LLM stands for Large Language Module. The best-known example of an LLM today is probably ChatGPT. Many have probably heard ChatGPT and similar tools called “artificial intelligence”. This term stirs up the context for most of us of things like Cortana from HALO, the computer Eddie from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, or HAL from the movie 2001. These characters are intelligent in the same way people are. They can interpret information, draw logical inferences from it, and ultimately make informed decisions. This is VERY different from how CHatGPT and other LLMs work. ...
How (and why) to freeze your kid’s credit
Ummm… my kids don’t have any credit. What are you talking about? Freezing your kid’s credit is much more important than most parents realize. Here in the U.S. a person’s credit score is the major factor in many financial dealings. Your credit score determines if you can buy a home, get a credit card or a car loan, and in some cases can even be a factor in getting a job. Normally, we develop a credit score by paying bills and taking on loans as we enter adulthood. There are lots of good arguments for and against the current credit system, but it is what we have and so it is important to understand how the system works and how to protect yourself. ...
Protecting your home network
October, as I’m sure most of you know, is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Unquestionably the most important month of the year…. Wait, you didn’t know it was Cybersecurity Awareness Month? You didn’t even know there was a such a thing as Cybersecurity Awareness Month? You are wondering why we don’t have a clever acronym for Cybersecurity Awareness Month so I could stop typing Cybersecurity Awareness month over and over again in order to make this joke work? I’m curious about that last one too. ...
The Talk
Not THAT talk. That’s beyond my expertise and if anyone has good advice on THAT talk please let me know. This talk is the talk with your kids about online safety. As parents, we want to arm our kids with the knowledge and an appropriate caution to avoid the truly dangerous hazards of the internet, but we don’t want to scare them so much they have nightmares or never want to engage online at all. We all grew up with the basic rules for staying safe in the real world. Stranger danger, the buddy system, and never get in a car with someone, and we were pretty much all set. But these rules need a few tweaks and additions for online safety. Here are some tips for how and when to talk to your kids and some simple rules you can teach them. ...
Screen time is also quality time
One of the most common questions I’m asked by parents is, “My kids are always on their phones/tablets/xbox/playstation/ etc.” To which I usually reply, “Well that’s not really a question. It’s more of a statement, but I get what you mean.” My kids all have iPads, iPhones, and PCs. When I want to tell my kids it’s time for dinner, I usually FaceTime them, and my youngest has been able to text since he was 2. So… I obviously have a different opinion than many about how much screen time is too much. ...
Back to School
The start of a new school year. A time of promise and excitement and shock at the cost of new shoes. Going back to school or going to school for the first time can be exciting and sometimes a little scary for kids and parents. In addition to the joys of peer pressure and unreasonable expectations from teachers that we all went through, our kids today also contend with a sudden avalanche of new online content, and the threats and challenges that come with it. ...
Passwords
Quick note: This is a longer post and will help you understand some of the more technical aspects of cybersecurity. You may want to go grab a beverage before getting started… Passwords are the one security tool that almost everyone is familiar with. But surprisingly, I find passwords are also one of the most misunderstood tools for protecting yourself online. Today I’m going to talk about the real purposes of passwords and how you can improve their effectiveness with a few easy steps. ...
Dr. Malware, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the Internet
Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware… they go by many names but they all mean the same thing. For now we’ll just call them all malware, short for mal icious software. Malware is any computer program that does something we don’t like. It is kind of like the definition of a weed. If you didn’t plant it and you don’t want it there, it’s a weed. Your weed may be someone else’s flower, although that isn’t often the case with malware. ...
Multiplayer online games
When I was growing up, kids would come together at parks and swimming pools to play under the usually not so watchful eye of a handful of parents. As we got a little older, these social centers were replaced by “the mall”. Once we could drive, kids in my home town spent most Friday and Saturday nights “cruising”. That is, we would drive up and down the same 5-mile stretch of road and do stupid things in cars and yell out the windows to our friends in other cars doing the same stupid things. ...
Links
Reviews & Age Ratings – Best Movies, Books, Apps, Games for Kids An excellent site for reviews of games, movies, television, and more including insight into safety and other parental concerns. Source: Reviews& Age Ratings – Best Movies, Books, Apps, Games for Kids Homepage | Safe and Secure Online by (ISC)² Source: Homepage | Safe and Secure Online by (ISC)² What parents need to know about the video game Fortnite If your kids are begging to play Fortnite—or maybe they’re already playing but you still have questions—then check out this handy guide. ...