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Category: Technology

Topics about improving your knowledge in technology and how technology can help you improve your financial life.

  • Everything About The Two-Step Authentication Process

    Everything About The Two-Step Authentication Process

    Imagine that you can no longer have access to all of your mail or social media accounts. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Getting all of your passwords stolen is easier than you think. So, if you are one of those people who do not care much about your online security, it’s time to get familiar with the two-step authentication process. This method is one of the best ways to stop anyone from stealing your information, even if they already know your password. Here’s everything that you need to know about it:

    “This tool uses 2 verification factors: something that you know and something that you have. The first one can be a password or a PIN, and the second one is usually associated to a technological gadget, particularly cell phones.”

    Read Also: Tips to Generate Safe Passwords

    The basics

    The first verification technique that websites apply when you want to log into any of your accounts is asking you to write down the secret code that you previously chose. However, just having a password is not safe enough. That’s when the two-step verification proves to be useful by adding one extra requirement that reconfirms your identity. Therefore, it makes it harder for hackers to perform any kind of suspicious activity.

    Read also: Five Tips To Protect your Personal and Financial Information on The Internet and A Surprise for You

    How it works

    This tool uses 2 verification factors: something that you know and something that you have. The first one can be a password or a PIN, and the second one is usually associated to a technological gadget, particularly cell phones. The process is really simple. Once you’ve already passed through the first authentication method, the system sends you a key word or a number via text message or through a special app like Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator or Facebook Code Generator. These applications work with TOTP, which means “Time-Based One-Time Password”. As a result, they generate six-digit codes that you can use to sign into your account within 30 seconds.

    Two-step authentication is really useful for online banking, shopping, cloud storage accounts, social media accounts, productivity apps, password managers and communication apps.

    Why you should use it

    With the constant growth of the number of cyber-attacks around the world, it is proven that passwords are no longer as secure as they used to be. In addition, most people use the same one everywhere, making it easier to be stolen. Also, since users are likely to share their lives on social media, security questions like your pet’s name, your favorite TV-show or your graduation year are less difficult to be answered nowadays. Furthermore, if anyone manages to enter in your Gmail address, they are likely to have access to your financial status, shopping users and other confidential information, since it is frequently linked to other accounts. For these reasons, you must add an extra shield to your online information with the two-step verification. Also, since today everyone carries their cell phones with them, it won´t be a bothersome task.

    Finally, don’t forget that this tool is only effective if you complement it with a strong and distinctive password. Also, consider changing it at least every three months. Remember that online safety is as important as real life protection!

  • 8 Smart Ways To Use Your Smartphone To The Fullest

    8 Smart Ways To Use Your Smartphone To The Fullest

    Smartphones have become a digital phenomenon that has crushed every corner of the world. They have changed the way people live, as they have become an important part of our contemporary society. Every day, more people have a smartphone in their hands, as it has the ability to replace a computer.

    Smartphones get the “smart” definition because they can be used as a computer, a pocket computer in this particular case. Therefore, more people in the world use smartphones as tools to perform their daily tasks and activities, as they offer a wide variety of applications and features.

    “Smartphones allow you to check your email, read the news books and magazines, use social networks, check the weather forecast, play games, take pictures, use the calculator, and use the digital agenda, among others. But the truth is people don’t have full knowledge about the countless features a Smartphone has to offer”

    The biggest advantage of using a smartphone is that it enables you to perform multiple actions at the same time. All applications and functions can operate simultaneously without the need to close some of them. For example, talking on the phone, searching information on the Internet, sending emails and taking a picture all at the same time.

    Smartphones allow you to check your email, read the news books and magazines, use social networks, check the weather forecast, play various games, take pictures, use the calculator, and use the digital agenda, among others. But the truth is people

    15 Replacements for Microsoft Money

    At Premier Consumer, we are pleased to present you eight smart ways to use your smartphone to the fullest:

    Banking Operations: Most banks around the world offer these applications available for Smartphones. These apps allow you to access a variety of banking operations, such as checking your account balance, transfers to other banks, credit card payments and utility payments, among others. Besides, these apps have a reliable security system, because the password to enter the application has to be different from the password of your debit card. Search now your bank’s application!

    Using the GPS navigator: A GPS navigator is always useful. Besides of providing any address you want to search, it provides the estimated arrival time, potential traffic incidents and other important factors in the way, in order to choose the best alternate route to reach the destination. Some of the most downloaded apps by smart users are Google Maps, Waze and Route 66.

    Learning a language: Most people would like to learn other languages, but time and money are obstacles for the achieving this goal. Now you can learn languages ​​quickly and efficiently from the comfort of your smartphone, whenever you have the time to do it and it is totally free! Some of the most downloaded apps by smart users are Babbel, Duolingo, Voxy and Wlingua.

    Ordering a Taxi: Nowadays, you can order a taxi in seconds from the comfort of your Smartphone. These applications allow you to request a taxi near your current location, pay for the ride directly from the app, and have direct contact with the driver. In addition, the app allows you to evaluate the performance of the driver, in order to save him as favorite for future rides. Some of the most downloaded apps by smart users are  Uber, Tappsi, Easy Taxi, among others.

    Using the Flashlight: You don’t need to have a flashlight in case the power goes out or to light up a very dark place. Most smartphones have a built-in flash that serves as a flashlight (check in the phone options). In case your smartphone doesn’t have one, you can download some of the most popular apps flashlight, like Flash Light, Tiny Flashlight and Lantern.

    Ordering Food Delivery: Most food chains and restaurants around the world have their applications for smartphones. These apps allow you to place your order from home without the need of calling the restaurant and you can pay the order directly from the application. In addition, some of these apps contain a list of nearby restaurants within your area, in order to have more options when ordering. Search now your favorite restaurant’s application!

    Identifying your favorite songs: Sometimes you hear a song you like but you just can’t identify it. Now you can identify the music you like at the very moment you are listening to it. There is an application called “Shazam” that identifies the song you are listening to. Once the recording is sent to their database, the app shows the song title, artist, and album. This application also shows the most popular songs in every city around the world.

    Setting the Alarm, Stopwatch and Timer: Many people have switched their traditional clocks to smartphones, as they can have three items in one. With the alarm, you can set up countless hours of alarm, the tone you want to hear, volume and how long the “snooze” is going to last. With the Stopwatch and Timer, you can modify it as you prefer, creating various circuits of time and configuring notifications.

    Five Tips To Protect your Personal and Financial Information on The Internet and A Surprise for You

    Now that you know 8 smart ways to use your smartphone to the fullest, you can download, apply and enjoy all these applications in Google Store Play or Apple Store.

  • 15 Replacements for Microsoft Money

    15 Replacements for Microsoft Money

    Now that Microsoft has gone and pulled the plug on Money, many people are left wondering what to do next. While Microsoft will continue to support Money until January 31, 2011, there is no time like the present to start looking for a replacement. As Microsoft noted when announcing the decision to kill Money, there are a wide variety of companies offering personal financial management tools.

    While it will theoretically continue to work for years to come, the online functions such as bill pay and portfolio tracking will most likely cease to function when Microsoft stops supporting them so start looking for a replacement now. By starting to look for Money’s replacement now you will allow yourself time to sample several programs and find one that works for you. Once you have the successor chosen, you will still have time to tweak the new program while you can still use Money. Once you are comfortable with the new program, you can make the switch on your own time frame and not be rushed.

    Read also What Your Apps Know About You.

    Here is a list of 15 programs that should serve as a worthy replacement to Microsoft Money, and in some cases they may even outperform it. The list contains some programs that work on both PCs and Macs, some are online and some are desktop and some are even free.

    Online Programs

    • Budgetpulse  This free online program has simplicity as it’s mantra. Security isn’t a big concern since you can’t download bank or investment information, so there are no passwords or sensitive info stored on the system. If you are looking for no-frills program that can track your expenses and budget, this program is for you.
    • Buxfer  Buxfer takes a rather unique approach to financial management software as it has features that allow the management of group finances. If you have roommates that you share expenses with, this may be just the answer. Also, they have a Google Gears functionality that allows them to use Gears to acces your information and then relay it to Buxfer without any of your sensitive data such as account numbers and passwords being stored anywhere on the Buxfer site. As a bonus, besides being free, you can also text transactions to your account.
    • ClearCheckbook  Offers the basics for free and some more advanced premium features for a small fee. At it’s heart it is a checkbook register that also does some budgeting and comes with a wide range of available reports.
    • Mint  The most popular of the online programs, Mint seems to do everything that Money does and maybe a bit more. It has a simple design and more of an intuitive feel than some of the other programs, but is an amazingly powerful tool. The one caveat here is that while Mint is free to use, according to their “about”page, they sometimes make money when you act on one of their personalized savings suggestions, although they do claim to “always offer unbiased advice.”
    • Money Center  This is the software offering from Yodlee, the company which provides the back end for many of the other financial management solutions out there. Great integration with banks and a billpay feature round out the software, which is billed by Yodlee as the most comprehensive online banking solution in the world.
    • Mvelopes  The online version of the envelope budgeting system promoted by Crown Financial Ministries, Mvelopes offers online bill-pay as well as downloadable account information. The program is well thought out and easy to use, but it comes with a price. Monthly access fees start at $8.
    • Thrive  Similar to Mint, and free, Thrive does seem to place a bit more emphasis on savings and debt management. Thrive has more of a hip feel to it, if that is possible with accounting software, than most of it’s competitors and bills itself as software for twenty and thirty-somethings. Recently purchased by Money Tree, they do appear to have more long-term stability than some of their competitors.
    • Wesabe  More of a community oriented application than most, they are also one of the oldest web-based offerings. Like Mint and Thrive, they also offer financial tips and advice, and the large user base is available for questions and sharing tips and tricks. That user base is what sets them apart from most of the others on this list because the form a vocal and passionate community, so there is a huge pool of knowledge and help out there for the asking. Unlike most of the other web-based applications on this list, Wesabe allows for the creation of cash accounts as well as for manually entering transactions.

    Desktop Programs

    • AceMoney  Has most of what you would expect in a desktop program including connectivity, budgeting and portfolio tracking in one convenient $30 package. Available in Linux, Mac and Windows versions, AceMoney also features a host of supported languages as well. Currently when you purchase AceMoney, you receive free upgrades for life.
    • GNUCash  An open source program, GNU Cash offers a host of features including true double-entry accounting. Capable of running your personal finances as well as small business accounting as well. Due to being open source, there are plenty of add-ons and modules available to customize the program beyond what is included with GNU Cash. Has a small but devoted following that is starting to grow. The interface appears a bit clunky and there is a bit of a learning curve, but it is probably the most powerful of the programs on this list. Being free doesn’t hurt, either.
    • Moneydance  A robust program that can go toe-to-toe with Microsoft Money. It boasts an impressive array of features such as investment tracking and built-in reports. It is also available for Windows, Mac and Linux users. Like Money, Moneydance will require periodic upgrades, so the $39 you start out paying may not be representative of the long-term cost of using the program.
    • Quicken  Many Money users are familiar with Quicken as they probably spent some time in a store with a copy of each program in their hands. Quicken’s interface is a bit clunkier than Money, but it is a formidable application. Already the most popular personal finance software on the market, it’s prospects aren’t getting any dimmer now that Money is gone. Due to it’s popularity, Quicken is readily available for purchase most everywhere and prices start at around $20. Like Money, Quicken will eventually force you to upgrade or lose functionality of key features. Many users report maddening experiences with customer support, so be prepared. Like most of the other desktop programs, Quicken in available for Mac and Windows..
    • YNAB  More of a check book register and budgeting kind of program, YNAB offers no investment tracking component. But for those people who are really serious about budgeting, this tops the other desktop applications in that regard, and probably only Mvelopes is equal to it on this list. Also like Mvelopes, YNAB is based not just on accounting software but on a money management system developed by it’s founder. YNAB Pro costs $49.95 and comes with a free book and some Excel templates. Support from YNAB Basic ends this year, although you can still purchase it for $24.95. YNAB is currently only available for Windows but they are working on a Mac version that is due out in a few months.

      Mac Only

    • iBank  At $59.95, it is the most expensive software on this list. It may also be the best piece of software on this list. But since it is Mac only, most of the computing world has never heard of it. With a feature list that rivals any of the Windows programs, it even includes multi-currency transfer support and will shortly offer tight integration with the iPhone.
    • Moneywell  If you are a Mac-using fan of envelope budgeting systems this program is for you. While it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of iBank, it is designed with an eye on budgeting and tracking expenses and it keeps everything right on the surface where you can easily access it without having to wade through nuerous sub-menus to find it.

    Does one of these programs outperform the others? Which one is right for you? That completely depends on what you are looking for. Envelope budgeters will be looking for soemthing different from investment wizards, who will be looking for something different from household managers. The best thing to do is try a few of them out. All but one of the online options are free, and the rest of the programs should offer some sort of  a free trial.

  • 10 Actions You can Take Right Now To Improve Your Computer Security: Am I really at risk?

    10 Actions You can Take Right Now To Improve Your Computer Security: Am I really at risk?

    Many years ago some of the usual risks to our finances would have been losing checks from our checking account, or maybe a car accident.

    Even though today we still encounter those same risks from before, we now encounter computer threats that we never saw before.

    Are we all at risk?  Yes, we are. It doesn’t really matter what income level a person has, everybody is a potential target of hackers. The reasoning behind this is that hackers do not always look for financial gain, but also look to gain access to other people’s computers to use them as slaves to hack other machines.

    Another issues is that no person, of for that matter company or organization is completely immune from hackers, but we can all do is follow some principles to make it extremely hard to anybody to hack our systems or accounts. The more difficult we make it to become a target, the less interest a potential hacker may have to do any harm to us, and we thus become a less easy target.

    Following these steps is not a fool proof method, but it’s a good start to better computer security.

    1. Perform all system updates on any computers you have, such as Windows computers and even Android phones or tables.
    2. Update your antivirus, and make sure it is active and working.  Windows 8 comes with a free antivirus called Windows defender, and Windows 7 comes with Microsoft  Security Essentials.
    3. Use Strong passwords.  Never use passwords that are easy to hack. Do not use the same passwords for different websites.
    4. We also suggest enabling 2 steps authentication on any accounts that offer it. These systems require a second piece of information to allow log in, such as a text message or email Pin.
    5. Never provide any kind of personal information to anybody that calls you. Banks already have that information and will not usually request it from you. In case they do, call them directly and ask to speak to them.
    6. Never click on unknown links received by email. You could be downloading a virus.
    7. Never watch a video on Facebook, it could be a virus trying to hijack your computer.
    8. Never give out your passwords or any private information to anybody by email, skype, chats. Those are not secure ways to divulge private information.
    9. Use a strong password on all your Wifi connections.
    10. Back up all your data on a secure location.

    You will find on our technology section here http://www.librededeudas.com/learningcenter.php many different articles on technology.

    Remember that security starts at home and the more secure you are the safer you will be.