new feature. We show you how below. But first, why, what, and WTF? Here's what it does: Sidewalk is a low-power, low-bandwidth, ... Read more

#MothersDay GIFT GUIDE: What to buy for Mom for in 2021

  ·

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7LfuQ7CmXI&t=4s   Mother's Day is May 9th this year. I am a mom, and I love gadgets. Every mom I know not only likes gadgets, but relies on them every single day to keep her informed, connected, and entertained — not to mention sane! Here are a few of our favorite things for the big day and beyond!   Tribute Video Montage Tribute is a service that helps you create a video montage with everyone in your family sharing their love, admiration, and respect for mom. It simplifies the collaborative process — no need to track down family members for their videos, request different file formats, or email reminders. Just choose the occasion ... Read more

FTC SCAM ALERT: This Covid Vaccine “Survey” is a Scam!

  ·

*Written by Colleen Tressler, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC and shared with permission to Techish.*   Scammers are using a new trick to steal your money and personal information: a bogus COVID vaccine survey. People across the country are reporting getting emails and texts out of the blue, asking them to complete a limited-time survey about the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine. (And no doubt, there may be one for Johnson & Johnson, too.) In exchange, people are offered a free reward, but asked to pay shipping fees. If you get an email or text like this, STOP. It’s a scam. No legitimate surveys ask for your credit card or bank account number to ... Read more

It’s National Data Privacy Day! What to consider from the FTC:

  ·

by Rosario Méndez Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC Today is National Data Privacy Day, when many organizations and government agencies, including the FTC, join together to raise awareness about privacy issues and to offer tips and information. As more and more of our devices are connected and share information about us, privacy is increasingly important. There are things you can do to help protect your privacy and limit how you share your information with others. National Data Privacy Day is the perfect time to review some of those steps you can take: Know what’s on your device. Do an inventory of all the applications that are on your devices. ... Read more

Still need to get that gadget gift? Look at these great deals!

  ·

Don't worry, you're not too late to score great gifts for everyone in your family, including yourself! Here are some more ideas:   Samsung's cordless Jet Stick Vacuum comes in three different models, and each one has a high-performance filtration system that captures dust and allergens that normally get kicked back into the air.  You can use it on all the different types of floors; hardwood, tile, rugs, or carpet. It has its own charging dock and is super easy to empty. Plus, it's lightweight and easy to navigate, to use on stairs, under furniture, clean high cabinets or window blinds. And you can vacuum for up to an hour straight before it needs a battery charge. ... Read more

JENN ON TV: More awesome last-minute holiday deals!

  ·

Did you see Jennifer on TV or hear her on the radio recently? Here are more of the smoking hot holiday deals she's been talking about! The last-minute rush on holiday shopping is happening already because of major shipping delays and stricter pandemic orders going into effect. Here are some great go-to's:  1. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds Everyone wants their own set of tune-out-the-world headphones this year, and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds should be a top consideration. They come in these new vibrant colors — Mystic Red or Blue — so everyone knows they’re yours! What’s even better though is how comfortable they are, they sort of nestle down in ... Read more

WORD OF THE WEEK: “Sadfishing” – Parents, here’s what you need to know!

  ·

Cue the virtual violins. Sadfishing's a new term for a not-so-new trend on social media — and there's a good chance your teens are doing it. Here's what you need to know:   Sadfishing is a play off of the term catfishing — which is all about luring people with fake images or profiles — usually to get information or money (or both). This version is similar, but with a more psychological focus: Posts may look like a video of a teen crying along with a cryptic caption, or a slideshow of a family tragedy. What isn't clear is whether they are true cries for help, or exaggerated stories for attention. Essentially, sadfishing is when people "fish" for sympathy, attention, or followers by posting ... Read more

HOW TO: Spot, avoid, and report imposter scams

  ·

by Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Imposter scams often begin with a call, text message, or email. The scams may vary, but work the same way – a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money or share personal information. Scammers may ask you to transfer money from your bank, wire money using a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, put money on a gift card, or send cryptocurrency, because they know these types of payments can be hard to reverse. Scammers call, email, or text and claim to be: A family member (or someone acting for them), saying your relative is sick, has been arrested, or is in serious trouble and needs ... Read more

How to Meditate: A Beginner’s Guide

  ·

Meditation doesn't have to be scary, or complicated, or even difficult. It can be exactly what you need it to be in any given moment once you realize just how simple and straightforward the practice really is. Here are a few things I've learned that may help you start your own meditation journey, and some resources to help you get started. You're not fixing anything I started meditating because I thought it could fix me. Fix my anxiety, my rumination, my mood, or whatever else what so out of whack inside my head. You'll learn quickly, as I did, that practicing meditation isn't an exercise in correcting thoughts but accepting them. I know how ridiculous that sounds when you feel like all ... Read more

People Share Rules for Screens and Sleep

  ·

THIS POST IS SHARED WITH PERMISSION FROM DR. DELANEY RUSTON, MD, FILMMAKER OF SCREENAGERS. Read more of these articles on Dr. Ruston’s site: Tech Talk Tuesdays Recently a group of eighth-graders was discussing Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, and a few of them told the teacher how surprised they were to learn in the film that almost 40% of youth and teens with mobile devices in their room report that they wake up and check it at least once a night. *I like to keep stats to a minimum in my films, and I was happy these teens got the significance of this recent data. A new study from a survey of 12,000 teens in the U.K. who were asked about their social media use and sleep found that teens who use ... Read more

Sharing, Not Scaring, is Key to Managing Screen Time

  ·

***THIS POST IS SHARED WITH PERMISSION FROM DR. DELANEY RUSTON, MD, FILMMAKER OF SCREENAGERS*** Read more of these articles on Dr. Ruston's site: Tech Talk Tuesdays As a society, we often give information to others hoping to elicit some fear with the goal of getting a desired behavior. Think for example of schools teaching kids about cyberbullying and sexting and having police officers deliver the message so it is clear that they should be scared, really scared of consequences. Unfortunately, scare tactics for long term behavior change have proven to not be very effective. Let me give one example. Massive public health campaigns designed to combat smoking that showed images of damaged ... Read more

WIN IT: Lenovo Miix 510 — a sleek, flexible, 2-in-1 PC (Thank you TurboTax!)

  ·

Just when you think nothing in life is free ... TurboTax comes along with this great giveaway sure to restore your faith in all things awesome: the Lenovo Miix 510 super sleek, do-it-all 2-in-1 PC. Here's the scoop: TurboTax lets you seamlessly switch between your phone, tablet, and computer to file your taxes quickly and stress-free. It's as simple as snapping a photo of your W-2 and letting the latest technology work it's magic. Need help? No problem. Tap the SmartLook button to talk with a real-live Tax Expert in a matter of minutes. The 12.2" Lenovo Miix 510 lets you with switch between laptop and tablet mode with ease, style, and all-day battery life. With its sleek design, unique ... Read more

DIGITAL DOLLAR: The best online banks to save time and $$

  ·

When you think of online banking, you probably think of it as an extension of your brick-and-mortar bank. Over recent years, however, banks have cropped up that are solely online; they don't have physical buildings. While this means you don't get face-to-face interaction, the benefits often outweigh this downside. Online-only banking generally means fewer fees and lower interest rates, not to mention the handy apps and the ability to do your banking wherever you have an internet connection. And even though there isn't a building where you can go and talk to tellers, these banks usually have extended (if not 24/7) customer support hours. Here are a few of our favorite online-only ... Read more