Managing Your Digital Stuff - Annoyances
http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/Annoyances.html




Good digital housekeeping can reduce stress, increase
efficiency, and simplify life. There are still annoyances that
may be mitigated by our actions, the settings on our devices,
or application to block unwanted actions. If something annoys
you, it probably annoys many others. Search the internet for
solutions.





Example 1: Constant Popups to accept cookies, etc.! Hush Nag Blocker https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hush-nag-blocker/id1544743900 Browse the web like it should be - free of nags to accept cookies or privacy invasive tracking. It's tiny, fast, free, open, secure and without any access to your data. AdGuard - PC, Mac, Android, iOS/iPadOS (block any annoyances) https://adguard.com/en/adguard-mac/overview.html Pop-ups, video adverts, banners and such - they will all go away. Due to unnoticeable background filtering and cosmetic processing, all you will see is clean pages with the content you came for. One can interactively select the annoyance making it go away forever.

Example 2: Contant Interruptions We got rid of our landline due to the constant robo phone calls interrupting our lives, raising blood pressure, and wasting time. It is hard to convey the sense of relief and peace that resulted. It was huge! A new era. Now we get spam phone calls on our cell phones. Beginning in the fall of 2020, Apple gave us the option of silencing unknown callers. Ahhh. Peace! If a doctor, plumber, or electrician might call you back, add their phone numbers to your contacts so the call will come through. Ta Da

Example 3: Hidden File Extensions Showing filename extensions reduces guessing and enhances security. To Show File Extensions in Windows 11/10 via File Explorer Options, follow these steps: 1. Open Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization. 2. Now, click on Folder Options or File Explorer Option, as it is now called 3. Select the View tab. 4. In this tab, under Advanced Settings, you will see the option Hide extensions for known file types. 5. Uncheck this option 6. Click on Apply and OK. On a Mac goto Finder > Preferences > Advanced and check Show all filename extensions

Example 4: Poor WiFi Connectivity Have you ever been on a Zoom call and everybody freezes, voices are slurred, or you get disconnected. Perhaps others are saying your voice is slurred or you freeze up. These annoyances are usually caused by poor WiFi bandwidth to your computer or mobile device. Here are two resources to help you understand the cause and affect and possible solutions to pursue. http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/Connectivity.html http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/WiFi_Connectivity.html

Example 5: Nagging Messages About Updates or Needed Passwords The most important action you can take to enhance your security and reduce your vulnerability on the internet, is to do all the updates. Do the updates and those nagging messages will cease to bother you. http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/Updates.html http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/Maintenance.html

Example 6: Your searches on the internet are showing up in phishing attempts and advertising everywhere. Major harvesters of your personal information include: Google, Facebook, Amazon, and the NSA. Most harvesting takes place on our computers, automatically running JavaScript code downloaded from websites we browse. There are a number of things you can do to regain your privacy. Block those trackers - speeds up your browsing and you enjoy some regained privacy. http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Privacy/index.html

Example 7: I Can't Remember the Right Password It's a pretty big annoyance when you can't remember if you changed a password and what it might be. And a further annoyance when you get locked out of your account because of too many failed login attempts with the wrong passwords. Time to use a password manager that has a better memory than we do. And is way more secure. Even better, where available, use passkeys. http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Manage/Passwords.html https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-passkeys-to-sign-in-to-apps-and-websites-iphf538ea8d0/ios

SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS TO ANNOYANCES Need more help mitigating annoyances--search the web. You can find solutions to many annoyances and make your life better.
sam.wormley@gmail.com