JUNE 16, 2023 DIGITAL LITERACY TECH QUESTIONS + ANSWERS FROM WASHTENAW LITERACY Q: I constantly need to reset my passwords. What is the best, safest way to keep track of passwords for different accounts? A: Making and remembering passwords can be one of the most frustrating aspects of living in our internet-dominated world. One of the main difficulties is that the more secure your passwords are the harder it can be to keep track of them. Passwords are more secure when they are unique, long and complex. But keeping multiple lengthy passwords straight in your head can feel impossible. Thankfully, there are several different tools and strategies you can use to prevent yourself from having to constantly reset your login credentials. One of the easiest ways to keep track of your passwords is to use a password manager. Password managers are applications or browser-based tools that store your passwords for you in an encrypted format, which means that they are resistant to being hacked. Although some password managers support biometric security (such as fingerprints), most password managers will still require you to remember one master password that will give you access to all of your other login details. If you use a password manager it is really important to make your master password as secure as possible. A less high-tech alternative to a password manager is to simply write down your passwords on paper and keep them together in a secure place. There are a few things you should consider if you decide that this option is for you. Make sure that you have somewhere really safe to store them, preferably somewhere away from your computer and where you won't lose them. It is a good idea to write passwords in an unlabeled notebook, to make them a bit harder to find. Another thing you might try is to write hints instead of the passwords themselves. For example, if your password is the name of your dream car with your mother’s birth date and an exclamation mark, you can write “car mom excited” instead of writing your actual password. Then, even if someone gets ahold of your list of passwords, they won’t necessarily be able to get into your accounts. Try to make your clues vague enough that others won’t be able to figure them out, but specific enough that you’ll remember what it means. One last tip is to think about which accounts are the most important for you to keep secure. For your most important, most sensitive accounts, such as online banking, telehealth, or email, it might be best to spend some time making sure that you can memorize the passwords, even if you keep your other passwords in a password manager or written in a notebook. Q: Is there any way to block spam calls? Or to prevent them? A: Spam calls are a serious problem, and one that is reportedly on the rise. Various sources report that, during the last three years, 30-60% of all calls placed in the United States were spam calls. The Federal Communications Commission, a government body charged with regulating radio, television, phone and internet communication in the United States, has stated that unwanted phone calls are their “top consumer complaint” and their “top consumer protection priority.” There is no single, foolproof way for you to completely prevent all unwanted calls. That being said, by taking a few precautions you should be able to greatly reduce the number of spam calls you receive. One of the first steps towards minimizing spam calls is to add your name to the Do Not Call Registry. The Do Not Call Registry is a list of phone numbers maintained by the FCC to help prevent unwanted telemarketing calls. You can add your phone number to the registry at www.donotcall.gov. Once your number is on the list, it is illegal for telemarketers to call you. Adding your number should help to cut down on the number of telemarketing calls you receive, and it will enable you to report unwanted calls to the FCC. Unfortunately, many spam callers don’t care about the legality of what they’re doing, so putting your number on the Do Not Call Registry will not totally eliminate unwanted phone calls. Most smartphones have several other options for limiting spam calls. iPhones and androids allow you to silence all calls coming from numbers that aren’t in your contacts. The calls will still show up in your call log, but your phone will not ring. You can also download a spam blocker application to help filter out unwanted calls. Popular spam blockers for androids and iPhones include Hiya, Robo Shield, Truecaller and Nomorobo. Some phone providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, have additional call filtering and caller-ID features that can help you crack down on spam calls. One last important piece of advice about limiting unwanted calls is that you should try not to answer any calls from numbers you don’t recognize. When you answer a spam call, it lets the caller know that your phone number is active, which can lead to more calls in the future. Submit your technology-related questions to submissions@ groundcovernews.com and they might be published in the next issue of Groundcover News! If you struggle with technology, reading, writing, or math, you may be eligible for tutoring through Washtenaw Literacy. For more information, or to volunteer as a tutor, visit washtenawliteracy.org or call 734-337-3338. GROUNDCOVER NEWS What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Hang out in any of our five locations across town, browsing books, magazines, newspapers, and more, or check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, and science tools— you name it! Study and meeting rooms, fast and free WiFi, and plenty of places to sit and hang out. Print Stuff at AADL Need to print forms, essential documents, applications, or homework? We can help! We can print up to 30 pages per person per week at no charge and have your items ready to pick up at the library of your choice the next weekday. For more information, visit: AADL.org/printing Bookable Meeting Rooms Book a meeting room with your AADL card. We have 10 available meeting rooms across the system that you can reserve for up to two hours per day, 12 times per calendar year. They’re also available on a first-come firstserved basis. To book a room, visit AADL.org/rooms FEATURED EVENT The Summer Game SPECTACULAR Saturday, July 29 1-4pm Veterans Memorial Park Join us at the annual splendiferously staggering, outdoor, earna-metric-ton-of-points, Summer Game Spectacular! Get outside and enjoy the summer with us in one of Ann Arbor’s greatest parks! Featuring the high-flying circus The Aviary, AADL’s amazing outdoor game collection, face painting, food trucks, and more, this slam-bang event will knock your socks off no matter your age! 5
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