Keep Secure USB Drive From Being Infected Via USB Port

We use USB drives on a regular basis as it provides us a great and more convenient for sharing data over devices. It makes life and task much easier. Stop, wait a minute, do you ever think that this convenience also brings malware and virus to your system. If your USB flash drive is infected with the malware and virus then not only you lose your files or data, plus, this will also attack the privacy or security of your system once the USB driver gets plugged-in. Hence, it is very crucial to keep your system safe from the viruses or malware which enters your system via USB Flash drives. Preventive measures are always better than a cure. So, here we are to teach you about some tips or preventive measures that will help you a lot in keeping your system safe from the infected USB drives. Stay focused to know everything in detail!

With the continual growth of technology, we have just forgotten the old methods which are really helpful or effective. So, check out these below-mentioned methods to keep your system safe from the threat removable media virus or malware. 

Turn Off Autorun

One of the most basic tools which are used to infect USB drives and so on the same used to infect computers as well is - Windows AutoRun. However, it is completely vice-versa from AutoPlay, which automatically begins your media player and plays your video or audio files such as a DVD or CD. AutoRun performs things like begin installers when USB media is connected to the system in anyways. Though these kinds of stuff can also run manually from Windows Explorer and similarly if your malware or virus needs to be performed manually as well, then there is a very little chance to get your system infected. 

Check USB Drives Before Using It

Another tip that could help you a lot in terms of keeping your system safe from the threat of removable media malware is - check every USB drive before actually using it. So for checking the USB drive you need a reliable source that can help you in ensuring the safety of your IT sources. Keep the system isolated from any network so it can't be able to transfer any virus or malware on validated media over the network. Make sure to run malware scans frequently and automatically to make a secure connection. Apparently, keep in mind that no other unwanted program is running thus, it reduces the chances to get the system infected from malware. 

Keep Your USB Drivers Updated

Another crucial point that keeps your safe and along with the security, it set-up an encrypted connection. We all know that drivers are way essential in keeping system or hardware devices appropriately. The same methodology goes for the USB as well. So, if your USB drivers are corrupted, old, broken, and missing then it will create a lot of troubles. Moreover, this reduces the security of the system or even USB as well. Thus, it becomes easier for attackers to enter our system. That's the reason which makes a USB driver update necessity. Because new drivers enhance the security of the system or even USB as well by adding more and robust security patches to the system. Hence, always make sure to keep USB drivers updated. Or, in some rare cases, the updating drivers is not enough to fix the issue so in that rare case, you need to download USB drivers windows 10 again. 

Use Password Protected Usb Drives 

One big tip which is the signs of pro users and prevents malware infections is - using password-protected USB drives. This is the big tip that always keeps your system at the same place and prevents malware or virus infections, moreover, this also stops unauthorized access to your data. Protecting files or data from unauthorized access is way tough task but you can do so with much ease, simply just by using well-programmed programs that ban unauthorized access and lock your files with the password. 

There are numerous utility tools that are specially designed to protect your files from unauthorized access including Folder Lock, GiliSoft USB Encryption, Rohos Mini Drive, USB Secure, USB Safeguard, and many more. Use any of these files to protect your data or files with high-end encrypted passwords to prevent malware or virus infection and unauthorized access. 

Scan For Viruses

When using a USB drive always scan for viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware. Because they come in our devices, undetected and stay inside our computer and harm our system. These viruses a better to stay out of our system which also increases the life expectancy of our computer which is a good thing. Most people directly put the USB drive into their USB ports and start using it right away. It is a non-encourageable move which should be avoided. Always scan for viruses on your USB drive to avoid future problems which can be caused by the viruses that had been residing on your USB drives but you forget to scan and delete them. 

So, these are some crucial tips to keep your system safe from removable media threats. Through this penned note, we've brought up crucial tips that can help you a lot in keeping your system safe from being infected via the USB virus. Along with this, we've also mentioned how drivers are playing a vital role to keep you safe side at all times. Hence, keep in mind to update & installs new, complete, and genuine drivers frequently and automatically. For an automatic update, you can also use the best driver updater tool which saves much of yours and automatically updates all the drivers in just a single go. Thus, there is only one reliable source or tool that could be able to do so and that is none other than Quick Driver Updater, download it now. Apply these tips to keep your system safe from being infected by USB viruses or malware.

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How E-Commerce Will Change In 2020

Major changes are happening in every industry, right from logistics to recent technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Internet of Things. Similar changes are happening even in the E-Commerce industry. Few would have imagined that a new online industry will grab the attention of the global population at such a short time. In just a decade, E-commerce has touched the trillion dollar mark. And as per industry experts, this industry is expected to grow at an alarming pace of 6.5 trillion dollars by 2023.

After Etsy became a hit, every aspiring entrepreneur wanted to open online E-Commerce businesses all over the globe. After the outbreak of Covid-19, since many opted for online shopping, so many enthusiasts who kept their entrepreneurship dreams in the pipeline, ventured to become owners of E-Commerce websites. However, with too many websites fighting for a share of pie, the customers find it hard to select, analyse and purchase products.

There was a time when to select the best product for purchase, you need to roam the streets and visit various shops. Now, the time has changed. To purchase a product, you have to browse different websites and check their categories. Then, if you like the product, you can purchase the product online. Let us focus, in this article, on how E-commerce will change in 2020.

Optimize Every Fragment of Your Digital Presence for the Web

It is not that easy. The words are simple. Just two. Web optimization. But to make it perfect, you need to employ many tactics and strategies so that more visitors can get converted to customers. It is a competitive market and you need to add words in the E-Commerce website which attract the visitor and keep him/her engaged. It calls for proper content-writing/copywriting which can trigger the call-to-action in the minds of the visitor. The words should play with the psychological part such as fear of losing out on the offers, responding at the proper time and more. The result is converting the prospects into leads.

Now, the trend has changed. People are using voice search to find information on the website or internet. So, you need to optimize the E-Commerce content as per the demands of the target audience. There are also chances you may have to include long tail keywords within the content.

Images

Why does a customer come to your E-Commerce website? To make a purchase or opt for services to meet his/her demands. So, the images for products/services should contain relevant content and have high quality. Unlike a normal brick and mortar store, in an online store, it is the visuals of the products/services that will make a mark. The reason, the visitors can neither touch nor see products in reality. So, for them, the only option will be to see the images and make a decision. With Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning making an entry to E-commerce, now a buyer can see a product from various angles. There are also options to check if a dress can look perfect, if worn, with the help of technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Half a decade ago, there used to be only one visual of a product. Now, a single product on an E-Commerce website can contain even a video that gives a 360 degree view.

Simple, Understanding Design

There was a time when bright striking colors were the mark of any digital presence, but now the trend has changed. Visitors, when they browse your E-Commerce website should not find the design too deviating from the purpose they came to the place. So, the navigation features should be simple and not confusing to the visitor. At a time, when consumers are strapped of cash, even the website owners know they come to make a purchase or opt for a service. They want to make the best use of their time on the website. So, it is vital that the design is kept simple.

Influencer Marketing on Websites

Times/Technology - both have changed. But, if a business (online/offline) wants to sustain in the market, then trust is necessary. At all times. In recent days, when fake news and reviews are circulated in the market free of cost and at paid prices, customers look at influencers and famous personalities for advice. So, if you can have a famous person who can cut a mark with your products/services, then you may have him/her advertise on your website. This move can, for sure, bring about a difference in the traffic of the website.

Another way is to employ a leading personality of your industry to share information regarding your website and products. This move can strike a chord among the key audience. Purchase enthusiasts are likely to get product recommendations from public personalities they admire or worship. Will you believe there are popular influencer marketing platforms such as -

• Upfluence 
• CreatorIQ 
• Post for Rent 
• Social Bakers 
• InstaBrand 
• Hypr 
• Julius 
• Klear 
• Content BLVD 
• AdvoWire Taggers 

Personalized Experience

Every business converts into a brand, when customers connect your products with their lives. In other words, every E-Commerce website should give a personalized experience to a customer. Then, there are chances customers will add more products to their cart. So, are you interested in having an E-Commerce website in quick time to give wings to your entrepreneurship dreams? Then, take time to find the company which specializes in E-Commerce website designing for various industries. For example, if you are in Bangalore, it is better to hire a local company which has given services to international clients. This company will have a team of best E-commerce web developers in the globe. They should be able to understand your vision, mission and business insights. Also, they will have other services on hand, such as graphic designers and digital marketing managers. So, you will have every service at your disposal. So, the website should get completed in quick time and according to your requirements. 

Social Values and Environment Efforts

There was a time when many used to keep a portion of their salary for donation and charity. But now, the trend has changed. Many are interested in purchasing products from companies, which donate a share of their profits to NGOs, environmental organizations and the needy. Unlike the 1960s crowd, Generation X focuses on preserving the environment and wholeheartedly supports those organizations who participate in social causes. 

Modifications in Product Description as Per the Trend

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many marketing theories to the forefront. Suddenly, there has been a rapid increase in the purchasing of sanitizer products. Also, many healthcare companies which manufacture disease-fighting liquids and soaps have started making advertisements such as - This product contains ingredients which fight Covid-19. So, you use, the changes happen. And it is up to the E-Commerce owners to make the changes in their advertisements, banners and flyers.

Chatbots

There are many who believe that chatbots have become the death doorbell to the customer service industry. These applications have modified the concept of customer care services in multinational organizations. For a case study, let us imagine, you are working as a Team Lead for a E-Commerce company in India. The company has introduced chatbots in its customer care service system. Now, this application can handle general queries, give prompt reply to customers, work 24/7 and more. The human executives can perform other important tasks which cannot be done by the chatbot. Now, isn’t this a happy event to be celebrated?

Conclusion

The above-mentioned points are some reminders on how E-Commerce will change in 2020. Yes, there are many more changes that will happen, but let us wait with a positive outlook towards the future.

Author Biography

Yogish Sathya Thombre B is interested in learning recent technologies and writing new articles. He is interested in writing articles on website design, E-Commerce website design, search engine optimization, social media marketing services, graphic designing services and more. He is working as a Senior Content Writer in WebDigi, and the company consists of a team which has the best E-commerce web developers and Digital Marketing Experts in the globe.

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Why Does My Firestick Say No Storage?

These days going digital is so common. From webinars to online shopping, watching movies digitally to payment online all have changed our way of living. Everything has been done digitally and also you can search easily by asking questions to Google. As in the lockdown period, we all have been busy searching for what to do at home sitting free and a very interesting option of web series and binge-watching of our favorite shows, Firestick has played a very important role in our lives in keeping us engaged. This has been a great option to install apps, play games, watch movies, and TV shows. However, after downloading more apps and other stuff there will be a low storage problem on your firestick. To discuss more on low storage here are few points to focus on:

1. Reason for No storage

For enjoying the firestick experience it must have free storage to install your favorite applications. No storage is a problem while watching your favorite one. It can be due to more applications on the device that causes lagging of device or creating problem while to install other items on the firestick. An unwanted application has unwanted data to slow your device and other useless items. One can delete the extra or useless application on the firestick to go smoothly with your enjoyment. On the other hand, the device didn't have any external storage to resolve the problem.

2. What to do?

Without panicking just go to the main menu of your Firestick settings then to manage application and then look at that additional or useless application storage, file size, and cache if they are taking more space on your device, uninstall those applications. Also can clean your folder with ES file explorer and can create a separate partition for the movies, TV shows, and games. So that your firestick will not remind you of full storage and you can easily enjoy the application and other stuff. One can also reset the low storage message that always appears on your screen when the device got connected. It will help you to get rid of the latter problem. After having to free up space one can easily get connected to the favorite show or game.

3. Firestick storage

These devices that help us connect to our favorite shows, web series, and games contain mainly internal storage. Their external storage is not available as such we have both external and internal storage in our mobile phones. Firestick contains approximately 8GB out of which 4.5GB is the internal storage and no external storage on the device. Another thing is to keep in mind that device storage depends mainly on the different manufacturers or companies. While having no external storage on the device can let you create a problem, as when you are having extra applications on your device.

4. Creating additional space

When we want more space on our device we can use USB Drive for additional applications. USB drives can connect to the TV directly and the firestick allows it to do so. Another option is to have an SD card slot that contains 8GB on the device storage. Through these ways, one can have more space other than firestick storage to enjoy your favorite channels, shows, and games. Just you have to take time to resolve your storage problems to have a better experience of your device. The above mentioned two ways can be much fruitful for one to install more wanted applications on the device.

5. More about firestick

After resolving the storage problems on the device one can easily watch various channels such as Netflix, Disney+hotstar, Amazon Prime, and others. Amazon firestick supports the Amazon store too. One must be having an Amazon account to enjoy the firestick so to enjoy the Amazon shows, web series, and other stuff online. Another benefit of the Amazon firestick is that it can also connect to your phone easily just you need to have a strong Wi-Fi connection to connect on the phone directly. One can easily watch her favorite shows where ever he wants to, as in India when we are having members to watch on the big screen.

6. New firestick by Amazon

There are various new features on the newly upgraded firestick by Amazon one can easily speak or audio control on it's remote by saying Alexa just do this for me and various storage solutions to the users to solve their complaint of storage problem by Amazon. From time to time companies use to modify their devices to upgrade their features too. With the running period, we all will move faster with the digital revolution they have made into our lives.

Conclusion

As we all know these devices more from moving with time. A Firestick is a streaming device or can say a virtual device that connects our TV and mobile phone and also called as Amazon firestick. It is an Amazon product that connects only when you have created an Amazon account to work on your television and mobile phone. This has various channels and applications to install and games to play on. You have to pay charges when not a prime member. When we are having a lot to watch and explore, we need more space for installation and to do other activities than our device can show us or remind us of being out of storage message. 

Then we can use various hacks to resolve our problem such as uninstalling the excess application, adding an SD card, and using USB Drive to get more space on the device to explore your stuff more easily. Every device we use has storages such as external and internal ones. As time will go on and on we all will be having new technologies and digital media and modes that will overcome our lives and lifestyle together. As with the above-mentioned device, we can easily enjoy sitting at home in these crucial times of running pandemic too.

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What Can I Do If I lost My Firestick Remote?

Watching TV is a daily activity that everybody enjoys. You work the whole day and relax after everything by watching TV. But got interrupted binge-watching because of a lost remote? This can be annoying at times and happens often. Do not worry. I can give you a few tips on how to find a lost remote. If that doesn’t work, there are other alternatives for a lost remote. Read the article to know more about how to deal with this issue.

Tips to find your remote

This is a very basic and common problem that everybody faces daily in their lives. The remote just vanish all of a sudden and be found nowhere. It becomes more difficult for you to find the remote than losing it. Lol. Sometimes you search around looking for it one place, but out of nowhere, you find it from some other room. This happens at times. Chill. Losing your remotes has become very common nowadays. Especially when it is of your Smart TV’s, the remote is even smaller and gets lost easily. First, let me give you a few tips on how finding for the lost remote.

• Check the desk of your coffee table/ teapot table. Always replace your remote only here after using it. 

• The next suspect is the couch. When you are watching the TV all relaxed, you place the remote somewhere on the couch. Make a thorough check of the in-between spaces of the sofa and under the pillows.

• Look under or around the furniture to see if it has fallen down by chance. Look near the TV stand to see in case you have placed them there.

• Look around in the rooms that you went in while watching TV. You would have taken it along with you while talking over the phone or going in search of something.

• Check with your housemates to know if they have misplaced or seen it somewhere.

After a thorough search and still the remote goes missing, we have other options. Scroll down to know what are they.

Remote control finder

If you are going through the problem of losing the remote often, the remote control finder can be of great help. It can help you find the remote without even having to look for it. These thin cards are smart enough to help you find your missing remote. Attach these cards to the back of your remote. 

They work on blue tooth technologies to connect to your phone. You can ring the card using an app through your phone when you don’t find the remote. With the ringing sound, you can just grab the remote instead of looking for it everywhere. A remote control finder works within a range of 100 feet and hasgood battery life.

Using a remote control finder, you can find the remote only if you are very sure if it is somewhere in the premises. But what if not? The best alternative is the Amazon Fire TV app.

Amazon Fire TV app

This app supports all android, iOS devices, Fire Tablet, Fire phone. Go to the play store or app store and download this app under AMZN Mobile LLC. Once installed, you will have to pair it up with your Fire Stick TV like the remote. For this, open the app and you will see a list of devices. Choose your Fire Stick TV device. Your Fire TV will display a 4-digit pin on the screen. This is called the connection request code number. Enter this number on your app. Done! Your mobile is paired with your Fire Stick. You can now use your phone as a remote. This is one of the easiest methods you can adopt when you have lost your remote.

The remote has the exact features as that of the physical remote. In fact, the app is much user friendly than the remote. This app is more helpful when you are traveling somewhere and you have forgotten to take the remote along with the Fire Stick.

Another remote

If you have another Fire Stick remote, then you can use it to pair up the current Fire Stick TV. Just press the Home button for at least 20 seconds. The new remote will pair up with the TV and you can now connect the Wi-Fi and start using it.

If not another Fire Stick remote, you can also use your normal TV remote to pair with it. Yes, TV sets are nowadays designed with the CEC feature. The CEC is a feature of HDMI, where it connects with other HDMI devices by integrating them. You can now use a single remote controller for both the TVs’. This feature is turned off in smartphones. Go to the settings menu and enable it if you wanted to pair it with the Fire Stick TV. They work on blue tooth technologies.

Connect an ADB

Using an ADB, you can control the Fire Stick device for a time period. Since the Fire Stick TV doesn’t have any way for USB devices, we are opting for this way. For this, your device should have been enabled with the ADB feature. Connect your Fire Stick TV to your device via ADB. There are several commands for the ADB feature on how to navigate and use it as a remote. Read them online to see how each moves works and go through the commands for each move. Each command equals a single move. The reason why I told this method can be adopted only for time being is that the moves are difficult to handle using commands. But it is always better to have something with than nothing left with.

I hope you found your way to choose when you lost your remote. These suggestions are going to work for sure. Share your comments and tell us which method you found helpful in using it as an alternate for your lost remote. Now go enjoy streaming your favorite.

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Why You Should Never Call Back An Unknown Number?

You must have yourself in this situation where you find a missed call on your phone but you cannot tell the caller. The last thing that you should do is calling back to know who was trying to reach out to you. As much as the number might have your home area code, do not assume that you are safe to call back. Can it be your doctor? Your child's teacher? Or a neighbor? Unfortunately, it can be none of them. Why should someone important call you and fail to leave any message? Probably no genuine reason. These might be scammers or hackers who want to confirm whether your phone is active and use your information for fraudulent purposes.

Crooks are also using technology to up their game. Most of them can trick you with the area code to lure you into calling back. An area code is no longer a proof that the caller is from your region. It is good to be curious but do not take any action like calling back unknown numbers when you get a missed call. Even if you were waiting for an important call, you can use various ways to determine whether you are doing the right thing by contacting back. Even though the person might not pick, which is true with these callers, you will have prepared yourself for future spams. You should avoid calling back unknown numbers since most of them are con artists trying to steal your data.

Simple Ways Scammers Win Your Trust

You do not have to present your whole CV to be scammed online. Corn artists have perfected the game in that your name is enough to get what they need from you. There are several ways in which spammers make you trust them.

The Art of Trust           

Leave alone those crimes you hear in the hood about a gang riding a bank with guns. You can notice the danger the moment a criminal is on your site. Instead of guns, scammers will use their brain as a tool to trigger you to submit to their requests. Once you call back an unknown number, you are halfway to gain trust from online scammers. All they need is the initial information and you can join them, but the issue is that you will suffer alone at last. They might pose as the customer cares from your local bank ready to assist you on issues around your account. Keep in mind that no one will force you. They will be as patient as you think bank attendants could be. But you might be throwing you in a pool of stress unknowingly.

They Aim at the Vulnerable

If you have ever fallen in the traps of scammers (of which you might have in one way or the other) it does not indicate that you were stupid. The only accurate term here is vulnerability. Leave alone playing with your intelligence, corn artists will play with your emotions. You can easily fall to scammers when undergoing extreme changes in your life. This is because you are likely to lose equilibrium at those times. 

You can easily surrender yourself to scammers when going through frustrations like when you have lost your job. In such a situation, you may opt for any opportunity that promises money. This is where you mess with everything. Positive changes can land you to a problem as well. You might be in a stage of your life where you only see the good things. The problem comes when you fail to distinguish between good things coming to your ways and easy targets.

They Get You To Talk More

What another good way of gaining people's confidence apart from giving them your attention? This is how smart scammers play with your mind. They will tend to try offering you with any solution you need without compromise. No sooner than you know what they mean, you will be crying alone. Cons will trap you with what you desire most the first time you come into contact with them. With the tons of fantasy scenes they will be giving you daily, it will not be long and you will release the needed information. The worst thing is that victims tend to answer more questions than they ask. You will find yourself interested in the final results without questioning anything.

Using Your Name

How confident will you be when interacting with a new person who always remembers your name? That is how scammers play the mind game. The worst thing is that you can fake things in these instances. Let's say someone comments on your photo like "hello (name) how are you do you recall me?" even if you are a rude person, it is hard to offer answers like "Do not bother me, I am not familiar with you". You will probably try to be positive as you figure out the stranger. Remember, the more you give a scammer time the more you become susceptible to losing yourself. With the phone number, cons can get your information. For this reason, you should never call back hidden numbers.

Mimicking Your Posture

According to research, the easiest way to gain anyone's empathy is by mirroring his or her body language. It makes salesmen try to close deals faster. Mimicking helps in creating subconscious links with victims. This method creates a sense of belonging and familiarity with the victims. Scammers take advantage of this to break your mental defense before accessing your physical space. Make sure you do not entertain someone you have no idea of. The only way to prevent this is to make sure no one has your information without your consent. Avoid calling back unfamiliar number and you will be more secure than you imagine.

Conclusion

With only your phone number or name, scammers can start their journey of scamming you. For this reason, do not give unknown people your time. Although you might feel triggered to call a number after you find a missed call, may it be the last thing you could do. Genuine people would at least leave a message. Avoid calling back hidden numbers when you get a missed call for your safety.

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How Can You Identify An Unknown Caller?

Nowadays receiving spam and scam calls is a common thing. Most people find it hard to answer these types of calls since they come as "unknown". However, it is hard to distinguish whether it is a scammer calling or an essential call from your doctor or kid's school office. The whole situation can be worse in case you are waiting for a client to call or expecting a job offer. For this reason, you may need to find a way to identify which calls are genuine and the one to avoid. Another thing is that you cannot block scammers without accessing their numbers. The best thing is that you have multiple ways to identify blocked and unknown numbers. Use these tracing techniques to unmask the anonymity of scam and spam callers.

Dialing *69

You might have used or come across *67 as a way of hiding your number when calling someone. Are you aware that there are other numbers you can use to unmask anonymous callers? You can dial *69 and trace the last number that called you. You may use this method to uncover hidden or unknown calls. You will access the information telling you the contact and the particular time you received the call. If you find out that it is not a genuine caller, block the contact to avoid receiving such calls in the future.

Dialing *69 can also give you an option to contact the hidden number right away. With this, you can confront the spam or scam caller when you want. However, removing yourself from their contact list or getting more details about them will challenge you.

You can as well us *57 to trace hidden and unknown numbers. This is the best way to unmask unknown callers who might be frustrating you. You will get access to the call information and phone contact as with *69. But *57 will give you more details. This method gets you connected with the police and they can trace and arrest whoever is frustrating you with calls. You should inform the police after dialing *57 so that they can follow up. 

Use this number when you feel like the anonymous caller is calling too often, otherwise, *69 is enough to solve your problems. Keep in mind that you may incur additional charges when using these two numbers. Also, some phone providers do not offer these services. Confirm if you can use these tracing services with your phone provider.

Contact your Cellphone Provider

The whole idea of contacting your cellphone provider is to find information on whether they provide tracing codes. If you want quick assistance to get rid of consistent spammers, contact your service provider for caller ID information. You can as well ask for information about hidden caller ID. With this, you can block spammers without paying for subscription services. You may be required to provide some information by your phone company. This includes the exact date and time that you received the call. They can then contact the person and tell them to stop contacting you or block the caller automatically.

Using an App

There are several applications you can use to identify blocked or unknown callers. TrapCall is the common app you may use to trace anonymous contacts. This application is available for Android and iOS devices. With TrapCall, you can identify hidden calls and the best thing is that it can automatically block spammers. You will receive notification about all the blocked numbers. You can set yourself free from unknown numbers by subscribing to a monthly plan. 

Enjoy your first 7 days free with TrapCall. You can then subscribe to $3.95 or $7.95 and get access to a premium monthly package. With the premium package, you can record all incoming calls and receive notification whether you are dealing with a genuine caller according to the state's laws. You can also use other caller ID applications such as truecaller to know hidden numbers. You may use the silent feature in your phone to block unwanted calls. The location of this feature will depend on the phone you are using. Visit settings and locate the Silent Unknown Callers and set it on. 

Best Applications to Unmask Unknown Callers 

Truecaller

This application reveals hidden incoming calls. Another thing is that it will notify you against undesirable calls through the spam list based on community. You will interact with over 250 million individuals across the world. With Live Caller ID, you can identify callers that are not in your phonebook. All you need is a Wi-Fi or 3G internet connection to use Truecaller.

NumBuster

You can use this free app to tell the identity of anyone calling you with hidden contact. NumBuster has several features tailored to help you unmask annoying callers. For instance, you may search information about any suspicious contacts across the globe. You can create your profile and comment on any SMS sender or caller. The best thing is that this app does not feature ads.

CallClerk

With this app, you can automatically manage all calls according to your choice. It has amazing features that will help you recognize any callers contacting you. You can hear a computer pronunciation of the name of your call. You can receive details of anyone who called you via an email.

Conclusion

The objective of identifying anonymous numbers is to choose genuine ones from those which might violate your rights. You have many ways to go about it. With some devices such as the iPhone, you may automatically block unknown contacts. You can also use features like Silence Unknown Caller. With this, all anonymous callers will move to voicemail and show up in the current calls list, your phone will not ring when you get calls from unknown numbers. Use the above option to unmask hidden contacts and block those you find unnecessary. You can choose to block all unknown callers. Whichever step you will take, it is about your safety and avoiding annoyance.

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How Does Firestick Work On Non-Smart TV?

Who doesn't enjoy watching TV? Aside from a cellphone TV is probably the first gadget most people start operating from a younger age, though age is no bar when it comes to the entertainment sources that are provided by a TV as From a toddler to a grandparent everyone gets addicted to watching and enjoying TV, from cartoons to dramas, animal documentaries, and news a TV caters to the entertainment needs of all viewers.

And before pricy smart TVs that took over with their advanced ability to use apps and the internet non-smart TVs were present in every household though they cannot access wifi or run apps like a smart TV, you, however, get a panel through which you can attach a set-top box also known as cable box which contains a TV-tuner input and displays output to a TV set using a signal as an external source and watch movies by attaching a pen drive. But a Non-smart TV can easily be turned into a smart TV using a fire stick.

Why use a Firestick on a Non-Smart TV?

A fire stick with a size that is no bigger than a USB is a media streaming device that once plugged into the TV lets you install apps, play videos and music on your TV and also gives it an android/ Apple ecosystem. The plugging process is pretty simple and the compact device comes with a micro-USB slot that can be used to charge the device and consists of its volume controller remote.  The remote can be easily connected to Bluetooth as well and used without any hurdles.

A fire stick also streams in HD and is capable of working even on 1mbps plans. Everything on the internet such as Netflix or Amazon Prime can be accessed through it along with preinstalled apps such as Hotstar, Sony Liv, Airtel Movies, Jio Cinema, Netflix, Gaana, Prime Music, and many others for entertainment, also if the internet connection availability is good you will be able to watch YouTube tutorials for educational as well as entertainment purposes.

On top of it all, a Firestick also comes with parental settings so you can control what the children are watching. The fire stick works quickly and has an interface (including the voice search) that is incredibly fast, and also gives easy access to move across apps that you use regularly.

A fire stick can also be used to play games of your choice and also sideload android apps according to your liking. It is also easy for users to keep an eye on their data consumption through Fire Stick using the data monitoring feature as it enables the users to select the viewing quality of their choice to manage the data use.

While configuring the Fire Stick alerts the user before the data exceeds the limit, this feature is one among the many incredible features provided by the fire stick. Hence, a fire stick with ease provides a quick opportunity to cause a great and enjoyable transformation to your Non-smart TV so you can pick an entertainment source of your choice.

Making a Firestick work on a Non-Smart TV:

Turning a non-smart TV smart into a smart TV at a cheaper price undoubtedly sounds good, but, how should one go about the whole setup process?

Make sure your TV has an HD (High Definition) or UHD (Ultra High Definition) display and an HDMI port, also, to get the Firestick working properly having a  wireless internet connection is a necessity, at least 10 Mbit/s is recommended for the best video viewing experience and you'll need a pair of AAA batteries for the TV stick remote as well as an Amazon account. It isn't necessary to be a prime member either, simply create an account and then connect the Firestick with the USB power adapter and then connect the device into a power outlet all the while making sure that it is on.

Once that is done connect the  Firestick to the HDMI port (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) which is responsible for transmitting uncompressed video data of audio as well as a video interface and is located on the back of your non-smart TV. Then choose an input for your TV that matches the HDMI port. After you are done choosing a proper display a Firestick logo will appear on your screen.

Proceed by pairing your Firestick remote with your Non-Smart TV (It should be done automatically as soon as you put the batteries in) in case it doesn't pair, you should hold the button of the remote marked as ‘HOME’ to start.

Then follow the step by step instructions given on-screen for connecting the Firestick to your home Wi-Fi network (it can be any Wi-Fi of your choice as long as it is capable of providing a good signal).

Lastly, registering your Firestick to your Amazon account is important as after doing that you'll be able to use your Firestick. But if the TV lacks an HDMI port only standard definition image quality will be visible and the screen mirroring will not be as good but you can use a composite converter to help you out to a certain extent, though there is no way this problem can be completely sorted out because you're only making an analog connection and the adapter can only mimic an HDMI port, but it isn't equipped with the features to improve the TV's image quality.

Aside from this, with an HDMI port lacking TV you may have issues with the signal as you may be getting an unreliable and inconsistent signal depending on the model of your non-smart TV. But A TV that has HD definition and HDMI ports even if it happens to be a Non-smart model will be able to provide a nice picture quality with a much better viewing experience.

Conclusion

Investing in a fire stick is a far easier and cheaper option than buying an entirely new Smart TV when you can get the feeling of a smart TV on your regular non-smart TV and enjoy the entertainment it provides.

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How Can I Access My Firestick Without A Remote?

In case if you have lost your remote or couldn’t find it, do not directly conclude to the choice of buying a new remote or a new Fire Stick. There is a list of similar options that helps you to connect to the Fire Stick TV without a remote. Since it is a portable device and you forgot to carry the remote along with you, in that case also you can adopt any of the following alternatives that I’m going to give you. After which you can enjoy streaming shows and movies as usual.

On a note, if you have actually lost your remote and couldn’t find it, read my other article on ‘What can I do if I lost my Fire Stick remote?’ to help find them. First thing, you wanted to connect the TV to your Wi-Fi before you can stream any videos. So, lets now see how you can connect your Fire Stick to the Wi-Fi without the help of a remote.

Amazon Fire TV app

This choice is very helpful when you are outdoors or you have traveled to a different place and wanted to watch something. But then when you remember you have forgotten to take your remote along with you, you can go for this option. And is also the easiest way to move ahead.

Android users can download this app from the play store and iOS users can download this from the app store. It also supports the Fire Tablet and Fire phone. Make sure to download them from AMZN Mobile LLC, the true dealers of the app. Once installed, open the app and then you can a list of devices listed. Tap on your Fire TV device. Now on your Fire TV screen, you can see a 4-digit pin displayed. This is called the connection request code number. Enter the pin on your phone and there you go. Your mobile is paired with the TV and you can start using your phone as a remote for your TV.

The app has all the features as that of a physical remote. You can navigate and choose anything on Fire TV using your phone. Now go connect the Wi-Fi on your TV and start using. Remember the TV and your phone should be connected to the same Wi-Fi. This is the only requirement if you are using the app. If you were using an old Wi-Fi for the TV and wanted to change it to a new one, you can use this method. You can adopt this methodespecially when you are traveling somewhere and forgot to take your remote.

Use a TV remote

You can use your TV remote to connect it with Fire Stick. This is possible in both ways of vice versa i.e., you can control your Fire Stick with your TV remote and also your TV with the Fire Stick remote. Yes, you read it right. You will believe this when you get to know about the HDMI CEC feature. The CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is a feature of HDMI where it allows to control the HDMI devices by using one remote controller. So, a CEC enabled device can connect and control each other without any interruption. You can connect up to 15 devices like this. The main idea is allowing a TV and an HDMI device to operate under a single remote.

Although the TVs’ do not have it by default, you have to enable it in the Settings corner. Most of the TVs that came after 2002 have this CEC compliant feature installed in them. Though the CEC feature is not called by its name, the installed ones have their own ID set up by their brands. So, if your TV supports the HDMI-CEC feature, enable the feature and then you can control it using the same remote and start using. Though now you can’t enjoy the voice features of your device, you get to control the navigations like a remote.

Use an Echo

This is the latest feature that was introduced recently around last summer. If you have an echo and Alexa device, you can use the Alexa voice control feature to control your Fire Stick TV. With this Echo feature introduced, users will be able to integrate all the Amazon devices into the Amazon ecosystem. Pair up your Echo with your Fire Stick and now you are all set to start using it without a remote using the voice features.

Another Fire TV remote

In case if your friends or neighbor owns a Fire Stick TV, you can borrow their remote for a while. Then pair it with your Fire Stick TV and can start using it as usual. This method can be applied only when there is a need to stream something so badly. Connect your Fire Stick to the respective Wi-Fi and then you can return back the remote once done. If you have issues with pairing, you can check for ways to solve those issues. This method will be helpful only if the one who lent you the remote is currently not using it. But still, it works, right? So take this under your choices.

In spite of all the above options, if your Fire Stick still doesn’t still work with these, you can go buy a replacement remote. Read my article ‘Can you just buy the Fire Stick remote’ to know more about it. It is best to buy it only on the Amazon website. Amazon leaves you with a default option to buy a replacement remote. But there will not be a need. Any one of the above methods will surely work for your Fire Stick TV. I hope you found the suggestions to be useful. If you have any other ideas on how to access a Fire Stick without a remote, then you can share it with us. Choose one and start streaming.

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How Do You Call Someone From An Unknown Number

There are various reasons you may decide to use an unknown number when calling people. As much as it does not sound good, it makes sense. It is not a must to reveal your phone number to everyone you are communicating with. You can use unknown numbers when creating an online dating account, reaching out to car dealers, or using your phone to return work calls. The best thing is that you have multiple ways of hiding your phone number when making calls. You can use short term 'burner' contacts, caller ID blocking, and virtual cellphone lines. Here is how you can go about using an unknown number to reach out to anyone via a phone call.

Using Anonymous "Burner" Number

You can use temporary disposable contacts such as a burner when making anonymous calls. All you need is a browser or an app to get things done. The burner is available for both Android and iOS users. With this, you will get 60texts and 20 talk time minutes free for a whole week. To extend the service, you will be required to purchase new burner contacts and credits. There are various types of burners you can opt with different costs and offers. A mini burner will cost you 3 credits or $1.99 for 2 weeks or 60 texts or 20 minutes. You can enjoy any of those. With a standard burner, you will get either 150 texts or 50 minutes or 30 days with 5 credits or $3.98. You can purchase unlimited calls and messages for a whole month with $4.99 or 8 credits (pay $47.99 to enjoy yearly services). If you want to share pictures, you can purchase a photo burner package with $4.99 and get 50 minutes, 100 texts for a month. You have a wide range of variety to choose from depending on your needs.

Using a Free Private Number

If you want a long-term permanent solution when calling with an unknown number, try Google Voice. With this service, you can make unlimited calls within the United States. You will also enjoy plenty of services for free like voicemails, do not disturb, and call screening, among others. All you need to utilize this service is an internet connection and a laptop or smartphone. You can download Google Voice Application for free available for both Android and iOS. You can as well decide to forward the Google Voice texts and calls to your real contact. When making outbound calls using this App, only your Google voice contact will appear and not your phone number.

Block Outbound Caller ID

You can decide to block the outbound ID when you want to save you disposable number minutes. You can do so by visiting the call settings on your phone and switch it off. If you are using digital services, you can adjust the software in your phone management to block the caller ID. Also, you may dial *67 and then the number you wish to call on your regular phone or landline. You have to include the country code in both. With this, your contact will show as unavailable. You can choose to block your contact permanently on a landline, iPhone, and Android phones. But this can be a bad idea since some users automatically block unknown incoming calls. Some individuals will never answer calls with hidden ID.

Reasons You May Decide an Unknown Number

One reason as to why you may use an unknown number is to ensure safety from spammers and scammers. There are various reasons you may want to hide your number. When you receive calls from unknown numbers, you will be interested to identify the person. The worst of all is that you can put yourself in a position to receive more irritating calls by following up. This is why you have to hide your contact before communicating with people you feel insecure with. You can hide your contact to keep your information and identity private. Apart from this, unknown calls will help you avoid interruptions. Here are some of the instances you may hide your contact.

When Calling a Number That You Do Not Know

You must have been in a situation where you want to call back someone that you don't recognize. You may receive a call from a stranger for a few seconds and the call ends with no message. Not all the time does this signify scammers? It might be a robocall from your credit card company. You may miss important information by ignoring the call. But at the same time, picking the call can be dangerous. This is why you should hide your number in case you want to confirm these calls.

To Stay Out of the "Call Lists"

There are various risks associated with sharing your contacts with third-parties. This is why you should avoid calling back suspicious numbers. Once you contact these entities, your number will be listed and used for various purposes some of which can be unpleasant. Some companies earn extra cash by selling your number to advertisers. You can choose to contact your phone providers to block this kind of access. Alternatively, you may go to your phone's OS and block unknown contacts. However, you can reverse the changes whenever you wish.

To Stay Away From Hackers

Hackers pose a persistent and unique threat when it comes to sharing your contacts online. Leave alone robocalls that are annoying. One way hackers will use to attack you with their phishing schemes is by accessing your phone number. They will use your number when signing up for different services for verification reasons. With this, you can land to problems in case of illegal activities that approve secretive accounts such as your mobile carries. To avoid all these issues, keep your contacts private whenever contacting people you are not comfortable with.

Conclusion

You can use various ways to contact someone without revealing your identity. You may ask why call someone yet you do not want them to know you. There are many reasons you may do so. All in all, you want to maintain your identity and ensure safety. You can use free or paid services to ensure anonymity when calling people with your phone.

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