My Science School

Deepfake generally refers to images on videos in which the face and/or voice of a person, usually a public figure has been manipulated using artificial intelligence software to generate visual and audio content with a high potential to deceive. Deepfakes are a source of concern because they are created to be intentionally misleading, such as by making it look like a politician said something they didn't, or making it appear like a celebrity was in a video they weren't in.

Everyone from academic and industrial researchers to amateur enthusiasts, visual effects studios and porn producers. Governments might be dabbling in the technology, too, as part of their online strategies to discredit and disrupt extremist groups, or make contact with targeted individuals, for example.

It is hard to make a good deepfake on a standard computer. Most are created on high-end desktops with powerful graphics cards or better still with computing power in the cloud. This reduces the processing time from days and weeks to hours. But it takes expertise, too, not least to touch up completed videos to reduce flicker and other visual defects. That said, plenty of tools are now available to help people make deepfakes. Several companies will make them for you and do all the processing in the cloud. There’s even a mobile phone app, Zao, that lets users add their faces to a list of TV and movie characters on which the system has trained.

 

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Ever since gadgets entered our lives, we have been addicted to them. Checking the mobile phone as soon as we wake up has become part of our daily routine. Similarly, thanks to the pandemic, today our mornings begin with online classes.

While the computer is highly useful for academic purposes such as project work, it is also used as a means of entertainment. However, constant use of the computer can take a toll on our health and leave us feeling tired and exhausted.

The need to detox

Using the computer for long periods of time can affect the eyes as well as the body. The harsh light emitted by the monitor can tire your eyes and leave you with dark circles. The light is also said to affect sleep. Besides, in the absence of physical activity as a result of being confined to the house, your body will feel much weaker than it is.

Prolonged use of the computer can also lead you to develop a poor posture that can result in back and neck pain. Many people also complain of headaches and disorientation.

Another major health problem encountered by many of us today is obesity. Sitting in front of the computer for hours together can lead to weight gain. This in turn affects our heart and mind.

Ways to detox

The best way to stay away from the computer is to keep yourself occupied with other interesting things. Here are a few ways to detox and recharge yourself.

Take regular breaks:

Take a sand clock or set a reminder on your phone and place it on your computer table to remind yourself to get up and move around every half hour. During these small breaks, do simple stretches to relax your muscles before getting back to work.

Take power naps

You could feel exhausted with all the things you need to do during the day. So, to relax, take power naps instead of playing games on the computer or the Playstation.

Listen to music

Music helps us relax and destress. There's a tune for every mood. So, start listening to your favourite songs in your free time.

Allocate time for play

Even if you can’t go out, you can still play at home. There are a lot of games you can play with your family. You could also invent a game.

Reward yourself

It can be difficult to detox. A reward is a good way to keep yourself motivated. Every time you do something other than using the computer, reward yourself with something useful.

 

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On 30 April 1993, CERN made the source code of World Wide Web available on a royalty-free basis, making it free software. By late 1993 there were over 500 known web servers, and the WWW accounted for 1% of internet traffic, which seemed a lot in those days (the rest was remote access, e-mail and file transfer).

Tim moved from CERN to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994 to found the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an international community devoted to developing open web standards. He remains the Director of W3C to this day.

New permutations of these ideas are giving rise to exciting new approaches in fields as diverse as information (Open Data), politics (Open Government), scientific research (Open Access), education, and culture (Free Culture). But to date we have only scratched the surface of how these principles could change society and politics for the better.

In 2009, Sir Tim co-founded the World Wide Web Foundation with Rosemary Leith. The Web Foundation is fighting for the web we want: a web that is safe, empowering and for everyone.

 

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A podcast is a digital audio or video file that a user can download or stream and listen to. It is like an on demand internet radio where you can listen to anything you want whenever you want Usually, a podcast is an episodic series, but an individual file can also be called a podcast. The word podcast was suggested by British journalist and technologist Ben Hammersley in 2004.

Podcasts can be accessed through several mediums such as Ipods, desktop computers and smartphones. The first podcast commonly believed to have been published online is the Matt Schichter Interviews in October 2003.

One can find podcasts on a variety of topics from education to travel and life experiences. While most podcasts can be accessed for free. some are also available on a subscription basis.

How can you listen to a podcast?

Podcasts can be listened to on a desktop computer, smartphone or a digital media player such as an iPod. On a smartphone there are several apps that offer free podcasts such as Google Podcasts Spotify and Podcasts Just download any of the apps and get started. On the desktop, you can visit podcast sites directly or go to a website which also hosts podcasts, such as the BBC and The Guardian.

Podcasts for you

Here are a few websites offering podcasts that you can listen to in your free time:

BBC Podcasts

The BBC offers free podcasts on several topics. It also has a special station called School Radio which has podcasts that introduce you to the world of drama language and dance among others.

Science Friday

As the name suggests the website has podcasts on topics related to science and technology. The site has discussions by eminent personalities on topics such as alien life. climate change. and neuroscience. Apart from listening to podcasts, you can read up on several topics and also take part in STEM activities created by educators from around the world.

Wow in the World

Premiered in 2017. this podcast is by the National Public Radio. Aimed at kids, it explores several topics that will leave you thinking. It can be listened to online, or via one of the many podcast smartphone apps. It can also be downloaded for later use.

Can you upload a podcast?

Yes. Several podcast websites allow you to record your own podcast and upload it. There are also sites such as iTunes that let you host publish and maintain your own podcast series.

So, make the best use of your free time and listen to resourceful podcasts on a range of topics. And, if you fancy, you can upload your own and share your stories with the world.

 

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From the moment we open our eyes to the time we fall asleep, we are constantly checking or updating information on social media. But there's more to social media than taking selfies and creating snappy posts.

Social media has opened up newer avenues in marketing. It has immense potential because it allows companies to directly connect with their users or potential customers and understand their likes and dislikes.

How it works

Social media managers need to be constantly on their toes. They need to know everything that is happening across platforms, follow trends and news stories from around the world and see how they can tweak them to their client's needs, almost immediately.

Well-versed with different social networking platforms used by their target audience, social media managers come up with strategies designed to suit their brand promotions on these platforms. These strategies differ from platform to platform

For instance, during the lockdown on account of the COMID-19 pandemic many brands held live interviews with celebrities on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

Getting started

• Handle low profile pages: Beginners usually start by handling social media pages for their school or college


• Promote your school/college fest: On different platforms such as Facebook Twitter Instagram, etc. Come up with engaging online contests from time to time and create a campaign that will help you get hits.


• Freelance work: You can start your carter in social media marketing Sites such as Upwork and Freelancer will help you land a freelance project to experiment a little.


• Agencies With some experience under your belt you could choose to work in an agency handling digital marketing for multiple brands or work with a particular brand or business 


• Specialisation: You may choose from areas such as search engine optimisation pay-per dick, web design etc.

What to study

** Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai: PG diploma in Digital Marketing.

Courses in Digital Marketing and Social Media Management are offered by many institutes. It teaches you about platforms, analytics, and essentials of framing campaign strategies.

Where:

India:

** Xavier's Institute of Communication, Mumbai: Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Digital Marketing.

** Indian School of Business, Hyderabad: Diploma in Digital and Social Media Marketing Strategies.

Abroad:

** South New Hampshire University, the US: MBA in Social Media

** Barcelona Graduate school of Management MBA in Marketing in the Digital Era

** Concordia University, the US: MBA with a Certificate in Digital Marketing

** Excelsior College, the US: MBA with specialisation in Social Media Management.

Rubik's Cube

Don't have a Rubik's Cube at home, but have always wanted to try your hand at solving it? Then look no further than the Internet. Type out Rubik's Cube Google Doodle in the search bar and hit enter. You will find a link to the game right at the beginning of the search results page. The doodle was a tribute to Hungarian inventor and Professor of Architecture Emo Rubik.

The game is as simple as it gets. You have a 3x3 Rubik's Cube whose rows and columns you have to move around to ensure that each of the six colours on the cube forms a 3x3 grid on each side of the cube. Simply put all the nine green coloured squares need to be on one side of the cube and this is the same with the rest of the colours on the cube. If you manage to achieve this, then you're a Rubik's Cube master.

Crossword

If you are a crossword enthusiast, there's a Google Doodle to satisfy your love for the puzzle. To mark the 100th anniversary of the crossword puzzle on December 21, 2013, Google collaborated with a crossword constructor to come up with an interactive crosswords doodle.

Just head to the Google search bar and type out Crossword Google Doodle' and you will find the link. Once you begin the game, you will realise it is just like any other crossword puzzle. Clues are given on the right side. When you click a clue, the relevant portion on the grid will get highlighted and you can key in the solution.

If you think the clues are a little difficult, take your parents help. Or else, you can always Google and find the answers

Magic Cat Academy

This is a fun and exciting Google Doodle game created by Google to mark Halloween on October 31, 2016. Just key in Magic Cat Academy Google Doodle and a link to the doodle will appear

The premise and the rules of the game are explained at the start. In this game, you are a wizard cat and the ghosts have taken over the Magic Cat Academy where you study. You need to fight and kill them to get your academy back. There are a total of five levels in the gameplay. To kill the ghosts at each level, you will have to draw the symbol appearing above each ghost's head. Sometimes, you will have to draw a combination of symbols. At the end of each level, you will face a powerful ghost to kill whom a long combination of symbols needs to be drawn multiple times. Once you do so, you will move on to the next level. You have five chances to stay in the game and win. To improve your chances, sometimes a special power with a heart symbol on top will appear. If you draw the symbol, you will get an extra chance.

 

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Pac-Man

This hugely popular game, developed and released in the year 1980, can today be played by a simple Google search of the term Pacman'. When you hit enter, the Google Doodle on Pac Man will appear on the screen and you can click on Play to start the game.

The gameplay is simple. The play area is like a maze, filled with coins. You, as Pac-Man, need to collect all the coins but there will be ghosts all along to stop you from doing so. Therefore, you need to do your best to find your way around the maze, avoiding the ghosts and collecting the coins. Besides, there are special coins (power pellets) which are bigger than the other to help you fight the ghosts. When you chance upon this coin, the ghosts will turn blue in colour. They are rendered ineffective for a brief period of time. Look for more of these coins to protect yourself from the ghosts. And when possible, attack the ghosts when they are blue in colour as this will help you collect extra points. Collecting a certain amount of power pellets will also unlock a special fruit that gives you more points.

Tic Tac Toe

Tired of finding someone to play this classic game with? Worry not, you can play against the computer. As a bonus, you do not have to waste any paper either

Just head to Google Search and type tic tac toe for a quick break. You can choose between the cross or the nought. You will have a 33 grid where you can place each cross during your turn. Once you place the cross the computer will mark the nought on an available free space on the grid. This continues till either you or the computer manage to get three continuous marks horizontally, vertically diagonally.

The game lets you choose the difficulty level between easy, medium and hard. It also keeps a tab of your scores, which can be shared using the share feature on the game.

Garden Gnomes

This interesting game is available in the Google Doodle archives. Doodle released this game in 2018 to celebrate Garden Day in Germany. Somewhat similar to the hugely popular Angry Birds game, Garden Gnomes requires you to fling a garden gnome across the empty green field, sprouting flowers on the way. The goal is to fling the garden gnome as far as possible. Along the way, you can find certain objects that will propel your garden gnome further. There are different types of garden gnomes for you to choose from.

Just key in Garden Gnomes Google in the search bar and you can find a link to the Google Doodle Archive listing of the game.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Atari Breakout

The original Breakout game was released by Atari, a gaming company, in 1976. It was hugely popular and a fun game to play. Before, you could go to Google Images and type 'Atari Breakout and the game would appear. But now, you need to type out 'Atari Breakout in the Google Search bar and dick on A feeling lucky Once you do so, the game will pop up on your screen.

Playing the game is simple - There are several bricks laid out on the top of the screen and you need to break them all using a ball. Whenever the ball hits a brick, the brick breaks and the ball starts descending towards the lower half of the screen. The challenge lies in bouncing the ball right back up using the paddle that you can control with the arrow keys or the mouse. The goal is to destroy all the bricks. You do get several turns to do so, but you need to be quick and attentive to win the game.

Snake

Remember the classic snake game that was available on most basic mobile phones and hand-held video games? You can now play the game using Google search with colourful visuals and sounds. All you need to do is to type Play Snake in the search bar and the game will appear on screen. For those of you who haven't played the game yet here are the rules: You are given a grid, which is the play space. And an apple appears anywhere on the grid. You play the role of the snake who needs to devour the apple. You can control the directions of the snake using the arrow keys. Once it devours the apple, another one appears in some other part of the board. As the snake keeps eating apples, it grows bigger in length, making it difficult for you to control it. This cycle continues as long as the player loses. You lose the game of the snake hit against the sides of the play area or if it hits against itself.

The game also lets you customize and play to your liking. You can make the snake move faster or slower, and choose a different fruit as well.

Doodle Cricket

Over the years, Google has brought out some innovative and interactive Google Doodles. One such doodle was for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. This doodle has featured subsequently for other cricketing events as well.

To access the game, just go to the Google doodle archives and type cricket in the search bar. Alternatively. You can type Google Cricket and the link will appear. The gameplay is simple - You, the batsman, are a grasshopper, and the snails (the computer) are the opponent team. A snail will bowl to you and you need to hit the ball by clicking the mouse button or pressing the Space bar at the right time. If you miss, you are out. As the game progresses, the bowling speed will change. Score as many points as you can doing this. You can even compete with your friends and share the Scores.

 

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What is Vlogging?

A vlog is basically a video blog- a blog that consists of videos rather than write-ups. Vlogs can be made on a wide array of topics from exotic travels to everyday life. The videos are uploaded on streaming channels in the form of episodes.

How it works

Vloggers regularly post content in the form of videos and earn followers. If they get a substantial number of followers, they are offered ads and sponsorships. Many brands also approach them for promotions and product placement. From do-it-yourself videos on make-up and cooking to travel diaries and online tutorials, people are open to all sorts of content. So choose a topic and go live.

What are the prospects?

Previously, it was thought that a person making content for an online medium such as YouTube may not get any financial benefit out of it. But that's not the case anymore. To begin with, vlogging requires minimal monetary investment as there are gadgets in different price ranges, and thanks to the internet, posting content online is free. And if your videos go viral, you will be paid for ads and sponsorships. For instance, you can enable your YouTube channel for monetisation and connect it to an AdSense account. The revenue depends on your content and country- for instance, they maybe higher in the U.S. but comparatively lower in India. Once you have dedicated followers, brands may even invite you for their events and promotions.

Required skills

• Creativity and the ability to come up with interesting content.


• Shooting skills: Unlike professional filmmaking, vlogging doesn't require expert camera work. Vloggers usually shoot on hand-held devices- such as mobile phones or action cameras. All you need to do is ensure that you get the sound and lighting right.


• Editing skills: Videos and short films are usually edited using online editors that can be downloaded free of cost from the Internet. Several websites and online tutorials can teach you to use these software and apps.


• Camera presence and a charismatic personality.

What to study?

• Notabilis, Sociatrix Humanus and Maxime (NSHM) Knowledge Campus, Kolkata: B.Sc and M.Sc in Film and Television (includes digital short film making, videography, camera handling, scriptwriting and the basics of directing.)


• Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune: Postgraduate diploma courses in Digital Film Production.

Dos and Don'ts

• Ensure your content doesn't violate copyrights.


• Integrate your channel with other social media and tag social media stars.


• Choose paid sponsorships carefully.


• Don't overspend on equipment.

 

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Since the commencement of the lockdown, there has been an increase in the number of channels on video hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. Videos posted on these channels are called ‘vlogs’. A vlog is a portmanteau of “video” and “blog”. It is a form of blog where the medium of sharing views is video, instead of text.

Usually, a vlog means to take a video of yourself speaking about some topic and posting it on your blog. But today, with the rise in video hosting sites, the term has expanded to include any kind of videos hosted on such sites, with or without text.

A person who vlogs is called a vlogger.

Types of vlogs

Most vlogs found online can be broadly categorized into two types – personal vlogs and live broadcast vlogs.

Personal vlogs are the ones where people talk about different aspects relating to a main topic. These include beauty vlogs and travel vlogs.

These videos are usually recorded beforehand, and edited and uploaded at a suitable time. You can find personal vlogs all over the Internet.

On the other hand, live broadcast vlogs are videos aired live. A vlogger usually hosts a live video on the site and speaks spontaneously to a live audience. These vlogs remain on the site for about 24 hours after which they disappear. However, vloggers can save these vlogs and upload them later.

Some popular vloggers

There are millions of vloggers on the Internet, hosting vlogs on diverse topics. While some of them vlog for fun, some take it up as a career and make money through brand collaborations and monetization policies of websites. One of the most popular vloggers is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, whose YouTibe channel, PewDiePie, has over 100 million subscribers. He vlogs on gaming, comedy, satire and more.

Ryan’s Toy Reviews featuring 8-year-old Ryan Kaji is another popular YouTube channel with over 26 million subscribers. Ryan is one of the highest earning YouTubers. He usually reviews toys from around the world.

Starting your own vlog

If you are interested in starting a vlog, here are a few tips:

Talk to your parents

Share your interest with your parents and seek their support in helping you start a vlog. It is always helpful to have an adult around. They can also help you with ideas.

Decide on a topic

This is most important. Even before you pick up the camera and start vlogging, you need to decide on a topic. Topic can vary from travel, to food, to even Do-It-Yourself crafts. This is what will give your channel direction and set it apart from others.

Decide on equipment

Most professional vloggers invest in a camera and lights. However, since you are just starting out, you can use natural lightning and a smartphone camera. Just ensure the camera is not shaky and the audio is clear, as it can get very disturbing for the viewer otherwise.

Choose a video hosting platform

Now that you have decided on a topic and have your equipment in place, it’s time to decide on a video hosting platform. While YouTube is the most popular, there are other platforms such as Vimeo too. Do your research and see what suits you best.

Viewing rights and monetization

Before you upload your video, decide on who gets to view your content. If you are creating content only for family members and friends, you can make the video private and share the link with them. However, if you wish to monetize your content, making your videos public is a better option.

 

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It is stressful situations for many to be restricted indoors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Expressing yourself can help you cope with the situation. A blog is one of the best ways for you to do just that. A truncation of the word ‘Weblog’ (which is a portmanteau of the word ‘web’ and ‘log’) a blog is like your own website where you can post content you like. While it started initially as an online diary, where people could share their day-to-day happenings, today, blogs are used for a variety of purposes such as a marketing tool, a travelogue, a recipe blog or just about anything you want it to be.

Blogging is a great de-stressor and a wonderful way to connect with like-minded people. Now, that you have time in hand, why not start a blog of your own? Here are some blogging tips that can help you make the most of your journey as a blogger.

The right platform

Do your research and choose the right blogging platform for your needs. There are several blogging sites on the World Wide Web, some require you to pay a minimum fee, while others are completely free. There are also sites that let you blog for free but require you to pay if you want additional features such as customization. Different blogging sites offer choose the best platform for yourself. Keep all this in mind before you choose the best platform for yourself. For beginners, Blogger, WordPress, and Medium are some of the sites that are a good starting point.

Multimedia is your best friend

Gone are the days when blogging was only about text. Today, most blogging sites let you use a variety of media to express yourself. You can upload pictures, videos and audio along with text in a single blog post. Sometimes pictures can express what words can’t and videos can also add another dimension to what you write. So use multimedia to express yourself better.

Do not upload media that is not yours as it can lead to copyright violation. However, if you think a video online conveys what you wish to say, you can link the video on your blog but remember to give due credit.

Think before you post

It is good to express your view, but remember that the Internet is filled with diverse people. Do not post anything offensive against people or any culture or religion. And do your best not to hurt anyone’s sentiments. Hence, before you click on the ‘post’ or ‘share’ button, read through what you have written, and if needed, ask a well-wisher to proof it for you. Only then, post your content online.

Build a network

If your wish to take up blogging as a career option in the future, promote yourself and build a network. Connect with like-minded individuals on social media platforms and share your work wherever possible. Similarly, share the works of people you follow or any good content online. Everyone is trying to do their best to express themselves. Sharing posts will not just fetch your blog more users, but will also get you feedback that can be used to better your blog in the future.

 

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When the online community (or crowd) is asked for services, ideas or content, it is called crowdsourcing. When a project is too vast and time-consuming for an individual or a small group of individuals to accomplish, they put the proposal online and invite netizens to contribute their ideas, insights and experience to complete it. The task is then divided among those who volunteer to work on the assignment either online or offline. Some projects pay the participants.

Crowdsourcing is essentially social networking used to gather scientific data, to locate missing persons, to raise funds for charity and to finance promising innovations and start-ups (also called crowdfunding).

The American Human Genome Project that mapped the sequences of all the 3 billion base pairs of human DNA was one of the major scientific projects to use crowdsourcing. The manmoth project took the help of researchers across Asia and Europe and managed to finish its task within ten years!

The term was first used in 2006 in an article by Jeff Howe for Wired magazine.

 

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Sitting sill for hours glued to the computer or the television screen can affect our physical and mental well-being. Apart from the regular breaks you take in between your long sessions online, invest time in your fitness. Here, we list a few apps and videos you can refer to or download to start your workout programme in the comfort of your home.

Yoga for kids and family fitness

This app is not just for children, but for the whole family well. Offering interesting asanas as well as healthy recipes and nutrition facts, this app is a whole package. There are different difficulty levels in workouts to suit your needs. The animated characters that teach you the workouts are the most entertaining aspect of the app.

This app is available for free download on Android phones.

Fitness Pets

This app encourages you to stay fit in an interesting way, fun way. The app lets you choose a virtual pet and take care of it. Your virtual pet grows and develops when you walk a certain number of steps in a day. The app also has fun mini quests and games to keep you motivated.

This app is available for free download on Android phones.

Little sports

This YouTube channel has two animated characters showing different exercises. Their playlists have exercises targeting different body parts as well as full-body workouts. You can cast the workout to the television or stream it on your laptop. The videos are simple to follow and span anywhere between 10 mins and 40 mins.

Stand Up Kids – Movement break

This website aims to get kids moving and give up on their sedentary lifestyle. Under the Stand Up Kids movement break curriculum, you can find a variety of exercises that help you stay fit, not just physically but also mentally. The video are shot by coaches and physical education teachers and can be easily followed. They also have a YouTube channel with fitness videos.

Get kids moving

This interesting YouTube channel started by a health coach and personal trainer from London helps you realize your potential as a superhero. The channel has videos focused on moves from your favourite superhero and fantasy movies such as Wonder Woman, Captain America and Harry Potter. The workouts are short, fun and easy to follow. Time to put on your superhero game face.

 

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The mention of the word “bookmark” brings to mind colourful designs. The bookmark offers a sense of comfort to those who find it difficult to trace the pages of the book they are reading. However, just as a bookmark lets you mark a page in a book, the feature lets you do the same online.

What is a bookmark?

Bookmarks are a feature offered by web browsers to pin webpages. While a physical bookmark lets you mark just one page of the book, the online feature enables you to pin several webpages.

You can bookmark as many webpages as you like and organise them into folders. However, a bookmark only stores the URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Meaning you can access a bookmarked page only when you are online. Besides, the contents of the bookmarked webpage can change.

Apart from saving and organising bookmarks, one can also export them.

How to bookmark pages and organise them

Bookmarking pages is a simple process. In most web browsers, next to the URL of the webpage, you can find a star icon. Just clicking on it will bookmark the page for you. Alternatively, you can visit the settings tab in your browser, select the bookmarks option and add the bookmark, or you could use the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl+D.

Once you have bookmarked a page, you can find it in the settings under bookmarks.

To remove a page from the bookmarks, go back to the setting and delete it from the bookmarks manager under bookmarks.

To organise your bookmarks, go to the bookmarks manager. Once there, you can choose the option to add a folder and name it as per your liking. The, drag and drop your bookmarks into it.

Meanwhile, when bookmarking a page, you can choose to save the bookmark in the folder of your choice.

Browsers also offer the option of exporting all your bookmarks to the computer. This option is available in the bookmarks manager.

What are the benefits?

Bookmarks can offer you quick access to the webpages you frequently visit. It can also serve as a memory bank that allows you to revisit a webpage you once liked.

Mostly, bookmarking sites can be beneficial when it comes to project work. Imagine you are working on a science project and visiting webpages that have relevant content. Instead of remembering the pages, you can create a folder in the bookmarks and add all the pages to it. This way, the next time you login, you can view all the pages easily from the bookmarks.

 

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Check your privacy setting

All social media sites have privacy settings. This can be found in your profile tab. By default, most settings are set to public, meaning anyone using the Internet can view what you post. But you can restrict this to just your friends by altering the settings. It is advisable to do so, as there are several people online waiting to prey on your data.

Use apps and messengers with end-to-end-encryption

When you use messaging services such as WhatsApp, you can notice a message which says your chats are end-to-end encrypted. This is a system of communication where only the users who are engaged in a chat can read the messages. What you share with each other cannot be preyed on by telecom companies or other providers waiting to use your data for targeted advertisements.

Hence, check for services and apps that have end-to-end encryption to maintain your privacy.

Don’t let websites track you

Certain web services and browsers allow websites to view and use information that your browser can reveal about your behavior. But the good news is that there are search engines and browsers available online for free that do not let websites track your data. Look for these and use them.

Don’t reveal personal data

If you don’t want random people calling, messaging or landing up at your door, keep your personal data private. Don’t reveal sensitive information online, even if your privacy settings are set to the maximum. Remember, your privacy is in your hands.

Antivirus to the rescue

An antivirus software is your best friend when it comes to privacy. It keeps hackers and data-preying sites and services at bay and ensures protection for your data and your system. So, remember to invest in a good one.

 

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