Full Transcript for Free Software That Is Actually Safe

always been the main glowing thing of a paid-for antivirus. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:13.680 Is every time you download a file in real time it's scanned to make sure it's not a virus, and and Microsoft's defender, Windows Defender, does that. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:18.160 Me myself personally, I've had no problems at all using it. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:20.800 It saved me a total of one time. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:22.639 That was it, just one time. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:27.519 But being conscious about what I'm downloading also has a play in that as well. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:37.920 But again, I've I've never seen any systems really go without or go without antivirus and be better off if they didn't say you have Windows Defender. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:39.920 So something just to think about again. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.120 You don't need an antivirus on the system since you already have it. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:48.879 Um, if you have an Apple computer as well, I would say you don't really need an antivirus on that either. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:52.639 Apple systems are some of the most secure on the market, I would say. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:53.040 Yep. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:56.879 They're they're the least virus-infected systems I ever have to deal with. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.839 Most of the time when I've ever worked on Apples, it's hardware. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.839 It's almost never been something software-wise. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:04.879 And a lot of that had to has to do with market share too, right? 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.040 Right. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:21.279 So not everybody's writing code to infect a uh Apple computer because they don't have as much of a market share when it comes to and I mean that that gap has slimmed over recent years, but even still, you look at the number of Microsoft PCs out there compared to Apple MacBooks, it's a pretty wide margin. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.160 But yeah, no, I think Apple just in in general, too. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:28.000 We we talk about it in the past, the walled garden idea between behind Apple. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:30.079 They have a lot of that same idea with their software. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:33.680 They don't mean they make it very restrictive on how and who can build for it. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:37.439 So and macOS, I I want to use the term, it's proprietary. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:43.439 It's an operating system that just a lot of cyber criminals are not as skilled or familiar with. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:43.839 Yep. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:56.240 There are some that are extremely sophisticated with working with Apple, but a lot of that actually requires hardware access, being there in front of your computer, not somebody on the phone telling you to download a file or something. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:58.160 So that's something to keep in mind. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:02.480 Having Apple computers, you're pretty much you got Apple uh behind you with

it. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:08.720 Now, in the past, a lot of companies would say not to run two antivirus softwares at the same time. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:10.240 Is that something that's still true? 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:17.199 I know that you off that you guys work with malware bytes and uh the name of the antivirus always escapes me for that program. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.160 Bit defender. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:18.399 Right. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:23.759 I know that you guys work with BitDefender and malware bytes as a package deal from Refresh Computer Superstore. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:30.240 Uh, if you do go ahead and go forward with BitDefender on your PC, should you disable Microsoft Defender? 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.399 So that's a good question, honestly. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:39.120 And the nice thing with Windows is it already has a built-in recognition for that kind of conflict you're talking about. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:54.319 Having multiple antivirus programs on your computer really can cause a lot of slowdown because those programs are almost fighting over over performance and processing of files, and a lot of them end up on the same scanning schedule. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:58.160 So now you have two programs trying to scan the same files at the same time. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.480 Your system really, really slows down. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:14.720 The nice thing with Windows is that when you install Mauerbytes premium and has real-time protection, or any other antivirus, it automatically disables when micro Windows Defender as it enables the antivirus you just installed. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:18.399 So there's no period of vulnerability in between there. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:19.680 It's kind of a seamless thing. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.040 But Windows has that recognition built in, which is an awesome thing to have. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:23.839 Good to know. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:33.519 I've also really seen before on a lot of systems with, say, Norton and McAfee, those two are actually installed a lot of times together. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:39.839 I'm not sure if it's just because they install alongside other bundled programs, but that is something to look out for. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:50.240 If on your system you you have multiple antiviruses, especially Norton and McAfee, you know, if if you've been noticing your systems running pretty slowly, you might you might have the problem right there. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.920 So another thing to think about as well is your office programs. 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:57.600 Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:01.120 They're programs that tons of us are just familiar with every day. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:02.319 And reliant on, really. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:03.120 Exactly. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:05.839 And these programs are behind a paywall. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:14.480 You do have to pay monthly or yearly for them, or you have to sacrifice some support and buy a considered legacy version. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:20.319 It's a one-time purchase, but it's not something that receives updates and could be dropped as well in the future. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:25.680 So what I would suggest is looking into something like Google Docs and Google Sheets. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:31.199 Those can be used right through your browser and provide seamless sharing between Google accounts. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:38.639 It's just as easy as if you have someone in your contacts, you can hit share and search for their name and share it that way through Google Sheets or Docs. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:44.720 Or you can have it go directly into Gmail, for example, and send it through an email that way. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.000 Google Docs and Sheets are not something you have to download on your system. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:50.480 They actually save in the cloud as well. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:57.279 So if you're using Google Docs, for example, those actually use your Google storage space. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:07.039 So same space that uses up Google Photos, your Google Drive, Google Sheets and Google Docs kind of bundle into that same amount of free storage you get with a Google account. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:09.600 But again, you have your file up in the cloud. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:12.159 You can also download it, you can also share it. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:17.039 And it works almost exactly like Word and Excel would, for example. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:22.799 There's another ver software that we suggest, something that we put on all of our systems when they're purchased as well. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.320 And that's a LibreOffice. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:32.320 That's pretty much the whole suite of Office 365, but it's a freeware version made by the team of LibreOffice. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.919 There's no paywall for it. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:34.559 It's freeware. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.240 They do take donations. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:43.600 So if you go to their website to download, you may be asked to provide a donation, but it's not a requirement to download their program. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.559 Another one that you might have heard of, I use is OpenOffice. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:46.799 Right. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:51.120 OpenOffice is another program that same idea, full suite that you're able to access all those programs. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:57.279 And this is a part that I mentioned has been in the news big time recently because with the advent of AI, we talked about it a lot. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:09.759 You're seeing a lot of emulators creating new programs, quote unquote new programs that are pretty much just ripping copies of these programs, of a full version of Office under a pseudonym name. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:19.519 But they're not being published by known producers, not like something like LibreOffice or OpenOffice that

have been around for a long time that are well known and regarded in the industry. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:29.120 They're just coming out as random AI generations of these with a lot of information unknown about where the sign-up information that you're getting these products for is coming from. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:36.159 So that's something to be aware of is that these AI fake programs are coming out and they're coming out more readily. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:45.519 So something to be aware of if you're downloading any of these programs, that you're not getting some kind of offshoot that has some kind of malicious code possibly added to it in the background. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:50.159 And that's something that I have seen coming up almost every day now. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:55.519 We are entering what I've been calling the RE stage of AI, which is reverse engineering. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:55.759 Yep. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:11:00.639 So you can provide it a program whose source code is completely proprietary. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.000 It is not public. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.440 You cannot view it. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.559 You can have AI basically reproduce a program. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:11.440 And a lot of people are pr are producing programs and putting them on the internet for free. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.879 I know one of them actually was the entire Adobe suite. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:15.279 That's right. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.120 So Photoshop, Illustrator. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:23.200 It wasn't the names and Adobe's name, but it was these same functions, almost the same programs. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:23.519 Yep. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:34.399 It was something that me personally, when I was in digital design, I looked at these programs and it looks like it was when I was working on it back in, I believe, CS5 or CS6 era. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:34.720 Okay. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:53.600 So that's also something that these people are starting to do, is they are taking modern day programs and putting the older designs on them because I know a lot of us did not like a lot of the changes that were made through Word when we moved from Office, I think 2024 it was to 365. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.080 Right. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:12:00.720 There were a lot of operational changes between those versions and a lot of button changes where they placed everything. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:09.120 So they're kind of starting to edge now on the nostalgia of those older versions, but with the modern modern functionality, right? 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.960 Modern functionality, thank you. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:21.279 And you know, speaking of modern functionality and bringing up Adobe as well, PDF viewers are one of the most maliciously made programs I've seen. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.480 I want to put it that way. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:35.039 So Adobe Acrobat, I'm not calling that program malicious or anything, but there are a

lot of actors out there and a lot of people that make malicious programs that are free PDF viewers, free PDF editors. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:39.360 And a lot of the times these are just viruses, malware. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.639 They collect your data. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:48.240 So what I would recommend actually is if you download PDFs, you can right-click on them, and it'll there'll be an option that says open with. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.799 And you can select any web browser on your computer. 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:57.519 It could be Edge, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, any browser that you use should be in that list. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:03.919 Every browser at this point in tech in just tech-wise now can open PDFs with no problems. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:15.840 And some of them, I believe I've used it through Opera before, that some of them even allow you to do some free just quick editing on the PDF or inserting signatures, for example. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:23.039 And that's something also to keep a lookout for is there are websites that offer uh free PDF converters. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:32.320 You don't need to bother with those websites because, again, your computer has it built in that you can take that PDF and save it as a Word document, for example. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.360 And vice versa, yep. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.879 Or vice versa, exactly. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.720 So these are kind of what you should and should not look for. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:47.679 Of course, there is always the standard free programs, such as, again, Chrome, Firefox, web browsers like that are just always free. 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:55.919 Again, if there's a program out there that's demanding that you pay for it, there's probably a free version of that program that can do the same thing. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:58.720 But you need to make sure you're downloading a good program as well. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:13:59.279 Exactly. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:04.639 And making sure that you're getting the the portions of that product that you need to use for your project. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.279 So and if you have any questions, don't hesitate. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:13.840 Give us a call at our store, tell us whatever you're looking at downloading, and we can kind of go through and just check to see real quick. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:17.279 Or better yet, just bring your computer by and we can take a look at it for you. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:21.279 If you want to give us a call, our number is 407-478-8200. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:24.639 That gets you to any of our technicians in the store, not some call center. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.639 So you'll get some people that actually have some knowledge. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:35.200 Um, we're going to a break, but when we get back, we're going to be getting to uh gaming computers and consoles and kind of what us at Refresh are able to do for you with those systems. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:40.559 You've been listening to Tech Talk right here on WDBO 1073FM and AM580. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:00.720 Hey there, and welcome back to Tech Talk here on WDBO 1073FM and AM580, Orlando's News and Talk. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:04.879 I'm Greg Rhodes, sitting here with Adam Littlefield from the Refresh Computer Superstore. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:11.919 You can contact the Refresh Computer Superstore by calling that free tech support hotline, 407-478-8200. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.159 Or if you have a comment during the show, we'd love to hear it. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:17.120 Use that open mic feature inside the WDBO app. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.399 And now back to Adam. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.759 Well, thank you, Greg. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:24.159 And again, thank you, everybody, for tuning into this episode of Tech Talk with Refresh Computers. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:38.399 In our last segment, we talked a lot about free programs, what you should and should not look for, and kind of some good information about what's out there on the internet can also save you a bit of money from not paying these absorbent prices now that some programs are charging. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:48.320 So if you missed any of that, head to refreshcomputers.net, click the podcast link in the top right corner, and you can view this episode, all of our other episodes going back just years. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:51.120 Tons of good information to look back into. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:56.240 In this segment, we're gonna be talking a little bit about just gaming computers, consoles. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.399 You know, the holidays are are coming up. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:06.080 This cold front that we've had this past week has kind of gotten the holiday cheer in me already, and it's kind of early for that because it's not even Halloween yet. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.039 Not even Halloween yet. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.559 We're already having to put on sweatshirts, yeah. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:08.960 Right. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:20.799 So it's you know, it's a good turn of the year, I would say, and you know, it's gonna be coming up to a I would wouldn't call it a tough season, but it's a season where you know you don't really know where you want to go, right? 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:29.519 This day and age, we have tons of just gaming that is going on in our households, especially during just long just just breaks, for example. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.080 Yep. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:39.279 And you know, when those when the holiday breaks start coming in, that's always seems to be the time that something happens that you need to have looked at. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:44.159 So we at Refresh, we're able to work on some some consoles in our store. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:48.720 We can provide support on systems like PlayStations, Xboxes. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:58.559 These are something that have to go to our board level technician normally, because the

disassembly of the system that's way more than what we can get on our bench and just keep organized. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:02.080 He's got a nice just office that he can keep everything laid out. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:06.240 But these are the those are the types of systems we can work on, but also handheld systems. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:10.559 We've had a couple handheld systems in that we've done stick drift replacements on. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:14.960 We've replaced the joystick on it, we've done some cooling jobs on them. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:20.880 There was even one that we were able to do a uh a storage upgrade, I believe it was a PS5 Pro, if I remember correctly. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.839 And and that's just some of what we can do with consoles. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.720 There's, I would say a lot more, but when it comes to consoles, it's always case by case. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.200 True. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:35.920 There are just some repairs for consoles that require almost the cost of a brand new one, you know. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:42.319 And at that point, our our technician, he will normally just just flat out let you know it's not going to be worth putting the money into. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.200 Which is impressive because those consoles have gotten very expensive at this time. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:45.680 They have. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:51.920 And I I've even seen uh the prices go up on them across just large, just big box stores for used ones now. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:52.319 Right. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:18:02.079 So, you know, it's now is not a bad time really to look into possibly repairing a console that might be running a little weird, especially if it's something that's turning off on you. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:02.960 Give us a call. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:06.480 Our number's 407-478-8200. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:18.160 We can go through, talk a little bit about just what's going on, probably have you bring it by so our technician can just take a quick look at it, hear what's going on, just to see if it is something that he is able to get his hands into and fix. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:28.640 And while it's always nice to have like the latest and greatest, when it comes to gaming, you don't necessarily always need the latest GPU or uh the highest level of RAM to be able to really enjoy yourself gaming. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:32.480 You guys offer some great refurbished options there at the refresh computer superstore as well. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:32.880 Right. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.200 Yeah. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:38.160 We offer a huge selection of refurbished uh gaming systems as well as business class systems. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:42.799 The gaming computers that we have in our store are built by us in store. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:19:02.079 So we are familiar with everything that's in the system, the configuration, and we we always have gaming computers at different stages, I would say,

different levels, because you know, as as we've talked about on this show, and as just the market has changed, there is entry, mid, and and high-end gaming computers now. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:06.480 And entry level is is hard getting harder and harder to come by, brand new. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:13.599 But that's something that we still offer at refresh computers just because again, they are refurbished machines, but they're just good as new machines. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.839 Did you see the$1,800 Xbox? 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.799 Unfortunately, I didn't. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.839 Were they plan on the pricing going for consoles in the future? 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.319 I don't know. 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:29.519 I mean, I haven't I'm not a big time gamer these days now with soon to be two kids at home, but it's it's it's getting more and more disruptive to actually be a little bit of a gamer at home. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:29.920 It is. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:36.559 And you know, I I mentioned earlier, even seeing the prices of how used consoles, for example, have gone up because of how the market is going. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:42.480 There are some big box stores that are selling used consoles now for more than brand new ones. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:46.240 So, you know, it's the market's all over the place at the moment. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:51.359 So it never never is a better time to bring something in that's just acting a little weird on you. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:58.480 Um, we're getting to another break here, but when we get back, we're gonna be talking about scams for this holiday season and what you really need to look out for. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:04.000 You're listening to Tech Talk right here on WDBO 1073FM and AM580. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:24.079 Hey there and welcome back to Tech Talk here on WDBO 1073FM and AM580, Orlando's news and talk. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:28.079 I'm Greg Rhodes here with Adam Littlefield from the Refresh Computer Superstore. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:34.880 You can contact the Refresh Computer Superstore by calling that free tech support hotline at 407-478-8200. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.640 Or if you have a comment during the show, we'd love to hear it. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:39.599 Use that open mic feature inside the WDBO app. 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:50.480 You can also check out the website over at Refresh Computers.net, or you can stop in at the Refresh Computer Superstore in Longwood at 820 East State Road 434, just three and a half miles east of I-4. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.039 Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:58.240 until 7 p.m., which means if you're listening to our show here on Saturday, you still have time to stop by. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.000 They'll be open until 7 p.m. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.559 today. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.559 And now back to Adam Woolfield. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.599 Well, thank you, Greg. 00:21:03.759

--> 00:21:08.720 And again, thank you, everybody, for tuning into this Saturday edition of Tech Talk with Refresh Computers. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:15.599 We've done a lot of just talking already in this episode, more than I can already remember back from what we've been talking about. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:18.079 We did talk a little bit about free programs. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:25.680 So if you missed any of that, go to our website, refreshcomputers.net, click that podcast link in the top right corner, listen back to this show. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:30.160 We'll have AI summary of this show as well as tons of our other shows going back. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:34.640 There's a lot of information in those shows and stuff that's still relevant to this day. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:45.680 There are so many scams out there, and almost every other week I feel like I'm talking about a new scam or the the most the most upcoming scam that's been around forever that's starting to come up again. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.039 They're just everywhere. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:50.079 And they're not only in our computers or our phones anymore either. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:53.440 You know, they are literally showing up at our doorstep. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:59.680 You know, with the holiday season coming up, that's this is kind of the time where you really have to be on your toes about scam. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:06.079 Because with the holidays, there comes you know, friendship and relationship scams. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:09.279 People try to be your friend for the holiday season and scam you out of money. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.480 There are, of course, the tech support scams that are running rampant. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:20.400 But the biggest one that I'm kind of starting to see come up quickly is surprise shipments just showing up at your door. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:32.799 This is actually something I've been seeing that people are using just public just addresses for fraudulent orders that they will then come up to your doorstep and just grab the package once it's delivered. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:37.359 This is this is a I don't know what kind of scam I would even want to call this one. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:40.079 But you know, this is something you should look out for. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:44.720 And if you don't already, I would recommend getting some sort of video doorbell. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.680 Uh um, like a like a ring or blink doorbell. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:23:00.400 This is the time of year where you are going to be needing that, because if there are you know packages being dropped off to your house that you didn't order and somebody picking them up, that video footage is going to it's gonna be helpful, I would imagine. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:07.839 Same thing if you are ordering packages this holiday season and somebody just grabs them off your porch, you have video evidence then as well. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:17.519 That's a very important thing to know because you know, porch pirates are always a problem, and it feels I don't know, I don't I don't want to say it feels like every year they're getting worse, but maybe I'm paying more attention to it. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:20.559 Yeah, I think that might be more people are getting those ring doorbells that you're talking about. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.960 So they see more of those videos popping up on their feed. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.599 Right. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:44.640 And you know, that's something that is end of the day, you have to think of with scammers is there's a personal layer element to it, and just having some sort of video surveillance alone is going to deter a lot of people trying to steal or otherwise scam because after they're caught on video, that's that's something they can't change, they can't delete, they can't undo. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:53.920 That's that's actually one of the biggest things I think I can mention for this whole topic already, is just that doorbell because that's going to catch a again a lot of stuff that's coming up to your house. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:24:00.079 Now, say you do have packages coming up to your door that are addressed to you, and it's something you didn't even order. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:02.079 That's always a good sign. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:10.559 Well, I won't say good sign, it's a bright sign, I'll put it that way, that you may have a compromised account, and that's something that you should start looking through. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:18.640 Look into emails for any order confirmations, possibly change any sort of uh passwords that you believe might be compromised. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:24.559 Like it or not, I know there are tons and tons of users out there that use the same passwords for everything. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:37.039 And as annoying as it is to hear, use different passwords for everything, even just one single letter being capitalized differently can make all of the difference between your Amazon account being compromised or not. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:44.400 The important part as well is if your account is compromised, if you find where it came from, report it to that shopfront as well. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.359 That's so important. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:51.759 A lot of people will just do the steps like you mentioned, and they'll replace the password and then they won't mention anything else about it ever again. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:55.680 But that could still mean that there could be a compromise to your account in some way. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:59.200 Or it also can help prevent it from happening to somebody else as well. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.680 Yeah. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:06.720 Now, this is something I've I've seen a couple times actually, are packages that aren't coming from actual shippers. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:14.960 It looks like something that was just a third party dropping it off and just a

personal car, when in reality it's somebody actually running their own scam. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:24.000 And on these uh boxes, they'll provide a QR code on the uh box that you can scan with most modern day mobile phone. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:31.119 The problem is, is these QR codes, you have no way of knowing what is going to happen when you open those QR codes. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:48.799 You can do so much with those kinds of scannable codes to the point where you can have it download files to your phone just from scanning that code or take you to a website that has you filling in information that's going directly to someone who's going to collect it and use it instead of actually just being a transaction. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.200 Right. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:56.880 QR codes are something I would mention, never, ever, ever scan unless it's something that you trust and you know. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:06.000 A lot of restaurants now are also starting to transition over to digital or uh paperless menus where you scan a QR code that's attached to the table. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:15.680 I've actually seen reports of you know restaurants randomly throughout the country that have a little uh QR code tent that says view menu, and it's something someone just left there. 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.000 Right. 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.720 A scammer. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.119 Yeah. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.119 So it's it's something as easy as that. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:21.759 You know, you scan you scan it, think it's something normal. 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.559 That's all it takes. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.000 Because anybody can make a QR code. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:28.720 It even gives you the option right there in Microsoft Word to make whatever you've put together a QR code. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:32.559 So it's very uh very easy to make and put together and very easy to mask those things. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:39.519 Uh, I remember working in retail and you had to be concerned about people putting those kinds of stickers over the back of like gift cards and things like that as well. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:46.640 People would put them over the replace the barcode and then it gets scanned and the money gets loaded onto a gift card that's not actually in your hand. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:46.960 Yep. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:50.799 So we've seen some changes in some of the packaging for some of those items here recently. 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:55.119 But yeah, no, that's uh that's been one of those kinds of ongoing scams, all kind of related to all this. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:27:03.200 Yeah, and I've seen even ones for uh parking meters as well, QR codes and things for like uh Tesla superchargers, for example. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:10.000 Almost every supercharger I've gone to in the past couple months has uh a QR code on it of some kind. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:15.440 One of it was for some tinting business, one of them was completely nondescript. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.400 There was nothing around it. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:20.319 It was just a black and white QR code slapped on the side of the charger. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.880 That's something you just don't want to randomly scan. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:26.640 Just because it's there doesn't mean it's actually of use for you. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:34.799 Again, especially if it's on some package that you don't recognize, definitely don't scan it then because there's already something fishy going on with that. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:44.480 And it's funny that you mentioned the changes in parking because uh recently Orlando, the city of Orlando, got rid of coin-operated parking meters. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:48.960 So now it is all a cashless program that you do have to go to a specific website. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:56.480 It's all managed by ParkMobile, and those locations have QR codes that you can scan that's supposed to bring you to the park mobile website. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:00.880 But like you mentioned, those things can easily be spoofed and covered over and replaced. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.119 Yeah. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:10.319 So be very wary when you're doing those kinds of transactions, especially, like I said, city of Orlando, every single parking meter around the city now is contactless payment. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.359 So keep that in mind. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:15.440 And I've even let's make it more local, the Lake Eola area. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:19.839 There is a lot of event parking down there that's normally cash transaction. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.960 And a lot of uh scammers have started putting up just QR codes that says scan here to park and pay. 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.440 Yep. 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:26.720 And people will do it. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:28.720 You know, they'll Venmo$50. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:31.359 I don't want to say$50, but throw a random amount out there. 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:33.359 I've paid$50 to park downtown before. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:33.599 Yeah. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:33.920 Yeah. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:36.240 $50 to Venmo for parking. 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:42.960 You go out, you enjoy Lake Iola, whatever you're doing downtown, and you come back and you've either got a boot on your car or your car's missing. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.359 Yep. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:47.920 So that's something to keep an eye out because again, these QR codes, it's it's all deception. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:50.559 It's all making you think that it's something that it's not. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:54.880 Again, just like every other scam that we've had going back years now. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:59.759 Even like the fake delivery text saying this is Ooh, what's one of the big, big shippers? 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:04.160 This is FedEx reaching out regarding a package, a failed package delivery. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:10.079 Most package deliveries

I've seen, they do leave a physical slip that the package was undeliverable. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:28.640 But you also get the opportunity to see that history on whatever shipper's website you're using, whether it be the postal service, UPS, FedEx, those services generally allow you to see if a package was actually denied for drop-off at your address, if it's something you ordered and you're keeping track of. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:45.039 But if there's something that you're getting a message about a denied delivery, I do know you can sign up with your with the postal service to get a basically a daily digest of mail and packages that you are receiving to your house, at least through the postal service. 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:51.359 That's a good place to start to look to see if you are actually having a package that's being non-delivered. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:56.319 There's also delivery texts uh that say you need to pay tariff fees. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:59.119 That's been the big one recently, are tariff scams. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:06.559 People just saying, hey, you need to Venmo$250 to Border Patrol because the your package is being held for tariffs or something. 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:13.519 Anytime you see these companies use terms like Venmo or things like that, always approach that very literally. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:21.039 There's that's almost 99.9%, not the way a government agency is gonna accept payments for funds for those kinds of things. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:21.440 Right. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.599 The post office I know will hold your letter. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:26.880 You have to go to the post office and pay them that money before they'll give you your letters. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:36.799 So these kinds of things, if you're going to be working with international shipping and mainstay shippers, you're not dealing with Joe Schmoe, who figured out how to sneak your package in from Japan. 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:43.599 It's an actual shipment from and you have payments that need to be made, you're gonna have to go to a branch office or contact those companies directly. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:46.559 They're not gonna accept money via Zell for Venmo. 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:54.000 And a lot of times these deliver these fake delivery texts that are saying, you know, your package wasn't delivered, click here to pay. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:31:02.240 Most shippers, again, will require you to go to a physical location or call them directly and handle it that way. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:06.319 Especially if it's something like being held at, you know, border or customs. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:12.319 That is something that you will be contacted and not asked to pay through a text message. 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:12.720 Right. 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.319 I have personal experience. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:21.119 Actually, a friend of mine had tried to send a big package of of stuff from Norway over here. 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:28.400 And I was contacted by Customs that my package was undeliverable, and they gave me a whole massive email. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:32.640 My friend ended up sending a can of that that Surstraming fish. 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:34.799 Oh, and it blew up in transit. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.599 Oh no. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.319 Yeah. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:41.519 So, you know, it's they're pretty clear when something's happening with your package as well. 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:41.759 Right. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:48.079 They're they're not gonna play the the cloak and dagger game with you just because you they're saying that you owe money for something. 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:58.960 And that's something to keep an eye out for as well, is you know, the the forward and direct approach, opinion, whatever it may be, can also be the beginning of a scam sometimes. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:09.519 Some scammers just go with the the blunt honesty approach and just immediately go into it like their scam and and lie has already been made and is being believed. 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:13.039 A lot of times they're they're actually going off of urgency as well. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:24.000 So you may get that fake delivery text that says if you do not pay within 24 hours, the package will be deemed abandoned, or if you don't do this, the package will be returned to sender. 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:29.039 You know, something along the lines of that to add that layer of urgency to make you not think about it. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:32.640 And the reason that these continue going on is because they work. 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:40.480 People happen to fall into these traps, and the refresh computer superstore is a no is a judgment-free zone when it comes to the situation, right? 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:45.359 If you accidentally scanned a code or tapped a link, don't worry, go ahead and reach out and you guys can give them a hand, right? 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:45.680 Right. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.000 Yeah. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:51.680 It's something that we take care of every single day, and I and I mean that with full honesty, every single day. 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:54.400 We see the full range of it, unfortunately, as well. 00:32:54.640 --> 00:33:04.640 From the very beginning, we have someone come in on the phone sometimes with these people, all the way to the end where there's already fifty, sixty thousand dollars gone. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:11.119 You know, we we see the destruction that it brings, it can ruin your life, especially. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:14.160 So, again, keep an eye out for all of these scams. 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:17.279 It's it's something that we always talk about on our show here. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:20.640 So go back to our website, refreshcomputers.net. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:27.039 You can listen back to this show if you missed any of this segment, the segments before it, or go back and listen to our other shows

talking about other scams. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:29.920 You you need to keep yourself safe this holiday season. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.039 That's all that's all I can say. 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:34.559 Are you someone that's ever gotten one of these uh fake deliveries, Adam? 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:36.960 Uh these these unexpected deliveries at your house. 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:48.079 I've gotten a couple before, but again, they were more redirection scams, using my address as a as almost like a lily pad to bounce that package off of. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:51.279 And we did end up getting a uh ring doorbell camera. 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:54.079 Caught one person who just comes up and grabs it. 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:56.160 And it it was almost like a cycle. 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.480 Yeah. 00:33:56.640 --> 00:34:00.480 Like once a month, either halfway through it or the first day. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:04.480 And all we did was provide that information to our to local police, and that was it. 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:04.960 I got it. 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.680 They took care of it. 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:10.239 I got an unexpected pack package one time, and I brought it inside, and I tried to figure out what exactly it was. 00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:16.719 Turns out it was an Uber Eats accidental delivery to my house that my sister forgot to change the address of her Uber Eats account. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.239 So I got some free Taco Bell that night. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:21.920 You know, I I thought you were about to say you got um a Mark Rover box. 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.199 Ah, there we go. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.320 Hopefully not. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:27.760 Definitely wouldn't have been able to get those sparkles out of my carpet anytime soon. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:31.119 Have you gotten one of these fake deliveries, or maybe you've fallen for one of these texts? 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:31.440 Let us know. 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.079 We'd love to hear it. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:34.960 Is that open mic feature inside the WDBO app? 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:38.000 Coming up next, we're gonna have the tech tip of the week. 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.039 Right here on Tech Talk. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:43.360 You've been listening on WDBO 1073FM and AM580. 00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:03.679 Hey there, and welcome back to Tech Talk here on WDBO 1073FM and AM580, Orlando's News and Talk. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:08.320 I'm Greg Rhodes, sitting here with Adam Littlefield, a technician from the Refresh Computer Superstore. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:15.280 And you can contact the Refresh Computer Superstore by calling that free tech support hotline at 407-478-8200. 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:19.440 And don't forget to check out the website over at refreshcomputers.net. 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.719 And now back to Adam. 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.840 Well, thank you, Greg. 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:26.000 And again, thank you, everybody, for tuning into this episode of Tech Talk with Refresh Computers. 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:29.519 In this segment, we're going to be getting into our weekly tech tip that we do. 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:36.800 But before we get into it, I do want to mention that we do always, again, post these as podcasts on our website. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:46.320 I've a l always I always guide to the website for it because this sort of information is something that you can look back on and actually do yourself at any given time. 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:52.159 It's something that you can listen back to and see the steps in our summary underneath the show. 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:59.280 So you don't have to worry about pulling your phone out right now if you're listening and driving, trying to figure out how to do this tech tip. 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:05.440 This is something that I've actually used quite a bit as well, and uh I want to get your opinion on it too, Greg. 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:09.280 And this is how you can actually copy just words right out of a photo. 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:13.280 There's a bunch of different names for it on Android phones. 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:15.599 It's normally called Google Lens now. 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:19.039 I mean iPhones, I believe they call it live text. 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:29.199 So on iPhone, what you have to do is you you point your camera at something with writing on it, and there's a little text icon, like a T that'll appear in the corner, or you can press and hold right on the words. 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:40.800 And what it'll do is it'll capture just a still of those words, process it, and then it'll let you highlight what words you're looking at and just copy them directly off, and then you can paste them anywhere. 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:47.679 So if you're copying a uh address, for example, off of like a sheet of paper, you know, you can just paste it right into your maps. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:57.280 Or what I've done before is some addresses like email websites, I'll actually just scan it with my phone, copy and paste it in rather than trying to type it in. 00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:57.679 Yep. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:01.039 And again, this on Android, it's the same thing. 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:05.840 You can go and there's a uh, I believe a Google Lens icon that'll appear. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:13.679 Should look like a camera with a dot, or it may um on some Samsung devices, I believe you get the option of the little text T, it turns orange. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:17.199 Hitting that lets you, again, do the same exact thing as iPhone. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:23.840 Copy what you're looking at and then move it over to you know, a text, have it translated, anything you really need to use it for. 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:31.519 This is something I've I've given as a trick to a lot of people because this is something that's useful for your wireless router. 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:39.519 If you have a long password on the

bottom of your router and you just have to turn it over, type in a couple letters, turn it over again, type it in again. 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:44.159 It's you can easily just look at it, press and hold, and just paste it right in. 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.440 And and that's it. 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.719 You just get connected that way. 00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:48.159 It's a lifesaver for my wife. 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:53.039 She hates the very long password I have set for our Wi-Fi router, and she's like, How can I ever remember this? 00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:54.000 I'm like, you don't have to. 00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:54.239 Right. 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:56.960 You can take a picture of it like this and copy and paste it, and you're done. 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:58.960 She goes, Oh, well, all right, well, then never mind. 00:37:59.039 --> 00:38:00.400 And she hasn't complained to me about it since. 00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:05.360 And it's something that even me personally, I use just for work, for example. 00:38:05.599 --> 00:38:11.440 There were a couple signs that we were remaking at the store, and we did not have the source files for them anymore. 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:21.760 All I did was take a picture of it, just highlighted all of it, and just copied it, put it into Google Docs, and it just was basically the thing I was trying to recreate. 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:22.079 Perfect. 00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:24.800 So instead of having to type it all out, I could just copy and paste it. 00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:26.400 And that saved a good amount of time. 00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:29.760 It's so funny some of the fun tips that we're able to put inside this segment. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:36.960 That's one of definitely the ones that I've like I like to use a lot just because you come across, like you mentioned earlier, I love the idea for using it for websites. 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.199 Yeah. 00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:40.800 Especially if you're trying to navigate to a specific portion of a website. 00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:43.840 You're not just trying to go to best buy.com. 00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:49.119 You're trying to go to the specific item on Best Buy that you already found and you're trying to share it with yourself or somewhere else. 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:51.360 So a great little option right there. 00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:51.679 Yeah. 00:38:51.840 --> 00:39:01.760 Web addresses, you know, they can be long, jumbled letters, and a lot of scam uh sites that end up throwing pop-ups actually are just mistypes of websites. 00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:07.360 All it takes is one letter or one number to be wrong, and they could direct you to the wrong place. 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:10.400 99% of the time, I will say it doesn't. 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:19.199 It just goes to a probably a 404 cannot find page, but don't let your fall, don't let yourself fall into the 1% that gets into a pop-up like that. 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:23.920 Well, I believe we are getting to the end of our show here, so we will be closing this off. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:26.800 We will be getting back to you guys tomorrow at 8 a.m. 00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:28.559 Sunday for our Sunday crew. 00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:29.360 Sunday crew. 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:35.119 Uh, we'll be talking a lot about browser basics and brand new news that came out in the tech world.