Tech tips for the Holidays

By BD Bondy

I was looking for tech tips pertaining to this time of year. I can’t say I was impressed. Kim Komando had a list that was okay, you can read them HERE. Clever tech hacks for less stress this holiday, from Amazon spoilers to family pics (komando.com) 

The tip on taking better pics was good, I guess. If I want to look better in a pic, I step out of the frame, but that’s just me. Smiling is good too. 

I always get recipes off the internet. Doesn’t everyone?, I find so many great things that I almost never make, but the gluten free peanut butter cookies were fantastic, and then I modified them and they were even better.  

What surprised me was not finding articles on all the scams that you will no doubt run into. A popular one is that UPS, or USPS, or FedEx or whatever, has not delivered your package and you need to call this number or sign in with this link, etc. It’s a common, year long scam, and this time of year it will be particularly attractive, so be careful, it’s likely a scam. 

Don’t believe those phone calls either, from the federal Marshal, telling you you’ve been caught watching porn and you will be arrested if you don’t immediately pay a fine. That’s fake, as is the one from the IRS or Microsoft. Microsoft doesn’t monitor your computer for viruses and won’t ask you to call them, EVER! Don’t call the number on any dire pop-up warning telling you something disastrous has happened and you need help immediately. They are lies.  

Also, if you are being asked to pay someone in bitcoin or a gift card, DON’T! That’s a sure sign of a scam.  

Have a great holiday season, be kind to everyone. This is a stressful time of year, and everyone can have a bad day, so be patient and don’t let it bother you. Let’s try and make this a season of love that never ends.