John Brendle Consulting

Two-step verification (also called two-factor authentication or 2FA) is one of the best steps you can take to secure any account. Two-step verification is when you require both a password and code sent to or generated by your mobile device. At a minimum enable two-step verifcation for your most important accounts such as emai, financial and retirement accounts.

One of the most effective methods you can use to protect kids online is to talk to them. The younger you start talking to them, and they to you, the better. Hold regular conversations about online safety issues. If you don't know what your kids are doing or where to start, simply ask. Play the clueless parent and ask them to show you what the latest technologies are and how they use them. Quite often, kids love the idea of being the teacher and will open up.

Companies you do business with should never ask for your account information, credit card numbers or password in an email. If you have any questions about an email you receive that supposedly came from your financial institution or service provider, find their number on their website and call them.

When hosting a video conference, make sure you password protect the conference so only authorized individuals can join. If there are any strangers or people who you do not recognize on the call, remove them.

https://www.latimes.com//irs-website-hack-coronavirus-stim Really using all caps fixed this for a lot of people...

Update for March 19, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. As of March 19, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., the Sacramento County Health Officer is directing all individuals living in the county to stay at their place of residence except for essential activities. The legal order is based on the same directives of social distancing issued this week to slow the transmission of the disease, but it provides more detail and enforcement ability. The legal order limits activity, travel, and business functions to o...nly the most essential needs and is intended to protect those most vulnerable to the disease, slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, and preserve local healthcare capacity. This Order intends to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible while enabling essential services to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. All individuals currently living within the County of Sacramento are ordered to stay at home or place of residence. To the degree, individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses. All businesses with a facility in the County, except Essential Businesses, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the County except Minimum Basic Operations. For definitions, please see the Public Health Order. See more

With Covid-19 around. The phone-cleaning step is one of many measures public-health authorities are recommending to try to slow the spread of the virus. Start by turning off the phone and unplugging all cables. Your phone shouldn’t be charging as you clean. You can use Clorox wipes or wipes with 70 percent alcohol, which you can get at the drugstore, to wipe down your phone. Apple, which has cautioned against using household cleaners on its phones, says to do that gently. A...T&T has further recommended wringing out disinfectant wipes before using them on a phone. SEE ALSO: Apple updates iPhone cleaning guidelines as coronavirus spreads You can also use soft cloths to clean the phone, like a microfiber cleaning cloth or the cloths used to clean your glasses. Google says you can dip the cloth in soap and water, as long as you’re careful not to get moisture in the phone. AT&T says paper towels work, too. You can spray them with disinfectant. Again, don’t spray the phone itself.