LEARN TO FIX ALMOST ANYTHING HOWANDWHY TO GOOGLE YOURSELF MEMES MIGHT BE DATA MINES WARN OTHERS ABOUT STALKERWARE APPS WINTER 22 The World’s #1 Internet Magazine WebsiteCompass
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WebsiteCompass 1 8 Contents WebsiteCompass 18 Website Compass™ is a publication of Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. 4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 ISSN 1525-951X No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher. Website Compass™ is a trademark of Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. Copyright© 2022 by Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. TRADEMARKS – All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Website Compass magazine is an independent magazine and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation, Google, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. All screen shots are the property of their respective owners. ADVERTISERS – To obtain advertising information, contact: Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. 4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS – To obtain additional information about distribution of Website Compass magazine to your internet subscribers and a free customized online version of Website Compass, contact: Shane Petersen Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. 4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 shanep@cornerstonenow.com Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. (the Author and Publisher) as well as any participating Internet Service Provider Partners hereby disclaim all warranties relating to Website Compass magazine or its website, whether expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warrantied of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Although the Author and its ISP Partners believe the information provided is accurate, neither party claims responsibility for any damage or loss of data to a user’s computer caused by utilizing this information. The Author and its ISP Partners will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect, or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason when utilizing information/tutorials from Website Compass magazine or its websites. In no event shall the Author or ISP Partner be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the information contained in Website Compass magazine bears all risk as to the use of the information provided. Cornerstone Group is not responsible for the quality, performance, or reliability of third-party tools or software. 2 10 16 13 FEATURE STORY 2 Learn to Fix Almost Anything From sewing on a button to stopping a leaky pipe, you’ve got this! INTERNET CONNECTIONS 8 Memes Might Be Data Mines Some questions on Facebook aren’t as innocent as they look SOCIAL MEDIA BASICS 10 Clubhouse is the Audio-Chat Social Network Listen to fascinating conversations about your favorite topics BACK TO BASICS 13 Warn Others About Stalkerware Apps Anyone can become a victim of this highly invasive technology BEYOND THE BASICS 16 How andWhy to GoogleYourself People are Googling you, so it’s important to know what they see FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 18 Ask Dr. Webbie Answers to your internet questions A TO Z 19 Internet Glossary Words and definitions Tutorials in This Issue 12 How to Sign Up for Clubhouse 12 How to Use Clubhouse
2 WebsiteCompass Feature Story From sewing on a button to stopping a leaky pipe, you’ve got this! Indulge us and answer this question: When you hear the word “handy,”what do you think? A) Yep, that’s me. I’m all over anything that needs fixing. B) I know how to use a few basic tools but that’s about it. C) I have no idea how to fix anything but I’m willing to learn. D) I call a local handyperson when I need something fixed. If you answered B, C, or D, the next few pages are especially for you. They’re packed with tips and resources to help you take the next step toward becoming handier, no matter your current skill level. You’ll also learn where to go to find out more about fixing things like furniture, appliances, electronics, and clothes. If you chose A, you already know that fixing things yourself can be effective and save you money. Keep reading to discover resources you may not know about, such as YouTube channels, repair guides for specific types of items, and repair cafés. After reading, we hope all of you will expand your knowledge and increase your confidence when it comes to making repairs. Get ready to troubleshoot, tinker, and triumph. QUICK TIP: Successful repairs depend on correctly identifying the problem that needs to be solved. Take the time to do your homework! LEARN TO FIX ALMOST ANYTHING
WebsiteCompass 3 When to Leave Repairs to the Professionals Learning to fix things yourself can save you money and be fun and rewarding. But there are times when repairs are best left to the professionals. These situations include: • It needs to be done fast. Plumbing issues are a great example. You’ll only incur more damage if you let that malfunctioning toilet continue to overflow. • The project is complex. Maybe you could fix your bike if just one thing was wrong with it. But last week’s fall left you with chain, frame, and wheel issues. • Bad things will happen if the repair goes wrong. You could get seriously injured if you try some types of repair, such as anything electrical. • You tried the repair yourself and it didn’t work out. You watched the YouTube video and followed all the instructions exactly, but your car still won’t start. Pat yourself on the back for trying and call a mechanic. • You have more money than time. Sometimes you’d just rather spend your leisure time doing other things. Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as handy, that can change in the future. Remember, every great handyperson started out with no knowledge or skills. They gained them over time through the following sources. What You Need to Find Your Inner Fixer Confidence To get certainty in your fix-it skills, start with an easy project. It could be something as simple as replacing a screw that has come loose on a cabinet. Then work your way up to others that might require buying a new tool or learning from a YouTube video. The organization Girls Garage (girlsgarage.org) helps girls gain skills and confidence through carpentry, welding, architecture, and more. Resources The internet is filled with websites, videos, discussion boards, and other resources to help you do the job right. A project that might seem beyond your ability could appear more doable as you watch or read about others’ success. The DoItYourself website (doityourself.com) offers tips for repairing vehicles, electronics, home areas, and more. The Right Tools If you’ve ever tried to use a butter knife as a hammer, you know the importance of the phrase “the right tool for the job.” Before starting any fix-it project, make sure in advance that you have the right tools, such as the proper type of wrench. A good place to get safety advice is the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s website, including this guide to hand and power tools: osha.gov/hand-power-tools. Support Learning a new skill is always easier with others. See if you can get involved in a bike fixing class or similar club in your area. You’ll get ideas, additional resources, and encouragement from others who are just learning. A repair café (repaircafe.org/en/about) is a place where people meet and repair things together.
4 WebsiteCompass Feature Story YouTube Helps You See How It’s Done Cars Look for channels specific to your type of car or the task you need to accomplish, such as replacing a part. Or find experts with a wide range of knowledge and just watch them work their magic. The South Main Auto YouTube Channel (youtube. com/c/SouthMainAutoRepairAvoca/videos) and D.I.Y. Auto School (youtube.com/ user/diyautoschool/featured) are good places to start. Floor to Ceiling There are many great channels to choose from in the category of home repair. The Weekend Handyman (youtube.com/c/Weekendhandyman/videos) features equipment reviews and how-to videos. Beth the Builder (youtube.com/channel/UCaf2DUl4KT49E5zgdfC2B2Q/videos) offers straightforward, budget-friendly home repairs. DIYHIPChicks (youtube.com/user/DIYHIPChicks/videos) is a DIY resource targeted to women. Bicycles Bicycle repair can become as much of a hobby as bicycling itself. DIY Mountain Bike (youtube.com/channel/UC2deXlEZENAlNpxuR9vqG8g/videos) is targeted specifically to beginners with videos about repairs and how to make your bike more comfortable. Furniture Considering how much we use furniture, it’s no wonder it might need to be repaired every so often. The Recliner Repair Guy (youtube.com/channel/ UCFkI5l8SPoq3A0A3Zw6e-pQ/videos) demonstrates how to do things like install mechanism springs, reattach a rocker block, and prevent recliners from tipping over. Appliances Fixing home appliances yourself can save you a lot of money, and many repairs might be easier than you think. Ben’s Appliances and Junk (youtube.com/channel/UC1sWwB45heL1CfLHLBXCXow/videos) offers step-by-step videos on how to fix washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, and more. People learn all kinds of things on YouTube, including languages, crafts, and dancing. There are plenty of YouTubers willing to teach you how to fix your stuff. Check out these channels for repair inspiration. Go Green: Fix Rather Than Buy Is it your first impulse when an item breaks to buy a new one, either online or at your local retailer? That’s completely understandable, especially given the widespread availability of many popular products. But consider the impact of those decisions on the planet. Manufacturing can release CO2 into the environment, meaning the more we can use the products we already have, the better for everyone. Additionally, throwing things away creates waste, which is also bad for the planet and everyone who lives on it. Electronics in particular contain toxic metals and other pollutants that can make their way to landfills and waterways. Next time something breaks, remember the three R’s: • Reduce. You can reduce your impact on the planet by fixing things and using them for a longer time. • Reuse. You can reuse old or broken objects for a different purpose. • Recycle. You can recycle by giving things away when you no longer want them, or by breaking them down and repurposing the parts. QUICK TIP: On YouTube, search for the specific repair you need to do, such as “replace GE stove heating element.”
WebsiteCompass 5 Owning a home is a big responsibility and it seems like there’s always something that needs to be done, including repairs, maintenance, and remodeling. You can get advice on all these tasks by visiting the following sites. Home Sweet Home Repairs HowStuffWorks: How to Repair Wooden Furniture Surfaces home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/home-diy/projects/how-to-repairwooden-furniture-surfaces.htm This extensive site offers helpful information about how to fix just about any problem with wood that you can imagine. Learn how to remove stains and discoloration, repair scratches, dings, and dents, repair burns, and even how to repair furniture hardware such as hinges, locks, and handles. Better Homes & Gardens: Maintenance & Repairs bhg.com/home-improvement/advice/maintenance-repair Your house will thank you for visiting this helpful site. Find articles on topics ranging from gutter cleaning to tool libraries to lowering AC costs. Especially useful are the checklists, such as basic maintenance tasks you should perform each season, or tips for an energy-efficient home. Fix fix.com Use this site when you need to fix an appliance or lawn equipment. Just enter your model number into the search box to find the part you need. From there you can examine diagrams to help with the repair or order parts directly. Check out the Free Repair Help section for more assistance for your project. Family Handyman: 100 Home Repairs You Don’t Need to Call a Pro For familyhandyman.com/list/100-home-repairs-you-can-do-yourself The list on this site covers repair projects in every area of the house, including plumbing, electrical, appliances, finishing, furniture, roofing, and the yard. Pipes leaking? No problem, learn how to fix them. AC broken? Find out how to handle simple repairs. Siding got holes? See how to patch them up. Keep These Appliance Repair Sites Handy There are few things more frustrating than going to make your morning cup of coffee or trying to wash a load of clothes only to find the appliance doesn’t work. Before you throw up your hands and call an expensive repair service, take a few minutes to see if you can fix it yourself. Not sure where to start? Here are some sites that can help: • Visit HowTo Fix ABrokenAppliance (partselect.com/Repair), which is categorized by appliance type. For example, select Refrigerator and you’re taken to a list of symptoms. Choose one (such as Noisy) and you’ll see more information about what the problem might be and how you can address it. • Do It Yourself Appliance Repair (appliancerepair.net) is similar, except when you click through, you’re taken to appliance repair manuals. It’s perfect for when you’ve lost track of the paper manual that came with the appliance when you bought it — perhaps many years ago. You may still end up needing to call a technician to repair the appliance, but at least you’ll know you aren’t paying for them to make a simple repair you could have done yourself.
6 WebsiteCompass Feature Story QUICK TIP: It’s true that many device problems can be fixed with a reboot. Before you do anything else, try turning it off and turning it back on again. Electronic device restoration is probably one of the most intimidating areas for learning fix-it skills. But, just like any other kind of repair, you may be able to do it if you start slowly and build your confidence. iFixit (ifixit.com) This extensive site offers repair guides for many types of electronics, including laptops, tablets, and phones. The site also features a Teardowns section, which shows you the inner workings of those same machines, and an Answers Forum where visitors can post or respond to questions. Repairs Universe (repairsuniverse.com) Another great site for helping you fix your electronics, Repairs Universe enables you to order parts you need to fix your devices. In addition to parts, you’ll find tools and accessories. Check out the repair guides for videos that walk you through common repairs. How to Repair Electronics (fixitclub.com/blog/ how-to-repair-electronics) Here at the home of the Fix-It Club, you’ll find many resources for electronics repairs. They include fix-it guides, free repair help, and articles about how to fix things, including Fix-It Basics and 10 Really Good Reasons to Repair Stuff. Find a Repair Café (repaircafe.org/en/visit) At a loss for how to repair your device? You can get help at a repair café, which is a club where people get together with tools and materials, and help each other repair things. Use the handy map to locate one near you. There are 155 in the U.S. alone. Laptops and Tablets and Cell Phones, Oh My! What is Right to Repair? Let’s say you have a laptop that still works great except it no longer holds a charge. Maybe you decide to install a new battery, only to find out that the tools you need aren’t available, and if you do it wrong, you could end up damaging the computer. What’s going on here? Unfortunately, many tech companies intentionally make it very difficult for anyone but them to fix their products. “If you own something, you should be able to repair it yourself or take it to a technician of your choice,” states a recent New York Times article.1 That’s why the Repair Association (repair.org), a Right to Repair advocacy group, is pushing for tech companies to do the following: • Make information available • Make parts and tools available • Allow unlocking • Accommodate repair in the design These actions would go a long way toward enabling users to repair their products to keep them longer, which avoids waste and protects the environment. 1Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/ blog/what-is-right-to-repair/
WebsiteCompass 7 Clothing always seems to fail at the worst times, like a shirt button popping off when you’re about to leave for a meeting. So it makes sense to know how to complete simple clothing repairs yourself at home. Mending Clothes Can Be “Sew” Easy 1. Sew on a Button If you notice a button starting to dangle, fix it before it falls off. If you weren’t able to catch it in time and you don’t have the original button, see if there’s a replacement somewhere on the garment. Otherwise, head to a craft or fabric store with the garment to match the button as closely as possible. Thread a needle with thread that matches the color of the fabric and tie a knot at the end. Bring the needle and thread up from the back of the fabric through a hole in the button. Go down and up again several times through the holes in the button until it’s secure, then tie another knot. 2. Replace a Drawstring When the drawstring pulls out of your favorite hoodie or sweatpants, follow these simple instructions to put it back in place. First, you’ll need a safety pin. Affix the safety pin to one end of the drawstring and then begin feeding it through the track that the drawstring came out of. Slowly, work the safety pin through the waistband (or hoodie drawstring hole) and gently help the safety pin move around to the other hole. When you pull it out on the opposite side, simply remove the safety pin. Consider tying larger knots on both ends of the drawstring to prevent it from disappearing again. 3. Fix a Torn Seam When the seat splits on your pants, you’ll be glad to have this video resource. First, make sure you have thread that matches the garment, a needle, and scissors. Then follow this helpful step-by-step guide to fixing a torn seam, demonstrated by a tailor. (youtube.com/watch?v=mUE_ATvXIdA) QUICK TIP: Toolkits designed specifically for women are lighter in weight and feature handles with extra grip. From Scratched Lenses to a Deflated Air Mattress Once you have some basic fix-it skills down, you can troubleshoot and repair many things, including eyeglasses, camping gear, and bicycles. Eyeglasses Certain eyeglass repairs should be done by a professional, but others are just fine to do yourself. For example, you can bend wire frames back into place using a pair of soft-tipped pliers. You can also repair some scratched lenses with, of all things, toothpaste. Check out allaboutvision.com/eyewear/eyeglasses/broken-glassesrepair-cost for more tips. Camping Gear Knowing how to repair camping gear is important because, when you’re camping, there are no repair services around. For instance, to prevent moisture from entering your tent, or keep from sleeping directly on the ground due to a deflated air mattress, you can easily repair loose seams with sealant. To learn more, check out REI’s Camping Care and Repair section at rei.com/learn/c/camping/t/careand-repair. Bicycles Some bicycle repairs may be too complicated for you to take on, but others, such as replacing handlebar grips, are simple for beginners. For help fixing many parts of your bike, explore the DIY video tutorials at bikeride.com/guide.
8 WebsiteCompass These memes are not being created by one of your Facebook friends. They’re coming from a public account that you probably don’t follow. Often it’s supposedly a radio station in another part of the country or an account named something cute like “just for laughs” or “memory lane” or “no biggie.” But the problem is, this may indeed be a “biggie.”You could be giving your personal information to data miners. Understanding the Process How does data mining work? Because of the way the Facebook algorithm is set up, answering the question in one of these memes will result in Facebook showing you more content by this poster and other similar posters. In addition, your Facebook friends can see the post you responded to and your answer to the question. If they respond to your comment, like your comment, or answer the question themselves, they also begin to see more memes with questions in their Facebook feeds. If you get in the habit of answering questions, data miners are betting that you’ll eventually be less careful with scrutinizing them. For example, you may start out answering questions about food or concerts. But next you see a meme with the question, “How old would you be if the digits in your age were reversed?” followed later by “Your birth month determines which celebrity you marry. Are you happy?” with pictures of famous people laid out in a calendar grid. Answering these types of questions can enable a data miner to begin putting pieces of the data puzzle together about you. Be aware that some of the questions posted by data miners are carefully written to get answers to common security questions such as maiden names, grandparents’ names, where you vacationed as a kid, make and model of your first car, your first pet’s name, and the name of your elementary school. Memes Might Be Data Mines Some questions on Facebook aren’t as innocent as they look Internet Connections You’ve no doubt seen memes like this on your Facebook feed. They ask you to respond in the comments to seemingly fun questions such as these: What food would you never eat? What was the first concert you went to? What grocery store did you shop at growing up?
WebsiteCompass 9 What Data Miners Can Do Once data miners have harvested enough of your personal information, they could potentially do any of the following: • Steal your identity and get into your bank accounts. • Sell your information to someone else who wants to get into your bank account. • Remotely lock your accounts or take over your whole computer or phone and force you to pay a ransom to get access back. • Impersonate you and steal your tax refund. • Commit Social Security fraud, pretending to be you. The Big Picture Cyber criminals are skilled at using human psychology to trigger people into giving away information without even thinking about it. According to a Cyber Florida report, nearly 40% of social media users surveyed had completed a quiz or played a game that appeared in their feed in an average week. Some of those posts were undoubtedly designed to harvest data. It’s important to acknowledge that much of what you do each week—well beyond your answers to questions in Facebook memes—is being recorded and compiled. Do you have a rewards card with a grocery store? They’re watching what you purchase and when you shop. Every time you open an email, the person or business sending it could be tracking whether or not you open it. Social media platforms document the posts you read (or even linger on), what you react to, and whose posts you comment on. So what should you do the next time you see one of those Facebook memes with a “fun” question? Absolutely nothing. (See the sidebar to learn more.) 1https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-just-forfun-facebook-quizzes-identity-thieves.html Do Not Respond to Memes withQuestions Doing nothing is the way to go when it comes to those Facebook memes that ask about the last kind of food you ate or your most recent purchase or anything along those lines. More specifically: • Don’t react to the meme post with a thumbs up or any response. • Don’t answer the question. • Don’t reply to another person’s comment on one of these posts. • If you see a friend post in response to one of these memes, talk to them in person about how these work, or call them or send a private message. Don’t reply back to their comment on the actual post, since that just helps these memes spread. • Don’t give data miners answers to your security questions. • Don’t give data miners your consumer data. By following these tips, you’ll protect your own information as well as help prevent your Facebook friends from being taken advantage of by data miners.
10 WebsiteCompass New to the Scene Clubhouse launched in March 2020, just in time to help people muddle through the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders that, for many, led to isolation and loneliness. It started as a small, invitation-only community but quickly grew. When the app had about 1,500 users, the developer attracted the notice of venture capitalists, who invested $12 million into the project. Since then, participation has grown to about 2 million users, and the company received a new round of capital in early 2021. Invitations are no longer required; anyone can join. How ClubhouseWorks To use Clubhouse, you must download the app, which you can get from the Apple App Store or from Google Play. There is no website interface. When you sign up, you’ll see categories of topics to choose from and follow. Conversations take place in rooms. Until recently, rooms were created and ended with each conversation. Now Clubhouse includes a feature called Replay, which allows room creators to record those conversations and save them to their profile. The app also includes a Clips feature, which allows anyone in a room to create and share with others a 30-second clip of the conversation happening there. Each room is limited to 5,000 participants, and 700,000 rooms are created each day. Conversations can range from two friends chatting casually to big group discussions or music-sharing events. If someone famous or influential joins a room, the creator can put them on “stage” as a speaker. Anyone listening in on the conversation can “raise a hand” and ask to speak. The creator decides whether or not to let them. Clubhouse is the Audio-Chat Social Network Listen to fascinating conversations about your favorite topics Clubhouse is an audio-only social media app—no need to worry what you look like— that brings people together to talk about shared interests. It’s a lot like listening to podcasts, except that you can join in on the discussions. Social Media Basics
WebsiteCompass 11 Creators interested in monetizing their use of Clubhouse can do so by requesting in-app payments. Those who help drive traffic to the app can further boost their visibility through the Creator First accelerator program, which provides equipment, special guests, and promotion. You Never KnowWhat to Expect Unlike prerecorded podcasts, Clubhouse conversations are full of surprises. There may be awkward pauses, rambling rants, or other elements that would be edited out of a polished podcast episode. It’s also different because you may be able to jump into the conversation. Some have pointed out that this format seems like Zoom without the video. However, the difference is that these conversations and rooms are open to anyone who wants to join, offering a nice break from having to look at a screen. Because of its voice-based platform, Clubhouse may be just right for users who are less comfortable with typing updates and posting photos and videos on social media. According to the AARP, that includes folks over 50, who are using the app to discuss their passions, such as sports, business, history, and politics. Seniors are often more prone to loneliness (especially since the pandemic started), and an app like Clubhouse can help alleviate it. When you use Clubhouse, you never know who you’ll hear from, including celebrities and area experts. Big names who have already participated include Elon Musk, Chris Rock, Oprah Winfrey, and Mark Cuban. Some creators are using the platform to host challenging conversations, such as a room where people with very different viewpoints get together to talk. Seeing the popularity of Clubhouse, established social media giants are creating similar features, including Twitter’s Spaces, Instagram’s Live Rooms, Reddit’s Reddit Talk, Spotify’s Greenroom, Slack’s Huddles, and Facebook’s Live Audio Rooms. FAST FACT: Clubhouse’s icon isn’t a logo, but instead a series of photos of influential users. Things to Know Before Using Clubhouse Every social media app comes with some friction, from people who don’t want to follow the rules to cybersecurity issues, and Clubhouse is no exception. Here are some issues to consider before you decide to join. • Hate speech happens. Clubhouse has already noticed hate speech on its platform and has created community moderation guidelines in response. • China doesn’t like it. The app was blocked in China in early 2021 for offering too much freedom of expression. • The service has already suffered a data breach. It happened when a third-party developer tried to create a version of the app that didn’t require an invitation. • Privacy is in question. Like other apps, Clubhouse collects personal information from what you and others share. • You can always quit. If any of these issues becomes too problematic, or you simply find Clubhouse isn’t for you, you can deactivate your account from the Settings menu. A Sampling of ClubhouseTopics The following topics are just a few examples of the many available on Clubhouse: Arts Advertising Art Burning Man Food and drink Theater Hustle Instagram Pitch practice Real estate Small business Knowledge Education History Math Science Space Places Africa India Los Angeles San Francisco Wellness Health Medicine Nutrition Veganism Weights Tech Crypto DTC SaaS Startups Venture Capital
12 WebsiteCompass How to Get Started With Clubhouse Clubhouse allows you to connect with people voice-to-voice and hear real-time conversations about a wide range of topics. The interface is intuitive and will feel familiar to anyone who has used other social media apps. TUTORIAL Sign Up for Clubhouse The sign-up process for Clubhouse is very similar to that of many other apps. TUTORIAL Use Clubhouse Clubhouse is pretty straightforward, so you’ll quickly learn how to use it. 1. On the home screen, you’ll see notifications of conversations in progress based on the topics you chose when you signed up. Tap them to join the conversation. Once in a room, you’ll have options to add someone new to the room, raise your hand, or leave quietly. You can also text chat with individuals in the conversation. If you raise your hand, be prepared to speak your question or comment if called upon. 2. From the home screen, you can use the icons at the top to invite others to join Clubhouse, check the calendar to see what conversations are coming up, and see your activity (such as other users following you). You also have access to your settings, where you can adjust how the app works for you. 3. To start your own conversation, go to the home screen and tap “Start a room.” From there, you have options to add users to the conversation, see who has raised their hands, text chat with individuals in the conversation, or leave the conversation (which ends it when you are the host). 4. For a full tutorial, visit creators.clubhouse.com/clubhouse-101. Social Media Basics 1. Download Clubhouse from your favorite app store. 2. Tap the “Welcome in” button. 3. When prompted, enter your phone number. Clubhouse will send you a verification code via text to enter next. 4. When prompted, enter your name. 5. If you want to, you can add a profile photo or skip this step for now. 6. When prompted, choose whether to allow or deny Clubhouse to access your contacts (you can change this later). 7. Tap the plus (+) sign next to users’ names to follow them, which gives you access to their rooms. 8. Tap topic buttons to choose those you are interested in. 9. Tap the plus (+) sign next to club names to join them. Each club will require you to accept its club rules before you can join. 10. Now you’re ready to start using Clubhouse. See the next section for ideas about what to do next.
WebsiteCompass 13 Stalkerware is snooping software secretly installed on someone else’s phone without their consent. Depending on the type, it may record every keystroke — including web searches, text messages, and emails. These apps can also record phone calls, track location, gain access to social media accounts, or upload photos or contacts to a remote server. Warn Others About Stalkerware Apps Anyone can become a victim of this highly invasive technology Why is Stalkerware Dangerous? Once the app is installed, the icon is changed to an innocent-looking calculator or calendar to hide its identity from the phone’s owner. Such apps can be used for innocuous reasons, such as tracking a child’s location, but they can also be exploited for unethical purposes, such as spying on a partner or spouse. Stalkerware apps are so intrusive that use between domestic partners is considered abusive. Both Google and Apple are aware of the danger these apps can pose and are taking steps to eliminate them. But it’s still possible for them to become available for download on either of the two major app stores, and stalkers only need access to their victim’s phone to install them. Unfortunately, the problem is only getting worse. According to a study by security firm NortonLifeLock, the number of devices infected with stalkerware jumped 63% from September 2020 to May 2021. This type of app is hard to detect unless you know what to look for, so here we examine what stalkerware is, why it’s so harmful, and what to do if you find it on your device. Which Apps Are Stalkerware? Stalkerware can be used by anyone. However, according to ZDNet, “Many providers will market their offerings as services for parents seeking a way to monitor their child’s mobile device usage or for business owners to keep an eye on their staff’s online activities during work hours.” Back to Basics
Back to Basics 14 WebsiteCompass The following are examples of stalkerware apps: • FlexiSpy– Claims to take complete control of the device, so the stalker can monitor everything the user does. • Flash Keylogger – Documents anything typed, including web searches, text messages, and emails. • Free Android Spy – Monitors location and reveals contacts, photos, and videos. • iKeyMonitor– Enables monitoring of calls, messages, and social media activities, as well as location tracking, and more. • mSpy– Monitors social media, web browsing, calls, texts, and location. • PhoneSpector– Delivers texts, call history, and GPS location to the stalker. • Spyera– Enables the stalker to listen in on and record phone calls, monitor social media, record keystrokes, look at texts, examine photos, track location, and listen to what’s happening near the phone at any time. • SpyFone– Gains access to the user’s contacts, location, and phone log. • SpyPhone Android Rec Pro– Enables the stalker to listen to and record phone calls, intercept text messages, and more. • TruthSpy– Extracts data from the phone, including text messages, location, calls, social media, and browsing history. • XNSPY– Monitors call logs, tracks GPS, monitors web browsing, accesses chats, and more. Many makers of this type of app are still raking in money from selling them, but others have shut their doors due to being threatened by hacktivists (people who use their hacking skills for good). Why is Stalkerware Considered Abusive? The Technology Safety blog, run by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, states, “Healthy relationships are built on mutual trust—not monitoring or checking up on a partner. Surveilling or stalking a partner’s devices or communications is an example of one way that an abusive person may try to gain power and control over a current or former partner.” In the world before mobile technology, the use of stalkerware would have been the equivalent of someone following you around all day, constantly peeking in the window of your home, listening in on all your live and telephone conversations, sitting in on all your club meetings and appointments, opening your snail mail, compiling a list of all your friends and business associates, peering over your shoulder every time you look up something in a phone book or encyclopedia, and processing the film in your camera —all at the same time! Why Should You Warn Others? Stalkerware can only be detected if you know what to look for, and not everyone knows that stalkerware even exists. Just as you share information with others about how to avoid physical crimes, illnesses, and other unwanted events, it’s important to spread the word about these intrusive and destructive apps. These Apps May Be Spying on You, Too Even if you don’t have stalkerware installed, there are other apps that may be collecting more information about you than you’d like. Experts recommend deleting the worst offenders such as those listed here: • Angry Birds – This innocent game has been known to non-innocently leak data. At the very least, make sure you have the latest version. • DoorDash – The food ordering app collects personal information, including name, email address, and physical address. • Facebook – Given Facebook’s shaky reputation for respecting user data, it should be no surprise that its app collects a variety of data from your phone. • Flashlight apps – These apps may request supposedly needed permissions before they will operate. • Instagram – Because Instagram is owned by Facebook, it has some of the same data collection issues. • WhatsApp – Vulnerabilities with this app allow cybercriminals to attack with a simple message. QUICK TIP: Though rare, stalkerware can also be placed on computers. Use antivirus software to detect and remove it. Source: https://www.nortonlifelock.com/blogs/norton-labs/stalkerware-rise Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-find-and-remove-spyware-from-your-phone/ Source: https://www.techsafety.org/blog/2020/3/2/recent-survey-confirms-pervasive-stalking- behaviors-that-survivors-and-advocates-have-reported-for-years
WebsiteCompass 15 No method is 100% foolproof for avoiding stalkerware or any other kind of malware. However, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself or to remove the offending app if you’ve already been a victim. The following tips are general advice from reputable sources. However, you should consult with the police or an attorney if you have serious concerns. Steps You Can Take to Avoid Stalkerware To determine if you already have stalkerware installed on your device: It pays to take steps to avoid stalkerware but consider that you might already be a victim. To find out for sure, follow these steps. 1. Look for unusual behavior on your device, such as a rapidly draining battery, device overheating, or higher-than-normal data traffic on your mobile data report. 2. Scan your device with apps like MalwareBytes, Certo, NortonLifeLock, and Lookout, which can detect stalkerware. 3. Take a close look at your apps to see if anything is unfamiliar or suspicious. 4. Research settings for your operating system that could indicate your device has been compromised. 5. Note that stalkerware can be preinstalled on a new device given as a gift, so use these steps if you have reason to suspect the giver wants to track your online activity. If you find stalkerware on your device: If you find stalkerware on your device, the situation may be delicate. If you delete it, you alert the stalker that you have found it. Consider leaving it in place while you decide what other steps to take. 1. Document the stalkerware by taking pictures of it, perhaps with a separate camera or a friend’s phone. These photos may be useful evidence if you report the abuse. 2. If you think it’s safe, delete the app. 3. Report stalking behavior to law enforcement. 4. Seek advice from resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) or the Safety Net Project (nnedv.org/content/technology-safety). 5. Change the passwords on any apps and other accounts accessible from your phone, as well as your phone PIN. 6. Enable phone operating system updates, which include security fixes that can remove stalkerware. 7. As an extreme measure, consider returning your phone to factory settings (remember to back up important data first) or purchasing a new one. To avoid downloading stalkerware: While it is more common to have stalkerware loaded onto your phone by someone who has physical access to it, you can also inadvertently download it. Take the following steps to stay safe. 1. Stay on the lookout for unusual text, social media, and email messages. If you receive them, don’t click any links or download files, as they can lead you to download stalkerware. Instead, delete the messages. 2. Enable two-factor authentication for any online account that offers it. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/29/technology/personaltech/stalkerware-apps-protection.html
16 WebsiteCompass Beyond the Basics What information will a potential employer, new friend or coworker, or first date find when they Google you? Are the search results showing you in a positive light? Is the content true and relevant? How andWhy to Google Yourself People are Googling you, so it’s important to know what they see Google could be displaying personal data about you that’s inaccurate or that you’d rather wasn’t public, whether gathered by the search engine itself or by people-search websites. That’s why it’s smart to Google yourself regularly. After all, what others see about you online can impact your professional and personal life. Before we share tips on how to Google yourself, let’s get one thing out of the way. Googling yourself isn’t an act of vanity, and it doesn’t mean you’re a self-obsessed person. In today’s world, it’s just common sense to be aware of what people might encounter when they search Google to learn about you. Enter More Than Your Name Conduct your Google search in Private/ Incognito mode. This enables you to see what a random person would see when they type your name into the search bar, without the cookies and personal information saved in your browser that modify the results. Search for your full name in quotation marks. This tells Google you want to look up the words you typed exactly as you typed them and not search for one word while ignoring others. To narrow the search further, use your name plus modifiers like the city or state you live in, the names of your school(s), the name of the company you work for, or other details. Make note of any content that concerns you, and either write down or bookmark the web addresses. Initial Pages Matter Most The first page of your Google search is the most critical one for you to review, since the majority of web traffic will click on those top listings and not look any
WebsiteCompass 17 further. So pay extra attention to the first impression that people will have when they Google you. However, don’t stop there. Also go through pages 2-5 of your search results to get a fuller picture. Be sure to click through the top links that are returned to see where they actually take you. Some sites, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, may appear in the Google results, but clicking through will take you to a page that’s restricted by privacy settings. To make sure searchers — such as potential employers — can contact you, you may want to change your privacy settings. Email Addresses and Usernames The next phase of Googling yourself is to search for your past and current email addresses and phone numbers. This helps you see which sites have access to this personal data and will also show you what others can find if they Google you. Have you ever signed up for a discussion board or forum with your personal email address? If so, your post history could easily show up if someone Googles you. The same can be said for social media pages and blogs. Find and make note of any posts or content that you’d prefer to make private. Next, run a search for your social media account usernames, which in some cases will be different than your actual name. Try searching for your name (as an exact phrase in quotation marks) plus the social network you want to look up. This might reveal accounts you forgot about or that are less private than you think. Don’t Forget Other Search Engines While Google is by far the dominant search engine, it’s not the only one out there. Occasionally Bing and Yahoo! yourself to monitor what’s being said about you on those less-used but still significant platforms. Set up a Google Alert for Your Name There’s an easy way to stay on top of information that pops up about you on social media or elsewhere online—set up a free Google Alert for your name. If you don’t already have a Google account, you’ll need to create one before starting these steps: 1. Visit Google.com/alerts and type what you want Google to alert you about in the search bar. 2. B elow the keyword box is a small link that says “Show options.” Click on it. Here you can choose: • How often you want to be notified. • What specific sources you want Google to track. (Choose “automatic” if you’re not sure.) • Your preferred language. • The specific region you want to monitor. • How many alerts you want. (We recommend choosing “Only the best results.”) • The email address to which you’d like your alerts sent. 3. Click Create Alert to start receiving alerts on yourself or other search topics you’re interested in. This is a great way to be alerted when news about you appears, whether you want to share it on your social channels or respond to it rapidly. But Google Alerts can’t replace a full Google search, so you’ll want to continue doing that periodically as well.
18 WebsiteCompass FAQs Dr. Webbie Answers your frequently asked questions QUESTION: I’m now seeing Reels in my Facebook News Feed. What is this? ANSWER: On September 29, 2021, Facebook launched Reels for iOS and Android in the U.S. Reels is a short-form video feature very much like TikTok. The goal is to offer more ways for people to express themselves, grow their communities, and reach new audiences. Creators can include music, audio, and augmented-reality effects in Reels, with lengths limited to 30 seconds. (By contrast, Instagram Reels can be up to 60 seconds long.) Reels can appear in the Facebook News Feed or in Groups. If you’re interested in making videos for Reels, Facebook provides many content-creation tools. You can search for a song from the Facebook music library or use your own original audio, as well as select augmented-reality effects created by Facebook or third-party developers. Reels also lets you set a timer to record clips hands-free, as well as speed up or slow down the video while you record (to help you stay synchronized with music or make slow-motion videos). After you’ve created a Reel, you can choose how to share it. Reels on Facebook are set to be public for creators who are over 18, but you can change the audience at any time. Audience options include Public, Friends, or Friends Except. QUESTION: What are the different parts of a URL called? ANSWER: Let’s start at the beginning. URL stands for “Uniform Resource Locator.”The name comes from the fact that website addresses were designed as a uniform method of stating the location of many different kinds of files or resources on the internet. There are five basic parts of a URL, moving from left to right: Scheme: The scheme tells web servers which protocol to use when it accesses a page on a website. You’ll most commonly see the scheme https:// at the start of a URL. Subdomain: A subdomain indicates which particular page of a website the web browser should serve up. For example, “docs” is the subdomain in “https://docs.google.com.” Second-level Domain: This is the name of the website, which is typically the name or abbreviation for a company or other organization. In the above example, “google” is the secondlevel domain. Top-level Domain: The top-level domain specifies what type of entity an organization registers as on the internet. For example, “.com” is intended for commercial entities in the U.S, and “.edu” is intended for academic institutions. Subdirectory: Also known as a subfolder, a subdirectory helps people as well as web crawlers understand which particular section of a webpage they’re on. For example, in “https://shop. store.com/socks,” the subdomain is “shop” and the subdirectory is “socks.”
WebsiteCompass 19 Glossary ADDRESS BOOK - A feature of an email program, or a stand-alone application, that stores and organizes a list of email addresses and other contact information a computer user frequently uses. ALERTS - Automatic notifications, often by email, that news on topics you’ve specified is now online. APP - Shorthand for application, app is popularly used to describe software that enhances the usefulness of mobile phones, media players, and social networking sites. AUTO-COMPLETE - Feature that predicts a word or phrase before the user types it in completely. BLOG - (short for Weblog) Writings similar to a journal or diary by individuals that are posted to the internet. Someone who writes a blog is a “blogger.” BOOKMARK - A reference to a file or webpage you plan to frequently visit. Most internet browsers let you maintain and organize a list of bookmarks (also called “favorites” when using Microsoft Internet Explorer) to make it easy to return to them again. BOOLEAN PHRASES - Linking words or symbols in all caps that indicate the relationships of words to each other and refine online searches. BOTNET - A collection of compromised zombie computers running programs automatically under remote direction. BROADBAND - (Broad Bandwidth) A high-speed network connection capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies. BROWSER - A software program that is used to look at various kinds of internet resources. The most popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. BYTE - A group of eight bits that represent a character. Computer memory and disk capacity are measured in bytes. (A bit is the smallest unit of measurement for computer data.) CACHE - The hard drive space your browser uses to temporarily store webpages. When returning to a recently visited page, the browser can get a copy of it from the cache rather than the original server, saving time and network traffic. The larger amount of space you allocate for the cache, the more webpages can be stored. CELLULAR DATA - A way for your phone to access the internet that ’s offered by your mobile carrier. CHATBOT - A computer program that mimics conversations with humans. CHAT ROOM - A system where people can “chat” on a website through their browser. CLIENT - A computer or piece of software that requests information or services from a server. Your computer becomes a “client” when you connect to your ISP for a service such as surfing the internet or using email. COMPRESSION - A method by which data, images, and text can be stored using less disk space. After a file is compressed into a smaller file size, it will require less time to transmit over a network. CONTACT GROUP - A group of email addresses specified by a user. A contact group allows one to easily send a message to multiple recipients by entering the group name in the “To:” field. COOKIE - A piece of information sent by a Web server to be stored by your Web browser. Whenever the browser makes additional requests to that server, the server is able to use the information stored in the “cookie” to customize a response based on data from a previous connection. CROWDSOURCING – Meeting a challenge by asking many people — via the internet—if they can help. CROWDTURFING – Organized, for-pay efforts that hire people to create accounts under false names and post certain reviews or push a brand or website. CSS - (short for Cascading Style Sheet) A specification for the presentation of html documents that allow Web developers to easily control the style and layout of single or multiple webpages. DNS - (Domain Name Server) A computer which translates a domain name into a set of numbers called an IP address. DOMAIN NAME - A “domain name” is a unique name that is used to represent and help locate a specific Web server on the internet. For example, “www.websitecompass.com” is a domain name. Each domain name corresponds to a set of numbers called an IP address. DSL - (Digital Subscriber Line) Allows users to download and upload data over standard telephone lines. It provides a constant internet connection over which users can receive voice and data simultaneously. It isn’t available in many areas because it requires a short distance to the DSL provider’s origin. E-LEARNING - Any kind of learning that is provided through the digital technology used by computers. E-PATIENT - An internet user who looks online for health information. EBOOK - (short for Electronic Book) A book in digital format that can be read on a computer or other digital device. EDU - When these letters appear as the last part of a Web address, it indicates that the host computer is run by an educational institution, usually in the United States. EMOTICON - (or Smileys) Short for emotion icon. Symbols composed of punctuation that help convey how an email message should be interpreted by the reader. Ex. :-) = Happy, :-( = Sad EMOJIS - Icons or small digital images that are used online to express emotions or an idea. E-ZINE - A periodic publication distributed by email or posted on a website. FAQ - Short for Frequently Asked Question. FAVORITE - See Bookmark. FILTER BUBBLES - Process by which websites show you search results and feed items based on your past choices and other factors. FIREWALL - A specially programmed computer that connects networks (usually a local network to the internet) and for security reasons lets only certain kinds of data in and out. FIREWIRE - (Also known as IEEE 1394) A fast type of computer connection–similar to USB 2–that allows for high rates of data transfer. FLASH - A multimedia program for viewing and creating interactive and animated content on the Web. FORUM - A section of a website where users post and read topics of common interest. FREEWARE - Software provided at no charge by its originator. FTP - (File Transfer Protocol) A common method of transferring files between two computers connected over a network. FTP is a way to login to an internet server for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. Many publicly accessible internet sites allow their materials to be obtained using FTP. Most FTP sites require a user name and password. GIF - (Graphics Interchange Format) A file format that uses compression for saving and viewing images. GIGABYTE - A measure of computer storage capacity equal to 1,000 megabytes, or 1 billion bytes. GOV - When these letters appear as the last part of a Web address, it indicates that the host computer is run by a government body, probably in the U.S. HACKER - A person who tries to defeat computer security measures and break into websites and computers. HASHTAG - A word or phrase preceded by (#) and used to categorize social media messages. HISTORY - A browser feature which keeps track of Web resources that have been recently visited. HOME PAGE - (or Homepage) Originally, a Home Page was defined as the webpage your browser was set to use when it was started up. The more common meaning now refers to the main webpage for an organization, business, person or simply the main page out of a collection of webpages. HTML - (HyperText Markup Language) A coding language used to create hypertext documents for use on the Web. HTML files contain instructions on how your browser displays text, images, links and etc. HTML files usually end in “.htm” or “.html.” HTTP - (HyperText Transfer Protocol) The standard protocol for moving hypertext files across the internet. HYPERTEXT - Text that contains links to other documents. Words or phrases in the document that can be chosen by an internet user which causes another document to be retrieved and then displayed. INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) - A collection of unique objects represented and connected virtually. IP ADDRESS - A numeric address which identifies a particular computer or server over a network. ISP - (Internet Service Provider) An institution that provides access to the internet. JAVA - A network-oriented programming language specifically designed for writing programs that can be downloaded to your computer and run. By using small Java programs called “applets,” webpages can include functions such as animations, calculators, chatrooms, games, etc. JAVASCRIPT - A programming language used to add interactive and dynamic features to webpages. It shares some characteristics with Java but is independent. JPEG - (or JPG) Named after the committee that created it, the Joint Photographic Experts Group, this is a file format that uses compression for saving and viewing images. LAN - (Local Area Network) A computer network limited to an immediate area, usually the same building or just one floor of a building. LINK - (short for Hyperlink) A hypertext connection that can take you to another document or another part of the same document. On the World Wide Web, links appear either as underlined text or as pictures/icons. To follow a link, double click on the underlined text or on the corresponding icon.
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