Q. How difficult is it to check out eBooks from the public library?
A. There are a number of different methods to access library books on a device. One of the most commonly used is also one of the easiest to use: Libby. Not every library system supports Libby, so check your local branch before you move forward.
Install the Libby app from your device’s App Store. Enter your library credentials, usually a card number and PIN number. If you need help with this step, ask someone at your local library for assistance.
The Libby app allows you to browse the catalog of materials available from your local library, check out any available title, including books, magazines, and audiobooks. You can also request a book that is not available or place a hold on a book already checked out.
The Libby app works as a decent eBook reader, but I prefer to read on the Kindle app on my iPad. During check out a button will appear to send it to the Kindle. If not already configured, go to the section “Manage Your Content and Devices” on the Web page amazon.com/kindle and configure a “default” Kindle device.
Remember to enable notifications for the Libby app to receive reminders to return the book before it is due.
If your local library lacks support for Libby, check out this month’s Wander the Web for a list of libraries that offer accounts to non-resident borrowers.
In the last month I’ve become a huge fan of Libby. I will write more as my exploration continues. Stay tuned.
Q. Are the caller ID displays on my phone accurate?
A. It depends. Caller ID technology is not secure, and there are a number of different methods that enable someone to place calls using a fake Caller ID.
Caller ID spoofing, as it is often called, has been a serious problem for decades. Laws have been passed, technology updated, and pearls clutched, but the fake calls keep coming.
There is little you can do except keep your guard up. Do not assume that Caller ID is correct. Be extra wary if the name displayed is some sort of official account, and doubly cautious if the caller effectively threatens you with some urgent manner.
One of the best techniques to combat fake callers is to ask for a callback number, and verify it is correct. It helps to know the real phone number for your bank’s fraud unit, since that is one of the few times a phone call might actually be urgent.
Note it is not just voice calls. Spoofed caller IDs also appear on some text message services.
Q. How can I access passwords stored in my iPhone’s iCloud Keychain on my Windows computer?
A. When you use iCloud Keychain on your iPhone, all of your passwords are backed up to encrypted cloud storage. If you also use the Firefox browser on Windows 11, there is a new way to access your passwords in the cloud thanks to the iCloud Passwords Firefox extension (addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/icloud-passwords/).
To enable the extension, you also need to download the iCloud for Windows app (available from the Microsoft App Store) and enable the iCloud Passwords setting.
Once configured, it is possible to create new accounts or update existing passwords on either your Apple device or a Windows 11 PC and the credentials are shared on both devices.
If you prefer a browser other than Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers on Windows can also use Apple iCloud Passwords via browser extensions.
In order to remain as secure as possible, make sure any iCloud browser extension you add to your device is supplied by Apple Inc., and not some third party.
Once configured, the entire workflow is reliable, secure, and convenient.
Bob has been writing about technology for over three decades. He can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.
Wander the Web
Here are my picks for worthwhile browsing
this month:
Everything you ever wanted to know about tying knots, including how-to, without tying yourself in a knot.
Check out the libraries across the country that offer remote access beyond local residents
Eye Candy
Protect your sweet tooth from the site Candy Wrapper Archive, which contains 700+ wrappers from popular brands throughout the 20th century.
