Are you nervous of tech or worried about your IT skills? Friendly volunteers Paul and David will make their best endeavours to help: 

Their Tech Table is in the Foyer weekly every Tuesday morning. There are hourly bookable sessions, available from 9:30am-12:30pm, and booking is essential in advance via: [email protected] or call 01728 648354 (weekday mornings only).  

 

This is a free service run by local volunteers, although donations to the village hall are always appreciated.

Tech Table’s Top Tip for May 2024: This month we focus on Phishing. This is when you receive an email purporting to be from a recognised organisation or friend, but is actually someone trying to get access to your details so they can defraud you in some way. These phishing emails are becoming more convincing and are sadly very common. Here are a few tips to avoid them.

1. If it is from someone you know, is it actually addressed to you in person, or does it use a generic ‘hello there’ ‘hi there’, ‘dear friend’? If generic, then it is probably not genuine. Just delete it.

2. If the language used does not sound like the person it is purporting to be from, then again, it is probably not them. Delete it.

3. If the email is from someone you know and you are not sure. Do not click on it, or reply. Just call them and ask. Same goes for any emails claiming to be from a trusted organisation such as your bank. Be aware; never use the telephone number supplied in the email to call them. Google it, and search for the correct number.

4. The email address may look correct but the email address behind looks unusual, such as a UK bank with an email address that has a different country extension, such .au, .ke, .etc. Again, just delete it.

Finally, if you’re suspicious of any email, err on the side of safety and do not click on any attachments in it, links it offers, or reply to the email. Just delete it, or save it in your Junk folder and come and see the Tech Table, we can usually identify troublesome emails pretty quickly for you.

Same goes for text messages. Always be sceptical first, and trusting second.

Tech Table’s Top Tip for April 2024:  Have you been asked to provide photo ID & found yourself digging out your passport or driving license to ‘take with you’? Did you know there is now a Post Office app that runs on your mobile phone which offers the same level of authorisation, without you taking the physical form of ID with you? The Post Office have launched Easy ID – available from both the Apple App store & Google Playstore. This app allows you to upload your passport and/or driving license, and then use this to present a digital version of either document, or use the information they contain to prove age, date of birth, or your full name. All without having the physical document with you – just need your phone. If you want to find out more or get help in setting this up, please pop into the Tech Table at the village hall.

Tech Table’s Top Tip for March 2024:  If you are thinking of changing mobile phones why not pay the Tech Table a visit before you take the plunge? They can help plan the change and provide insight into some of the questions others have had to consider, such as; will my SIM card fit in my new device, how do I future-proof my device against changing network coverage, is a refurbished device a better option, how do I back up all my data before moving? They are happy to walk through the options to help the change be a stress-free as possible!

Tech Table’s Top Tip for February 2024:  The UK Mobile Network Operators are switching off the 3G network. This will affect anyone that uses data services using the 3G network. If your phone already supports the 4G & 5G network, then you will be unaffected. If you only make calls or send/receive basic texts with your mobile, you will also remain unaffected. First switch-offs are happening in early 2024 through to 2025 depending upon your supplier. The full details can be found here – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/3g-switch-off  If in doubt, feel free to drop into the Tech Table on a Tuesday morning if you want to see if you will be affected. 

Tech Table’s Top Tip for January 2024: is regarding the benefit of using price comparison websites for car, house, pet insurance and other day-to-day costs.  Why not book a session or pop in to ask Tech Table about how to do this?