Issue: 038

Tech Tips, Tricks & Cybersecurity Advice – No Jargon, Just Help

Hey Techie,

Most tech headaches don’t come from big failures — they come from small things left unchecked. This issue focuses on low-effort steps that quietly prevent future stress, confusion, and security issues.

📱 Quick Tech Tip

Turn On App “Background Activity” Controls

Many apps continue working (and draining battery/data) even when you’re not using them.

Why this matters:

• Improves battery life

• Reduces data usage

• Limits unnecessary background tracking

How to check:

• iPhone: Settings → General → Background App Refresh

• Android: Settings → Apps → Select app → Battery → Background usage

Turn off background activity for apps that don’t truly need it (games, shopping apps, social media).

🔐 Cybersecurity Tip

Check Your Email “Rules” and “Filters”

Scammers who gain temporary access to an email account often create hidden rules that auto-delete security alerts or forward messages silently.

Do a quick review:

• Gmail: Settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses

• Outlook: Settings → Mail → Rules

Delete anything you didn’t personally create. This step is often missed — and extremely important.

🧰 Emergency Prep Tip

Label Physical Chargers and Power Banks

In emergencies, the wrong cable wastes precious time.

Do this now:

• Label chargers by device type (Phone / Tablet / USB-C / Micro-USB)

• Keep one clearly marked “Emergency Only” charger

• Store it with your flashlight or emergency kit

This avoids confusion during power outages, evacuations, or travel disruptions.

🛠 Practical Habit

Review “Sign In With…” Accounts You Forgot You Used

Not permissions — but accounts created via Apple, Google, or email that you may have forgotten exist.

Tip:
Search your email for:

“Welcome”
“Account created”
“Thanks for signing up”

Close accounts you no longer use to reduce exposure and inbox clutter.

🧠 One-Minute Thought

Good tech hygiene isn’t flashy — it’s preventative.
A few quiet fixes today save loud problems tomorrow.

🕹️ Gadget of the Week: UV Light Sanitizer Box

Some things you touch way too often and clean way too little. Enter the UV Light Sanitizer Box—a set-it-and-forget-it germ zapper for your phone, earbuds, keys, glasses, and all the other daily carry items that quietly collect chaos. Drop your stuff in, tap the touch control, and let UV light do its thing in just a few minutes. No wipes, no sprays, no scrubbing.

With a roomy interior and zero effort required, it’s basically a spa day for your gadgets. Perfect for desks, nightstands, or anyone who likes the idea of “clean” without actually cleaning.

Stay safe and savvy,
—Your Grandson Techie