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Who would think that something as simple as texting would be a dangerous tech habit? Or uploading a photo? It may be a bit on the overly cautious side, but it’s true.
The relative ease with which we can make our daily life public is great. Thirty years ago we were still relying on long-distance phone calls and snail mail to keep in contact with friends and family, but now we’ve got gadgets and gizmos galore to help us out. Video conferencing, cell phone family plans, and photo sharing sites keep us in constant contact. Traditional long distance phone calls are becoming more a thing of the past and Internet-enabled devices are giving us more ways to connect.
The only down side is that no one is teaching us how to use these things safely. How do we know how far we should go? How much is too much? How can we keep our private information private while still exploring the web? These are questions you usually have to answer yourself. But we’ve come up with some quick tips on things to look out for when you’re out there.
- Texting while driving:
I almost feel silly writing this, but the fact is that plenty of people still haven’t figured out that texting while driving is crazy-dangerous. It’s so dangerous, in fact, that many cities are outlawing texting while driving. Pull over or wait until you are parked to send or read a message and keep yourself (and the others around you) safe while on the road.
- Opening unexpected email attachments:
It happens to the best of us, but this is particularly important if you like keeping your PC virus-free. Don’t open emails from anyone you don’t know, and only open/save/view files from friends when you know you’re expecting something.
- Public geolocation announcements:
Foursquare sure is fun, especially when you’re mayor of a location or you get a new badge. So is geotagging your pictures and putting them on Flickr for grandma to see. But be careful when you’re doing these things because if you have geotagging enabled, anyone who has access to your geo-aware services or websites may be able to see the location of your home, school, or office. That may be fine if you only allow friends and family access, but if you leave it open for everyone you may be giving more details than you mean to do. And the last thing you want is an unwelcome visitor coming over.
- No backups:
If you aren’t backing up your important files (taxes, family photos, legal documents, etc.) then you’re asking for trouble. DVD burners and external hard drives are pretty reasonably priced, so there’s no real excuse for it unless you like the danger of flirting with disaster.
- Easy passwords:
If you haven’t read our post “12 Tips for Making a Good Password.“, do it now. I’ll wait. Did you read it? Good. Now go change all of your passwords.
Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtrah/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
The best thing about the Internet is that anyone can write anything on any topic and be heard around the world at the click of a button. Of course, that’s arguably also the worst thing about the Internet. :)
The “Wild West” nature of the web can make it challenging to find unbiased information on a variety of subjects. Your friends on Twitter say one thing, Facebook friends maybe another. And that guy on that forum? He thinks they’re both wacky. Add a few Google searches on top of it and who knows what to think?! That’s the Internet, for better or for worse. But at least we’ve got options, right?
If you’re having problems navigating through your research online, try a few of these ideas. They just might help you uncover a treasure trove of information.
- Use multiple sources:
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket by only reading one website for information. Find 2, 3, maybe even 20 sources… whatever it takes to get as many angles as possible. From there you can make up your own mind based on everything you read.
- Do offline research:
Newspapers, trade magazines, encyclopedias; sometimes in our digital world we forget that reference books and periodicals exist. (Or dare we say, the library!) They may seem like a a dying breed, but you can still find them all around your town, and they’ve got lots of information you can use. And most of the time they’ve been edited, unlike the Internet. (Haha)
- Ask an expert:
Local colleges, professional organizations, and government offices usually have an information desk of some kind. If you’re looking for information on something in a particular field, see if you can find a human expert who will help you out, or at least point you in the right direction. It’s better than going it alone.
Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/stlbites/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
Many vulnerabilities on a computer can be avoided with a few simple precautions. One of the most important things you can do to avoid infection from malicious software is to keep all of your software updated. Additional benefits to updating/upgrading your software usually include bug fixes in the software and new features.
Updating your software on a regular basis is like keeping up with the scheduled maintenance on your car. It keeps all the important parts tuned up, current, and free from defects. Software can be plagued by similar problems, but instead of a pinging sound or a high-pitched squeal you may run into some malware or possibly some data corruption; if you’re lucky maybe you’ll only run into some compatibility problems. In the case of antivirus and/or antispyware software, keeping your software current means receiving the latest definitions on whatever infection is new to the Internet and making the rounds.
Nowadays it’s easier than ever to keep your software updated since many software manufacturers give you the option of automatic or manual updates. It’s usually recommended to allow the software, especially if from a vendor you trust, to automatically update itself so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting to check for updates.
Keep your computer up-to-date and as bug-free as possible by staying on top of software updates.
Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/fractal_ken/ / CC BY 2.0
In today’s world, email is as much a part of our lives as any other tool, and knowing the proper etiquette to use when writing an email can be the difference between looking like a professional or looking like a fool. Today we’ll go over some basic email etiquette that’s generally considered to be the norm.
Every form of communication has some general guidelines, and email is no different. Whether you’re drafting professional correspondence or writing an email to your family across the country about your kid’s latest school play, following these simple rules when emailing will keep those who read your email engaged and interested.
- What’s the subject?
In your excitement to get your message out there, don’t forget to add a subject line to your email. Without it the reader is hard-pressed to tell the difference between your email and run-of-the-mill spam. Short, but descriptive text regarding the heart of your email will give those on the To: list more incentive to open it and read it as soon as possible instead of missing it completely or marking it as spam.
- Who’s your audience?
Your email should be properly addressed to the correct person or people. Make sure that the email addresses you use are correct, current, and valid. Without a valid email address your message could get into the wrong hands, and depending on the sensitivity of the email, could make you look foolish at best, or compromise your data at worst.
- Don’t SHOUT it out!
The use of CAPITAL, or upper-case, letters should be kept to a minimum, just like any online messaging medium. (Including online forums, blog posts, IMs, text messaging, etc.) Proper Internet and email etiquette dictates that you may use all caps, but only in moderation, and generally only for emphasis. You don’t want to start out like Oprah did her first day on Twitter. Turn off your caps lock key before you start typing.
- Keep geek-speak to a minimum.
Using too many slang words, Internet acronyms, or overly “techy” terms (“URL” vs. “website”, “ping” vs. “[Internet] response time”, etc.) can damper the effectiveness of your communications, especially of the recipient of your email doesn’t know or understand their meaning. Keeping everything in layman’s terms casts a broader net of comprehension and will get your point across much better.
- Brevity is the soul of wit.
Nobody wants a digital version of “War and Peace” in their inbox, so keep emails short and to the point. Not only will you get your message out there faster (because it won’t take as long to write), but keeping the content distilled to the it’s basic essence will help ensure complete understanding of what you’re trying to get across.
- Keep things light.
Have you ever noticed how anything written online “sounds” different than it might be if said aloud? That’s because without a human voice behind the words, none of the inflections or tonality used in normal speech are present to let the reader know things like humor, sarcasm, or irony. As such, you should always strive to have a light, non-confrontational “voice” in your digital communications. Without it your content may seem more heavy-handed than you intended.
- Who are you?
You may have your email address in the From: of your email, but not leaving a closing “signature” is not only a little rude, it’s a wasted opportunity to thank the reader for reading, and maybe even to add a link to your website or alternate communication method such as a different email, phone number, or office location. We recommend that you close an email just the same way you would a hand-written letter. Additional details or contact information optional.
Keeping these email etiquette tips in mind when writing will not only make your emails look more professional, but they’ll also be sure to keep those who receive them from losing interest in your messages.
Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/epublicist/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
If you’re new to the Internet or texting on your cell phone you may be confused by all the acronyms and text shortcuts used by more experienced users. To help you out we’ve compiled a set of 62 common acronyms used in text messages, IMs, social networks, and anywhere else that people want (or are required) to use fewer typed characters to get a thought or idea across to someone else. We’ve listed each one like this:
acronym: definition
example use
Please note that even though the acronyms below are written in ALL CAPS, it’s not necessary to use the capital letters, and most people tend to mix upper- and lowercase depending on the situation anyhow. Keep in mind that if you do use caps for the acronyms themselves it’s generally not considered poor netiquette even though typing in ALL CAPS is usually read as “shouting”.
ABT: About
What was that movie abt?
ADN: Any Day Now
ADN the printer will be done with my reports.
AFAIK: As Far As I Know
AFAIK the info is correct.
AFK: Away From Keyboard
Wife just got home. AFK for a bit to say “hi” to her.
ASA: As Soon As
I’ll be there ASA I’m done with work.
ATM: At The Moment
Can’t chat, I’m busy ATM.
B/C: Because
I love chocolate b/c it’s delicious.
B4: Before
What happened b4 it started raining?
BB: Blackberry
Just got 5 new messages on my BB.
BIO: Bio (Bathroom) Break
Hold on, I need to bio.
BRB: Be Right Back
I have to run to the store. BRB
BTW: By The Way
BTW your sister called earlier.
F2F: Face To Face
Let’s have a F2F meeting about the proposal.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
You can find the answers in the FAQ.
FWIW: For What It’s Worth
I like that color, FWIW.
G2G: Good To Go
Two more signups and we’re G2G.
GL: Good Luck
GL with meeting your boyfriend’s parents tonight.
GN: Good Night
I’m going to bed. GN.
GTK: Good To Know
Sewing buttons is something that’s GTK how to do.
HTH: Hope That Helps
The answer is 42. HTH
IANAL: I Am Not A Lawyer
IANAL but it seems like he’s within his legal rights.
IAW: In Accordance With
I put it together IAW the instructions that came with it.
IDK: I Don’t Know
IDK the answer to that.
ILU: I Love You
You got me the DVD? ILU!
IMHO: In My Humble Opinion
IMHO that color looks terrible.
IRL: In Real Life
Bob? Yeah, he’s not just an Internet friend. I know him IRL.
JK: Just Kidding
I’m running 20 minutes behind. JK I’m right around the corner.
KBD: Keyboard
I love my new wireless KBD.
KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid
Don’t make it complicated. KISS.
KIT: Keep In Touch
It was nice seeing you again. KIT!
L2R: Learn To Read
It’s right in the instructions. L2R, silly. :)
L8R: Later
Gotta go. L8R, bud.
LOL: Laugh(ing) Out Loud
Your text made me actually LOL!
MOTD: Message of the Day
It’s time to change the MOTD in the break room.
MYOB: Mind Your Own Business
Even if she did say that, I suggest you MYOB and stay out of it.
N/A: Not Applicable
Those instructions are N/A to this test.
NC: No Comment
I heard him say it, but NC. I’m keeping my mouth shut.
NP: No Problem
It’ll be NP to finish this within the hour.
NSFW: Not Safe For Work
Don’t open that website in the office, it’s NSFW.
NVM: Never Mind
Did you find my pen? Oh wait, NVM. I found it.
O/S: Operating System
What O/S are you using?
OIC: Oh I See
OIC what you mean!
OMG: Oh My Goodness
OMG that new haircut looks so good on you!
OMW: On My Way
I just left work and I’m OMW to meet you.
OOS: Out Of Sight (Scope)
That new car is OOS.
OTOH: On The Other Hand
OTOH you may be right about this.
POV: Point Of View
From my POV there was nothing there.
RTFM: Read The Fine Manual
Next time RTFM that came with the printer before you open it up!
RU: Are You
RU going to be at the next meeting?
SO: Significant Other
Tina is bringing her SO to the restaurant.
THX: Thanks
Thx for the pictures!
TLA: Three Letter Acronym
He uses TLAs all the time in his messages.
TMI: Too Much Information
She told us all about her surgery last week. TMI!
TTYL: Talk To You Later
I need to go to sleep now. TTYL.
TYVM: Thank You Very Much
TYVM for those reports.
UR: Your/You’re
UR car’s alarm is going off.
URL: Uniform Resource Locator (e.g. a website’s address)
What’s the URL to the website you told me about earlier?
W8: Wait
W8 for me before you go.
W/E: Whatever
W/E you want to eat for lunch is fine with me.
YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary
It worked on my computer, but YMMV.
WRT: With Regard To
WRT your meeting request, I think that’s fine.
WTH: What The Heck
My mouse just stopped working WTH?
Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/seeminglee/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
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