Sometimes it’s okay to buy a speaker mostly for the aesthetic. And from the moment it was first announced, Bose’s $219 SoundLink Home stood out from the pack (and Bose’s own other efforts) with a mid-modern style that bears little resemblance to most competitors. It’s the kind of gadget that people are likely to notice and comment on. No one says a word about boring, ho-hum cylindrical speakers.
Technology
5 ways to make your Facebook account bulletproof
Scammers are constantly looking for ways to access your Facebook account. It doesn’t matter who you are; they want your information. They’re even stealing accounts from dog shelters. And if they get in, some users say recovering your account is a hassle. That’s why it’s important to make sure your account is locked down.
Here’s how to keep your Facebook account secure and safe from any potential scammers or hackers.
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1) Change your Facebook password
One of the biggest things you can do is use a secure password on your account. Make sure it’s different from your other accounts. However, with data leaks becoming more frequent, it would be wise to change your passwords frequently — we recommend every three months.
How to change your password from your computer
- Log into your Facebook account
- Click the Account icon at the top right of the page (where your Profile picture should be)
- Select Settings & Privacy
- Select Settings
- From the menu on the left of the screen, in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- On the next page, click “Password and security” towards the bottom of the left-hand navigation
- Select Change Password
- Choose an account to make changes. Select your Facebook account.
- Enter your current password and then your new one twice to confirm in the edit fields
- Tap on Change password
How to change your Facebook password from your iPhone
Changing your Facebook password from your iPhone is not much different from changing it from your computer. Here’s what you do:
- Open the Facebook app and make sure you are logged in with the account for which you want to change the password
- Tap the Facebook Menu button in the bottom right of the screen
- Now tap Settings & Privacy
- Click Settings
- At the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- On the next page, click “Password and security“
- Select Change Password
- Choose an account to make changes. Select your Facebook account.
- Enter your current password and then your new one twice to confirm in the edit fields
- Tap on Change password
How to change your Facebook password from your Android
Changing your Facebook password from your Android also has very similar steps. Keep in mind that many Android phones act slightly different from one another, so these instructions may be similar, though not exact, for your phone and version of Android software.
- Open the Facebook app and make sure you are logged in with the Facebook account for which you want to change the password
- Tap the three horizontal lines on the navigation bar at the top of the screen
- Tap Settings and Privacy
- Then tap Settings
- At the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- On the next page, click “Password and security“
- Select Change Password
- Choose an account to make changes. Select your Facebook account.
- Enter your current password and then your new one twice to confirm in the edit fields
- Tap on Change password
Use a password manager
Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords for your Facebook account. It will help you create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills in passwords for you when you’re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.
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2) Set up two-factor authentication
Also known as 2FA, two-factor authentication has become a standard security setting. Working from home has made this even more common, as companies want to make sure you’re on a secure network before you use their programs. While it might seem annoying to follow a few extra steps to log in to your Facebook account, it’s worth it to protect your account from anyone else getting in.
Two-factor authentication requires you to approve a login on a separate device, so you’ll need to enable this feature on a desktop computer and then make sure you have the Facebook mobile app installed and logged in on your smartphone. Here’s how to turn it on from your computer:
- Click the profile icon in the top right corner
- Click Settings & privacy
- Click Settings
- At the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- Select Passwords and security on the left-hand sidebar
- Click Two-factor authentication
- Choose your account
- Follow the prompts to enable two-factor authentication
Here’s how to turn it on from your smartphone:
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the Facebook Menu button in the bottom right of the screen
- Now tap Settings & Privacy
- Click Settings
- At the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- On the next page, click “Password and security“
- Click Two-factor authentication
- Choose your account
- Follow the prompts to enable two-factor authentication
MORE: HOW TO OUTSMART CRIMINAL HACKERS BY LOCKING THEM OUT OF YOUR DIGITAL ACCOUNTS
3) Set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices
You can opt in for text messages and email updates if anyone logs into your Facebook account from a device you haven’t marked as a recognized device. You can also have the notification pop up on your Facebook app. Here’s how to set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices on your computer:
- Click the profile icon in the top right corner
- Click Settings & privacy
- Click Settings
- At the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- Select Passwords and security on the left-hand sidebar
- Scroll down, and under “Security Checks,” tap Login alerts.
- Click the account you want to set up the alerts for logins from unrecognized devices
- Then, check either in-app notifications or email
Here’s how to set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices on your smartphone:
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the Facebook Menu button in the bottom right of the screen
- Now tap Settings & Privacy
- Click Settings
- At the top in the “Meta Accounts Center,” click “See more in Accounts Center“
- Click “Password and security“
- Scroll down, and under “Security Checks,” click Login alerts
- Click the account you want to set up the alerts for logins from unrecognized devices
- Then, check either in-app notifications or email
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4) Conduct a privacy checkup
Conduct a Privacy Checkup on your account about once a month to ensure it is still secure. Facebook will guide you through settings so you can ensure your data settings, ad preferences and search settings are all as you’d like them to be.
- On a computer, click the profile icon in the top right corner of your Facebook page to find Settings & Privacy, then tap Privacy Checkup. Facebook will then guide you through some settings so you can make the right choice for your account.
- On a mobile app, tap Menu at the bottom right, then tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings and tap Privacy Checkup. Facebook will then guide you through some settings so you can make the right choice for your account.
5) Never click suspicious links on Facebook
Do not click on suspicious links on Facebook, even if they appear to come from a friend or a company you know. This includes links as posts or in emails. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself:
Hover over the link: Most browsers show the actual destination URL when you hover your cursor over a link. Check if it matches the text displayed and looks legitimate.
Report suspicious links on Facebook. If you see a suspicious link on Facebook, be sure to report it. This helps keep the platform safe for everyone.
Have good antivirus software: The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
How to recover your Facebook account if you’ve already been hacked
You may realize a hacker has taken over your account if you can’t log in, or you may notice some red flags while still logged into your account – like posts you didn’t create. If you’ve already been hacked, follow these steps:
- The first step is to check if you still have access to the phone number or email you set up your Facebook account.
- If you do, go to facebook.com, make sure you’re logged out of any other account and click Forgot Account.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to receive a recovery link to your email or phone number.
If you do not have access to the phone number or email associated with your Facebook account, head to facebook.com/login/identify. You’ll be able to fill out a form to have Facebook review your account while answering a few security questions to prove the account you’re trying to recover is yours. You’ll have to provide proof of ID, like a photo of a driver’s license. We understand there is hesitance to upload your ID, but Facebook says these uploads are encrypted and stored securely.
Another option:
- Go to facebook.com/hacked from any device.
- Notify Facebook about your compromised account.
- Choose the relevant reason to help Facebook comprehend the situation. Then, proceed by clicking on Continue.
- Facebook will prompt you to enhance your account settings. Initiate the process by clicking on Get Started.
- Subsequently, it will commence evaluating your passwords, email addresses, connected apps and other pertinent details.
- After selecting the reason, click on the Get Started button.
- Upon completion of the analysis, you will be provided with the option to change your password once your email address is verified.
- Follow the prompts to regain access to your Facebook account.
Kurt’s key takeaways
While locking down your Facebook account seems like a lot of work, it’s worth it. The peace of mind you’ll have knowing that hackers will have a hard time breaking into your account is priceless. Recovering your account can be difficult, so it’s better to get ahead of any hackers.
Do you feel like Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is doing enough to protect your Facebook account from hackers? What else do you think should be done to protect your account? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
Bose SoundLink Home review: a speaker that’s all about looks
But this thing, with its fabric housing wrapped in a brushed aluminum band, feels like vintage Bose. The company doesn’t always show this much attention to detail in design and materials, so I’m encouraged by the Home’s unique vibe.
If you’ve used or heard Bose’s SoundLink Flex, then you’ve already got a good understanding of what the Home speaker will sound like in your living room. Their tuning is quite similar. Like the Flex, the Home outputs mixed-down mono audio. I’ll always take stereo speakers when given the choice, but mono is common for the portable speaker category — though Bose is pushing it with the price here — and especially at this size.
With that in mind, the SoundLink Home sounds quite detailed and clear. Vocals are crisp. Acoustic instruments have a touch of warmth. And even if you dial the volume up to extremes, there’s little distortion. That’s partially because this speaker is no bass champ; the SoundLink Max wipes the floor with it in that regard, but is bulkier and nearly twice the price. The Home only supports your standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, whereas the Flex (second-gen) and Max both throw in aptX Adaptive compatibility for devices that offer it.
The thing is, you’re going to have to really like the Home’s out-of-the-box sound, because there’s no changing it. In another departure from other Bose speakers, the SoundLink Home lacks any kind of mobile companion app. As a result, you’re unable to customize its EQ at all. That’s a disappointing omission that would be easier to forgive from a cheaper speaker, but not this one. You can at least pair two units together to create a stereo pair. If you’re willing to drop the money on that, you’ll be rewarded with noticeably richer sound.
Another important thing to be aware of with the SoundLink Home is that there’s no water resistance to speak of. The same goes for dust resistance. This is not meant to be a poolside or outdoor speaker. It’s right there in the name, I suppose. You’ll want to put the speaker somewhere safe (and dry). A covered patio is about as far as you’ll want to take it. Bose doesn’t even recommend taking it into the bathroom. The ruggedized Flex is a better choice for those who need a road warrior that can withstand the elements. Durability is one area where the Home falls short of Ultimate Ears, JBL, Soundcore, and other brands that have Bluetooth speakers at similar prices.
So far I’ve discussed a lot of what’s missing, but one advantage over the SoundLink Flex is that the Home supports USB-C audio in. And you can take advantage of that at the same time that you’re paired over Bluetooth. So you could theoretically listen to wired audio from your laptop while using the speaker for phone calls or interacting with Siri or Google Assistant. (You can hold down the multi-function button up top to activate your phone’s voice assistant.) Calls and other Bluetooth activity will override the USB-C connection.
That USB-C port is on the speaker’s left side, which makes some cables look a bit inelegant when they’re plugged in. Bose at least includes a 90-degree USB-C cable to keep it as subtle as possible. Battery life is rated at up to 9 hours of playback, and my tests have shown that number to be mostly accurate. If you’re listening at or above 70 percent volume, expect to lose a couple hours. It’s not impressive endurance, but for a speaker that’ll only be traveling around your house, it’s sufficient. It takes between three and four hours to fully recharge the speaker over USB-C, which seems rather long for the passable battery life you’re getting.
There’s really not much else to cover with the SoundLink Home. It bets a whole lot on looks and feel and clears the bar on sound quality without any glaring tonal weaknesses. The absence of any EQ settings will inevitably disappoint those of you who like to tinker, and I think any $200-plus Bluetooth speaker should have some measure of weatherproofing. But Bose went in a different direction with the SoundLink Home. If you’re looking to buy (or gift) a speaker that’s off the beaten path, I wouldn’t fault you for choosing this one.
Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge
Technology
The life-changing benefits of Apple's Personal Voice and Live Speech
Imagine losing the ability to speak and communicate with your loved ones. It sounds scary, right? What if you could preserve your unique voice and continue expressing yourself, even when speaking becomes challenging?
Apple’s Personal Voice and Live Speech features are groundbreaking accessibility tools designed to do exactly that. These innovative technologies allow you to create a synthesized voice that sounds just like you, giving individuals at risk of losing their speech a powerful way to maintain their personal communication style.
Whether you’re dealing with a progressive medical condition, recovering from an injury, or simply want a backup communication method, Personal Voice and Live Speech offer an incredible solution.
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How does Personal Voice work?
Personal Voice lets you create a digital version of your own voice by recording a series of phrases. Here’s how it works:
- Personalized voice synthesis: Record your voice using your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
- Privacy-focused: Voices are encrypted and stored securely on your device.
- Compatibility: Works across Apple devices running iOS 17, iPadOS 17 or macOS Sonoma or later.
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Setting up Personal Voice
Personal Voice allows you to create a synthesized voice that sounds like your own. But first, ensure you have a compatible device running iOS 17, iPadOS 17 or macOS Sonoma or later. Choose a quiet room with minimal echo or background noise. You can pause and resume the recording session as needed. Now, here’s how to set it up:
On iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Accessibility.
- Click Personal Voice.
- Tap “Create a Personal Voice.”
- Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.
- Click Continue.
- Click the record button at the bottom of the screen.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, which require you to “Read the Phrase” on the screen to record 150 randomly chosen phrases.
- It will tell you once you are done recording. Then click Continue.
On Mac:
- Click System Settings.
- Then, select Accessibility.
- Click Personal Voice on the left of the screen.
- Then, click “Create a Personal Voice.”
- Authenticate using Touch ID, or your device passcode.
- Then tap Continue, and then Continue again.
- Click Continue one more time.
- Click “Continue with Default Phrases.”
- Click the record button at the bottom of the screen to check the sound quality.
- Then tap Done.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, which require you to “Read the Phrase” on the screen to record 150 randomly chosen phrases. In this example, you’d say, “Does he know how to speak Spanish?”
- Make sure it’s set to Continuous recording so that you can go from reading one phrase to the next without stopping.
- It will tell you once you are done recording. Then click Continue.
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Note: The device will generate your personal voice after you complete the 150-phrase recording process, which typically takes a few hours to days to fully process. It will process your speech securely on your device overnight while it is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. You can create multiple voices on each device, and the voice generation occurs only when your device is locked and charging.
TALK IN TWO LANGUAGES WITH APPLE WATCH’S REAL-TIME TRANSLATIONS
Using Live Speech
Live Speech allows you to type what you want to say and have it spoken aloud using your Personal Voice or other system voices. Here’s how to set it up and use Live Speech:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Click Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Click Live Speech.
- Toggle on Live Speech.
On Mac:
- Tap Apple menu.
- Click System Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Click Live Speech.
On Apple Watch:
- Go to the Settings app.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Click Live Speech.
- Toggle on Live Speech.
- Then scroll down and select a voice to use, including your created Personal Voice, if available.
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How to use Live Speech
On iPhone/iPad:
- Triple-click the side or top button.
- Tap “Live Speech.”
- Type your message.
- Tap “Send” to have it spoken aloud.
On Mac:
- Click the Type to Speak text field in the Live Speech window.
- Type your message.
- Tap the play button to have it spoken aloud.
On Apple Watch:
- Triple-click the Digital Crown.
- Tap Live Speech
- Tap where it says “Type to Speak.”
- Type your message using the letters below it.
- Tap “Send” to have it spoken aloud.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Personal Voice and Live Speech provide a means of communication for those who may lose their ability to speak and offer a deeply personal touch by allowing users to maintain their own voice. The ability to use these features across multiple Apple devices ensures continuity and accessibility in various situations, from phone calls to in-person conversations. It’s important to note that Apple has designed these features with privacy and security in mind. Personal Voice data is encrypted and stored securely on the device, and when shared across devices, it uses end-to-end encryption in iCloud.
Can you share a personal experience where advanced accessibility tools made a significant difference in your or someone else’s life? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
2024 has been an amazing year for roguelikes
The roguelike genre has turned from a relative niche into something much bigger. Roguelike games can be famously tough to crack into; generally, they have a high difficulty that means you’ll bang your head against a wall as you learn how to play the game, puzzle out what strategies work best in the procedurally generated levels, and figure out how to overcome tough enemies or challenges. 2024 showed that the genre wasn’t only a commercial force through hits like Hades II and Balatro, and also that a roguelike could be almost anything: from a poker variant to a flashy multiplayer action game.
Speaking of Balatro, it was undoubtedly one of, if not the, best games of the year. The game is supremely easy to pick up because of its roots in building traditional poker hands, but each round feels wildly different because of the clever and sometimes superpowered joker cards that can give you massive bonuses. The game is a perfect mix of skill, risk, and a little bit of luck, and it feels so good when you find a strategy that completely stacks the chips in your favor. I think I’ll be playing Balatro for years to come, especially with whatever’s cooking for the game’s upcoming major update. And now that the game is out on mobile, I can play wherever I want.
That is, when I’m not dipping my toes back into Hades II. The game, which is still in early access, is shaping up to be a worthy successor to Hades, and it’s arguably more fully fleshed out than many finished titles. I’ve already put more than 30 hours into Hades II, and I feel like I still have so much to unlock and master, but I’ve intentionally held myself back from playing more so that I don’t burn out on the game before it reaches v1.0. I only beat the new boss in the most recent major update a single time before deciding that was enough.
There are a couple other roguelikes that I have loved and want to put more time into but haven’t because of the sheer volume of other games in the genre to check out. Shogun Showdown, which is all about tactics and positioning, makes you feel like a genius by showing you the future. I really enjoyed getting a handle on the game’s weapons and items so that I could pull off well-planned combos against waves of enemies.
Windblown, the new roguelike from Dead Cells creators Motion Twin, takes a lot of what makes Dead Cells great and translates it to 3D. Weapons are varied, satisfying, and can combo well with each other. The game’s biomes are creative and fun to explore, with lots of nooks and crannies. But where Windblown really shines is its multiplayer — until playing the game, I had no idea how good roguelikes could be with friends. Like Hades, Windblown is also in early access, so I’m expecting to play it a lot more next year as Motion Twin makes major updates.
And those are just the new roguelikes I’ve actually been able to put time into this year. There are still a bunch more that I want to play or have barely touched that seem extremely promising. Vampire Survivors got two major crossover DLCs that I want to dig into: one with Contra and one with Castlevania. (I’ve only played a couple rounds of the Castlevania expansion, and I was tickled at just how large the map was.) And while I’m talking about Vampire Survivors: Halls of Torment, which is kind of like Vampire Survivors mixed with an old-school Diablo aesthetic, left early access, and I want to check out what’s changed since I first dabbled in it last year.
The Rogue Prince of Persia, a roguelike take on classic Prince of Persia action and platforming, is an example of how big publishers like Ubisoft are jumping into the genre — and it seems like something that’s right up my alley. Rogue is another early access roguelike on this list, but it’s gotten a bunch of big updates since its May launch, including a significant update in November that revamped the art style and added new biomes, bosses, and more. I should also mention that Rogue also has a Dead Cells connection: it’s made by Evil Empire, the studio that worked on many Dead Cells updates and DLCs, which gives me a lot of faith that they’ll do a great job shepherding the game to its eventual full launch.
Heck, 2024 has been such a banner year for roguelikes that even the 2014 classic The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth got a significant new DLC update that added online multiplayer.
The sheer amount of great roguelikes just this year shows that the framework of the genre offers a lot of ways to make interesting games. I particularly appreciate how they’re generally more digestible than blockbuster epics. Next year has some promising roguelikes like Slay the Spire 2 and Hyper Light Breaker, but I know I’ll be returning to a lot of 2024’s excellent roguelikes over and over again — well, after just one more round of Balatro.
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