Showing posts with label privacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label privacy. Show all posts

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Facebook's Link History: Convenience or Privacy Threat? Here's What You Need to Know

Facebook
Have you ever wondered how to make the most out of your Facebook experience? 

Have you heard about Facebook’s new Link History feature and wondered how it could enhance your social media journey?

Here's a Cool Tip.  Turn it off.

Facebook has recently introduced a new feature called Link History. 

This feature is designed to make navigating its mobile app even simpler by creating a repository of all the links you have clicked on while using the Facebook mobile app. 

But how does it work, and how can you use it to your advantage?

Here's how to do it.
  • Accessing Link History: 
    • Tap the profile icon at the bottom right of the Facebook app. 
    • Scroll down, 
    • Tap Settings & privacy. 
    • Tap Link History.
  • Turning Link History On/Off: 
    • Open any link inside the app to launch the Facebook mobile browser. 
    • Tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right 
    • Select "Go to Settings".
    • Toggle "Allow link history" to off.
    • In popup screen, select "Don't allow"

Turn Off Facebook Link History

fig. 1 - Turn Off Facebook Link History

The Link History feature is being touted as a useful tool for consumers, allowing users to find and revisit links that they’ve been to before. 

However, if users allow Link History, Facebook uses the information to improve the ads seen across the app. 

While this might enhance the ad experience, it also raises privacy concerns.

Facebook’s new Link History feature can be a powerful tool for enhancing your social media experience, allowing you to easily revisit previously clicked links. 

However, it’s essential to be aware of the privacy implications and make an informed decision about whether to use this feature. 

Remember, the choice is always in your hands!

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Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Venmo Privacy Lockout: How to Hide Your Friends List and Keep Your Transactions Hidden (Yes, Seriously!)

Venmo logo
Have you ever split a bill with friends on Venmo and then cringe at the thought of everyone seeing your entire social network?   

Believe it or not, your Venmo friends list (and even past transactions!) are public by default.  

Here's a Cool Tip.  Tighten down the Venmo privacy settings!

Venmo is a mobile payment app that lets you easily send and receive money from friends and family. 

It's like a digital wallet that makes settling up for shared expenses, paying roommates rent, or splitting dinner bills with friends a breeze.

But you need to change a default setting to make it more secure.

Here's how.
  • Open the Venmo app and tap the "Me" tab.
  • Click the gear icon in the top right corner to access Settings.
  • Tap "Privacy" and then "Friends List."
  • Choose "Private" to hide your list from everyone except yourself.
  • Bonus: 
    • Toggle "Appear in other users' friends lists" off to disappear from their lists entirely. (Ninja mode activated!)

Venmo Privacy

For maximum privacy, set your "Default Transaction Privacy" to "Private" under the Privacy settings. 

This keeps all future transactions hidden unless you choose otherwise.

In just a few simple steps, you can turn your Venmo account from a public spectacle to a privacy fortress. 

Remember, it's your money and your social circle – keep them both under your own lock and key. 

With these Cool Tips in your arsenal, feel free to split those bills and send those payments with newfound confidence, knowing your financial world is a closed book to anyone but you. 

Now go forth and conquer those awkward money moments with grace and a sprinkle of digital ninja moves!

Did you make the change?

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy!


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Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Use This Shortcut to Hide Your Browsing

Have you ever wondered how to browse the web without leaving a trace? 

Have you ever needed to log into multiple accounts at once? 

Or maybe you just want to surprise someone with a gift without spoiling the surprise through your browser history. 

Here's a Cool Tip.  Open a new browser session in Incognito (Chrome), InPrivate (Edge) or Private (Safari) mode with this keyboard shortcut: Control + Shift + N (Windows) and Command + Shift + N (Mac)

Here's how to do it.
  • Open your favorite browser such as  Google ChromeMicrosoft Edge or Apple Safari.
  • Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys on your keyboard, then press N
    • For Mac, hold Command + Shift + N keys.
  • You’ve just opened an Incognito or InPrivate browser session.

Incognito mode, also known as private browsing, is a feature in most web browsers that allows you to browse the internet without saving your browsing history, cookies, or temporary files. 

This means that once you close the incognito window, your activity on those websites won't be tracked by your browser or saved for future reference.

Using Incognito mode has several benefits including that your browsing history, cookies, and site data, and information entered in forms are not stored on your device.

You can also log into multiple accounts on the same website simultaneously.

Chrome Incognito Mode

However, it’s important to note that your activity might still be visible to the websites you visit, your employer or school, and your internet service provider.

Adding a reputable VPN offers additional privacy protection.

That's it.

Enjoy!

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Sunday, November 19, 2023

Reclaim Your Privacy: How to Disable Sharing to Facebook and Instagram on Threads

Meta Threads
Are you concerned about your online privacy?

In today's interconnected world, where social media platforms seamlessly integrate, it's easy to lose control over how your personal content is shared. 

Threads, the new social networking app from Meta, is no exception. 

By default, your Threads posts may be shared with your other Meta accounts, including Facebook and Instagram. 

Here's a Cool Tip.  Change Your Settings to Prevent This Sharing to Other Apps.

If you're not comfortable with this level of visibility, you can disable cross-app sharing on Meta Threads and regain control over your privacy.

Here's how to do it.
  • Launch the Meta Threads app
  • Ensure you're logged into the account you want to manage sharing settings for.
  • Tap on your profile picture to access your profile settings.
  • Scroll down to the "Privacy" section
  • Tap on the "Suggesting posts on other apps" option.
  • Toggle off the switches next to "Facebook" and "Instagram" to disable cross-app sharing for both platforms.

Change Sharing Settings on Meta Threads App

fig. 1 - Change Sharing Settings on Meta Threads App

With this simple change, you can prevent your posts from being shared to the other Meta apps.

That's it!

Enjoy.


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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

How to Remove Your Personal Information from Google Search Results

Google logo
Do you worry that your personal information is too easily accessible online? 

Have you found information is a Google search that you want removed?

In today's digital age, it's more important than ever to take steps to protect your privacy.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Request to remove your personal information from Google search results.

Google is the world's most popular search engine, and its search results can often be the first place people go to find information about you. 

By removing your personal information from Google search results, you can make it more difficult for people to find you online.

Here's how to remove personal information from Google search results: 

1. Find a page in search results that contains personally identifiable information
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon to bring up the “About this result” panel

Google Remove Results
fig. 1 - Google Remove Result

3. Click Remove result.
4. Google will take you to the removal request form 


Google Remove This Result
fig. 2 - Google Remove This Result

6. Select the reason why you would like to remove the search results.
7. Click the blue arrow to the right of your choice.
8. Follow the remaining steps and submit the request to Google 

You can only submit takedown requests for results pertaining to yourself or someone you officially represent. 

Google recommends that you contact websites hosting your information directly to request its removal from those sites. 


That's it.

Enjoy!


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Thursday, July 20, 2023

Should You Accept Cookies? Here's What You Need to Know

Cookies
Should you accept cookies when you visit a website?

That's a question we all get asked whenever we visit most websites.

So what's the answer?

When you visit a website, you may be asked to accept cookies. 

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer by the website. 

They can be used to track your browsing activity, remember your preferences, and provide you with a more personalized online experience.

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer by the website you are visiting. 

They are used to track your browsing activity, remember your preferences, and provide you with a more personalized online experience.

Website Cookie Warning
fig. 1 - Website Cookie Warning

There are two types of cookies: first-party cookies and third-party cookies. 

  • First-party cookies are created by the website you are visiting. 
  • Third-party cookies are created by other websites, such as advertising networks.

There are a few reasons why you might want to accept cookies. 

Cookies can be used to:

  • Remember your preferences: Cookies can be used to remember your preferences, such as your language settings or your shopping cart contents. This can make your online experience more convenient.
  • Track your browsing activity: Cookies can be used to track your browsing activity on a website. This information can be used to improve the website's content and to target advertising.
  • Provide a more personalized experience: Cookies can be used to provide you with a more personalized online experience. This can include things like recommending products that you might be interested in, or showing you content that is relevant to your interests.

You should accept cookies when you are visiting a website that you trust, and you want to remember your preferences or get a more personalized experience, then you might want to accept cookies.

Why should you reject cookies?

There are also a few reasons why you might want to reject cookies. 

Cookies can:

  • Track your browsing activity: As mentioned above, cookies can be used to track your browsing activity. This can be a privacy concern for some people.
  • Be used for advertising: Cookies can be used to target advertising. This can be annoying for some people, and it can also lead to you seeing more irrelevant ads.
  • Slow down your computer: Cookies can slow down your computer. This is because they take up space on your hard drive.

You should reject cookies when you are visiting a website that you do not trust, or if you are concerned about your privacy.

Whether or not you should accept cookies is a personal decision. 

There are pros and cons to both accepting and rejecting cookies. 

Ultimately, the best decision for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.


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Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Google Knows Where You've Been.

Google Location History
Google knows where you've been.

Why?  You allowed it.

Maybe you didn't know you allowed it.

But you did.

It's not a bad thing.  It's part of the price you are paying for accessing the free services of Google on your mobile phone.  By letting Google know where you are, apps like Google Maps, and Waze can help you find your way.

You didn't think it was all free did you?

But you may be surprised to see that Google keeps a history of where you've been.  You may not remember where you went last Sunday.  But Google knows.

Google Location History CalendarYou can see your location history by visiting https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/

By clicking the calendar on the Location History page, you can go back and see where you traveled on a given day.

It's OK to be freaked out.  Everyone is at first.  And then we all start clicking around on dates to verify we really went where the map shows.

Your location history is not just known by Google. All, Most, Many mobile apps and websites keep track of your location history.  Google is more open about it and shows you your history.  Yay for openness!

Just below the Location History calendar there is a link to delete a single day or all of your location history.  Use it if you must.

In a  future Cool Tip, I'll show you how you can disable this Google feature on your iOS or Android phone.  But it will put a dent in your use of mobile apps.

Enjoy!

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Monday, June 15, 2015

My iPhone Has Lost Me!

iOS Privacy Location ServicesFinding your lost phone is often a daily experience for million of iPhone users.

But what happens when your iPhone loses YOU?

That's a very common occurrence in iOS 8 due to new privacy prompts.  It's easy to inadvertently turn off "location services" for key apps that often need to know where they are.  Examples include, Facebook, Twitter, Photos and Messages.

Letting the phone app know where it's location allows the app to provide better information for you.  For example, Facebook can show you nearby locations when you post a status update.

"It used to work but now it doesn't.  How does this happen?"

In iOS 8, new prompts pop up from time to time asking if the user wants to continue letting an app access its location.  If you should answer no, then the privacy setting for that app changes within the hidden settings and the app will no longer access to the GPS location service built within the iPhone.

So how do you change it back?

The location services for iOS and specific apps is hidden within the Settings and then Privacy options on iPhone.  You can check that Location Services are "On" for the phone and then check each app to ensure you do or do want to let that app have access to the phones location.  That's it.

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Thursday, June 4, 2015

Check Out Google's New "My Account"

Google Logo
Google, long a target for its omnipresence role in people's digital lives, has just released a new tool to allow you to better control your Google life.

Or at least the information you share with Google.

The new tool, My Account, is available at : http://myaccount.google.com/

The new My Account tool provides access to your Google settings and other tools to safeguard your data and help protect your privacy.

For example, you can manage the settings and the information for popular Google services such as Search, Maps, and YouTube.

As with anything in life, it's a matter of making choices,  If you want Google to provide relevant information from its maps or Google Now service, Google needs to know your location history.  That's the key data behind providing the service.

Some people want the service while others may cringe at the thought of so much information in the hands of a large technology provider.

But that's the value of the new My Account tool.

You can make better decisions about how much information you want to share.

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