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Consumer Reports joined Into Tomorrow this week to tell us about avoiding ransomware:
We’re all heard about the wave of ransomware attacks across the globe. How can you protect yourself against this breed of cyber crime? Consumer Reports electronics spokesman James McQueen is here with some tips.
Most ransomware infections happen when a user is lured by a bogus “phishing” email to a site that infects his or her computer, or by clicking on an attached file that secretly installs it.
You avoid ransomware the same way you avoid any malware infection: By being careful. While that’s not always easy, there are things you can do to steer clear of problems.
- Don’t casually click a link inside an email; instead, type the web address directly into your browser.
- Never open an attachment unless you were expecting to receive it and you’re certain of what it is.
- Don’t spend time in the disreputable corners of the internet that specialize in risqué content or pirated movies; you can get infected simply by visiting a dodgy site.
- Never install software just because a web site tells you to do it.
- And always keep a backup copy of all your personal files on a separate drive or with a “cloud”-based backup service. That way, if the worst happens, you’ll always have access to your most important data.
For more info on this story, visit ConsumerReports.org.
Dave and Chris shared apps they’ve been playing with:
Amazon FreeTime used to only be available for Kindle devices. Now it can be found on the Play Store where any Android user can install it. This is a service provided by Amazon that organizes kid-friendly entertainment — like Disney, PBS, Nickelodeon and Amazon Originals — over 10,000 titles to choose from! This App makes them easily accessible and available in a single place. The app even includes a kid-safe web browser that you — as a parent — can control. Of course, the entirety of this service is not offered for free. Amazon FreeTime requires a subscription. You can choose to pay $4.99 per child or $9.99 for a family with a maximum of four children.
I’ve talked about the first aid app from the American Red Cross before. Now, I’d like to talk about their Pet First Aid app. This 99 cent app will put veterinary advice in the palm of your hand. The app has first aid steps for common pet situations through a combination of text, video and images. There’s an early warning sign checker to alert you to potential health problems as well as step by step, size specific CPR procedures for your dog or cat. There’s even a quiz that can help you stay at the top of your game when it comes to caring for your pet, and you can enter your vet’s info so that you can make an appointment right from the app. The Pet First Aid by American Red Cross app is 99 cents and is available for iOS and Android.
