New Mac? What About An iPad Pro?
The Little iPad Grows Up
Hey, is that 2009 iMac getting a little long in the tooth? For many, the thought of dumping $3,000 or more on a new Mac can be a little daunting, but in 2017 there is an attractive alternative -- the iPad Pro.
I know, it's not a full fledged computer, but in two sizes that rival the MacBook and 13-Inch MacBook Pros it can be an excellent solution for the right user. Storage options go up to a whopping 512 GB, just like Apple's laptops. The Apple Smart Keyboard that can be paired with the iPad Pro has a great feel, and with the Apple Pencil you can write on an iPad Pro just like a notebook.
True, the iPad Pro is not a full fledged computer, but with more and more programs running on the web or in the cloud, the iPad Pro can do things that were once the exclusive realm of the Macs.
So would an iPad Pro be good for you? If you simply surf the web via Safari, get email, and enjoy sharing photos with Photos it's a perfect solution. And with office app solutions like Apple's Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, or even Microsoft Office for iOS the iPad Pro is closer to a full-fledged MacBook than it has been in the past.
To learn more about the iPad Pros, click here: https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/
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Yes, You Need a Backup!
Ensure Yourself Against Disaster
If you have important documents or photos on your Mac, you need to back up. Period. Do not pass go or collect $200. If you are not backing up you can potentially lose all of that data. Months of hard work could be wiped out in a second; family photos packed with precious memories could be erased from existence; and critical financial information may be lost never to be recovered again.
Scared yet? Well, boo! Yeah, you should be scared. It happens all the time, so it's important to do what you can to protect that data. The good news is that Apple meets you half-way with Time Machine for your Mac and iCloud Backup for your devices. And if you don't have enough iCloud space to back up your devices, buy more. It's $0.99 a month for the 50 GB plan. C'mon! Now is not the time to be cheap.
For Time Machine you will need an external hard drive to plug into your computer. They can be had for less than $100 these days in 2 TB sizes, which is plenty for most people.
To enable iCloud Backup on your devices, make sure that you are on wifi and go to Settings -> Click Your Name at the Top -> iCloud -> Backup. Then turn it on. It should run once a day when the device is plugged into power and on your wifi.
But remember to Trust But Verify: It's important to check in on your backups every once and a while to make sure that they are running.
To learn more about Time Machine click: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250
To get the info on iCloud Backup: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203977
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Are You Hacking Yourself?
How to not set yourself up as a victim.
We hear it everyday: It's the fear about being hacked, having information stolen, being breached, spoofed, and spammed. We all know someone that it has happened to on one level or another. But truth be told the most dangerous person on the internet setting you up for all the bad stuff may be the one who inhabits the space between your keyboard and chair -- yes, it may be you.
"But how?" you ask. From weak passwords to oversharing on social media, bad tech habits can be akin to walking through a dark alley at 3AM wearing a Rolex while counting your Benjamins. Don't be a victim. Here are our tips to keeping yourself safe.
1. Have Strong and Varied Passwords
Passwords are the locks for your online information. You wouldn't buy cheap locks for your house, so then why have terrible weak icky passwords for your accounts? I don't know, the question was rhetorical. Your passwords must have at a minimum (more points for extra flair) of eight characters that are a mix of numbers, symbols, and both capital & small letters. Be creative, but write them down somewhere (see next heading). It's also important not to use the same password for everything. Once one gets compromised, the bad guys (or gals) have unfettered access to all of your stuff. Not too fun.
2. Manage Your Passwords
You must write down your passwords and record them somewhere. It could be a password utility, spreadsheet, encrypted storage, a notebook, or whatever. The method matters less than having a system that is easily updated so you can keep it current.
3. KNOW YOUR PASSWORDS
Not knowing your passwords means that you do not have control of your accounts. You, in essence, took the first step to being a victim by ceding control of your information to someone else. Password reset schemes are one of the favorite methods that hackers use to get your stuff.
4. Use Two Factor When Available
Two factor authentication sends a text to your phone with a code when you try to log into a specific site. This means that your phone and your username/password are needed to log in. This is a very secure method and we highly recommend it for things like iCloud, mail accounts, and bank logins.
5. Password Protect Your iPhone/iPad
You must must must have a password on your iPhone and/or iPad. This encrypts the data and ensures that if the device gets stolen, the theif won't be able to access your information. This is critical if you use Two Factor Authentication.
6. Be Careful What You Download
Downloading malware to your Mac is an easy way to give the bad folks access to your info. Be careful on what you download and install. Use only trusted search engines and take a second or two to verify you are at the correct site before downloading a printer driver or the like.
These six steps mixed with a healthy dose of suspicion and common sense will go a long way to helping you protect yourself.
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