Ten Tips for Technology Safety

It's Internet Safety month. So, watch my appearance on NBC for some technology safety tips. And below, are many more.



Some of these items are going to seem obvious, however, when was the last time you backed up your data files? So, here we go . . .

1. BUYD - Back Up Your Data (Photos, music, and all essentials files). I recommend purchasing a SD card. They are inexpensive, store a lot of data, and can be used in most digital cameras.

2. TBS - Think Before Sending - A lot of people think that it's only kids who do "stupid" stuff. I have lots of examples of adults doing "stupid" stuff. Here's a Fortune 500 CEO who resigned because he sent sexually explicit emails. In retrospect, I'll bet he wished that his motto was: Think Before Sending.

3. TBC - Think Before Clicking - It's so easy to click on a link. However, scammers send bogus links that are disguised as links sent by friends. If you use Twitter or Facebook, click this link.

4. Spam - If you're still getting spam, consider using an email service that automatically filters it for you. Studies have shown that over 90% of the emails sent are spam. For example, I use Google's Gmail service (my real email address - ken@leebow.com forwards to my Gmail account). Because of its filtering capability, I haven't seen a spam email in a long time.

5. Get Your Credit Report - For free (it's the law), you can obtain your credit report at annualcreditreport.com. And, if you are tired of getting credit card offers in your mailbox, believe it or not, you can opt-out. Here's the site: http://www.optoutprescreen.com (I've done it and I no longer receive credit card offers).

As an added safety precaution, you might want to put a Credit Freeze on your accounts. Read about it here.

6. Protect Your Computer - At my site, here's a list of free software to assist.

7. Back Up Your System Software - Sadly, most new computers do not come with CDs of the operating software. In this area, you are on your own. So, go to your start menu and search for: Recovery Disc Creation. This will allow you to make "recovery discs". You will need DVD non-rewritable discs for this. Sorry for the complexity - blame the PC manufacturers for this one.

8. AARP - Be Alert, Aware, Responsible, and Participate - What in the world does that mean? In my Technology Safety presentations I go into detail. Here's the scoop: A year ago, who would have ever thought teens would be "sexting" (sending text messages with naked photos of themselves)? So, you need to stay current with the ever-changing landscape of technology.

9. BS - Be Skeptical - On the Internet, information flows very quickly (Twitter, Facebook, blogs and more). Not all of it is accurate. And of course, much of it is opinion-based. So, before you believe everything you view or read (and pass it on), take a moment to reflect on that "news". While this article is dated, it makes some interesting points about information on the Net.

10. TTEPSK - Lists, lists, lists - Here's my time-tested Ten Technologies Every Parent Should Know. If you have children, grandchildren, or work with kids, I recommend reading this.

To book Ken for a speaking engagement, check out his site.

My Favorite Digital Photo Frame

I own one and just purchased one as a gift. The metal design is only 112-bucks.

Blogger - Happy 10th Birthday

I've been using Blogger for many years. Without a doubt, it's the most flexible blogging platform available. I've used it as my main Web site, my blog, my book, and for my son's wedding. This is just a few of the types of sites I have created with Blogger.

The site is rarely, if ever, down. It's easy to update and easily integrates with Picasa, cellphones, and other applications. Oh, and did I mention that it is free?

Like most Google applications it is flexible and simple to use.

So, to Blogger I wish a very happy 10th birthday...and many more to come!

The Inspiration for My Next Book

The Reason Why Newspapers Are Dying

I keep reading that it is primarily Google's "fault" with a little bit of Craig's List thrown in. However, that's not the reason. Watch Malcom Gladwell's presentation. He will tell you the reason.

Thinking about Our Environment . . .

“Imagine this design assignment. Design something that makes oxygen, sequesters carbon, fixes nitrogen, distills water, accrues solar energy as fuel, makes complex sugars and food, creates micro-climates, changes colors with the seasons, and self-replicates. Why don’t we knock that down and write on it?" - William McDonough

***

"Man's attitude toward nature is today critically important simply because we now have acquired a fateful power to alter and destroy nature. But man is part of nature, and his war is inevitably a war against himself." - Rachel Carson 1964

***

A Google Server Farm

When you do a search or store any of your information in Google's cloud, here's where it goes. In a word, amazing.

What is Twitter?

It's a little bit of everything. Watch and listen to the founder -- very interesting.

The Fate of Television

Jeff Zucker, the chief of NBC Universal, has been more pessimistic, saying, “broadcast television is in a time of tremendous transition, and if we don’t attempt to change the model now, we could be in danger of becoming the automobile industry or the newspaper industry.” Source: New York Times

No doubt, TV will experience the same fate as the newspaper industry. Here's the reason: It's impossible to compete with infinity. And the Internet is infinity. Oh yeah, the broadcast world has not embraced placing content (old and new) on the Net.

Fascinating: Origins of the Financial Mess

Recipe for Disaster: The Formula That Killed Wall Street

Read it and weep.

Enjoy This Insightful Interview with Marc Andreessen

Car Wreck = Our Current Banks

Have you ever totaled a car or seen a car that has been totaled? Everyone knows: You do not fix a totaled car. That's just common sense. The insurance company writes a check and you replace that once wonderful automobile.

Well . . . our banking system is totaled. However, we are trying to fix it. It ain't gonna work. Here's what one economist has to say about our current banking system. Bottomline: start new banks.

Google Reads My (Your) Email . . .

. . . When it read this in an email sent to me -- I'll be in ATL in 2 weeks...Fri Feb 27, 2009 -- 

It asked . . .

Add to calendar 

I'll be in ATL in 2 we...
Fri Feb 27, 2009


Convenient? Yes. Spooky? You bet!

The Power of Facebook

In a nutshell, this is it. While Facebook has its roots on college campuses (you had to have a .edu email address), it has been available to anyone for a while.

And, this means anyone in business should be on Facebook. However, using it for business is dramatically different than for personal use. It's a marketing and sales tool - not a place to display personal information. It's a place to have an interaction with your customer.

The Link

In a recent interview, the managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, Robert Thompson, made the following observation: "Google is great for Google, but it is terrible for content providers. It divides our content quantitatively rather than qualitatively."


No doubt, Mr. Thompson is correct. However, what really "killed" the newspaper industry is the link. To be more specific - the hyperlink. Thanks to Sir Tim Berners-Lee anyone can point to great content. 


A long time ago, as an insult, someone called me a "linker". Well, no doubt, people want linkers: We sold over 3-million books based on "the link". And, we need good editors who send us quality links. 


Here's one example of what is needed today: YouTube has incredible content, however, if you look at its front page, it looks like a vast wasteland. So, we need editors to link to the incredible videos. For example, here's an incredible video that you probably haven't seen.


And, as a side thought, newspapers need to change the name newspaper. When we went from horse-drawn carriages to the automobile/car, we changed the name. Yes, the print news will be dead...eventually, however, the news business will not. It will just be delivered in a different format.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly . . .

. . . all wrapped up in one package. It's bad enough that people know when you're online, on Facebook, or other services. Now, with your permission, they will know where you are when mobile.

MySpace: 90,000 sex offenders removed from site

Use this article to chat with the kids about online safety.

It's 1981 . . . What will the future of newspapers look like?

What Has Google Done?

There's a new book out titled: What Would Google Do? However, I'm more interested in what Google has done and will continue to do. To see what Google has done, check out this video. Of course, on YouTube.