Issue: 005

👋 Hey there, Techie!

Ever get an email saying your Netflix account is suspended? Or a text from a “bank” asking you to verify your info?

Scams are getting sneakier, but that doesn’t mean you have to fall for them.

This week in the Tech Emergency Prep Kit, we’re training your digital spidey senses.

🧯 Tech Emergency Prep Kit: Spotting a Scam Before It Hits You

Here’s your anti-scam survival checklist:

🔸 Stop. Breathe. Inspect.
Scammers rely on urgency. If a message says “act now!” — that’s your cue to pause, not panic.

🔸 Check the sender.
Look closely. “[email protected]” ≠ Amazon.

🔸 Don’t click suspicious links.
Hover over links to preview where they go. If it’s full of gibberish or redirects, don’t click.

🔸 Never give personal info over email or text.
Your bank won’t ask for your password in a text. Period.

🔸 Trust your gut.
If something feels “off,” it probably is. Search for the message or call the company directly using a verified number.

💡 Quick Tech Trick

Turn your phone into a scanner.
No need for a bulky scanner — just use your camera app or:
📱 iPhone: Use the Notes app → tap camera → Scan Documents
📱 Android: Use Google Drive → tap + → Scan
Crisp, clear PDFs in seconds. Life changer

🧠 Cyber Tip of the Week

Cover your webcam when you're not using it.
It’s a low-tech move with high-impact privacy.
Hackers can access cameras with the right malware — so slap on a sticky note, slide cover, or even a Band-Aid.
(Yes, really. Mark Zuckerberg does it.)

🕹️ Gadget of the Week: Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera

For the grad who’s ready to document every moment (because selfies aren’t enough), the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is the perfect gift to capture life in real-time... literally. Forget scrolling through thousands of photos on your phone—this little beauty prints out memories in an instant, no Wi-Fi required. It’s a throwback to the Polaroid days, but with a modern twist and a splash of retro flair that says, “Yes, I’m cool, and I’ll prove it in tangible form.”

It’s not just a camera; it’s a social magnet. Grads can snap a pic, hand it to a friend, and suddenly they’re the life of the party (while everyone else is still waiting for their phone’s battery to charge). Plus, with a variety of funky film colors, it’s as much about the style as it is about the shots.

📬 Subscriber Question: Cannot update my phone, don’t have enough memory, how do I update my phone?

There are several options: 

1. Plug your iPhone into your computer, then download the update to your computer and then update your phone. That way you don’t have to free up space. 

2. Off load unused apps temporarily, just enough so you can download the update

3. Paid option, pay $1.99 subscription to iCloud so you can have your pictures in the cloud and free up space that way, also allows you to backup your apple devices

4. Also to your point you can download the google photos application, and have that sync to your google drive, and have it delete the photos from your phone.... but this method will hit your storage limits really quick and becomes more of a pain than a solution

Until next time:
Don’t trust. Verify.
— Your Grandson Techie