Google Timeline
We discussed Google Timeline at the Club back in September 2018 – see the blog from that session:-
https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2018/09/
Timeline is accessible from the Google Maps app on your mobile device. When we discussed it before, it was also available by using a browser on your PC and going to:-
maps.google.com
However, from 18th May 2025, it will only be available on the mobile app. This change is being rolled out, so you can still access Google Maps in your browser and you will still find Your Timeline in the menu:-
Click on the 3-bar Menu symbol (top left)and select Your Timeline.
However, this may now tell you to use the mobile app to access Timeline.
The purpose of this change seems to be to store your location data only on your phone, rather then it being uploaded to the Google cloud.
On your mobile device, launch the Google Maps app, tap the circle at the top right with your picture or initial and select Your Timeline.
Initially, you will see a map of your travels today. Tap Today to access a calendar and select any previous date to see where you were. You can also tap on Trips, Places, etc at the top to see a map of places you have visited and then tap on one of the locations for more details
You may find it useful to look back on your previous activity. Alternatively, if you don’t like the idea of Google tracking you all the time, you can disable this feature:-
- While in Timeline, tap the 3-dots
- Select Location and privacy settings
- Under Location settings tap Timeline is on
- You will see the option to turn off Timeline.
If you want to turn on Timeline, first you need to make sure Location History is enabled:-
- Open the Google Maps app
- Tap Your Profile
- Tap the 3-dots and select Profile Settings
- Tap Timeline is off
- Tap Turn On under the Timeline heading
- Tap Turn on at the bottom of the screen
- Close and re-open the Map app
VPNs
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN gives you an encrypted “tunnel” between your device and a server somewhere in the world – you can usually select which country it is in.
You would have to set up an account with a VPN provider. They will provide software (an app) to install on your device and a connection to a remote server. The app will connect your device with that remote server, encrypting all the data traffic between your device and the server.
So, when you visit a web site, that site will see the IP address of the VPN server rather than the IP address of your network connection. This has potential benefits:-
- It disguises your IP address, providing a degree of anonymity,
- It encrypts all traffic, so anyone who tried to monitor your traffic would not be able to make sense of it (including your ISP),
- Your location will appear to be the location of the remote VPN server, rather than the actual location of your device. This might allow you to access services that are not available in your geographical location.
A VPN provider has a lot of servers and software to set up and maintain, so they usually need to charge for their service, although they may offer a free trial period and some may offer a free tier with limited data throughput (e.g. Tunnel Bear offer 2 GB per month free - https://www.tunnelbear.com/).
If you are using a VPN so you appear to be in another country/region to access content from a streaming service (e.g. Netflix), this may not always work. The streaming service providers may be able to identify that you are using a VPN and block your access.
Changing your apparent location using a VPN might also trigger security warnings. For example, if you suddenly try to access your bank as if you are in the USA when only moments earlier you were in the UK, that could (quite reasonably) trigger fraud alert.
VPNs can be very useful from a privacy standpoint. Most web sites are now encrypted (https), so are reasonably secure without a VPN. However, anyone monitoring your traffic might still be able to see which site you were accessing. Using a VPN would hide everything. This is perhaps more important if you are connecting via a public wi-fi network in somewhere such as a coffee shop, especially if that network is unencrypted. Also remember that you can use your mobile data when you are out and about which is more secure than an unknown wi-fi network, but does require a good enough signal and a sufficient data allowance.
If you are very paranoid, you could secure your whole home network behind a VPN by setting up a VPN client on your router. You would need a router which supports using a VPN - which the average ISP router does not. This article, by the VPN provider NordVPN based in Lithuania, discusses how you can set up a VPN on a router:-
https://nordvpn.com/blog/setup-vpn-router/
If you want to go into further details about VPNs, you could watch this 18 minute video by CyberNews:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BpL0SXoRFQ
There is a wide choice of VPN providers. The provider must be trustworthy and offer good speed, reliability and value for money. Check out reviews such as this one by The Independent:-
https://www.independent.co.uk/advisor/vpn/best-vpn
Landline Digital Switchover
We have discussed this before, most recently in June this year - see the blog for that session:-
https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2024/06/
The original deadline for the switchover was December 2025, but, as we mentioned in June, this has now been extended to January 2027.
The recent storms which resulted in power cuts in some areas led Linda to raise the issue of how the digital phone system will cope in these circumstances. We discussed the use of battery backup and mobile services which could cope for a period in a power-cut. As Brian pointed out, the battery backup used by the masts of the mobile network are also limited and may not provide service for very long during a power outage.
Since the meeting, I have found this Which? article covering many of the issues we talked about, including help for the vulnerable, telecare systems, etc:-
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/broadband/article/digital-voice-and-the-landline-phone-switch-off-what-it-means-for-you-aPSOH8k1i6Vv
We will probably revisit this topic over the next couple of years.
OneDrive File Sync Issues
Brian had issues with Paradox database software when it syncs files with OneDrive. I suggested this may relate to the Documents folder effectively changing its location to the OneDrive folder when Documents are backed up by the OneDrive app. I also suggested it might be worth trying to use a different cloud service to see if this also had the same issues.
Updating Software
Cherry had some software which needed an update patch implementing and asked how it might be done. My advice was to refer to the Help page on the software manufacturer's web site. It may be as simple are just running the patch. As Brian pointed out, the program may have a "Check for Updates" option under the Help menu which would download and update it.
Next Session
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year and I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting on:-
Wed 8th January 2025 at 2pm by Zoom
