Social media users are getting into big legal trouble. Here’s why financial advice on TikTok is to blame, in one minute.
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Why you can’t access some sites while you’re on a VPN and what to do
Let’s say you’re browsing the web with a VPN. You’re protecting privacy, so you’re confident hackers and advertisers can’t track you. Then you try to go to a site, and it just won’t load.
This can throw a wrench into productivity when working. Or it can ruin your mood when trying to have fun online.
If you want to bypass those infuriating errors that say, “The page you are looking for can’t be found,” we can help. Here’s what to do when a VPN stops site access.
Why you can’t access certain content with a VPN
You can’t access certain apps or websites when your VPN is on for a few reasons. First, you may be dealing with connectivity issues. Perhaps the VPN you’re using is having server issues.
Some sites go out of their way to block connections from VPN servers. The site owners aren’t trying to make your life harder. They block VPNs to cover their backsides. (Legally, not literally.)
Many websites block VPNs because they don’t want to break their contracts. Simply put, many VPN users want to bypass geo-blocking features.
Say you want to watch content that isn’t available in the U.S. If your favorite show is available in the U.K., you can connect to a server there so your internet can access that show. Tap or click here to unlock international Netflix to access more movies and shows.
Streaming sites don’t like this. It lands them in hot water with the production companies they team up with. Here’s why:
- Streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu have long and complicated contracts with production companies.
- Those contracts may involve location limits as part of licensing contracts. Production companies often have stipulations like, “You can stream this show, but only in Canada since we don’t want it in the U.S.”
- Certain websites/services, like PayPal, Venmo and CashApp, identify users for legal purposes through their IP addresses. This is used to resolve problems such as fraud.
How to use Reddit for total beginners
I always want to keep you in the know. You may have heard of Reddit but never really got into using it. Unlike other social media sites, Reddit is more group- or topic-focused.
Think of it as various rooms of people sharing and talking about one particular topic. About 73.1 million folks use it daily, and there are 2.2 million groups you can check out. If you’re totally new to Reddit, here’s everything you need to know.
TikTok GenZers getting into trouble
I warned you about this months ago: If you get a text from E-ZPass or SunPass about unpaid tolls, fines or legal trouble, delete it. Chinese cybercriminals are behind a campaign sending fake messages across America. Click the link and you’ll land on a copycat site of a real toll services company, ready to steal your payment info. Never follow a link to pay a bill; go to the official site yourself.
Sending or storing naked pictures? You might be breaking the law
People search sites scour public records to get information on you. This includes your full name, address, phone number, family history, police records, relationships, employment information and more. Tap or click here for instructions on removing your information from these invasive sites.
Not happy with something you bought on Amazon? Huge change coming for third-party items
We’ve become super reliant on Amazon for many of our purchases. If you can think of it, you’ll probably find it on Amazon and have it in your hands within a couple of days. Though essentials and other supplies are more readily available this year, the urge to buy, buy, buy is hard to kick.
🚨 Heads-up, drivers: Scammers are sending fake phishing texts claiming you need to pay your FasTrak bill to avoid late fees or you’ll be in big legal trouble. Don’t fall for it! It’s a ploy to trick you into clicking a bogus link to steal your personal info and drain your wallet.
Warning: Phony 'violation' email from Facebook spreading
Copyright violations are a big deal — and most social media sites heavily enforce them. If you post a copyrighted video or song to YouTube, for example, all it takes is a quick report from the license-holder and your content gets removed instantly.
How to get paid from Facebook's class-action settlement
Facebook has been caught with its hand in the cookie jar more times than we can count. Between Cambridge Analytica and data-selling scandals, it seems like the world’s biggest social network is a magnet for legal trouble.
Facebook is paying users to QUIT before the election
We’ve been saying that you should take a break from Facebook for some time now, but it’s no longer just data and privacy issues you need to worry about. There’s now a financial incentive to cut down your use.
Recently, Facebook announced that it would be reserving its right to delete or block any content that can potentially put it in legal trouble. The exact specifics of this are vague — and probably intentional. Tap or click here to see the changes Facebook made.
Practical Tech Tip: Find out who really sent you an email
There was a time when our house phones would ring off the hook with annoying, unknown and unwanted calls. Today, these annoying messages are coming in the form of emails. Tap or click here to learn how to stop robocalls.
5 digital signs your significant other is cheating
A secret affair is like a bombshell. You feel shock, rage and humiliation. You feel betrayed, your trust squandered. But for many people, the worst part isn’t the act itself, but the secrecy. As several data breaches have proven, dubious dating sites are overflowing with cheaters, to the shock of their long-term romantic partners. Tap or click to learn how millions of cheaters were exposed online.
Zuckerberg waves shiny object to re-direct attention from scandals
You can always gauge how much legal trouble Facebook is in by how many shiny new toys it puts in front of consumers. Today, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a re-redesign of the social media site, but does it really matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Protect your phone number! How cheap technology spreads the robocall plague
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