July 15, 2019 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Password Protection

Confession is good for the soul, they say. So here goes…

Last week I tried to log onto my 2 laptops and kept getting the “Invalid password” message. I type that password twice every morning. Pre-coffee! Of course, I knew what it was. I tried rebooting. I tried CAPS ON and caps off. Finally I called my IT support who was going to come with his reset software.

I finally quieted down enough to try the password on auto-pilot as I usually do. Oh… yeah… there are 2 more digits to it.

Later in the week, my sister wiped her iPhone because she got confused about her phone password. She never turns off the phone therefore she never uses that password.

I use a password protector software but I had left my Windows password out of it. My sister uses a password storage software but it doesn’t have online access, only phone access.

Confession over. Let’s talk about how you can prevent either of these scenarios happening to you.

You ABSOLUTELY can not use the same password for multiple accounts! This is a serious problem. Please! It’s worth the effort to make your data safer. A data breach at Dropbox was just to gather passwords, not for info in files. The hackers take the passwords, try them at banks, PayPal, Google, etc. to get access to your personal data.

Option 1 – I strongly recommend this!

Use LastPass.com to record and input passwords. LastPass will fill in the user name and password for you on website logins. You can see the list from your computer, your tablet, your phone. You can access it online. You can store other info like social security numbers, spouse’s auto license plate number. I will help you set it up if you need some assistance. Basic service is free. Premium is only $24 a year. Using LastPass on your tablet or phone does make it easier to access sites from those small screens. And if the phone is locked up, you can access the password list from your computer.

Option 2

Create a series you can remember but changes with each account. Should be at least 8 characters including a capital letter and a special character.

Example: Series is 125cHaracters34$% (3rd character is always capitalized)

Then for your Google account the password is 12goOgl34$%

for Southwest Airlines the password is 12soUth34$%

for Yelp the password is 12yeLp34$%

You can remember the series. Each password is different so that if a hacker gets the Google password they can’t access Yelp.

This is IMPORTANT! Call me if you have questions or need help getting set up.

Post update on 05/03/18.

October 7, 2018 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Comparison Shopping

It’s always a good idea to comparison shop – even for computer skills training.

YCL recently offered a hands-on 2 hour training on how to make videos for $55 per person.

Lynda.com is $30 a month for unlimited high-quality video tutorials.

Training For You does 1 or 2 day classes in person at their location. Here is a screenshot for a Word class at $132 per person.

Each type of learning situation has a benefit.

Hands-on helps overcome technology fear and jump starts your learning and use of the new technology.

Lynda’s videos break huge topics – Outlook 2016 – into small segments to watch as needed.

A Training For You type class is a great way to be introduced to a new software. The Word class would give you an overview of the features and capabilities.

September 28, 2016 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Prevent Eye Strain While Working

There are some simple tips to help prevent eye strain while you’re at your computer.

Change the brightness of your monitor screen to match the light level of your room. EX: If you’re working with the lights off in the office, dim the screen. Or the reverse, brighten the screen when the sun is shining in the windows and adding to the florescent lighting.
Adjust the monitor and/or your chair until your eye level aligns with the top of the monitor. We naturally look downward by about 10-15 degrees. Next best option: Align so you are looking at the center of your monitor. Do NOT look up at your monitor! That’s bad for your eyes and your neck.
Increase the font size of your Windows displays and of your software programs. Use at least a 12 point font. You can even use a larger font later in the day to help with eye strain.
Be wary of the colorful background designs offered by Windows, Firefox and other software manufacturers. Yes, they are entertaining but they are harder on your eyes than a simple design where the contrast between the background color and the font is greater.
Take frequent breaks. No, not to play solitaire! Blink your eyes. Look out the window, across the room, somewhere in the distance. Do a couple of easy stretches sitting in your chair or standing at your desk. Close your eyes and take some deep breathes.

September 10, 2014 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Training

Does your staff need training on particular software?

I can handle it!

Click here to see how I helped train Charity Charms staff on how to use Outlook.

July 30, 2014 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Computer skills

Need to update your computer skills?

I can handle it!

Read here how Your Computer Lady helped Printing Industries of America employees learn some new skills.

July 30, 2012 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

AutoCAD Essentials 3: Editing and Organizing Drawings Training with Lynda.com

Properly managing a drawing is essential to being productive in AutoCAD. In this course, author Jeff Bartels concentrates on the Autodesk AutoCAD tools and features dedicated to organizing and editing geometry. The course covers making selections, creating and adjusting layers, identifying objects with hatch patterns, and scaling, exploding, and joining elements. It also includes lessons on creating fillets and chamfers, copying existing objects into rectangular or circular patterns, and accessing specialized tools that make measurements and calculations a lot easier.

Watch trailer!

Click on the Lynda.com logo to sign up for Lynda.com and start learning a new skill!

July 16, 2012 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Up and Running with Online Surveys with Lynda.com

Have you ever wanted to get employee or client feedback quickly, without having to print and collect forms? In this course, author David Rivers shows how to create surveys online, while explaining when surveys are useful and how they can help collect the input needed to drive key business decisions.

The course also gives an overview of top online survey tools, including SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, QuestionPro, and SurveyGizmo. The final chapter shows how to use SurveyMonkey to create a survey from start to finish, as well as smart ways to collect more responses.

Watch the trailer.

Click on the Lynda.com logo to sign up for Lynda.com to get started.

June 27, 2011 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Pamela Bir Interviewed by Operation Franchise

It was great fun to be on the other side of a technical article. I was interviewed for a computer skills article for Operation Franchise. The magazine focuses on helping military personnel transition to civilian jobs. The concepts apply to anyone in the business world. You have to get your computer skills up to speed and keep them up to compete in today’s job market. There’s a solution for every type learner and every price range.

Read the article.

June 25, 2011 By yclmanager5 Leave a Comment

Testimonial

“Just a little note to thank you again for getting me out of my Outlook muddle. In my book, you are most definitely a miracle worker!”
S K from Colorado

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