Protect Your ATM Account with Your Smartphone

ATM cards let us withdraw cash anytime and anywhere there is an ATM. However, it also makes it easy for thieves to drain your ATM account by cloning your ATM cards through skimming devices and cameras installed on ATMs. While there are ways to protect your online passwords, protecting your ATM card from cloning is a challenge since it is not easy to detect a compromised ATM. I personally have friends that were victims of ATM card cloning.

Are Landlines Becoming More Obsolete?

A few decades ago, telephones played a major role in day-to-day communication. Early mobile phones were not a threat until SMS was introduced, with the Philippines eventually being recognized as the texting capital of the world. It was only in recent years, however, that mobile phones started to replace telephones. What triggered the telephone’s apparent demise?

How I Turned my Old iPod into a Hi-Fi Audio Source

Do you have an old iPod lying around somewhere? Do you know that you can use it to replace the CD player in your hi-fi stereo system and probably not notice the difference?

Thieves Don’t Need To Steal Your Credit Card to Use It

I had a chance to analyze a credit card transaction that was repudiated by the owner and reversed by the bank. Unfortunately, the transaction was reposted after investigation showed that the CVV2 matched.

My Easy to Prepare Cheesy Pasta Recipe

My son loves the Mac & Cheez instant macaroni from Lucky Me so I created an easy recipe to replace it.

Did our Elevator Fall One and a Half Floors Down?

The elevator was already moving when my wife asked me what floor we are getting off. I just finished replying with ground floor when we heard a loud noise that felt like our car hit a hard metal beneath us, except that we were going up.

 

Philippine Online Sellers Beware

After posting my previous article, I learned that another online seller was contacted by the scammer. He did not send the item to South Africa as instructed, but she managed to hijack his Paypal account in the process.

I was Almost Scammed by an Online Buyer

I received an inquiry for an item I posted on a local buy and sell site recently. Here is how I discovered that it was an attempt for an online fraud.

I Won!

I seldom join contests in Facebook, but I have a friend who has won more than a few times. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I won a Fender guitar strap in November last year, though I only learned about it this May.

What Affects My Internet Speed?

Which of the following 1Mbps Internet connections offer the fastest download speed at any given time?

1Mbps consumer DSL

1Mbps business DSL

1Mbps fibre Internet for consumers

1Mbps dedicated Internet

A Divided Sky

It was late afternoon and we were driving along the open space of Candelaria bypass road when we noticed something unusual about the sky. The left side of the sky was dark, while the right side is bright and they are clearly divided in the middle. We decided to park beside the road to take a picture.

Remembering the Nokia 7110, When Apple Was Not yet King

What gadget comes to mind when asked about the Matrix movie? I bet it is Neo’s Nokia slide phone. Neo’s phone was an 8110 with springs added, a feature that was incorporated in the succeeding model: the Nokia 7110. Imagine our surprise when my wife found her 7110 while cleaning a cabinet drawer!

Something is Fishy in our Hotel Room

We normally do not stay in top hotels during vacation. Amenities look good on paper, but in most cases, we only use the hotel to sleep, take a bath, change clothes, and eat breakfast. Most of the day is spent touring outside. However, that changed when we booked at Hotel H2O recently.

The Corporate Bands of ePLDT

ePLDT is like a big family. We work hard, but we play harder. We have company outings and sports events. We also love to party. That is why it was no surprise that we were invited to perform in our 2006 Christmas party. Wait, who we?

Securing Online Passwords

I do not like passwords. It is a question of convenience versus security. It is a classic case of contradictions. Here is why.

Why using Mobile Phones to Reset Passwords is Unsafe

I do not agree that websites should recover passwords using mobile phones.  It only takes a few minutes to hijack your account using your mobile phone. They do not need to know your phone password or unlock pattern. All they have to do is transfer your SIM to another phone so they can receive your SMS messages. Allow me to demonstrate.

How to Recover a Lost Apple ID Password

Those who are new to IOS may not be aware that the Apple ID password is a key component of an iDevice’s security. For some reason, we occasionally see new users asking for help on how to recover lost passwords. Fortunately, Apple created iForgot for situations where you cannot remember your password. Here is how to use it (you must be connected to the Internet).

Launch App Store, go to Featured, then scroll down and click the Apple ID button (take note of the Apple ID indicated).

Buying a Used IOS Device

There is a new IOS model being introduced every year. Those who like being seen with the latest device simply sell the old one and add cash to buy a new model. Subscribers who are on a two-year plan are lucky since they can sell the old unit and get a new model free. Despite new models coming out every year, IOS devices are still quite usable even if they are a few generations behind. Hence, it is quite normal to see used IOS devices being sold in malls and online sites. However, some buyers find out late that the device they bought is unusable. Here are things to note before buying a used IOS device.

Is your Child Ready to Learn Guitars

Summer is a time when students take a break and get busy with other activities. Children can take summer classes in singing, dancing, martial arts, painting, piano, voice lessons, and guitars. If your child wants to learn the latter, it is important that you get a guitar that he can easily handle, otherwise he might give up if he is uncomfortable using a big guitar. At this stage, guitar size is more important than a full tone.

Happy 20th Internet Anniversary, Philippines

March 29, 2014, Manila

It was twenty years ago today when the Philippines was officially connected to the Internet. It was way beyond what BBS and AppleLink offered me back then. However, the technology was ancient compared to what we have today.