Although it has good intentions, the introduction of this legislation provides an opportunity for spammers and other morally corrupt individuals to spread uncertainty, to get people to click on links, give away their email addresses or even worse - passwords.
You likely receive newsletters from various organizations and interest groups. You may have noticed messages requesting permission to keep you on their mailing lists. You may also receive vague messages that look like requests for consent but may actually be phishing attempts.
If I am not certain that the consent request is valid and will lead me to a trusted site, I would not respond to a message or follow any links. I would go directly to the company's web site in my browser to locate the subscribe option and create a new subscription then let the other one expire, valid or not.
My blonde logic is that if I can't remember subscribing in the first place, why put my computer at risk by following links and unknowingly giving personal information to criminals? If our past relationship is not well-explained, I will likely delete the message or file it away.
We may attempt to clear the material clutter from our lives but what about all the electronic clutter?
Not sure how to identify legitimate messages? Take the Spam Quiz.
Want to know when I post new entries here or on the blog for my novel, The Year of the Rabbit? Look for the "Follow by Email" box on the right of each blog's web page. Google forces you to sign up with your Gmail address. Kinda dumb and limited...
You can do the same for my other blog where the Tabby Cat Rules. WordPress isn't picky about what email address you use; you will receive a message to complete the subscription process.
By providing an email address and clicking the subsequent message links, you will be opting in according to the blog platform's subscription conditions.
Thanks for dropping by. I wish you safe computing and a Happy Canada Day! T
Technology is making things easier in some ways and more complex in others.
Call me grumpy with a twist of humour. If you use a variety of social networking platforms, you may appreciate my lyrical impression of some, based on the tune from Sesame Street's "One of these things": Two of these things are not like the others. Two of these things are not the same. Two of these social networking platforms make annoying assumptions - And for that their owners should be ashamed.
Put on your grownup glasses and have a look:
Do you know the answers? Do you know why I find them annoying?
No matter what I have selected during previous sessions, some platforms keep making the same assumptions that I want them to remember my password and/or to remain logged in.
Goodreads and Meetup are two of the platforms I find annoying in that they keep forcing this option. Call me a grumpy IT person but I think it is not good practice to check default options for end users. Let the user explicitly make those decisions.
Don't get me started about the practice used by third party software updates like Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader and Google Chrome! Oh... there I went.
It is recommended that you log out from social networking platforms when done else some of them will track your subsequent online activities.
It comes down to personal responsibility and education if you want to ensure your online security.
You may choose to download and/or purchase browser add-ons to help guard your privacy.
Good gravy, Batman! No wonder they call it the World Wild Web!
In the 25 years that it has been around, we have seen startups stall, bubbles burst and creepy criminals take advantage of others online.
Despite my ripening age, I have a memory like a steel trap and can recall most of my passwords. I don't want them saved on my computer or entrusted with some third party password remembering app, thank you very much! I may even resort to good ole pen and paper to write them down and store in a secure location.
Don't let me rant about apps for iPads and other tablets. If you let the apps remember your login info, you better make sure you have a screen lock passcode in case you misplace the darn thing! Oh... there I went again.
I also don't trust my browsers to remember web site passwords. No more cookies please. I'm trying to cut back. Besides, most of the platforms have an option to send you a helpful email if you forget your password. Now... do you remember which email address you signed up with?
If that didn't spook you, here's a picture of a black cat.
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Last weekend we changed the clocks to spring forward one hour. Spring. Ha! We'll see come March 20th.
All the smart devices in le petit apartment adjusted with the time change automatically.
One young person camping out in the living room requested that we relocate the analogue clock since its tick-tock-tick sounds keep him awake. I gladly moved it into my bedroom, swapping out one of the small paintings. I like the tick-tock sounds as they remind me of the clocks back at the old Muskoka homestead and provide me with a sense of nostalgia while reminiscing about my dear late parents. Of course, those clocks resided in hallways or dining rooms and not within a book's throw from one's bed.
Clocks provide a reminder of the measured seconds in our segmented mortal lives - or remind us when it is time to pause for short meditations throughout the busy day.
Except for the digital clock radio, I keep the electronics in my bedroom to a minimum. It's also a recommendation in order to maintain good Feng Shui. A few evenings ago, I had to recharge three of the smart devices in my care. I captured the following photograph with my iPad before plugging it in somewhere to charge its battery. I later played with the image in Microsoft Word.
This represents my sentiment for a while with observing the new, smart technology that seems to distract people from real life conversations and social opportunities. The new technology also seems to require a lot of updates, recharges and added protection.
I have been a hold-out for years with not wanting to own or not being able to afford a smart phone. Well, I committed to one almost three months ago and am proud to say that I have not yet taken one selfie!
I am getting hip with exchanging text messages with the kids and friends.
Within one week, I received my first telemarketer call. Ugh!
This new gadget helps me check my email, news and bus schedules. It lets me enlarge the font for the email app so I don't need to pull out my reading glasses. I can also pinch and stretch web pages or images (similar to the iPad features).
Heck, I could even view spreadsheets and edit basic documents with the SkyDrive apps. Microsoft has already changed that to OneDrive because of a lawsuit caused by their choice of names.
Does the immediacy offered by modern technology cause us to make rushed decisions based on the need to keep up, to compete and one-up the other guys?
The smart phone camera has enabled me to take plenty of pics of bus stop observations, snowmageddon and resident cats as well using it to type short, poetic phrases on Twitter.
On a slightly related note, the World Wide Web turns 25 years old this month.
Does it have enough funny cat pictures -
- or funny cat videos?
I wonder as well if we have matured, if we will continue for the next few years to use the technology responsibly and in a collaborative manner for the common good. Ha!
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