2026 - Fall Silver Platter™

As a valued member of aSKaVIE’s Silver Platter™, I thank you for this opportunity to serve you.  This is some of the latest tech information that I promised I would share with you when you subscribed to my VIP List. I "Av-preciate" you!

Organizing and documenting your digital life may be something you've been neglecting. You know how difficult it is for you to manage your own computer clutter and paperwork. Imagine asking someone else to do it for you without your guidance. Many people are challenged with this task for various reasons. Back in 2017, I was asked to assist a client to help her prepare an instruction guide. Sadly, Mary shared the fact that she was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. Yet, with this tragic news, she had the strength and foresight to consider her loved one's needs, who would soon be left behind to help manage her affairs. Up to that point, she was the only one who knew how to use her computer, had the passwords to her accounts and was familiar with the steps to access her accounts and where everything was and who to contact in case she needed assistance.

Put yourself in Mary's position.

Think about needing someone to step in and take over your duties. Would they know what to do?

aSKaVIE's tECH tALK tIP™

Audio:

Document your Digital – 02/14/17 (3 mins)

Your Tech Concierge™ has put together a FREE self-service guidebook and system that will help you or someone you know to Document Your Digital Lifestyle. While each individual has unique needs, typically, general rules can be applied that work for most, then modified to achieve a custom approach that works just right for you.

Here are links to the 3-Documents that encompass Your Digital Guidebook. Download each. You will need a PDF reader, a Word and an Excel equivalent to utilize these templates.:

Download How to Effectively Document your Digital Life road-map document (PDF)

Download Digital Life Introduction and Index – Template (DOCX)

Download Digital Life Spreadsheet Template (XLSX)

By popular demand, Your Tech Concierge™ has added this "How to Document your Digital Life" as a new Service.

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For help applying any of the above,and

for assistance with this or any other IT challenge please contact Your Tech Concierge™ via https://www.askavie.com/room-service/

Why e-Mail Encryption?

You hopefully realize that sending private, personal and confidential information via standard email services is akin to posting it on a public billboard. Your mail is sent through the public Internet and anyone with access can intercept the message in transit , including free platform hosts such as Google, Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, Xfinity, you name it.

Is your e-mail host "scanning" your mail and using the content to provide targeted ads and related content to you? Remember, if its free, your content is payment for the service.

I’ve helped clients get over the hurdles and limitations of even the most popular e-mail providers with secure and encrypted mail services offered by Proton.

Take control of your data with end-to-end encryption – with HIPAA Compliance

Proton is a simple move toward a better internet where privacy is the default, offering an all-in-one solution that includes encrypted email, calendar, contacts, file storage, and a VPN.

Proton Mail - Secure & Private by Default

I can help you with any e-Mail challenge from overloaded, disorganized mailboxes, to hacked accounts.

Holiday Season is around the corner. Thinking of a person who might enjoy a Room-Service Visit and who might be afraid to schedule the call?

Help give them a nudge and "gift them" the assistance of Your Tech Concierge. Mr. White Glove at your Service.

I M P O R T A N T

Security Update

Concerning PHP

A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.

Fast, flexible and pragmatic, PHP powers everything from your blog to the most popular websites in the world.

If you have a Website, be aware that a very high risk (9.2 out of 10) exists for those that have not yet patched their hosting server's PHP Software.

Here are the recommended guidelines and actions for both website Visitors and website Owners. In most cases, your paid hosts should be actively patching the Servers your sites are running on. In the case of an unsupported platform, it would be important to upgrade to one that is current.

If you’re a website visitor:

• Some websites may temporarily go offline while they are patched.
• Watch for unexpected content, downloads, or redirects, and repeated login requests, even on familiar sites.
• If something looks wrong, leave the page.
• You don't need to install PHP updates on your own device.
• 
  

If you’re a website owner:

• Ask your hosting or IT provider to confirm PHP fixes are installed, not just scheduled, across all your websites and applications.
• If they can’t patch immediately, ask whether affected services should temporarily be taken offline.
• If you manage your own servers, follow PHP’s update instructions.
• Using unsupported PHP? Check for a vendor fix or upgrade to a supported version.

PHP's Update Instructions

Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA) the Safer way... You have the need to protect your accounts. MFA via SMS (text messaging) is the traditional method, however, it is often inconvenient especially when other authorized individuals may need access to your account when you're not around. I've found using hardware authentication via a YubiKey is the perfect solution. Plug in to your device and authenticate with a unique encryption key dedicated only to you - the user of the key. Use backup keys to protect your account in the event you lose the original or need access from another location. I've been testing these out and have found them to be most convenient and I'd be happy to help answer your questions and get you setup.



Are you behind in your PC Maintenance?

Roboform for years, has been my recommended choice for secure storage and management of your passwords and notes. It also includes a form filler. Roboform Everywhere stores encrypted versions of your passwords and synchronizes them to all of your devices. This includes PC’s, Macs, Tablets, Phones, and encrypted access via the Web too. 

Download a Free copy or Purchase an Annual License that covers all of your devices for an annual premium subscription with a special limited time – 30% off discounted price.

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The 2-Minute Pause + Push Away

Phishing schemes are on the rise and becoming more effective and convincing as a result of AI assisted attacks. These only work if the "victim" takes the "bait". For years, I've taught a near fool-proof technique to combat phishing and I call it the "2-Minute Pause" combined with what I call the "Push Away" technique. Listen to my audio below for the details - it's just 3 minutes and 8 seconds that may just help avoid getting "caught".:

aSKaVIE's tECH tALK tIP™

2-Minute Pause – ( Recorded 01/31/17)

Find More tECH tALK tIPs™ :  

https://www.askavie.com/tech-talktips/

The Silver Platter Appetizer

Download Complimentary

aSKaVIE's Subscription Tracker

This spreadsheet was designed after years of working with clients who hadn't organized their subscriptions.  When asked to determine when a subscription was due for renewal, a client would scramble to find the information needed to address the challenge. 

Worse yet, if a credit card on file with a subscription expired, was cancelled due to a security breach, lost, or for whatever reason in need of updating, all subscriptions needing the card replacement were difficult to quickly identify. 

Often, the first alert a client receives regarding an expired subscription is when their e-mail account fails to send or receive mail, their website fails to load, a software program they use every day for their work just stops working or a subscription update notice appears in the middle of an important project.

To help avoid any of these preventable challenges, this document was born. As a Silver Platter subscriber, you may download it for FREE and begin using it immediately. It is an Excel spreadsheet and it will work with any Excel compatible program.

As always, if you need assistance, just Ring the Bell for Your Tech Concierge.



I look forward to sharing more tasty tidbits with you in the next edition of the Silver Platter.

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Stay tuned for the next edition of aSKaVIE's Silver Platter™

Until then, visit me on my website at:

www.aSKaVIE.com

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions on how you'd like Your Silver Platter™ served up. Hope to hear from you soon.