TECHNOLOGY AIM

Ask a friend about which messaging app she uses and you’re likely to hear Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and maybe Hangouts by Google (although that’s a lot less likely). But since 2013 there’s been another messaging tool out there called Telegram, which offers several key benefits over its more commercial competitors . Here’s what you need to know. Privacy first Telegram prides itself on not taking any money from advertisers, so that means the conversations you have using its service do not get passed along to corporations looking to sell you something – unlike Facebook and WhatsApp.  Additionally, Telegram provides two levels of encryption – server/client for all open chats and end-to-end encryption for “Secret Chats” (see below). The first level of encryption is actually not as robust as the general chat feature on WhatsApp, which encrypts all communications from one user to another directly.  But Telegram truly shines with its “Secret Chat” feature . While this feature ...

Even though Macs have a reputation for security, the number of malware attacks on Macs surpassed those on Windows machines for the first time in 2020 , according to an article in Vox . So there goes the idea that if you have a Mac, you don’t have to worry about installing software to protect it. The fact is, hackers have gotten more devious in sidestepping the inbuilt protections in all our computers, so having an extra level of security – for Macs and PCs – is just plain smart . AntiVirus for Mac from trusted software developer TrendMicro delivers this protection and much, much more . Get TrendMicro AntiVirus for Mac here.  Disclosure: Our team is always looking for things we think our readers will value. We have received compensation for publishing this article. Don’t be held hostage   As with all antivirus software products out there, TrendMicro’s product will alert you when it finds malware on your Mac or when you attempt to download a potentially troublesome file. ...

Free software usually comes with a catch. The programs are typically only usable for a certain number of days, have limited functionality, embed watermarks, or otherwise build in limits that eventually lead you to upgrade to the full version. When it comes to LibreOffice, however, what you get is a full, unrestricted software suite that can easily replace Microsoft Office and save you a bundle in the process. What is it? LibreOffice is a collection of open-source software programs to help with general office productivity. Downloads are available for Mac OS, Windows, and Linux, and each download includes six programs: Writer (word processor); Calc (spreadsheets); Impress (slide shows); Draw (vector graphics creator); Math (formula builder); and Base (database builder). How does it work? Launch LibreOffice and arrive at the “Start Center,” which lists available programs along the left edge, and has a large field on the right into which you can drag a document and get to work. So you ...

Typically, when you download free software, it tends to have limited functionality. Either it’s not very robust or it is missing key features that are only available with an upgrade. Audacity audio editing software is the exception to that rule. With a feature set that rivals larger, costlier programs, it is a powerful tool to mix, edit and convert a multitude of audio files. Loading files Getting files into Audacity is a straightforward affair. You can either open an existing file on your desktop, or you can use your computer’s microphone to record new audio content. You can also import files through a mixing board. Each file you load or open appears as a waveform across the screen. You then have the option of playing them together, merging them or editing them as you need. Audacity can handle a wide range of audio files including: WAV, AIFF, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MP3 and MP2. An optional plug-in library opens the support to AC3, AMR(NB), M4A, MP4 and non-DRM-protected WMA files. Not o...

Disney+ is now available in Europe too! Where exactly? In Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland. Through this streaming service, you’ll have access to lots of series from franchises such as Disney, Marvel and Star Wars. Here are our top picks, the shows you simply must watch as soon as you subscribe! Click here to start your 7-day free trial on Disney+. Disclosure: Our team is always looking for things we think our readers will value. We have received compensation for publishing this article. 1. The Mandalorian The Mandalorian is the most surprising and exciting project from the Star Wars franchise in recent years. In this first season of eight episodes, you’ll embark on a mission with a stoic bounty hunter across the Outer Rim, an unusual place straight out of a Western movie. Pedro Pascal plays the title character in a stellar cast including Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, Taika Waititi and Giancarlo Esposito. Behind the cameras, we f...

In light of both the novel coronavirus outbreak and the rise of global business needs, the video-conferencing app Zoom has become wildly popular. While there are certainly other video-chat applications out there, Zoom adds in a set of tools, which, combined with the company’s renowned reliability makes it the virtual meeting software to beat. Ease and efficiency One of the most notable features of Zoom is just how easy it is to get started. You simply download the software on any device or platform, providing nothing more than your email and a password. Start it up, and you’re presented with four options: New Meeting; Join; Schedule; Share Screen.  After you start a new meeting, you’ll be given the option to invite participants. Zoom also makes this simple, as you can either send invites out as a pre-written email, or you can simply ping other Zoom members in your contact list to ask them to join. Alternatively, you are given a unique URL to your meeting, which you can share an...

While we recommend that everyone use a virtual private network (VPN) as a basic level of privacy protection, there is a problem inherent in all VPNs. Because a VPN requires you to connect to a server that’s some distance from your immediate location, and then it encrypts your connection to the internet, your surfing speed can suffer. Thanks to their own protocol called Hydra, Hotspot Shield avoids slowdowns and in some cases can even increase your surfing speed. We’ll take a quick look at how the software accomplishes this and then examine the other benefits Hotspot Shield brings with it. Hydra Most VPN providers use pre-existing protocols to get their job done, such as OpenVPN or Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol. While those protocols are perfectly fine for helping you surf the internet anonymously, Hotspot Shield built its own protocol from the ground up and gave it the very cool-sounding name of Hydra. Hydra is effective because sometimes when VPN links are being established, packets of ...