Tech Time: Online Networking (Social Networking)

Social Networking has been a hot topic for years. It has moved from an obscure concept to a revolution in Internet usage for both private individuals and major companies across the globe.

At it’s most basic, social networking is interacting with people over the Internet; but it’s more than just email. Social networking sites integrate the user experience with the lifestyle experience. Users share thoughts, images, video, games, contacts and much more. Hi5, Bebo, MySpace and Facebook started and/or sustained major social networking trends. Even dedicated image and video sharing sites have contributed to the social networking juggernaut, sites like Flickr, Photo Bucket, YouTube and Vimeo gave the world a window into our lives. Twitter, FourSquare, Ning and others have since emerged to push the social networking wave even further.

Through social networking, we have been able to connect with old friends and long lost relatives, find a job, build a business and if not used appropriately exposed our vulnerabilities to anyone who cares to see.

Fulfilling the maxim, too much of a good thing is bad, social networking is both good and bad. So let’s take a moment to look and the bad and protect ourselves.

Three simple words – private is public. By posting information to the Internet, we are in effect giving that information away. Various privacy and security protocols and controls simply limit the possibility of persons getting access. So, simple rule of thumb, do NOT post anything that you would not want to get into the wrong hands.

Hackers aside, there are other persons who could, intentionally or unintentionally, cause you harm. Even your “friends” may download, re-post or share images, video and information you intended just for them with third parties you wished never existed. There are very few controls in place that can prevent persons, to which you have given access, from doing you harm.

Then, there are the applications. Often we don’t think twice about allowing third party applications and other programmes to access our social networking accounts. If you wouldn’t just let anyone in your house, why would you let all sorts of apps access your account. Malicious third party applications can seize control of our contact list, send out spam messages, capture our private information and generally ruin our lives. OK, maybe that is a little over the top. But the message remains, be aware and take care as you build your social networks.

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Tech Time: Online Gaming

Whether you are a casual gamer stealing a few precious minutes at work, or a serious gamer locked to your computer for hours, the online gaming phenomenon has probably touched your life.

Online games, games played over a computer network usually associated with the Internet, are available in a number of formats and over a number of platforms.

Using nothing more than a Flash or JAVA enhanced browser and an Internet connection, players can access a wide variety of games including arcade, card, board, puzzle and word games. Gamers can play against the system or get interactive with other gamers across the room, the island or the world.

Taking it up a notch, sophisticated strategy and first person games are also widely available online, though many such games charge a fee for access. They may also require you to download software to truly access the game experience.

For many hard core gamers, taking their gaming console online enhances their game play experience. All the major consoles have built in Internet access, customised software and elaborate portals to complete the multi-player experience. At this level, game play is rarely free.

Ready to take the plunge? Start of simple, start local, with PlayJamaica.com. Dabble with online gaming by playing adapted versions of Pong, Tetris, Gem Swap, Solitaire and Space Invaders. Make your idle time more productive and profitable with tournament gaming for a chance to win cool prizes (or more credit to play more games).

Got a game console and ready to pit your skills against like-minded games half a world away? Power up and log on to Xbox Live, Playstation Network or Wii Online.

The Xbox Live experience will set you back a few bucks a month while its competitors PSN and Wii allow games to access the online enhancements for free.

Gaming has blossomed beyond being just a pastime for young boys into a world-wide phenomenon for all.

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Online: http://trivialonfame.blogspot.com/

On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com

On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)

Tech Time: Online Shopping

Online shopping is easy, convenient, dangerous and complicated all at once. But with a few tips, you can have safe, secure fun with shopping on the Internet.

Difference between ‘window’ shopping and online shopping
• Using the internet for research, compare different products, check out prices and availability before going into a store to purchase vs clicking the ‘buy now’ button

Types of shopping experiences
• Lots of different online stores and sellers. Some big online stores exist only online (like Amazon), some big retail stores (like Barns & Nobel) also have an online store. There are smaller online stores equivalent to a ‘Mom and Pop’, and auction sites as well.

Knowing its safe
• Before offering up your credit card or payment details, ensure the site can be trusted and that they have taken the necessary steps to protect you and your information from predators. First things first, must use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) denoted by https appearing in the url (uniform resource locator) and most browsers will display a little lock in the status panel.
• What about the retailers, once they have your information, will they resell it, or use it for other purposes? Read their privacy policy. Or, use a reputable site.

Delivery methods
• Software, books, music, movies and some other online purchases can be downloaded directly to your PC. Other products can be shipped using various methods from snail mail to express courier. In some cases, you can order online and pick it up in the store. For a spin on this service, you can order and event ticket online, get an admission code and by pass the ticket booth at the entrance

Payment options
• Credit cards are the universally acceptable and easiest way to pay online, but if not done properly, can leave you open for fraud. Double-check the site before giving up your credit card info. Is it reputable? Have other persons you know and trust recommended the site? If not, look elsewhere.
• Make sure the site is secure will SSL encryption as we mentioned earlier.
• Use a single, specific credit card for shopping online and monitor it closely. If it is compromised, it is easier to trace where the breech occurred.
• Consider alternatives like PayPal and Google Wallet for payment options to put an extra layer of protection between you and the site.
• Cheques, money orders and COD are not realistic payment options. Wires with limited, not retail sites.
• Another great option, gift cards.

Safety tips
• Protect your password and look out for phishing





Interface with us:
Online: http://trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)

Smile 7: Pet Peeves About Men

7.  Really corny pick up lines (I mean really, how stupid do you think I am)
6.  Not being able to get to the 'I'm checking you' phase to the 'ok, let's move past this' phase
5.  Not being 'macho'
4.  Being too 'macho' (Hey, it's my mind, I am allowed to change it)
3.  Thinking I was created to serve them
2.  Thinking I am little more than an incubator
1.  Inability to be monogamous (and worse, lying about it/Easter is over, so no more bun)

Tech Time: Online Banking