Security | Faith & Tech

Can I have privacy on the Internet? No, you can not. But you can be a little more private. On this episode we talk about how to lock down Facebook a bit as well as Google,

Tonight we talk about Privacy on some of your favorite apps and social media, Repurposing your old Tech gear, and finally NBC and YouTube TV aren’t getting along. All that on the One-Off Tech Podcast Live.

Here are some links to visit if you want to lock down your privacy on different platforms such as Google, Facebook, and even Venmo.

Here is the site to go to slow down Facebook’s stalking of you when you are Not on Facebook. Facebook can track you if you don’t stop them.

https://www.facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/

Want to turn off all the apps that you gave Facebook permission to link to your account? Go here

https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=applications&ref=settings

Did you know Venmo shows an awful lot about your transactions by default if you don’t block it?

Here I have uploaded a PDF of the presentation I referenced during the live version of the Podcast on YouTube.

Privacy Smivacy

Repurposing your old Tech gear

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/28/how-to-recycle-repurpose-e-waste/

What do you do with an old phone or tablet or old computer?

Quick Blip in the news

YouTube TV, my favorite streaming service for TV and NBC, my least favorite network and greedy conglomerate are fighting. Good news, YouTubeTV says if they lose NBC, they will cut their monthly subscription by $10 (US). Also good news, that is more than enough to subscribe to PeakcockTV if you really even care about NBC channels. Bad news, you may lose your local NBC affiliate if you are a fan of local news by NBC and also lose access to the Today Show.

Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Stitcher Listen on Amazon Music Listen on Spotify

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Click the link above to watch it how it went down live. Or click the links at the bottom to listen to the Podcast version of this show. Thanks for watching by the way. You are awesome for that.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/techtroublemkr Visit if you want to sponsor this channel.

Twitter https://twitter.com/techtroublemkr
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/techtroublemkr/

Apple iOS 15 now available. Should you upgrade right away? Maybe not.

In the past some iOS upgrades broke important things like Wifi or sometimes it broke some of your favorite apps.

Please break Facebook please break Facebook.

Okay, so maybe not. Developers were given ample access to the beta releases of iOS 15. Betas you may recall are pre-release versions of software that folks who are brave are often encouraged to try out.

https://www.macworld.com/article/350966/ios-15-super-guide-features-tips-tricks-updates-safari-facetime-focus-notification-summary.html

But the new version of iOS comes out with new features such as ads for Ted Lasso saying you should watch it on Apple TV. And I admit I am a huge fan of this show. Everyone but the main character cusses like a sailor and that is rough but I love this show. Every episode except for the September 17th episode focused on Coach Beard has made me laugh out loud so many times.

Let’s talk about new features:

Focus is probably my new feature. Think of it as “Do Not Disturb” for the waking hours. You can tell your device which apps you want to allow to notify you while you are “Focusing” . I don’t know about you but there are games that send notifications that I could just not care about when I am supposed to be working. Okay, apps I need to not tempt me while I am working I should say. So with Focus, you can tell it what apps you want to allow while you are busy but can’t set your phone to Do Not Disturb.

The enhancements to Facetime are exciting. You can blur your background, group chat, schedule chats a la Zoom style. Share a link with your Windows and Android friends so they can join your Facetime.

And now there is SharePlay, which is a way to have watch or listening parties using Facetime and most apps on your phone. Say Apple+ to watch “Ted Lasso”. Or maybe sharing HBO Max viewing parties? And you can share your Keynote presentation if you really want to do business while using Facetime. Think of Facetime as Zoom Meetings Lite.

Apple Maps got a big upgrade though I think the screens look a little like the game Civilization IV. I prefer Google Maps but they have a new walking feature and I haven’t tried it yet as it is too new but it could be Apple Maps when you are on a walking tour is a better option than Google Maps in a metro area or a well visited location.

iCloud+ is now easier to share with family, also they have “Private Relay” that is kind of like VPN (virtual private networks) that allows you to private browse on Safari and potentially other apps. I will have to get back to you on that but so far only Safari seems to be involved.

Speaking of Safari, Safari on your mobile device will now allow extensions. You can use the Honey extension to find deals on your mobile device. There are other extensions as well. They also updated Safari on the Mac so you will be able to do Private Relay on the Mac as well.

If you are an Apple Wallet fan and your state allows it, you can store your driver’s license on your phone. Let’s hope they have it secured well or it could be the next big security story. You can of course store your Covid-19 Vaccine card as well if you happen to have one.

Should you upgrade?

Firsts, backup. To me Photos are the most important thing. If you use Google Photos or iCloud to backup your photos, do it before you update.

Make sure you have enough space for a 4 Gig install. Granted it will overwrite the old OS but you have to be able to download the new update before it installs

If you are brave, make sure your phone is fully charged before you start

Make sure you are on WIFI as it is too big to do via Mobile unless you have unlimited and true 5G.