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Here Are the Pros and Cons of Find My Friends

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 22:00:51 +0000

Some people really love the Find My Friends app because the app can help you find your friends whether or not they contact you. You don’t need to wait around for your friend to text you back to see where they are or what they’re doing. But there are some downsides to this app because hackers and thieves can hack into your Find My Friends account and possibly locate you without your permission. Imagine, too, if your phone falls into the wrong hands. Try out the anti-theft feature in dfndr security before thieves have your phone in the event of loss or theft:

Pros of Find My Friends
This app makes it easy and fun to locate where your friends and family are. All you have to do is request for them to add you as a contact on the app, and once you accept, you will be given access to where they are.

There are also many privacy controls on the app that are very helpful. If there’s a moment where you don’t want certain friends to see where you’re located (maybe a surprise party or you’re on a date and don’t want to be bothered), you can mute those friends and they won’t be able to see you. The app is also great because it can help you keep your friends safe. If you’re concerned about a friend’s well being and haven’t heard from them in a while, you can simply use the app to see where they are.

Cons of Find My Friends
One downside to the app is that it does cost money to use. Find My Friends has a small, one-time fee of 99 cents. This fee may deter many people from downloading the app, so the app does have a smaller user base than other popular apps like Twitter and Facebook. Another negative aspect of Find my Friends is that you may get requests from people you don’t know and people you don’t want to have access to your location. This isn’t a big deal often, but it is a bit of a hassle to constantly reject strangers from accessing your location.

Finally, this app has a major downside because hackers can access the app, hack your personal information, and be able to locate you. Once the hackers have your location, they may have access to your address. Think about the pros and cons before downloading this app.

If Your Smartphone Could Fry an Egg, Learn How to Cool it Down

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 22:00:00 +0000

You wake up in the morning and pull your smartphone off the night table, immediately checking the news, weather, and all your social media platforms. Throughout the day, you use your phone so much it barely retains a charge by the evening. Sounding familiar? Smartphones have become our daily workhorses, but if you feel like dropping it because the heat is too much, it’s time to look at how to cool down your device.

Not only can a hot device be miserable day to day, but the extreme heat produced could shorten the life of the battery, processor, and other internal components. Let’s look at a few ways your phone might be overheating and how you can improve the situation, so both you and your smartphone can get on with life.

Fancy Ginormous Cases
While some of us love to adorn our phones in leather for its prestige or solid cases for ultimate protection, your choice of a case could actually be stressing out your phone. Materials like leather don’t breath and allow in airflow, while a lighter silicone or rubber case does.

Reconsider the case for your phone and make a switch. We all want a beautiful and protective case, but if your phone is suffocating, it’s likely overheating in the process.

Intense Chatting, Playing or Watching
The advent of the wireless internet is probably one of the best inventions since avocado toast, but it has been and continues to be a power-magnet. If you find yourself engaging in heavy online activity such as streaming video content or scrolling through Instagram for a few hours, there’s a good chance your device will heat up from the work of the chip.

Are you an intense gamer? While our devices have become experts at reproducing previous generation console quality, their form factors were never designed with maximum ventilation in mind. When gaming, you’re challenging both your CPU and GPU to work to their fullest extent.

Similar to when using your Wi0Fi card like there’s no tomorrow, you may find yourself with little battery life and a hot phone in your hand. Take it as a sign to get up, stretch your legs, and have a break from the screen.

Running Endless Applications
In the end, everything comes back to basics. Your phone could just be overheating because it has too many processes running in the background. Android phones have the ability to switch between multiple apps, well before other mobile options on the market did. However, with great power comes responsibility, and your overheating phone might mean closing what’s happening in the background.

Apps hogging up memory and sucking up power is an ongoing problem. Luckily, you can download an app like dfndr security, which includes a cpu cooler feature to cool down your Android by closing background apps with a single tap. If you are a gamer, the function can do double duty to reduce lag time and free up more resources for your epic gaming battles.

5 Ways to Turbo Charge Your Smartphone’s Internet Speed

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 12:00:17 +0000

The Internet has become a part of our everyday lives, many of us grabbing our smartphones to check our email before we even step out of bed in the morning. With such a digitally connected life, it’s essential that your internet keep up with your life. If you find yourself waiting for waiting for pages to load or game servers to connect, it might be time to see how your speed can be improved.

Here are 5 ways to speed up your slow internet connection and bring your smartphone’s sluggish performance into the 21st century.

It May Not Be Your Phone, But Your Plan
First, let’s talk about the least desirable option and get it out of the way. It’s essential to ensure that your current Internet provider is delivering speeds that you need daily. If you’re skimping by on the cheapest plan and expect to stream Netflix films in 4K, you might need to reconsider your options. Using a free website such as SpeedTest.Net to determine your current Internet speed and have a better understanding of upload and download speeds is a good start.

Chrome or Firefox?
One of the most wonderful features that the Android platform has to offer is choice, and that applies to your web browser too. Due to the nature of Android operating systems, web browsers can vary significantly in speed. Implement different approaches to web browsing. If you find your device is doing fine with Internet speeds in most apps, but web browsing itself is a problem, consider an alternative web browser.

Apps are a Space Hog
Another possible reason internet is moving at a turtle’s pace is due to background apps also attempting to access the web at the same time. You might have a game downloading a patch, an app checking refreshing content, or the system performing an update. An easy solution to this problem is using an optimization app, one that does the work for you. dfndr performance has an accelerate internet feature, which automatically closes down background apps with a tap and increases your Internet speed.

Ensure Your WiFi is Top Notch
If you’re using your smartphone at home, there’s a good chance you’re on a private WiFi network. But if your network is in poor condition, you can’t expect that to translate into lighting fast speeds. Ensure your router is placed in a central open area of the house and that the model you’re using is current and supports at least wireless ‘N’ standards. Lastly, if you still having an issue, try unplugging both the modem and router for 30 seconds to give your network an easy reboot.

Just as humans age, our smartphones also age over time and can start to slow down. There are various reasons for the decline in performance including an outdated operating system, slow internal chips that can’t handle modern content, and older software that has become bogged down over the years.

Consider this thought: if your smartphone isn’t acting too ‘smart’ any longer, it might be time to buy a new one.

Your Android Device is a Slave to Cryptocurrency Malware

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 12:00:32 +0000

Hackers have quickly discovered that they can infect Android phones with cryptocurrency malware, forcing devices into using precious CPU power to serve them. A new piece of malware, known as ADB.Miner is doing just that. The general term is called “mining for cryptocurrency”. A cryptocurrency is an asset that can be used similar to any other currency, trading for goods or services, but the difference is it’s digitally based and untraceable. The mining process itself allows for the discovery of new bits of digital currency. If a hacker is sneaking in on your device, how might it be affecting you?

Once a piece of mining malware has attached itself to your Android, it will relentlessly use the CPU and battery life to obtain digital currency. In the process, you may find the battery life of your phone draining or even heating up suddenly. Scarily enough, some bits of mining malware have learned to clone themselves, which means the virus can transfer to other devices on a network that your phone is connected to.

Take these tips to heart to better protect yourself from nasty viruses such as the recently discovered cryptocurrency malware attack.

Third-Party Apps Don’t Play Around
While there’s no way to guarantee that malware won’t be nested in the apps you download, you can reduce your chances of infection by sticking to a reliable store such as the Google Play Store or the Amazon Appstore. Just this past January, Google removed sixty different compromised apps from its store. Sticking to reputable app stores is a smart way to stay away from shady sources.

Listen When Apps Are Speaking
When you download a new application to your Android phone, it will typically make you aware of any permissions it requires such as scanning your contacts to modifying the device itself. Determine what an application probably doesn’t need and understand what each permission allows an app to access. Use common sense here, if a calculator app needs access to your camera, microphone, and contact list – something is dodgy. You’re better off deleting the app than taking a risk.

Call in the Virus Scanning Reinforcements
Truthfully, it’s nearly impossible to stay up to date, detect, and avoid every strain of malware out there. The good news is there are antivirus applications that can help. dfndr security is one reliable app that has a full-virus scan feature, which scans your Android phone’s memory and SD card for any threats, removing them completely.

Just you alone can’t fight off these cryptocurrency miners, but having these tips and a strong security app will no longer make you a slave to hackers looking to hog your phone’s power.

Here Are the Smart New Additions to Google’s Gboard

PSafe Newsroom — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 13:00:32 +0000

As far as keyboard apps go, Google’s Gboard can hold its own against the rest of them. It is one of the highest-rated keyboard apps available from the Play store, and for good reason — it has plenty of exciting built-in features like Google Search, Glide typing, voice typing, emoji search, and Google Translate.

As technology for smartphones has increased in many areas, Google has added new features to their Gboard, which is making everyone excited about the new accessibility they have when using it. With many of these new features being top of the line and made for usability, they continue to add new features that will make life a bit simpler — and more fun! Continue reading to learn more about some of the latest features to come to the Gboard messaging app.

YouTube
YouTube provides users with the ability to choose video clips and send them to those that they’re messaging. These are beneficial for multiple reasons, but they make searching for that funny video to share a breeze.

Google Maps
Want to share your location with those on the other end of the phone? This new Gboard feature allows you to do so. Instead of having to ask them where they are, they can turn their location sharing services on and you will always know.

Phrase Suggestions
As with many messaging apps, phrase suggestions are common. You now only have to type out a short bit of what you want to say and Google will give you phrase suggestions. If they match what you want, you can click on them and send the message without having to type it all out.

Drawing Capabilities
Want to doodle with your friends? This new feature allows users to doodle and then send their friends messages. Draw an emoji and you will send them one from the emoji keyboard. Some like to draw with their fingers, others enjoy using a stylus for this new, cool feature.

Google Gboard is a great way to get more usability out of the messaging that you love. If you want to make your texts more personal, this is the best app for the job. Android users now can enjoy multiple additions that make messaging more user-friendly, exciting, and fun. If you’re looking for a new keyboard app for your Android, don’t hesitate to give Gboard a go.

Best Dating Apps for Solo Travelers

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:00:54 +0000

When you’re on a solo adventure in a new place, it can be fun, exciting, and even a little bit intimidating. We all want to meet new people and try new things when we venture to new areas of the world, and luckily, technology today allows us to do just that. If you’re traveling solo, there are so many apps out there that make it easy to meet people.

The following rounds up the best dating apps to use as you travel. These apps will allow you to meet interesting people in your location that could end up being the perfect match for you.

MissTravel
You don’t necessarily have to travel alone anymore, thanks to this clever app! MissTravel matches you with singles who want to see the same places and who have similar travel interests. This is a great way to find people that you can easily meet up with on trips, so that you know ahead of time you’ll have a buddy when you want one!

MileHi Messenger
While many apps focus on helping you meet people once you actually make it to your destination, this one is unique. Unlike other apps, MileHi connects you with singles on your flight, making it easy to meet someone from the very start of your trip. This allows you to arrange for ride shares once you land to cut costs where you can. Convenience and fun are all rolled into one app!

Ventoura
Similar to the popular dating app Tinder, this selection allows you to connect with fellow tourists or even locals wherever your travels take you. This can be great for dating or even finding people who can show you around to hit all the best spots! What we love about this app is that you can actually start chatting with people before you leave and make plans ahead of time. Or you can fly by the seat of your pants — it’s up to you!

Google Chrome and the Safe Browsing Feature

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 13:00:56 +0000

There are many ways to browse the Internet safely, depending on how safe you want to be. The best way, of course, is to invest in software for all of your devices that will do a security and virus scan of your products, like our suite of products.

However, it’s worth noting that most browsers have some safe-browsing tools built in. It comes as no surprise that Google has some of the best safety tools in their Chrome browser already, such as the Safe Browsing feature.

A Brief History of Safe Browsing
Have you ever been stopped from visiting a site by your browser? Usually with a warning that informs you that proceeding to the site could leave you vulnerable to hacking? If so, Google Chrome may have just saved you from possibly losing passwords, personal data, or worse. Google and Chrome have been working to enhance safe browsing, and prevent hacking like the kind mentioned above, since 2007. Since then, they have regularly updated customers on the kinds of hacking that affects their devices, specifically malware and social engineering attacks.

Malware
Malware is a boogeyman word often heard when hacking is discussed. And with good reason, too. Malware can target just about anything, from a simple application to an entire device. Think of it as unwanted software being downloaded to your phone. A malware attack happens when this unwanted software is downloaded and subsequently infects your devices. This is why malware is often termed a “Trojan horse.” Further, many webmasters are unaware that files they allow users to download have malware. To prevent malware or a Trojan horse attack, Chrome’s Safe Browsing will ask users to confirm their decision after downloading content from the Internet, such as software or a file.

Social Engineering
Social engineering hacking is a little trickier than malware. In short, a social engineering hack convinces you to do something you wouldn’t normally do. Usually, this involves asking you to enter some form of personal information, like a bank account number or password, logging into what appears to be one of your accounts. In reality, hackers have disguised the page as a reputable source, such as Gmail. This is also known as phishing. Chrome’s Safe Browsing feature will stop users with a warning before proceeding to a page suspected of a social engineering hack.

Safe Browsing and Beyond
Thankfully for Chrome users, Google continues to increase security measure in the Safe Browsing feature. In the meantime, you’re still better off relying on third-party security software like dfndr security.

Best Apps for Staying Informed in the Era of Fake News

PSafe Newsroom — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 13:00:32 +0000

With recent revelations that Russia purchased bots and spread thousands of dubious articles on Facebook and Twitter before last year’s election, staying informed seems like a greater challenge than ever. The news stories on even the most heavily-trafficked social media platforms might be skewed by algorithms and misinformation.

Fortunately, there are better apps for us to get news delivered to us than social media. Best of all, some news-aggregating apps will cater the news they deliver to each individual user, meaning everyone can rest assured they are receiving reliable news from sites without partisan slants they might be at odds with.

Feedly
Feedly allows users to decide which news outlets they trust, and add blogs and YouTube channels to their assortment of more traditional journalistic sources. The result is a decidedly modern take on receiving news, combining the prowess of your favorite journalists with commentary from your favorite bloggers and YouTube channels. For the business-minded, Feedly also allows users to include industry journals and secure access to information from company sources, meaning it doubles as useful for staying up-to-date with work.

Inoreader
An up-and-coming app, Inoreader has pre-created topics users can choose to follow. These pre-made feeds make it an excellent fit for users who might not know which sources to follow on certain topics. Similarly, it is an excellent option for users who want reliable news but do not want to go through the work of curating which sources and topics they want to follow. It might also serve as a great complement to other news aggregating apps, introducing users to new sources they otherwise would not have thought to add to their personally-curated aggregators. The result is a less fussy, more streamlined app that otherwise provides an experience comparable to that of Feedly.

Flipboard
One of the most visually-appealing news apps on the market, Flipboard offers a customized news-reading experience with an interface that re-creates the experience of reading a magazine or flipping through a newspaper. Best of all, the breadth of topics available makes it an outstanding app to receive feeds from various specialized topics, from the entertainment industry to the latest advances in science. One unique feature is a channel dedicated to articles about leading a more productive life, helping to ensure users will not get so drawn into the experience that they lose track of time. The sleek, flashy design and enormous breadth of topics makes Flipboard a delightful choice among news aggregators.

Apps and Extensions to Provide Online Trigger Warnings

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 22:00:47 +0000

Are you looking to browse the Internet without exposing yourself to harmful or painful triggers? If you’re browsing in constant fear that you could be set off in reminder of past traumatic events, there are services available. They are designed to provide trigger or content warnings to better ensure that browsing experiences are safe and enjoyable.

The following are some of the top services that are available for blocking certain content or providing trigger warnings. It’s important to note that some of these services are only offered on specific browsers. Others, however, are designed to protect you no matter your Internet or browser preferences.

Warn Me

Warn me is an app that’s available for the Chrome browser. It allows users to set up and create their own triggering words and set up alerts to block said words, topics, or content from their Chrome experience. The program has been well-received and well-reviewed, and it can help those who exclusively browse in Chrome to avoid difficult topics that they might encounter.

Feerless

In the same vein, Feerless is an app that blocks or warns you of potentially dangerous content that users may encounter on streaming services like Netflix. The app has generated a lot of publicity for the ways in which it has helped PTSD sufferers to be able to enjoy content without fear of triggers within the content that they watch. This app uses crowd-sourced data to mark graphic or difficult scenes; the user then will get a notification of this scene whenever they watch a movie or TV show, allowing them to pause or fast-forward. That way, they can still enjoy Netflix while avoiding triggering content.

Soothe

Soothe is another Chrome extension that also works to help block out unseemly or undesired content from the browsing experience. Should you be browsing the Internet on Chrome, this app is highly reviewed and will likely help to block out a lot of the negative experiences that many users might face. Soothe will help you to block hateful social media messages in real-time, filter content, and personalize trigger warnings.

For those looking to better control and limit their exposure to potentially harmful material while browsing the web, these programs are a great place to start. These services can help to protect against traumatic experiences and allow users to confidently enjoy their favorite streaming services, and everything the Internet has to offer, without fear of opening old wounds.

These Were the Most Common Passwords in 2016

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 00:00:23 +0000

Despite advice from security experts, tech experts, and beyond, many people still aren’t taking the time to make their passwords unique, complex, long, and strong. The following are the most common passwords from 2016. A password company recently released this list, and it shows that not much has changed in the realm of common passwords. If your password is on this list, then you should highly consider either using a random password generator or else create a more unique password to prevent hackers from easily accessing your information.

Tips for Creating a Good Password
Many hackers purchase machines that can test billions of passwords in minutes, so it’s important to have a password that is not common. When you look at the top passwords from 2016, it’s pretty clear that most of them are easy to type and easy to remember. The only downside to that is if it’s easy for you to type and remember, then it’s probably easy for others to type and remember. You want your password to be as unique as possible to keep your password safe from hackers and thieves.

Another password problem to avoid is using personal information in your password. Passwords that have a sports team, kids’ names, phone number, or birthday are very susceptible to being hacked. Hackers can find this personal information on your public social media accounts and then plug it into their machines to create password combinations of your personal information.

When creating a password, remember to use numbers, symbols, upper- and lowercase letters, and to make it as long as possible. If you’re having trouble thinking of a new password, try using a passphrase. Just make sure that the phrase is not a commonly known phrase, such as those related to a nursery rhyme or a historical event.

Top Passwords from 2016
Many people will be surprised that “password” is still in the top 10 passwords, but the even more shocking fact is that “123456” made up almost 17% of the 10 million passwords that the security company analyzed. This also means that simple passwords like “password” and “123456” are the most likely to be hacked.

These are the top passwords from 2016: 123456, 123456789, qwerty, 123445678, 111111, 1234567890, 1234567, password, 123123, 987654321, qwertyuiop, mynoob, 123321, 666666, 18atcskd2w, 7777777, 1q2w3e4r, 654321, 555555, 3rjs1la7qe, google, 1q2w3e4r5t, 123qwe, zxcvbnm, and 1q2w3e.

If your password was on this list, then it’s time for you to find a random password generator online or create all new passwords to keep your private information and data safe from hackers.