Juan's Family Help Desk

Topics

As you ask me questions, I will post them here for future reference.

Unarchiving conversations in WhatsApp 📲

2022-09-24

Avoid Malicious Attacks: Ad-Blocking 👿

2022-09-19

Remember that NOTHING in your device IS URGENT.  If you get a pop-up to do something urgent, LEAVE by going back, or at worst, turn OFF and ON again.

Ads are not just annoying, but they can be dangerously misleading (for example "URGENT INSTALL THIS THING OR YOR DEVICE WILL BLOW UP") usually to get some sort of malicious code installed or steal information (your contact list).  The consequences go from simply slowing down your device, to more serious ransomware and identity theft attacks.   Some strategies to block ads are listed below: 

• Do the minimum: Get an ad blocker for your browser.  The preferred one is uBlock Origin. 

  • Works great on Chrome and other chromium based browsers.  Not so much in Android/iOS

• Go further: use a browser designed for privacy.  My preferred one is Brave.  This is not as intuitive as Chrome, but does a good job blocking ads.

  • If you want to sync passwords across devices but you use different browsers (i.e. Samsung Internet on you phone, Safari on your iPad and Chrome on your desktop) you will need a password manager.  My tentative (still evaluating) preferred one is BitWarden.

• Go nuclear ⚛: block ads with a private/filtering DNS.  My preferred one is AhaDNS.  

  • Works device-wide e.g. in a phone, it will block ads in the browser, within apps, emails, etc.

  • DNS is essentially what translates a name like microsoft.com into numbers for the network to be able to find the site corresponding to that name.  A private DNS with filtering, essentially translates the name to a wrong (null) address.  If the code requesting the ad goes to the wrong address, the ad never loads.

  • This is not for the faint of heart: Will add latency to your internet surfing (short delay) so you need to select the server wisely (close to you), toggling this protection ON/OFF is not straight forward, some sites will break or not work and connection might be impossible in specialty WiFi networks (like airplanes or some stores).

• Tear subspace 🌌: use all of the above.  This can have lots of unintended consequences.

🧘‍♀️ Philosophical Note: I am not against ads.  If it weren't for ad revenues, we would have to pay for lots of things that we take for granted, like WhatsApp, Facebook, email, etc. I am a strong proponent of ad blocking because of the wide spread abuse in both their frequency and rampant deceitfulness.  Full disclosure, I am a Snapchat employee, but this was my position before I ever worked there.

Airport tips and tools: Surviving Airportmageddon Summer 2022

2022-07-26

Get thru security FFFFAST:

TSA Wait times, FREE

this app works well for me.  No need to sign-up.  Grant location permissions and the app will figure out what airports are near you.

https://www.tsa.gov/mobile

Global Entry $100 every 5 years (long 6+ months processing times for new applications)

Lets you expedite passage thru customs and immigration into the US

Includes TSA Pre Check with shorter lines, and no need to remove liquids, laptops, tablets, shoes and coats thru airport security.

IMHO getting TSA Pre-only is not worth it, better go with Global entry for extra $15 and get both.

https://ttp.dhs.gov/ 

Clear $150/year (done almost instantly online or at the airport itself)

This lets you "cut in line".  Representative at the airport walks you to the front of the line you are eligible for (regular or TSA Pre).  Biometric identification (eyes or fingerprint) so you don't have to get your ID out of your pocket.

Not every airport has Clear but the big ones almost all do.  Some venues have Clear (concerts and sports arenas) but that has no practical value for me.

https://www.clearme.com/

FYI that some credit cards include Global Entry and/or Clear (via statement credit).

Lounge Access

Have you ever showered in an airport? I have.  It feels great to get off the plane after a transatlantic flight and shower during your layover... does wonders to get over jet lag.

Business and first class tix

Usually these tickets have access to a lounge (seldom, but not never, budget airline premium economy too).  Ask your airline counter agent. 

Day passes:

United https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/airport/united-club-and-lounges/access.html

Lounge Buddy https://www.loungebuddy.com/

Lounge Pass https://www.loungepass.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.home

⛔ Note that day passes may be refused if the lounge is full and they are prioritizing pax with premium tix (Business, First class, etc).

Member$hip

Priority Pass https://www.prioritypass.com/en/join-prioritypass (also some restaurant reservations)

Some cards include some of the above memberships or their own lounges (Like Amex Centurion Lounge)

⚠ Before getting a membership or a credit card to have access to lounges, do your research to make sure the airports you frequent have eligible lounges.

⚠ Note that lounge access is a "day of departure" benefit, i.e. you must have an outbound ticket (sometimes departing within x amount of hours) to gain entry.

Southwest

Southwest is probably the best airline to travel within the U.S. for flights <5 hours.  

Positives:

• Lots of direct destinations including HNL, and PVR... more if you are willing to use small airports (i.e. instead of LAX you fly into SNA or LGB).

• Seats are relatively comfortable and Tom fits with room to spare in front of his knees (he is 6'1")

• Acceptable points to dollars value on Rapid Rewards points and relatively easy to get to A-List tier (the best thing about "status" is you get to board early and pick whatever seat you want, and have virtually guaranteed overhead bin space; also if you call they pick the phone up right away)

• A lot less (or none) nickel and diming:

  • Free bags (2 checked, 1 carry-on and one personal item) 

  • No cancellation fees, even at the lowest fare: If you cancel for ANY reason up to 5min to boarding you get at the very least a credit for future use that now DOESN'T expire.  

  • No weirdness of paying extra for a specific seat

  • No hidden city BS.  Pricing is simple: Two One Ways = Price of a round trip.

Negatives:

• To search, get pricing, and buy the tickets you have to go directly thru their website (so no Google Flights, Kayak, Expedia, etc.). 

• Lack of food for purchase on the plane (but there are booze (for purchase) and free snacks).

• Lots of multi-stop flights, so your flight can be late because of weather in the opposite corner of the U.S.

• Once... they landed me in Las Vegas instead of Long Beach!

• The more North East you want to go... the less flights you will find.