Ask Leo! #546 - Seeing if Email's Been Opened, Technology-caused Isolation, Measurements, a Peek inside, and more... - Confident Computing

Owners of Saved! Backing Up With Macrium Reflect

Attention owners of Saved! Backing Up With Macrium Reflect: if you're not on the owners-only email list, you'll want to be. I have some news coming up about the next version of the book that you won't want to miss.

Here's how to get on that list:

If you haven't already, register your book using the link that's in the book. It's in a chapter towards the end of the book called "Register Your Book". This'll get you access to the owners-only website with the additional digital formats and videos.
Sign up for the "Get Notified" list. You'll see a sign-up form on the owners-only page for Saved! Backing Up With Macrium Reflect. This is where I send owners-only updates.

And like I said, if you own the book you're going to want to hear about the update.

If you've been thinking about purchasing a copy of Saved! Backing Up With Macrium Reflect you might want to consider acting on that sooner rather than later. I can't share exactly why, just yet, but trust me: if you don't you'll kick yourself when the new version comes out.

Leo's Blog

A Peek Behind the Curtain

Continue Reading: A Peek Behind the Curtain
https://askleo.com/18751

Featured

A new unit of measurement?

One of the issues I see folks experiencing from time to time is difficulty in grasping large numbers.

I mean, really, do you know the difference between a megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte, and petabyte?

And if you have a grasp of the definitions of each, do you really "get" just how large those numbers are?

We often see visual representations of bigger numbers – representations like the megapenny project, which illustrates several large numbers using one-cent U.S. coins. For example, what would a billion pennies look like? (Spoiler: bricks the size of five full-sized school busses.)

There is one unit of measurement I think might make computer data a little more conceptually tangible.

Continue Reading: A new unit of measurement?
https://askleo.com/18758

•

Emails Opened? Is there a reliable way to tell?

In my business, it is critical I know that emails I have sent were received & opened. The emails are time sensitive and contain deadline dates for the information requested.

I have searched for things like "emails opened" and asked questions… but all that has been futile.

I am certain I am not the only person unable to find an answer to this problem.

That's because there is no answer to this problem.

And you're quite right, you're not the only person wishing otherwise.

But wishing – or even the statements of some companies that claim to be able to do it – doesn't make it so.

I'll explain why.

Continue Reading: Emails Opened? Is there a reliable way to tell?
https://askleo.com/18771

•

Does technology isolate or connect?

I sometimes hear from folks who lament that today's technology isolates people, and – depending on the ferocity of their opinion – is leading towards society's moral decay and eventual collapse.

I couldn't disagree more.

I see technology as part of the solution, rather than the problem.

Continue Reading: Does technology isolate or connect?
https://askleo.com/18781

Sponsor

The Ask Leo! Guide to Staying Safe on the Internet
You can use the internet safely!

Learn how to protect your computer, your data, your accounts,
and most of all, yourself!

All digital formats included.
The Ask Leo! Guide to Staying Safe on the Internet

Previous Issue

Glossary Term

vlog

A vlog is simply a video blog.

While a blog is typically produced in written form with a new post being produced on a regular, semi-regular, or haphazard schedule, a vlog simply does the same using periodic postings of online video. There's no specific form, length, or format associated with a vlog – it's nothing more than a periodic video posted on a website or video channel.

Glossary Terms are featured selections from The Ask Leo! Glossary.
Have a term you'd like defined? Submit it here.

Featured Comments

What is it about YouTube and comments?

Kathy writes:

I agree with you, Leo. I avoid even reading the comments on YouTube because they are so often upsetting. I largely avoid Facebook, also, because it can be just as bad, especially for bands or anyone in the public eye; I wouldn't be surprised if you have had trouble keeping your page moderated. Just 10 years ago the internet still felt new and exciting and fun, but it doesn't feel safe now (either emotionally, for me, or physically, for my computer!) I love your "Ask Leo! Newsletter," and although I may get your comments and videos a couple days later, that's ok with me :)

Thank you for being such a positive (and helpful!) presence.

Mark Jacobs writes:

Believe it or not, the number of comments that have to be deleted on Ask Leo! is infinitesimal.

Leo writes:

To be clear: the number of spam comments that come through is enormous. Truly mind blowing.

But the number of comments from real people that we need to proactively delete is tiny.

James B writes:

Yes, to the transcript. Sometimes, I can only get to the newsletter when the kids are watching TV and your video would compete with the TV. Yes, I could dig out the earbuds, but it's not convenient. A transcript would let me read it (although, I get that it's more work for you or an assistant).

Leo writes:

OK. Transcripts are under construction. :-)

How to tell if your email, computer, or Facebook has been hacked

James Molok writes:

Dear Sir.

My laptop was stolen a few weeks ago and I had not logged out my mail - it is possible to know if the mail is still active on the laptop?

Regards

James

Mark Jacobs writes:

The first thing you should do when your computer is stolen is to change the password and recovery information on your email account(s), and as a precaution on all accounts that have a login (Amazon, EBay, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter and especially Banks and other financial institutions). You can get an idea if you see emails which are marked as read, but whoever is logged into that account can mark them unread, so there's no way to be absolutely sure if that person is reading your mails.

Leo's Books

Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 7 Backup

Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 8 Backup

The Ask Leo! Guide to Routine Maintenance

Maintaining Windows XP - A Practical Guide

More Ask Leo!

Facebook - YouTube - Google+ - Twitter
Amazon - GoodReads
More..

Administration

Need more help with or have questions about the newsletter? Check out the newsletter administration page.

Help Ask Leo! Just forward this message, in its entirety (but without your unsubscribe link below) to your friends. Or, just point them at https://newsletter.askleo.com for their own FREE subscription!