Top 3 Ways to Protect Your iPhone in 2021

Although iPhones are the most secure smartphones on the market today, you shouldn’t fall prey to the misconception that they’re impervious to cyber-attacks and other threats. Any device that can connect to the internet can theoretically be hacked into and all devices are vulnerable to physical theft. Fortunately, there are always additional security measures that you can employ to protect your device and the data inside of it. If you own an iPhone, you must educate yourself on the different risks iPhone users face and learn how to protect it.

What Security Threats do iPhone Users Face?

Most hackers appreciate a challenge, especially when it leads to a great reward. For these reasons, iPhones are a major target. Not only is iOS already the most secure operating system to date, but the people who own iPhones tend to be more affluent and use the phones for purposes like business and making financial transactions.

The number-one cyber threat that iPhone users face is phishing. Hackers may impersonate someone you know or someone you would trust from a reputable company. They may lure you in through email links or links in private messages that lead to a site where malware gets into the phone and infects it, or where you would share confidential information like passwords or account numbers. Phishing can also be done through fake apps.

Another threat for iPhone users is the physical theft of the device. In such cases, thieves may go after the data in the phone or sell the phone itself. iPhones are major targets for thieves because the value of the phones, and usually the data inside of them, is higher than that of most other smartphones on the market.

3 Simple Ways to Protect Your iPhone

There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your iPhone is secure.

Use a VPN to Browse the Web

Downloading a VPN and using it to connect to the internet keeps your data encrypted and your IP address masked. If you connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots or make regular financial transactions over the internet, using a VPN and a private or incognito browser is a good way to make sure your data is protected. Signing up for a VPN free trial is a great way for you to get familiar with the tool and see how it works before committing.

Set a Secure Password and Enable 2FA

Setting a custom alphanumeric password and enabling two-factor authentication is a recipe that will ensure that no one can get access to your data. A custom alphanumeric password is impossible to guess, and 2FA means that a secret password created in real-time and sent to another device of your choosing will have to be entered every time your password is.

Utilize Your iPhone’s Built-In Security Settings

Get familiar with the array of built-in security settings that the iPhone offers and set them to your personal preference. There are several settings designed to keep your iPhone even more secure if you have them enabled and set properly.

Follow the top three security tips above to keep your iPhone and data safe in 2021.

Writer’s bio:

Matthew Stern is a technology content strategist at TechFools, a tech blog aiming at informing readers about the potential dangers of technology and introducing them to the best ways to protect themselves online.

As a tech enthusiast and an advocate for digital freedom, Matthew is dedicated to introducing his readers to the latest technology trends and teaching them how to gain control over their digital lives.

Most Popular Smartphone Applications

The World’s Most Used Cell Phone Apps

Cell phone apps have no doubt changed the way we communicate, work, and go about our daily lives. While social media and gaming apps are some of the most popular around, we also use applications to find a date, navigate to a new destination, set tasks and reminders, and listen to music. But just what apps are we using the most? Let’s take a closer look:

Zoom

Over the past year, when the world has been thrust into chaos and many businesses have had to rely on employees working from home, Zoom has become one of the most frequently downloaded mobile applications. The app allows users to make video conferencing calls to friends, family and colleagues and is also being used by many for the streaming of conferences and webinars.

Facebook

Despite the influx of a range of new social media channels such as TikTok and Instagram, Facebook remains the most downloaded and used social media application. Users on Facebook can not only post about their daily ongoings but also connect to friends and families, join groups that share likeminded interests, or even sell and buy gadgets, gear and home products through the Marketplace feature. Alongside Facebook, Facebook’s Messenger also makes it into the list of the top 5 downloaded apps in the world.

The Facebook owned Instagram is a picture and video centric social media platform that is the second most popular cell phone application in the world.

Some of the other most popular social media applications include Snapchat and Twitter.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp remains the most popular chat application in the world. This despite a recent change to their privacy policy which caused an uproar around the globe and caused many to move their chat services to competitors such as Telegram. The app allows users to freely chat, call and connect with contacts on a global level using the internet or mobile data. Its video call, emoji, status and chat deletion features are some of the reasons why WhatsApp remains so popular with users.

Uber

Uber is the world’s most popular cab hiring and ride sharing application available for smart phones. The app offers users a safe, convenient, and cost-effective solution for hailing a ride, no matter where they are in the world. The app is location based and works on most cell phone devices that have GPS enabled. Uber has also created a whole industry that rivals traditionally set up taxi services in cities around the world and it means you can play at Black Lotus Casino while you get driven to your destination.

UC Browser

UC Browser is the world’s dominating mobile browser application. The web browser was developed by UCWeb and is one of the most popular mobile browsers, particularly in China and Indonesia. It has a simple interface that pairs well with any phone, allowing users to easily surf the web, download content and watch videos. It is also comes with a built in ad-blocker which is one of the reasons why it is so popular and is available in a mini version which is suitable for devices with low memory.

What Causes Poor Cell Phone Reception?

The Main Causes Of Poor Cell Phone Reception

There is nothing worse than moving to a new place only to discover you only have one single bar of cell phone coverage. You’re not getting any signal, your calls get dropped or simply don’t come through, downloads are achingly slow, all the meanwhile you’re busy handing over your hard-earned money to pay your monthly cell phone bill. If you’re thinking about moving your home or office to a new location, cell phone coverage may be something you want to check out before you do.

Here are some of the main causes of poor cell phone reception:

Several factors come into play when it comes to cell phone reception. While some of these factors, like weather, can cause intermittent issues with coverage, others will consistently affect coverage. One of the main factors is the distance of your home from a cell phone tower, and what topographical challenges lie in between such as forests, hills, mountains, and valleys. Obviously, the more rural the area is the less likely you are to get great coverage but even in cities, other buildings, or trees can also block coverage. The construction material of your home or office will also come into play with certain materials like brick, metal and super thick walls hampering cell coverage as well.

In cities, congested towers can also cause poor cell phone coverage as many users try and access the tower at one time. It’s worth looking into the number of towers in your specific area as well as plans for new towers, particularly if you are in a developing area where the population is due to increase in the future.

What can you do about poor cell phone coverage

If you’ve already made the move only to discover that the cell phone coverage isn’t living up to your expectations, there are a few things you can do. While you could wait for your network provider to magically solve all of your issues, this could be a long and very frustrating process. Another option is to invest in a cell phone signal booster.

Cell phone signal boosters work just as the name sounds – they help to boost weak cell phone signals. You can get cell phone signal boosters for your home, car, RV or even your boat. Also known as an amplifier or repeater, these devices use an antenna to receive and transmit signals at an increased level of power and sensitivity than you would get merely by using your device by itself.

Cell phone signal boosters can work even in the most remote of places so you can access real money pokies wherever you go. They amplify the signal and cut out the connectivity issues caused by natural obstructions and distance. The use of a booster can help make your calls clearer, allow for faster internet browsing and ensure that a call is never dropped again. A boosted connection can also help improve your cell phone’s battery life as your phone doesn’t waste power and energy on a constant search for a stronger signal.

Learn how to get iPhone 12 mini 5G phone for as low as $0

Learn how to get iPhone 12 mini for as low as $0 with trade-in.

Learn how to get iPhone 12 Pro for as low as $10/mo. with trade-in.

Learn how to get iPhone 12 for as low as $100 with trade-in.

Google Releases New Peer-to-Peer WiFi Direct App

Google has launched an exciting Wi-Fi application that will not provide any useful features. The move, however, is part of a larger strategy by Google, which is working on bringing a variety of new wireless capabilities to phones that do not require an active internet connection. The new Wi-Fi features could be used in the same way that Bluetooth does, with the added benefit of being able to communicate over much longer distances.

The new Google app, dubbed WifiNanScan, is available for download from the Google Play store and is aimed at developers who want to work on Wi-Fi Aware apps.

The Wi-Fi Aware protocol (also known as Neighborhood Aware Networking (NAN)) is used by the WifiNanScan app to measure the distance between two smartphones. It's intended for use by developers, manufacturers, universities, and others as a research, demonstration, and testing tool. With this app, you can measure distances with an accuracy of about 1 meter between phones that are up to 15 meters apart. This tool can be used by developers, OEMs, and researchers to validate distance/range measurements, allowing for the development of peer-to-peer ranging and data transfer, find my phone, and context-aware applications using the WiFi Aware/NAN API. (WifiRttScan is another option.)

According to 9to5Google, Wi-Fi Aware is also known as Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN). Wi-Fi Aware apps, which allow smartphones and other gadgets to discover and communicate wirelessly, would be able to run on devices running Android 8.0 or higher. The devices would be directly connected to each other, without the need for a Wi-Fi network or any other type of internet or GPS connection.

Wi-Fi Aware devices would be able to "share large quantities of data" and send short messages. According to Google, the technology allows for “higher throughput rates over longer distances than Bluetooth connections.”

Wi-Fi Aware has a variety of use cases, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance, ranging from simple things like communicating with people nearby to play games to more complex things like finding friends at a concert without using GPS. More advanced enterprise uses would be supported by the functionality, such as securely connecting to a printer without logging onto the network or making restaurant reservations by walking nearby, even when the restaurant is closed. Other situations include automating and timestamping school check-ins and roll-calls, as well as streamlining airport security processes by using a digital ID that can be sent wirelessly to authorities. Wi-Fi Aware can even help advance autonomous vehicle technology. It could “enable autonomous and remote-controlled vehicles to instantly become aware of other devices and automatically exchange information like GPS coordinates, altitude, direction, and owner ID,” according to the researchers.

Until then, Google will need to enlist the assistance of developers, which apps like WifiNanScan can do. The app has a lot less features than the previous examples. Wi-Fi is used by the app to accurately measure the distance between two phones. Google explains, "With this app, you can get a distance measurement with an accuracy of about 1 meter with phones up to 15 meters apart." “Using the WiFi Aware/NAN API, developers, OEMs, and researchers can validate distance/range measurements, enabling the development of peer-to-peer ranging and data transfer, find my phone, and context-aware applications.”

WifiRttScan, a similar app for indoor positioning, was released a few years ago. Instead of using GPS to locate users, the app uses Wi-Fi Round Trip Time.

In the future, Google may combine these Wi-Fi experiments to develop new functionalities for phones and other smart devices based on Wi-Fi Aware wireless connectivity standards.

For developers, manufacturers, universities, and others, the WifiRttScan app is a research, demonstration, and testing tool. With this app, you can get a range accuracy of 1-2 meters to nearby WiFi-RTT (802.11mc) capable access points. This is particularly helpful when there is no GPS signal. This tool can be used by developers, OEMs, and researchers to validate range measurements, allowing for the development of positioning, navigation, and context-aware applications using the WiFi-RTT API.

One important future application of this could also be connected cars!!!  

Troubleshooting Your Wifi Connection Errors

What To Do About Computer That Keeps Dropping WiFi

Many laptop users complain that their computer frequently drops its WiFi signal. If this is an error you have experienced, then you can rest assured that you’re not alone. This particularly seems a common problem amongst Windows 10 users who experience WiFi connectivity errors for several reasons.

Here are some of the most common reasons why your computer could be frequently disconnecting from your WiFi and what you can do to upgrade it or rectify the issue:

WiFi Sense

WiFi Sense is a feature introduced with Windows 10 allows you to automatically connect to wireless hotspots in your area. While the feature is supposed to make it easier to find open networks it can cause your computer to sometimes disconnect from your chosen network as it finds another nearby. 

If you suspect this may be the issue, try disabling the WiFi Sense feature. This can be done in your Network & Internet settings. Windows 10 computers that have been updated following 1803 the update will no longer find these settings as WiFi Sense no longer exists due to the issues it caused.

Power Management

To give you the most hours from your battery, laptops have several ways of trying to decrease your power usage. This includes the disabling of various systems that are seen to be putting a lot of strain on your battery life. You may find that one of these features is to disconnect from your WiFi network.

To fix your power management settings visit your Device Manager and expand the Network Adapters menu therein. Once you have found the relevant WiFi adapter make sure it is not ticked to turn off to save power.

Outdated Drivers and Adapters

If your drivers are outdated or damaged, you may also experience intermittent WiFi issues. In addition, wireless adapters that have been poorly configured can also cause your WiFi to keep disconnecting.

Ensure that all your WiFi adapter drivers and WiFi firmware drivers are up to date according to the latest options available on the manufacturer's website.

Troubleshooting your WiFi problems

Troubleshooting the above could be the quickest fix to sorting out your WiFi connectivity errors. Before troubleshooting is sure to back up any essential data to an external drive. As you may need to manipulate your account settings you could possibly lose any saved information on your computer.

The first step in your troubleshooting process should be to set your WiFi network to private. Private networks can give better signals, which is ideal for playing at an online casino NZ has to offer. These settings can be changed in the Network & Internet settings under the properties for your specific network.

You can also try running the Network Troubleshooter on Windows which may pick up and automatically solve any connection errors that you are having.

If none of the above options seem to work, it could be that your WiFi router has been damaged or needs replacement. You can optimize the connection to your router by bringing it closer to your device and check its internet connection using a hardwired Ethernet cable. You can also try restarting your router or even resetting it to default settings. Finally, if you are still having WiFI problems be sure to contact your local ISP, or internet service provider, to see if there is perhaps a bigger connection error.

Record Breaking Facts About Cellphones

Cellphones are part of our every day lives with our mobile devices accompanying us wherever we may go. And while most of us don’t give a second thought to the capability of these little computers, taking it for granted that they will do what we need them to in the times we need them to do it, others have pushed their mobile phone to the limit.  

Keep reading to discover some record-breaking facts about mobile phones:

·       The highest mobile phone call was placed at an altitude of 8,848 metres or 29,029 feet. The call was made by United Kingdom’s Rod Baber on the 21^st of May 0017 from the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal using his Motorola MOTO Z8. The call which lasted 1 minute and 48 seconds, cost Mr Baber just £2.39 ($4.72). Mr Baber also holds the record for the highest text message sent.

·      The largest mobile phone ever created was launched as part of a marketing stunt on the 11^th of March 2009 by the creative agency Neverstop in Chicago, Illinois. The phone, which was a Samsung SCH-r450, measured a whopping 4.57 x 3.42 x .74 metres (15 x 11.2 x 2.5 feet) and was fully functional. The LED display on the phone alone measured 1.72 x 1.39 metres (5.8 x 4.7 feet), with the entire device weight a hefty 158.76 kg (350 lb).

·       The youngest video mobile game app developer is just seven years old. Philadelphia citizen, Zora Ball, created a game which sees a ballerina searching for a jewel while trying to avoid a vampire, using open source gaming software Racket. The game was created for a project at the Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Charter School. The girl was even able to reprogramme parts of the app in front of a live audience to prove it was in fact herself that had created the app.

·       A Chinese citizen named Xia Yan holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest time taken to type the alphabet on a touchscreen mobile phone. He achieved the record, which currently stands at 3.91 seconds in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, on 20 February 2020.

·       The best-ever selling mobile phone is the Nokia 1100. To date, over 250 million units of this phone have been sold around the globe. This phone is also considered one of the toughest phones ever created.

·       The most expensive mobile phone in the world costs 95.5 million dollars – that’s a huge sum of money, just like the jackpots you can win at Lucky Creek. The phone, which features a case made of 18-carat gold, is a Falcon Supernova Pink Diamond iPhone 6. It is so named because it also features a pink diamond on the back side. A more affordable version of this phone is also available for 48.5 million dollars.

·       In 2013 a Google Nexus phone was launched into space by the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. The idea behind launching the phone into space was to check its ability to control satellites while also determining the resistance of its various components to the vacuum of space.

The Best Smartphones For Photography

The Best Camera Phones Of 2021

For most of us our smartphone is more than a device used for making and receiving calls and messages. For many, it is the trusty camera we keep in our pocket. We use it for chronicling our daily activities, storing our memories in photos and videos. Many of us even use these images for work purposes, either to share social media snippets of our companies with users online or just to record vital information. Thus, it’s important that our phone has a decent camera.

So, if you’re looking for a new phone this year, then you’ll want to consider one of the below options whose cameras are sure to beat out the rest:

iPhone 12 Pro Max

The new iPhone 12 Pro Max is no doubt one of the best camera phones money can buy this year. Its 12MP wide camera features a large sensor that allows in more light, allowing for improved picture quality. The ultra-wide lens also allows for a 120-degree field of view, perfect for taking it all in. The camera is also fitted with a sensor-shift image stabilization system which is ideal for filming video. In addition, a LiDAR sensor is built into the camera which allows for great portrait taking, even in night mode. For those who use their photos for work purposes, ProRAW mode allows for flexible editing.

While the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the ultimate option from iPhone for 2021, the manufacturer’s iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini still offer fantastic features for a lesser price tag. The video is particularly impressive on these phones, recording 4K HDR video and Dolby Vision video, capped at 30 FPS.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The last Samsung Galaxy phone builds even further on their predecessor’s success when it comes to offering excellent picture quality. The phone's camera is made from two telephoto lenses, one with three times optical zoom, while the other allows for ten times optical zoom. What this means is increased zooming capability to capture finer details. This smartphone from Samsung also has enhanced software features that allow for several unique options such as capturing slow-motion videos and taking pictures from the front and rear cameras at the same time.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features a primary 108-megapixel sensor which has been greatly improved using a dedicated laser autofocus sensor. It offers 5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom, which offers more flexibility than the iPhone options although the light capability isn’t quite as good. This particular device is also known for offering exceptional battery life so you can rest easy knowing your phone won’t let you down when you need it most, even if you have been out shooting with it for most of the day.

Vivo X50Pro

For anyone looking for a good camera phone option that doesn’t come from the giants of Samsung and iPhone, the Vivo X50Pro is a good option. This beautifully built piece of equipment makes playing online slots for real money simple and features a main 48MP camera that is mounted on a mechanical gimble. This allows you to maintain focus on your target even when moving or shaking, making it great for the not-so-steady video taker. It also allows for low-light photos that knock the socks off some of its competitors.

Smartphones And Their Usage In America

Interesting Facts About Smartphone Usage In The United States

Just like in the rest of the world, smartphones are an integral part of daily life in the United States. Smartphones influence the way people communicate, research, and share information in both their personal and professional capacity. Recently, the Pew Research Center, has conducted some surveys to determine just how people in the United States are using their phones. Here are some interesting findings from their reports:

1. 77% of Americans own a cell phone

Three-quarters of adults living in the United States own a cell phone. This figure is up from just 35% in 2011. What this means is that the mobile phone has been one of the most adopted forms of technology in recent history. As expected, the younger generation is much more likely to own a cell phone, with 92% of adults aged between 18 and 29 years old owning a device. In addition, 51% of homes with young adults include three or more devices. Of the adults aged 65 and older on the other hand, only 42% own a mobile phone.

2. Diverse mobile phone usage

Most Americans use their phones for more than just calling and messaging. Common cell phone usage includes accessing emails, social networking, taking pictures or video, checking news, watching videos, playing games, navigating with maps, playing online Blackjack and listening to music or podcasts.

28% of mobile phone users in the States have used their devices to look for a job, while 9% have used their device to try and find a partner on a mobile dating app. In addition, a large percentage of users also use their phones to read e-books, while 62% of Americans have used their phone to get information about a health condition. 51% of users also report using their smartphone to shop online, while 45% have used their device to look up reviews about a purchase they want to make. In addition, 57% of smartphone users in the United States have used their device for online banking, 44% have looked for a place to live using their phone and 40% have used their phone to search for government services of information.

3.  A growing reliance on smartphones

Studies show that there has been a growing reliance on smartphones in the United States. 12% of Americans rely on their smartphone only to access the internet. This is particularly the case with lower-income families. 55% of Americans also subscribe to news alerts on their phones, while 30% have attended an educational course using their phone. 89% of American phone users also said they have used their phones in a social setting.

However, despite this growing reliance on phones, 28% of Americans do not use the safety devices on their phones, such as screen lock. Also, 14% of users say they never update their phone, while 40% say they only do updates when it is convenient for them. 46% of smartphone owners also believed that if necessary, their device is something they could live without. 

T-Mobile's Domestic Roaming Partner Map Is Not Always Accurate

Why is my phone on T-Mobile Domestic roaming when the coverage map says I'm in an LTE area?