Microsoft is slowly rolling out a major update to Windows 10, called the Creators Update - a strange name that references new tools meant to make Windows 10 more useful for creative types. Truthfully, most of you won't see many major changes when you get the update, but you should be aware that it's coming. 

There have been some compatibility issues with the Creators Update, so the roll out has been delayed, but when it's your turn here's what to expect:

A couple of my clients asked me about the recent Google phishing warning, where almost a million Gmail accounts were compromised though a very effective looking email, that looked as if it came from a trusted contact. If you recently opened an email from a friend that asked you to link to a Google Doc, please take action as described here.

Even if it seems like you only get junk mail in your email account, most other sites will reset your password by sending a link to your email account. That means that crooks, who might want to gain access to your banking or other sites, start by trying to gain access to your email account. The bottom line is, your email account is more important than you think, and you should always keep your email account secure.

Phishing attacks are designed to entice you to click on a link, which takes you to what LOOKS LIKE a real site. At that site you are asked to enter your log-in credentials. As soon as you do, the scammers have your username and password for whatever site they are imitating, which might be your email account, your credit card or bank account, or something like Ebay or PayPal. 

The best way to keep yourself safe from phishing attacks is to NEVER log in to a site from a link in an email. Even if you are confident that the email telling you that you need to take action is legit, go to the site directly, by opening up a web browser and typing in the web address of the site.

Verizon/AOL Migration Update

I am still hearing from people who haven't yet been notified by Verizon about their email migration, and are concerned they might have missed the notifying email. If this describes you, a simple way to check is to log into your Verizon account and try to access your email. If you have been migrated, you will be taken to a page asking you to choose your option, rather than directly to your email. If you are sent directly to your email, look for a message at the top right of the page letting you know you will be migrated soon.

I've helped dozens of you with this process in the last month, and I have to say everybody's situation is a little bit different and, without question, a learning experience. I continue to recommend that you take the AOL option in order to keep your Verizon email address. However, I have heard some reports that AOL wants to charge $5.00 a month to "block ads from your inbox". That's totally unnecessary - AOL has a good spam filter, so the bulk of what you want to block are ads from AOL itself. In order to block AOL ads, log into your AOL email and go to this link. Set all of the preferences to "off" and then choose "save settings". Viola, no more ads from AOL!