Are Your Passwords Secure Enough?
The latest Google Chrome update has a tool that can tell you if passwords have been hacked or are too weak to keep you safe from cybercrime. Chrome users should already be aware of its password manager feature that remembers passwords and auto-fills them for you on different websites.
Once you’ve downloaded the Chrome 88 update you can access its new protective feature.
- Simply open the browser and click in the top right-hand corner to go to Settings.
- Then click on the key symbol to be taken to the password options.
- Here you should see a section called “Saved Passwords” and it will contain all the websites for which you have saved your login details.
- Then click “Check passwords” and Chrome will scan your details and let you know if any have been compromised.
It will also tell you if any of your passwords are weak.
If this is the case you can click on a link to make the passwords stronger.
This feature is available for Apple users with the Chrome app on iPhone or iPad. It should be coming to Android in the future. Google said its Safety Check tool is used 14 million times a week.
How to update Google Chrome
Follow these steps…
- On your computer, open the Google Chrome browser and click the More icon (three vertical dots) in the top right.
- Click Update Google Chrome, or if that option isn’t there, it means you’re already using the latest version.
- Once you’ve updated, click Relaunch.
- The browser will save your open tabs and windows and re-open them when it restarts.
- You can also restart your browser later on by clicking Not Now.
This will cause the update to be applied the next time you restart your browser.
The More icon will be coloured (1) green if an update has been available for two days, (2) orange if an update has been available for four days, or (3) red if an update has been available for seven days.
Need Some More Help
Would like to find out more about online security? Give the Footprint Digital team a call on Tel. No. 01883 372488 today.
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What Are The Different Type of Algorithms & How Are They Impacting Our Lives?
A recent article in the Daily Mail has highlighted how the UK’s competitions watchdog launches investigation into algorithms used by Google, Amazon and Facebook amid fears they are ‘manipulating’ lives
- Algorithms can reduce competition and harm consumers, a UK watchdog says
- Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to probe if they ‘manipulate’ people
- Concerns algorithms are influencing shopping, dating and food choices
- Some can bump up online prices and decide what news we are presented with
An investigation into algorithms used by companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon has been launched today amid fears they are ‘manipulating’ lives and are used to ‘artificially change perceptions’ by cherry-picking what news internet users see.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will probe fears whether the software used by tech giants is corrupting lives and livelihoods by limiting choice, bumping up prices and skewing how they consume current affairs.
Algorithms wield enormous power over millions of Britons yet there is little or no accountability for tech firms over the results they produce or what they force consumers to see.
What is an algorithm?
They are mini instruction manuals telling computers how to complete a given task or manipulate given data. Tech companies use them to tailor results to sell more goods or manipulate what they see.
What are the main types?
- The Also-like algorithm: Amazon uses them to predict what users might want to buy. For example, a parent who buys nappies online may log on to the website and be met with offers on baby wipes.
- YouTube uses it to predict what videos someone would like.
- The filter algorithm: These are used by Google to decide what people view meaning not all search results are the same. These are used for shopping and news.
- Prediction algorithms: An algorithm used by betting companies allowing them to change odds and predict where people will bet.
- Regression algorithm: Uses data from opinion polls, age and gender data to predict things such as elections
An On-going Investigation
One of the issues they will look at will be the use of algorithms by Google and Facebook to decide what news is shown to people using their websites. There are also concerns they are used to manipulate the UK’s £14billion online advertising market, which is also dominated by Google.
These search results are often based on their previous browsing and links they have clicked on, rather than directing them to publishers offering the closest match to a search. The same criticism has been aimed at YouTube and the videos it suggests users watch next.
The consumer group Which? has also raised concerns that algorithms used by Amazon to give products an ‘Amazon Choice’ recommendation can skew shopping habits and potentially see people paying more for products. The online giant also predicts what someone might buy based on previous purchases, their gender, whether they have children and what they watch on their Prime player.
Google’s use of algorithms will be examined as part of a wider investigations into whether they are being used to manipulate people in Britain
Amazon uses previous purchases and things you have clicked on or watched to sell more goods (pictured)
These so-called ‘nudges’ on websites ‘can be manipulated to reduce choice or artificially change consumers’ perceptions’ and even lead to ‘personalised pricing’, the CMA said.
To view the full story, please click here.
Need Some More Help
Would like to find out more about dealing with bad reviews? Give the Footprint Digital team a call on Tel. No. 01883 372488 today.
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Could You Business Benefit From An App?
Apps are the new face of eCommerce in the UK. The good news is that apps can be more cost-effective and cloud-friendly compared to many other current alternatives. Thanks to advances in cloud-computing technology, the cost of mobile app development has dropped significantly since the dotcom era. As such, entrepreneurs running start-ups and SMBs, all the way to multi-national companies have the ability to turn to us to develop mobile apps that suit their needs for as little as a few hundred pounds.
Guaranteeing The Best User Experience
A study* highlighted the fact that mobile devices now account for well over 50% of all web traffic and this figure is projected to continue rising steadily in the near future.
Therefore the best way for businesses to reach consumers is by adopting a mobile-first approach on all web-based activities. This includes developing and deploying apps for smartphones and tablets as well as responsive websites that can render well, irrespective of screen size.
We’re passionate about creating useful, user-friendly apps that provide our customers with great ROI and which take your customer’s experiences to new levels.
We can create apps for:
- Apple iOS – iOS Development is one of the core strengths of the Footprint app development team. Our highly skilled team are knowledgeable about all things iOS.
- Android – Android is currently the most popular mobile platform and covers a very large range of devices. Our team is ideally placed to help develop and launch your Android App.
- html5– HTML5 and Hybrid Apps offer a cost-effective middle ground between mobile websites and native apps.
Innovative, Reliable, And Attractive
Our ability to create effective mobile applications represents the cutting edge of modern web design technology. Every app designed and developed by the Footprint team is created to be reliable, user-friendly and fast.
We guarantee that your app will work flawlessly as well as offering an enticing aesthetic appeal which is known to be very attractive to the modern-day user.
Whether you require an iOS, Android, or Windows app, our team has the experience, knowledge, and skills required for the job.
Contact Us Today
If you would like to speak to our dedicated team regarding the development of an app for you, please contact us today on Tel. No 01883 372488.
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* https://www.statista.com/statistics/277125/share-of-website-traffic-coming-from-mobile-devices/
