The benefits of having a live-in IT guy
I’m fortunate. I’ll just start with that. This is because I have my own live-in IT dude. There aren’t too many folks around who get to say that. The best part of having my own is that when I “accidentally” push a button on my phone, computer, or tablet, he can usually undo my mistakes. He’s worth the money, let me tell you! The issue starts when I don’t admit to having pushed that button.
I recently read one of the NorthStarr blog posts about keeping information and data secure and realized with quite a bit of panic and dismay that I have allowed my browser to save my passwords in every app I have. I mean, why not? I’m far too busy and important to type in the ONE password I have used for every single thing that requires a password in the past five years. The panic hit when I realized that if someone got to one of them, they would literally have access to everything I have.
Therefore, in the interest of being secure, I started with my phone. Following the instructions in the blog post, I found the password manager. Apparently, I had given permissions to 156 apps and websites. Why wouldn’t I allow the shoe company website in Australia that I adore to store my password? It makes perfect sense to me. Quick and easy check out! Less chance of getting caught buying another pair of cute black boots! The place I buy my dog toys…absolutely. Store away. You want to save my credit card information for future purchases? Oh yes, please do!
I had no idea that I had permitted so many apps and websites to store my details. There were apps I had used once, apps I had deleted, and some that I didn’t recognize at all. I began the laborious process of un-allowing permissions and password storage. It took me HOURS, but I did it.
However, that was just the beginning of my foray into my phone and all the things it does, such as tracking my every move and every search. Creepy stalker phone! Now, let me be perfectly clear. The blog post did not tell me or advise me to go into the browser and disable location tracking and things like search assist. I decided to do all this on my own “to secure my information.” I was remarkably proud of myself. I had made my phone a Fort Knox. No way could anyone get my data now.
And that’s when the fun started.
I wanted to check my bank balance one morning, but there’s no username stored in the app. Well, that’s not something I remember! Ok, no biggie. An hour on hold with the bank, and I got it. Later, I went to look at the map on my phone to see how many miles it was from my house to my mother’s. Previously, I just typed in the first couple of letters on her address, and the directions just appeared. Nope. Not anymore! Check the hockey game score? My phone didn’t know my favorite team anymore and didn’t auto-populate. I was starting to get sad, like I had lost a very close friend. And I had. That very close friend was all the things that made my phone MINE. It wasn’t a friend I liked anymore. It was mean and didn’t know anything about me.
This is where having your own IT dude can be a real benefit. Had I taken the time to ask, “should I push this button?” he would have told me no and offered me better options, and I wouldn’t be wasting my time on hold with the bank, and the car loan people, and the doctor’s office, and a whole host of other things. I wouldn’t be typing in my full address when I need directions to get home. I wouldn’t be missing so many benefits of having a phone smarter than I am. I have not told my IT dude what I did yet because I know he will roll his eyes, and he’s allowed to do so.
Having Northstarr on your side can be just as good as having your own live-in IT dude. They can provide answers to the button push questions and so much more! And even better, they won’t roll their eyes!
Northstarr Recommendations
We are huge fans of appropriate measures to secure your personal and business information. If you don’t have your very own live-in IT dude, give us a call. We’re glad to help. We promise, no nerd-words and no eye-rolling. (888) 767-2210.
