Tips to Protect Your Phone or Tablet's Touchscreen

Almost all gadgets nowadays have touch screen displays. It is the most common interface among smart phones, MP3 players, tablets, and computer monitors. They even come in very resistant materials such as Gorilla Glass, which is well-known for being thin, light, hard, and damage-resistant.

Touchscreen displays are very sensitive to dust particles, oil, and grease. The latest touchscreens are hard to scratch, let alone break, but they are most definitely not indestructible. 

Here are a few tips on how to protect your touchscreen:

1. Only use your fingers, or if you have one, a stylus to tap on the touchscreen. Never use sharp objects to tap on the display.

2. Make sure you cover your touchscreen with a screen protector. Not only are they very affordable, but they will also protect your screen from dirt and external damages like pressure and scratches. Most of all, they will increase your device's lifetime.

3. Do not apply excessive pressure on the touchscreen. Doing so can permanently damage the display.

4. Avoid using your device in dusty environment as much as possible and always use clean, dry fingers.

5. Avoid leaving your device on direct sunlight, because excessive heat can damage the display panel.

6. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the touchscreen. If microfiber cloth is not available, any non-abrasive cloth will do. Never use harsh chemicals, such as alcohol-based cleaners or anything with ammonia. If liquid is necessary, slightly damp the cloth with water.

7. Turn off the device before cleaning it. If your device has a cleaning mode, set it to that mode first before cleaning it.

8. Avoid placing your device in your front or back pocket. The touchscreen is very sensitive, and doing so will damage the display. If possible, get a case or pouch for your device to avoid bumps, scratches, and finger prints.

9. Make sure there are no objects pressing on the touchscreen area continuously.

10. Keep your device away from objects that contain magnetic field such as radios, televisions, etc.

How to Combat the Heartbleed Bug for Android Users

Heartbleed bug is a security flaw that allows third parties to gain access to information and data that Internet users enter into encrypted sites on OpenSSL, which is one of the most popular sets of encryption tools. The Heartbleed bug allows anyone on the Internet to read the memory of the systems that are protected by vulnerable versions of the OpenSSL software. This endangers the secret keys used to identify the service providers and to encrypt the traffic, the names and passwords of users, including the actual content. This enables hackers to eavesdrop on communications, steal data directly from the services and users, as well as to impersonate them.

According to reports, the Heartbleed bug has affected about thirty-four percent of Android devices. Although Google was able to fix most of its products that were affected such as Gmail and other versions of the Android operating system, a patch has yet to be released for the widely-used operating system, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

So how would you know if your device is infected with the Heartbleed bug?

There are some ways you can do to verify your device's security, which includes checking its operating system or using an app that will determine if your device is susceptible to the Heartbleed bug. If you want to check your device's software version, go to the Settings menu, then tap the About device option. Look for Android version to find out what software version your device is currently having. For newer devices that comes with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, like the image shown below, you can be assured that it is safe from the Heartbleed bug infection.

Now, what if your device is having a different version, let's say it is the Jelly Bean version? Another way to check your device yourself is by downloading the Lookout Mobile Security's Heartbleed Detector app found on the Google Play Store. The app will help you determine if your device runs on the version of OpenSSL infected with the Heartbleed bug. It also tells you whether Heartbleed is enabled or not on your operating system, which will then inform you whether you need to take additional security actions or not.

If in case your device actually runs on the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean operating system, the first immediate step that you need to do is to update it. To update the software version of your device, go to the Settings menu, then go to System Update. From there, your device will try to search for any available updates and will prompt you to proceed in downloading and installing it to your device.

Another way you can protect yourself from the Heartbleed infection is to make sure to change your passwords for those websites that have released patches for the OpenSSL flaw. Check out the list of websites and services that were affected by the bug here.

10 Handy Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Tips and Tricks

Fast, heavy packed, and powerful -- these are the words that would best describe the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. One may still get confused about its true identity -- Is it a phone? A tablet? Actually, it's something in the middle, integrated with the functionalities and features of both worlds. These ten handy tips and tricks will help you uncover the hidden features and bring out the best of your Galaxy Note 3.

1. Use Touchscreen Even With Gloves On

Capacitive touchscreens are great to use for responsiveness because they don't rely on pressure for interaction. However, the downside of capacitive touchscreens is that you can't use it when you're wearing gloves. Now, you can still use your Galaxy Note 3 even in the freezing cold by enhancing your phablet's sensitivity level to overcome this problem. Go to Settings, then tap Controls, then scroll to the bottom of the screen, and then tap to check the option Increase touch sensitivity.

2. Run Multiple Apps at the Same Time

The Galaxy Note 3 is perfect for multitasking because of its large screen. Its Multi Window feature allows you to use applications such as Browser, S Note, Gallery, Email, etc. at the same time, two apps which take up half of the screen each, with the size of each window adjustable. Go to your phablet's Settings, then Device, and then tap the toggle switch to enable the Multi window option. Tapping on the option will go to another screen where you have the option to open the content directly in the multi window automatically when files or videos are opened while the multi window is running.

3. Never Lose Your S Pen

Because it's quite easy to misplace the stylus when it's not docked, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has a smart feature that will alert you whenever your S Pen is not placed back into the phablet's stylus hole. To enable the S Pen Keeper feature, go to Settings, Controls, and then S Pen. Tap the S Pen Keeper box to check it. So the next time you walk away without the S Pen in its proper place, your phone will give an audio alert reminding you what you have forgotten to do.

4. Turn Off the S Pen Pop-Up Window

A pop-up window automatically comes up along with different options whenever you remove the Galaxy Note 3's stylus from its dock. This can be handy, but can also be annoying to some extent. Imagine how irritating this pop-up message will be when you dock and un-dock your S Pen more than once. To make this pop-up notification go away, go to Settings, then Controls, and then go to S Pen. Select Pen detachment options, and then tap the option none. The next time you remove your stylus from its dock, there's no more pop-up message that will ruin your day.

5. Fully Close Apps to Save Memory

Most apps that are installed on your Galaxy Note 3 consume a significant amount of memory, more so when they are open and running in the background. To fully close apps, go to Settings, go to Apps Manager, tap to select the app that you want to close, and then tap Force Close.

However, bear in mind that some apps may re-activate automatically whenever you restart your phablet.

6. Mute Everything With Your Palm

You can mute everything or pause media playback on your Galaxy Note 3 by covering the screen with your hand while the screen is turned on. To control this option, go to Settings, Controls, then tap Palm Motion.

With this feature handy on the Galaxy Note 3, you'll never get embarrassed whenever your phone rings in the middle of a meeting or a quiet environment, where you don't want to catch any attention.

7. Use It Totally Hands-Free

It's illegal to use your phone while driving -- we all know that. And since the Galaxy Note 3 is humongous in size, it's more of a bad idea to use it while you're in a car. Thanks to the phone's hands-free options, you can still safely use it even when you're driving. You can simply wave your hand over the screen if you want to accept a call and have your text and caller information read aloud so you would know who is trying to get in touch without having to glance on your phone's screen.

To enable the Galaxy Note 3's hands-free option, go to Settings, then Controls, and then tap to select Hands-free.

8. Customize the Text Size and Font

Along with a huge screen, the Galaxy Note 3 also includes customizable font size and text to make it as personal as you'd like it to be. If you feel like you need to have larger text or a funkier font, just go to Settings, then Device, and then go to Font. From here, you can select any of the available font style and size. You can even get the one you really like from the Web by downloading it, which is also possible.

9. Enable One-Handed Operation

With the phone's largish 5.7-inch screen, it would seem impossible to operate it one-handedly. The one-handed operation feature is useful especially to users who have a fast-paced lifestyle and are always on the go. To turn on the Galaxy Note 3's one-handed operation, go to Settings, then Controls, and then One-handed operation menu. You can change the elements of the phone's user interface to make them more comfortable and easier to use with a single hand.

10. Never Miss an Important Call With the Super Ringer

There are times when your phone is in your pocket or bag, you'd barely hear it ringing or feel its vibration when there's an incoming call. You can now avoid this with the Galaxy Note 3 because there is an option where you can make your phablet ring louder. If you don't want to miss an important call, go to Settings, then Device, then tap Call, and then tap to check the Increase volume in pocket box.

Enjoy your phablet's full potential by learning about these common tips and tricks. As simple as it may be, these useful features will make your life easier and you'll definitely love your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 more.

Make the Ringtone on Your Android Phone Auto Adjust to Your Surroundings

Have you ever experienced having your phone ring at the most inopportune time? Whether it may be during a class session, a corporate meeting, at church, or while watching a movie, having your phone ring loudly in a quiet environment can be very embarrassing for you, but also quite annoying for the people you are with.

It's a good thing there are applications that can automatically adjust the ringtone volume of your Android smartphone depending on the ambient noise of your surroundings. Here are some of the apps you can try:

Intelligent Ringer

Intelligent Ringer configures the ringtone volume depending on the ambient noise level of your current environment. It can even detect whether the device is in your pocket or not thru its proximity sensor readings. Unlike with similar apps, Intelligent Ringer adjusts the internal settings specifically to the particular Android device, which makes the measurement and setting process accuracy much more precise.

Ring Dimmer

Ring Dimmer intelligently calculates the perfect ring volume and vibration setting for you by listening to your environment. It controls both ring volume and vibrate, as well as adjust the notification automatically if paired to your phone's volume.

IntelliRing

IntelliRing is an app that makes your smart phone smarter by automatically adjusting the ringer volume depending on the determined environment. It can also set the ringing volume to be a bit louder than the ambient noise. In addition, it can detect changes to the environment while the phone is ringing. So, it rings loudly when in your pocket, bag, or if covered and automatically lowers the volume as you take it out.

Celebrate World Password Day By Creating a Strong Password for Yourself

Ever heard of World Password Day? It was celebrated last May 7, a day dedicated to remind every Internet user to protect their identities and information by changing their passwords. We exist in a password-driven era, where your main line of security to your personal files and important data depend on the type of password you've set. Every year, hackers have leaked millions of passwords from sites such as Google, Facebook, and Yahoo! Banking and online shopping sites have also been a main target of these cybercriminals where they decrypt countless passwords in order to steal valuable information, including money.

Having a strong password is one of the most important things you need to protect your identity on the Internet. Anytime you access a personal information over the Web, you'll be asked to enter a password. A strong password reduces your chance of falling prey into the hands of scammers because it will be harder for them to guess or decipher it.

So how do you protect yourself from being a victim of these cybercrimes? Try following this simple guide on how to create a strong password.

A strong password must consist of at least eight characters long. It should contain at least six uppercase and lowercase letters, one number, and one special character (like ! or @). When creating a password, always keep this in mind -- the longer, the better.

When creating a password, avoid using words, terms, or names that identifies you or any of your personal information. Here's a list of names or terms you should avoid when creating a password combination:

• your children's or parent's names
• your birth date
• your pets' names
• your street address
• your first, middle or last name
• "123456"
• "password"
• "abc123"
• "iloveyou"

One tip in making a good six-letter password is to think of your favorite things like a phrase from a song, movie, or TV series. For example, you can use the famous line from the movie Jerry Maguire "you complete me" as your password. Next, you'll want to make it a single word and capitalize some of the letters. You can also mix it with a number and a special character to make it more unique. So from the original phrase "you complete me," you can create it into a strong password like "Ucomp!etem3."

It's also important to remember to avoid picking a password that is too general when picking a password you're planning to built with. For example, do not use words like "chocolate" or "pizza," but instead be specific with those like "pistachio ice cream" or "four cheese pizza" to make it less common and harder to guess.

And last, but not the least, never use the same password or variation of that password more than once. The idea may be a hassle though, but it will give you more protection if you have a different password for each website that you access to get personal information from or perform transactions on.

5 Tips to Improve Your Computer’s Performance

Computers, like any gadget or appliance, experience wear and tear. You might have been over the moon with its performance and specifications when you first had it. But over time, due to the programs and software you have installed, and all the files you have stored, it won't be how it used to be performance wise. However, there's no need to run off to the nearest computer shop to get a new one. Here are a few simple things you can do to improve your older computer's performance.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Over the course of time, you have probably installed a number or programs and applications. Most programs are designed to start automatically when Windows starts. These programs are often set by their software manufacturers to run in the background where you can't see them, so that they can open right away when you click on their icons. This can be very helpful for those programs you use on a regular basis. But it can also waste precious memory and slows down the time it takes for Windows to finish starting up, especially for those programs you rarely or never use.

To disable unnecessary startup programs in Windows 8, all you have to do is go to the Task Manager by doing any of the following:

• Press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc]
• Right-click the taskbar on the Desktop and select Task Manager
• Type "task manager" on the Start screen, and then click Task Manager
• Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Del], and then click Task Manager from the screen that appears
• Right-click the lower-left corner of your screen and select Task Manager

Once Task Manager is opened, click the Startup tab. From there, you will see a list of programs and services that launch when you start Windows. Go through each program and right-click the ones you want to disable from startup, and then click Disable.

NOTE: If you are running Windows 7 or Vista, click Start, then type "msconfig" in the search field, and then click msconfig.exe to open the System Configuration tool. Click the Startup tab, and then uncheck the box next to the program you would like to prevent from starting when Windows starts. Click OK to save the changes. Restart the computer for the changes to apply.

Install Additional RAM

Adding more memory is one of the easiest and without a doubt the best thing you can do to speed up and improve the performance of your computer. The more RAM you have, the faster your Windows and programs will run. You may refer to your computer's manual for specific instructions on how to physically add more RAM.

If you are not too keen in opening your computer case and plugging memory modules into its motherboard, you can use Windows Readyboost as another option to boost the amount of memory. This feature allows you to use the storage space on some removable media devices, such as USB flash drives, to speed up your computer.

Delete Programs You Never Use

It is a good idea to uninstall all programs you do not need or never use, whether they are manufacturer-installed software or software you installed yourself. You can also delete unused files and duplicate photos while you're at it.

Another thing you can do is use a cleanup tool such as CCleaner. CCleaner helps in clearing out cache and temp files to further free up some valuable disk space. Furthermore, you can use Disk Cleanup, which is a Windows built-in tool to get rid of unused files. You can check out this guide to learn how to delete system files using disk clean up in Windows 8 or find out how to clean up all files using Disk Clean up on a Windows 7 computer.

Defragment Your Hard Disk

Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can ultimately slow down your computer. To combat this, use Disk Defragmenter. This will rearrange fragmented data so your hard disk can work more efficiently. You can defragment your hard disk on a schedule or you can do it manually. Check out Ways to improve your computer's performance for additional instructions.

Reinstall Windows

Some laptop manufacturers have a recovery partition which allows you to restore your computer to factory settings. This will erase your data, updates, software, etc. So you need to do a backup before reinstalling Windows.

Do check your laptop's online documentation to access recovery partition.

If you do not have recovery partition, perform a clean install of Windows to make it run like new. However, if you are running on Windows 8, you can either perform a PC Refresh or a PC Reset. A PC Refresh will reinstall Windows but will keep all your data, while PC Reset will get rid of everything and will do a clean install. Make sure you back up your data to an external drive, shared network drive, or to cloud.

Essential Computer Maintenance Tools for Non-Techie People

Let’s face it; around 80 percent of computer users are non-techies, or at least contain only minimal skills when it comes to computer maintenance. They may be the kings of web development, content writing, Photoshop, photography, and other computer whizzes, but when it comes to computer maintenance; it’s a whole new ballgame.

For the non-techie, there are numerous computer maintenance tools that can be found online, many being open-source – meaning they're free – or are sold at affordable prices. The level of experience for using these tools range from beginner or basic computer skills needed, to intermediate or familiarity with some computer jargon.

Here are some examples:

CCleaner – gives your PC a tune-up by removing unnecessary files and registry information, freeing up valuable disk space and making your machine run faster.

JkDefragGUI – JkDefrag reorganizes files on your PC to improve performance.

Double Killer – helps you find and easily remove duplicate files which are using unnecessary disk space.

Deep Burner – makes it easy to backup information to a CD or DVD.

7-Zip Portable – 7 Zip lets you create and extract from most of the popular archive file formats.

PC Decrapifier – uninstalls many of the common trial ware and annoyances found on PC’s when you bring them home from the store. A list of software that it can detect and remove is provided after it is downloaded and installed. PC Decrapifier displays a list of software it detects and then lets you choose what you want removed.

Process Explorer – a task manager on steroids. Find out what files, registry keys, and other objects applications have open, even which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns each application.

ProduKey – a small utility that displays the Product ID and the CD-Key of MS-Office, Windows, Exchange Server, and SQL Server installed on your computer. This utility can be useful if you lost the product key of your Windows/Office, and you want to reinstall it on your computer.

WirelessKeyView – retrieves the type and value of previously used wireless network keys and passwords stored in your computer, and then lets you easily save all the information to a text file.

Unknown Devices – helps you determine what those unknown devices in Device Manager really are if Windows can’t figure it out by itself.

Recuva – recovers files which have been deleted from your computer, including files emptied from the recycle bin as well as files deleted from memory cards or MP3 players.

PhotoRec – recovers files which have been deleted or damaged from memory cards. It works by ignoring the file system and going after the underlying data, so it will still work even if your media’s file system has been severely damaged or re-formatted.

ClamWin – scans your PC for viruses and helps remove them. It does not include an on-access real-time scanner. You need to manually scan a file in order to detect a virus or spyware.

Rootkit Revealer – an advanced rootkit detection utility that outputs a list of Registry and file system API discrepancies that may indicate the presence of a user-mode or kernel-mode rootkit.