by Russ Alman, Communications Director

​​One of the disturbing things about the internet is information about you is collected by a variety of information aggregators and shared on public information sites. This information is collected through a variety of legitimate sources, including public records documents and combined with information you share on social media to create a profile about you. Then these public search sites display the collected information for the entire world to see. Their goal is typically to upsell website visitors to view more complete information (like current phone numbers and complete addresses) and even offer background checks for a small fee. (Yes, anyone can do a background check on anyone on the internet!)

​No, I can’t read the title of this month’s tech tip either. Despite what some people around the senior center think, I do not speak Greek (though I do speak Geek!). But the title translates into English as “No, you are not stupid.”
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The point of the title is the old adage, “It’s Greek to me.” As someone who does not speak Greek, that title is totally unrecognizable. I don’t know the Greek alphabet and have no idea how to pronounce it without the help of Google Translate.

​Also, I know almost nothing about Greek culture or customs. If you took me to Greece and dropped me off in downtown Athens to fend for myself, I would have no idea how to read the street signs, ask for directions, order food or find a bathroom. I would be very intimidated and exasperated.

I am not stupid. I have a master’s degree and a strong English vocabulary. I am perfectly capable and willing to learn about different cultures and the basics I need to communicate. Though I don’t plan on becoming fluent in Greek, I’m sure if I learned a few phrases and better understood their customs, I’d feel more at ease if I visited there.

- by Russ Alman, Communications Director

One of the most important steps you can take to keep your online information secure is to use robust passwords that are difficult for a hacker to guess. You should never create passwords that include phrases that can be found about you in public records, such as your kids’ names, the city you live in or your birthday. Cybercriminals collect this information and then use it to guess your passwords.

by Russ Alman, Director of Communications