1. Keep your browser updated. Updates are made possible because security flaws are found. If you use Windows Update, it will take care of Internet Explorer. Firefox and Chrome should automatically check for updates.
2. Look for the address bar padlock symbol. Make sure that the webpage is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) on the page you use your credit card. SSL encryption ensures privacy. Most browse4rs indicate that this encryption is active by displaying the “lock” and by changing the addres from http:// to https://.
3. Buy from reputable sellers.
4. Give out as little detail as possible. Beware if a site asks for excessive personal information – such as your Social Security Number.
5. Never send your credit card information through email.
6. Use online payment services. PayPal, Bill Me Later, Pay Simple and other services keep your credit-card information on a secure server and let you make purchases without revealing your credit details to retailers. PayPal says it monitors accounts for suspicious activity and covers most unauthorized transactions.
iPad Apps
Audible: cost:Free- If you like listening to audiobooks, Audible has thousands of titles as well as eight samples to get you started.
RoadTrippers– cost: free -No need to print out directions for a road trip. This lets you plan a route, tips you off to points of interest and gives you turn by turn directions.
AroundMe – cost: free- AroundMe allows you to search for the nearest restaurants, banks, gas stations, book a hotel or find a movie schedule nearby. GREAT information.
Tip of the month
Extend the battery life of your mobile device
Here are some simple adjustments that you can make to the settings of your mobile phone to make your battery last longer.
If you aren’t using Wi-Fi, turn it off.
Adjust your screen timeout. Set your screen to time out after about a minute of idle time, if possible.
Dim the screen. An auto-brightness automatically adjusts the screens brightness. You can manually lower your screen’s brightness.
Turn off vibrate. On an iPhone, use the “Do Not Disturb” feature if you are in a situation where you don’t want to bother others. Vibrating uses much more power than playing a ringtone.
Turn off location services. Taking this step will save a lot of power – and some money if you are traveling internationally.
Don’t let your device get too hot or too cold.
Turn on Airplane Mode. This mode disables your device’s wireless features, including cellular data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and other services.
Turn off or limit notifications. If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll have to do this manually for each app. Go to Settings – Notifications, tap each app that you’d like to adjust and toggle the Notification Center switch to Off. If you’re using an Android, disable syncing on serivces you don’t use. Go into the Accounts section of Settings, and turn off syncing for the services you don’t use.
Minimize unneeded apps and options. To kill apps you aren’t currently needing on an iPhone, double tap the Home button until the multitasking tray appears. Hold an icon until an X appears, and then tap the X to close the app.
