ASA Tech Tips and News: July 2023

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Tech Tips and News for July 2023

Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse - K.Szczytko 2016

I hope you are all enjoying your summer. The weather has been lovely, so I hope you've been able to soak up the sun and partake in all those outdoor activities we miss in the colder months. At school, the student chromebook carts are sanitized, organized, updated and ready for the new school year. We've also been planning upgrades for all the classrooms in both buildings that will include interactive boards or projectors and easier connections. We may not see these improvements before the first day of school, but you may be surprised one morning to arrive to an upgraded classroom during the school year. Not to worry, there will be training for the new technology! In addition to those improvments we will be installing a new phone system. If all goes well with the supply chain (please say a prayer) this will be installed before the first day of school. Say goodbye to those princess phones! Make the most of your last month of summer, I'll be seeing you soon enough!

FBI Warning About Malicious QR Codes
Google Workspace Updates

Google Calendar: Do Not Disturb Setting
Google Docs: Improving Table Placements
Google Forms: Email Collection Options Expanded
Google Meet: Quickly Access More Features During Meetings
Google Meet: Use Polls or Q&As during Live Streams
Google Meet: Simplified Access Controls Replace Quick Access
Google Sheets: Now Integrated with Mail Merge in Gmail

AI Images in Google Slides
Teaching & Learning With Google Screencast
Ten Tools for Gathering Real-Time Feedback from Students
Create Interactive Video Lessons With ClickView

FBI Warning About Malicious QR Codes

Example of a QR code for asagr.org

Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, has issued the warning below about malicious QR codes. QR codes are the square codes that you hover your smartphone camera over to link to a website. Keep in mind all the same security rules - never enter any personal information at a website linked through an email or QR code, instead navigate to the website yourself by entering the web address (URL) into your browser.

July 12, 2023

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants to make Michigan residents aware of the FBI’s warning that criminals are hijacking QR (or quick response) codes by placing stickers with codes they create over the top of the real QR code. When scanned, these malicious codes direct victims to phishing websites where their personal or financial information can be stolen.

QR codes are a common convenience used by businesses, airlines, ticket vendors, and others. This square barcode can be scanned by a smartphone’s camera to provide quick access to a website where you can learn about a product, share information, make a payment, prompt an application download, or get rewards and discounts.

The codes themselves are not dangerous. It’s when they are used to steal or commit fraud that they become problematic. Malicious QR codes can:Take you to a “phishing website.” Scammers create sites that look convincing and ask for personal information. Any information you provide on this site goes to the scammer.
Be used to download malicious software such as malware, ransomware, and trojans. These viruses can spy on you, steal sensitive information or files (like photos or videos), or even encrypt your device until you pay a ransom.
Be programmed to open apps on your device. It could open financial apps, social media accounts, and email accounts. It can compose and send messages to your contacts using your email or social media accounts.
Be used in phishing emails. QR codes are not picked up by security software, unlike attachments and links.

“QR codes are widely used in so many different ways that it’s not surprising bad actors would develop the means to use them to scam us,” Nessel said. “This is another area where we need to protect our personal and financial information by practicing caution when using these convenient codes.”

The FBI offers several ways QR code users can protect themselves:Do not scan a code if it is on a sticker, looks like it has been replaced, or is covered up.
After scanning the code, see if the URL you are taken to is a secure one that begins with “https.”
Download a QR Code Scanner app that can help you recognize a suspicious code.
Rather than scanning a code that will take you to a specific website, if possible, just type in the URL for that website.

Anyone who uses QR codes should be aware of the potential risks and always be on the lookout for malicious codes. Typically, victims of such scams do not become aware of the scam until the monetary theft is perpetrated, which can occur a considerable time after the identity theft, at which point it can be difficult to pinpoint how their information was compromised.

If you believe you have been a victim of QR code fraud, report the fraud to your local FBI field office and to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. More information about QR code fraud can be found on the Attorney General’s website.

Further, to file a consumer complaint or get additional information, contact the Michigan Department of Attorney General:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form

Google Workspace Updates

Google Calendar: Do Not Disturb Setting

The new Do Not Disturb feature can be used together with the Focus Time setting in Calendar. When you need undisturbed time, create a calendar event and select Focus Time. Your calendar will indicate you are busy during that time and automatically decline calndar events. If you do not want any interruptions during that time, you can now also turn on Do Not Disturb in Calendar, which will block any chat notifications and display to others that you are not available. Full details can be found here.

Google Docs: Improving Table Placements

When viewing a document in Pages format, you will be able to drag tables and place them where you want in a document. Just like images, you also be able to wrap text around the table, and se4t a fixed position for the table on the page. If you aren't familiar with using tables to make your text look more orderly and professional, learn how to use tables here. You should already be seeing this new feature. Here are the full details.

Google Forms: Email Collection Options Expanded

Previously, collecting email addresses was just an on/off toggle, but now you will find the following options:

Verified email collection (previously known as automatic email collection) will require the user click a checkbox to confirm which email address is being automatically collected.
Responder input (previously known as manual email collection) where the user will manual enter their email address
Do not collect

Google Meet: Quickly Access More Features During Meetings

By hovering the mouse over your own video feed in a Meet, you can access video affects, such as immersive backgrounds, fun filters and a reframing option. You can also turn off the video from other participants by hovering over their video feed. You should already be seeing this new feature, and can read all about it here.

Google Meet: Use Polls or Q&As during Live Streams

When live streaming meetings, it is now possible for hosts to use Polls or Q&As. This is a great way to get feedback or answer questions. Find out how to conduct polls here. Q&A instructions can be found here. These features will be available in the first half of July.

Google Meet: Simplified Access Controls Replace Quick Access

Quick Access controls, where you could turn on quick access while others were joining the meet and turn them off once everyone was in the meeting are going away. They will be replaced with new Meet access settings. Beginning in the second half of July, Meet organizers will be able choose the Meet level of access in either the Calendar invite or from within Meet. The leveols of access are:

Open: Anyone with a link can join the meeting, no one has to ask to join.
Trusted: Anyone within the organization can join without asking, anyone outside the organization can be invited to join with a calendar invite or from within the meeting w"ithout asking. Anyone else will need to ask to join (aka "knock").
Restricted: Only those invited from a Calendar invite or from within Meet will be able to join, all others mus ask/knock to join.

In addition, meeting hosts can decide if guests can join the meeting before the hosts.

Google Sheets: Now Integrated with Mail Merge in Gmail

I have been waiting for this feature since we started using Google Workspace 11 years ago. By using the multi-send feature in Gmail, you can now add merge tags to personalize your messages for each recipient. Click the multiple people icon in the To: field and select mail merge, then add the sheet with the recipient data. Merge tags can be added by typing @ and selecting the merge field you'd like to add to the message. Your spreadsheet can contain up to 1,500 recipients. Find full details and instructions here.

AI Images in Google Slides

AI Images in Google Slides, from Control Alt Achieve by Eric Curts

Similar to Dall-E 2, you will be able to describe an image and create it inside Docs, Slides, Sheets, Meet and Gmail. It is called Duet AI. Check out the demonstration video in this article, including ways to use it in the classroom. This feature is still in beta testing, so watch for it to become available in the near future.