This month we’ll discuss: Trello in a little more detail, Zoom overview, and home/office networks, scams and a summary of Apple’s WWDC.
Trello is a powerful project management app that runs on Mac and PC platforms. The free version is a great place to start and you can add on features for a nominal sum as your needs increase. For those who work with others to move a project along and who have various responsibilities, this app can keep everyone on track to see progress as others report what they are doing, attach documents, or exchange information. Settings will allow for periodic notifications to keep one current or you can check progress by looking at the “boards” periodically. To learn about using this app see these videos on YouTube: visit the official Trello lessons at https://youtu.be/l3F3l3psqXY or https://youtu.be/HvkTamEjDXk
Zoom – this is a free video conferencing app that has been in the news lately. When its popularity soared during the early part of the virus, it supposedly went from 10 million users to over 200 million. For a while it received criticism for weak security, with some bozos crashing meetings and causing problems with profane comments or nudity. It appears that they have tightened up security by requiring passwords from the meeting organizers and other more strict measures. The free version offers up to 100 participants on a call, but it’s limited to 40 minutes. Find Zoom at https://zoom.us Conference organizers can send out invitations to participants so they can sign in safely. Users can take turns speaking, and there is a comments feature. This app is very useful as it can reduce travel and exposure. You can quickly have a client download the app and join your video conference. Zoom continues to improve the product frequently. For users that need longer times, paid plans start at $15/mo. with many more additional features and controls. YouTube has some quality videos to get you up and running quickly. See https://youtu.be/FnFSBjFvK2o This video is very recent, Mar 2020 and has had over 1.1 million views. There are many others to see too. Try this very useful app to also connect with family and friends or business clients and you’ll see that it’s easy to setup and use.
Routers- A router is the first line of security from intrusion into a network. Enabling the highest level of security on the router turns on things like the firewall, and is the best way to keep your computer system and information safe from attack. This key piece of equipment connects with your internet service providers’ modem to provide a wireless network for your home or office. Routers typically have USB ports to connect printers or scanners on the network so they can be shared. These devices continue to add more capability and speed. Routers need to be managed. Things that need attention include: Changing passwords for access to the router and for the wireless network (these should not be something easy to guess); encrypting your network; set up of forwarding rules; changing your network’s name; and updating the firmware (it’s operating instructions). Passwords should be changed annually if not more often if you suspect attempts at intrusion. You may also consider a password manager app so you can keep your passwords safe and accessible by you.
Most routers sold today are dual band with 2.4GHz and 5 GHz speeds. Some newer ones have a second 5G band for larger areas, you might consider using a newer router to create a mesh network to overcome falling coverage in faraway parts of your residence or office. Mesh routers help eliminate those dead spots but cost more than single routers. Today’s routers let you control traffic to keep kids from using bandwidth with movies while you are trying to work and also access can be restricted on certain devices. Some have apps for your phone to help manage your network. Starting next year, we should be seeing a new standard Wi-Fi – 6. If you are buying a router anytime soon you might want to consider look at one with this capability as it has improved security against hackers and much improved speeds, up to 4804Mbps on 5GHz band. TP-Link advertises that it’s model can cover up to 4,800 SF without a mesh network. Before you go to this level, you will need a very fast internet connection to utilize this high speed. Do your research as you look at new routers.
Placement of your router is important. Wi-Fi signals are just a portion of the radio spectrum, so it’s generally best to place it on the first floor in the center of the home in a two story environment and on top of a desk, table or cabinet so it’s in the open. Don’t put other things around it. Wireless signals get weak if they have to penetrate too many walls or floors. Even a fish tank can block signals. Certain electronic equipment such as baby monitors, microwaves and wireless landline phones can affect the signal. Keep the router away from them. Line of sight provides the best service and try to limit transmission to no more than 50 feet. If your router has external antennas, you might try adjusting them so one it up (vertical) and one is down (horizontal). See owner manual for guidance if there are multiple antennas. Don’t be reluctant to experiment on aiming them. To check how things are going, go to http://www.speedtest.net If you are having issues, try a reboot. Unplug your router and your modem and wait 30 seconds or so. Then plug in the modem and let it go through it’s boot up and all lights are on. Then, reconnect power to your router and let it boot up. This may solve some problems if there has been an interruption in service from your provider.
Here are some articles for more reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2020/04/27/5-of-the-best-routers-for-home-offices/#79ec16641caa
https://www.cnet.com/news/best-wi-fi-router-of-2020/
Scams – as we all know, be aware of phishing attacks from emails that look legitimate from your bank, Amazon, or utility company or elsewhere you make financial transactions. It’s amazing how real these requests look, but beware, as they are asking for you to confirm your personal or financial information. Legitimate requests are not made via email so if you fill out the form or open an attachment your may introduce malware or give up credit card or account information. Malware might lock your computer and ask for a ransom. It could also be a keystroke logger and report everything you type. So when you go to your real bank internet site, it will transmit that to the thief. If an email looks suspicious, it probably is. Call your bank, credit card company or whoever the mail is purporting to be and ask them what they really want or go to the website directly to see if you have a message. You can also look closely at the URL address/domain on the message. It might be something that looks like your bank but is not exactly the same. Instead of servicerep@wellsfargo.com, scammer might use servicerep@welsfarg0.com with mis-spellings or substitute numbers and letters O for 0, 8 for B, etc. Sites that do require confidential information will show https://preceding the web address and a security certificate with a lock symbol/Secure. If it doesn’t, delete the email. It’s best not to reuse passwords for financial institutions and change them from time to time. Of course some people, get calls for account or financial information over the phone. Through “social engineering” they can ask questions and possibly know things about you that may surprise you. They might pretend to be the IRS, your bank, a retailer, an attorney, or some other company. The goal is to get a social security number, birthdate, pin number, and other account information to extort you.
Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference was held on June 22 and several major announcements were made. A new app for the iPhone, Translate, will enable you to type a comment/question in English and have it translated into one of 10 languages (i.e. Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, German, etc.). Besides translating the words, it attempts to add context to the text so it would be more of a natural response. Since the work is done on your phone, you don’t have to be connected to the internet. Apple maps will now include cycling maps showing elevation changes and steep inclines or steps that may be encountered and you can pick routes with bike lanes. It’s only available in major cities to start, but others will be added over time. A new OS for Mac, Big Sur, will be released in the fall. This will bring the Mac ecosystems even closer together as you will be able to run IOS apps on your Mac, that is your phone apps can run on your laptop. An IOS-like customizable control center will be available on the Mac. Another pointer that the Apple ecosystems grow ever closer. This is also supported by the announcement that new Macs, iPads, and iPhones will all run on a new common chip architecture which will make them all more battery friendly, faster , and with common features like menus. The iPhone will allow for customization of your home screen to fit in what you want to see and new Widgets to provide information that is important to you. Searching for an app on your IOS device? Now they will appear in an alphabetical list for easier locating. For iPad users with an Apple Pencil, you can now use “scribble” to write comments which can turn directly into text, then you can copy that handwritten note and paste it into another app as text. Tired of constantly telling your devices to now switch when you are using AirPods? New software will intelligently, switch the AirPods as you change devices with you avoid having to go to Settings/Bluetooth/AirPods…. AirPods are also getting a “surround sound” feature when you listen to Dolby sound movies. The Apple Watch will have more customization on Faces, and even an app that knows you are washing your hands so you do it for the “proper” length of time. Covid-19 anyone? Home Kit users will be able to know who is at the door, if they have been tagged in your Photos. Lighting controls have been updated also.
Thought for Today – When you are riding out in front of the herd, look back once in a while to make sure they are still following you – Will Rogers