Weekly Tech Tips and News for May 5, 2017

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Happy Cinco de Mayo to all who celebrate! While enjoying your tacos, enchiladas, sangria, Coronas, and piñatas, you can be thinking about ways to stay safe online. It was a fairly slow tech news week until the Gmail phishing scam hit on Wednesday. Ay caramba! Fortunately those of us who received the phishing email were smart enough not to click on the link, and either deleted it or reported it as spam. Muy bien! Please take the time to review the two articles below on stronger passwords and protecting your Google account. There are also a few other classroom ideas sprinkled in, such as using Google to help with research papers, creating your own Google Earth tours and create a story in Maps. Continue to practice safe online habits as you go about your week.

• G Suite Updates:  Anti-Phishing Security Checks with Gmail on Android
• "May the Fourth" Remind Users to Choose a Stronger Password
• How to Protect Your Google Account
• Writing Papers and Research Reports the Google Way
• GE Teach Tour Builder - Create Google Earth Tours for the Web
• Creating and Telling Stories with Maps

G Suite Updates:  Anti-Phishing Security Checks with Gmail on Android

It's interesting that this update showed up a day after one of the biggest Gmail phishing attempts ever. If you are accessing your Gmail on an Android device, (phone or tablet), you'll receive a warning if you click on a link in a suspected phishing email. Remember, phishing is when a scammer sends a realistic looking message to try to trick you into sharing your personal information or login credentials. This update will only be on Android devices, not on Chromebooks or Windows/Mac PCs. Here are the full details from the G Suite Updates blog.

"May the Fourth" Remind Users to Choose a Stronger Password

"May the Fourth" Remind Users to Choose a Stronger Password, from Computerworld by Matt Hamblin
Star Wars day was yesterday, May the fourth...as in May the fourth be with you. (If you've ever seen a Star Wars film, you'll get the pun.) It's also known as password day, to remind users everywhere to choose secure passwords. I know you've probably all heard some of this advice about passwords and online security before, but as with all good advice, it's helpful to be reminded of it every now and again, and there just might be something you haven't heard before. Since hackers have become increasingly savvy, it's important to up on the latest security and online safety tips. There are some very good points in this article, such as using a different password for high security accounts, like email, banking, etc. than from low security accounts like social media. That way if your social media account gets hacked, your email and banking account won't. One thing not mentioned is that passwords made up of phrases or acronyms are more secure than single words and numbers. Please take a moment to read through it and consider making your passwords more secure. Knowledge is power, so may the "fourth" be with you!

How to Protect Your Google Account

How to Protect Your Google Account, from The Electric Educator by John Sowash
In the wake of this week's phishing scam, here are more tips to be aware of while working online.

Writing Papers and Research Reports the Google Way

Writing Papers and Research Reports the Google Way, from Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller
I think Matt has covered just about everything here, including alternatives to the traditional research paper. There are suggested tools and instructions for every step of the paper writing process. If you would like your students to have access to any of the chrome extensions mentioned in this post, please let me know and I'll push them out.

GE Teach Tour Builder - Create Google Earth Tours for the Web

GE Teach Tour Builder - Create Google Earth Tours for the Web, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
We've discussed Google Earth Tours previously. Here is a tool to help you create them in the new web version of Google Earth. Imagine being able to give your students a tour of Lewis and Clark's expedition, or notable places in the life of Jesus. This teacher-created tool will help you do that.

Creating and Telling Stories with Maps

Creating and Telling Stories with Maps, from Free Technology for Teachers by Richard Byrne
So if you aren't interested in figuring out Google Earth to tell stories, you can use Google Maps instead.