Faster: 100 Ways to Improve your Digital Life Read online

  Ankit Fadia

  FASTER

  100 Ways to Improve Your Digital Life

  Contents

  About the Author

  Foreward by Sanjeev Bikhchandani

  Introduction

  FUNCTIONALITY

  1. How to send a secret message that will self-destruct in the recipient’s inbox

  2. How to send huge file attachments via email

  3. How to e-sign a document

  4. How to stop wasting time online

  5. How to send an email in the future

  6. How to unsend an email from Gmail

  7. How to remotely access your computer from mobile devices

  8. How to manage your contacts smartly

  9. How to identify a caller who is not on your contacts list

  10. How to automatically share your location with your friends

  11. How to search your Gmail account like a pro

  12. How to manage all your to-do lists

  13. How to easily split the bill at dinner

  14. How to convert file formats easily

  15. How to get the most out of your day

  16. How to manage, search and share your file attachments

  17. How to manage, search and share your file attachments from a mobile phone

  18. How to take notes using Gmail

  19. How to permanently delete files from your computer, tablet or phone

  20. How to recover deleted files

  21. How to make life simpler by automating tasks on your mobile phone

  22. How to create expense reports easily

  23. How to drive safely with the help of your phone

  24. How to send stuff from your browser to your mobile device

  25. How to make web pages print-friendly

  26. How to type faster on a touchscreen Android device

  27. How to fight spam in your Gmail account

  28. How to share stuff online easily and quickly

  29. How to use your phone to be punctual

  30. How to extend your mobile phone’s battery life

  31. How to schedule stuff with your friends and colleagues easily

  32. How to Google like a pro

  33. How to manage all the tabs in your browser

  34. How to recover form data if your computer crashes

  35. How to increase your computer’s speed

  36. How to block ads on websites

  37. How to update your Facebook status or tweet in the future

  38. How to save money on your mobile phone data plans

  39. How to organize, search, manage and share your pictures easily

  40. How to automatically back up everything on your mobile phone

  41. How to send canned responses to emails automatically

  42. How to hide files inside photographs

  43. How to send free SMS text messages to your friends from your phone

  44. How to turn your phone into a flashlight

  45. How to create a personal Wi-Fi hotspot using your mobile phone

  46. How to record and share your movements outdoors

  47. How to measure everything using your mobile phone

  48. How to take professional photos with your mobile phone

  49. How to send an SMS text message in the future

  50. How to remember where you parked your car

  51. How to catch a cheating partner red-handed

  52. How to block calls from annoying people

  53. How to sleep better using your Android phone

  54. How to quickly switch between apps

  55. How to access websites normally available only in a particular region

  LOOK AND FEEL

  56. How to search visually

  57. How to resize pictures easily

  58. How to beautify Facebook Chat

  59. How to customize everything in YouTube

  60. How to improve your photo-viewing experience on Facebook

  61. How to add special effects to text on Facebook and Twitter

  62. How to gather information as you travel using your mobile phone

  63. How to customize the background and colours on Facebook

  64. How to download entire photo albums from Facebook

  65. How to get the movie-theatre effect while watching YouTube videos

  66. How to explore the night sky using your phone

  67. How to download videos from YouTube

  68. How to customize the look and feel of Facebook

  SECURITY

  69. How to detect if your account has been hacked

  70. How to make your accounts hack-proof

  71. How to avoid phishing attacks

  72. How to encrypt and password-protect your files and folders

  73. How to improve the security on your phone and tablet

  74. How to password-protect apps on your phone or tablet

  75. How to password-protect your photos and movies on iPhones and iPads

  76. How to secure your Wi-Fi network at home

  77. How to trace your lost or stolen mobile phone

  78. How to trace your lost or stolen laptop

  79. How to use your mobile phone for your personal safety

  80. How to trace a lost or stolen digital camera

  81. How to save your passwords securely

  82. How to trace an email back to the internet service provider

  83. How to trace your lost or stolen Android phone

  84. How to block inappropriate websites and content from your kids

  FUN STUFF!

  85. How to convert your computer into a photo booth

  86. How to discover new music by creating playlists in YouTube

  87. How to control music on your phone with a wave of your hand

  88. How to convert your phone into a remote control for your computer

  89. How to make basic conversation in foreign languages using your mobile phone

  90. How to use the panic button to hide stuff from your boss

  91. How to access blocked websites

  92. How to recognize a song playing somewhere

  93. How to create a disposable email account

  94. How to beat Internet trolls

  95. How to stay inspired in life

  96. How to send free SMS text messages from your Gmail account

  97. How to get fake incoming call to get out of sticky situations

  98. How to use a fake SMS to get out of trouble

  99. How to send and receive text messages from your Android phone using your computer

  100. How to wirelessly transfer files from phone to phone

  Follow Penguin

  Copyright Page

  PORTFOLIO

  FASTER

  The bestselling author Ankit Fadia is a 28-year-old tech junkie who loves tinkering with computers, gadgets and everything tech. He hosts a show called Geek on the Loose for Ping Networks and has had a popular series on MTV called What the Hack!, where he gave tips, tricks and tweaks to get more out of technology and the Internet. Widely recognized as a computer security expert, he has delivered more than a thousand talks in twenty-five countries, received several awards and trained more than 20,000 people in India and China. He has studied at Stanford University and was chosen as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. Ankit loves to travel and has visited over a hundred countries. For more information, please visit his website http://www.ankitfadia.com.

  Praise for the Book

  ‘In this easy-to-read book, Ankit shares simple tips, tricks and tweaks that make digital life faster and more productive. Try it out—doing is believing!’—Git
a Piramal, business historian and author of the bestseller Business Maharajas

  ‘There are so many digital tools available to us via the web and mobile. However, often we are unable to maximize the utility and efficiency these tools can bring to our lives. Without a doubt, Ankit’s book will help simplify the lives of many of us. This book will deliver a wow moment more than a few times!’—Kunal Bahl, Founder, Snapdeal.com

  ‘The world that we are in today comes up with something new now and then, and we fail to know them all and deal appropriately. Ignorance sometimes embarrasses us and, at other times, we suffer being left behind. It is worth acknowledging this book of Ankit, Faster, will be a guiding light to the digital world, which is, in fact, the closest mate of this generation. I like it, and congratulate him, and also give my wishes to all the readers. May it add mileage in our endeavours, each day and for the better.’—M.C. Mary Kom, Padma Bhushan, 2013; Bronze Medal Winner, Boxing, London Olympics 2012

  ‘The world-renowned ethical hacker Ankit Fadia has done it again. This book is a must - read for everyone—young and old, men and women—and will surely make you more tech-savvy. Written in an easy-to-read-and-understand style, I am confident this book will help every individual make more out of their digital lives. I have personally learnt and implemented a lot of new things about even the most routine acts like sending an email. Must say, my digital life rocks today. Thanks, Ankit.’—Amit Burman, Vice Chairman, Dabur India Limited

  ‘We all live, at least, two lives today … one our real life and the other our digital life. Ankit Fadia makes our digital life simple through this amazing book and allows us to maximize the potential of living in our digital world. The tips and tricks mentioned in the book will allow users to be productive and safe and make the best of the digital world to enhance their own potential.’—Shantanu Prakash, Chairman and MD, Educomp Solutions Limited

  ‘Like the title suggests, this book aims to make our digital life lot simpler and more comfortable. It’s these tricks which make you from an amateur to a pro … grab the book now!’—Vishal Gondal, Founder, Indiagames Limited and Angel Investor

  ‘Ankit shows many tricks and tips to get more out of the Internet and mobile phone, our constant companions in the hyper-networked world we live in.’—V.R. Ferose, Senior Vice-President, Globalization Services, SAP AG

  ‘As we are getting dependent more and more on devices around us, Ankit has helped in uncluttering the overload and smartly improve our productivity—in a non-techie way. A great help in our daily lives!’—Vikrampati Singhania, Deputy MD, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.

  ‘Considering we live a large part of our lives online, and pay as much attention to our virtual avatars as our real ones, we don’t spend too much time understanding how deep the depths of the Internet are. Ankit Fadia is a navigator above par of the cyber ocean and is the right guide for anyone who cares for their online reputation. What’s more, he makes the web understandable and easier and faster so that we get much more out of our time spent online. We cannot deny that our lives will only become more virtual and Ankit’s book Faster: 100 Ways to Improve Your Digital Life is like getting keys to the Ferrari that is the speeding web.’—Devita R. Saraf, CEO, Vu Technologies

  ‘Ankit is one of a kind! His book finally allows PLU (people like us) to safely navigate the digital highway … and enjoy the journey! Can’t wait for his next 100 tips!’—Manish Chokhani, Managing Director and CEO, Axis Capital Limited

  ‘This is a book everyone will love and a must-read! Ankit is one of the smartest, most hard-working, most efficient and most fun-loving people I know, and he has been able to achieve tremendous success in a short span of time thanks to his love for technology and, importantly, how he leverages technology to get things done quickly. In just the first five minutes of reading the book, I had already learnt multiple ways to make my digital life faster and more fun! I am glad he is sharing these gems with all of us, and look forward to reading more of his books in the time to come.’—Rohan Verma, Executive Director, MapmyIndia

  ‘Ankit combines his deep understanding of the digital space with his passion for helping people navigate technology. He has the uncanny ability to present complex ideas in simple ways that everyone can understand. His latest book Faster presents a comprehensive toolkit that will help readers significantly enhance their productivity. I am sure it is going to be a runaway success!’—Kulin Lalbhai, Executive Director, Arvind Mills

  ‘This book is both extremely relevant and useful in today’s digital age. Each chapter contains things that you have always wanted to do but didn’t know how. Can’t wait to try some of these tips out!’—Varun Swarup, Paharpur Cooling Towers

  ‘The subject matter of the book is indeed interesting and young students, in particular, will be inspired and excited to read it. The simple topics chosen and explained well will be a source of great knowledge to every reader. It is not just how to get more out of technology, but how to apply it to our daily lives to make it faster, better and more efficient! In this book, Ankit provides some of these answers for people like me who use technology every day.’—P.P. Chhabria, Chairman, Finolex Cables Limited

  Foreword

  When Ankit Fadia told me that he could detail a hundred simple ways in which I could substantially improve my digital life, I was intrigued but sceptical. No one else had made such a proposition in over twenty-five years of my rendezvous with the digital world. I first met Ankit about ten years ago at an entrepreneurship conference in India. He was still in his teens. Since then, I have been following his progress quite closely as he figures out more and more ways to make this world technology-efficient and digitally secure. I find his attention to detail and knowledge about the nitty-gritty of technology quite remarkable.

  The importance of this book clearly reflects in its application in my daily life. I have an iPhone with around a hundred features, but I use less than ten of them, either because I haven’t had the time to figure out the functionality of the others, or was not able to benefit much when I did try. It was the same for all my other phones—and I must have had more than a dozen since the time I got my first mobile phone in 1996. This book cuts across the clutter by clearly outlining each need which is solved, with the steps to solve it. And it does all this in extremely simple language such that the lack of technical capability of the reader does not impact the usefulness of the book in any way.

  For instance, I receive several hundred emails every day. Many are spam mails that made it past my filters, and these I simply delete. I reply to some immediately, and then there are some mails each day that I think I will reply to later, but then forget. The senders do expect a reply. Learning how to schedule emails to be ‘boomeranged’ back to the top of my inbox at a later date and time has changed my response rate by a significant margin. Finding out easy ways to schedule replies later has led to a better utilization of my time when I do have more of it. I now use my flying time to draft not only professional but also personal messages like sending birthday wishes etc. to family and friends, which I schedule for sending at a later predefined date and time. And there are several nifty tips and tricks in this book that can help you manage your time better.

  With this book, one can make more productive, secure, fun and beautiful every single day in one’s digital life. It cuts across gadgets, platforms and tasks that users encounter on an everyday basis. Did you know that you can get the movie-theatre effect while watching YouTube videos or explore the night sky using your mobile phone? I did not. It’s simply fascinating stuff!

  Every page in this book is an enthusiastic celebration of technology’s ability to make lives better. What makes it even more wonderful is the ease with which it includes the non-tech-savvy user, since today, no one can be said to be outside the realm of technology. Next time, if Ankit tells me that he can list a thousand ways to make my digital life better, I will probably just be intrigued but no more sceptical.

  Sanjeev Bikhchandani

  Fou
nder and Executive Vice Chairman, Naukri.com

  Introduction

  I grew up in Delhi and, like most other Indian boys, my dream was to play cricket professionally. However, when I was ten years old, my parents gifted me a computer, and it changed the course of my life forever. The first time I used the computer, it made me incredibly happy. Since then, I have found everything related to technology, gadgets and the Internet really fascinating. The thrill of things constantly changing technology-wise, and how it impacts all aspects of life, can be addictive. I still remember spending the better part of my teenage years tinkering around with software and hardware, trying to get them to do more things than what was prescribed. They say that forbidden fruit always attracts—hacking is a field that blurs the boundaries of legality and illegality. The lure of the unknown and a lot of other fun possibilities were what attracted me to it. When I was fourteen years old, I wrote my first book—An Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking—which received a very good response in the market. This encouraged me to convert my hobby of computer hacking into a full-time profession.

  My day job is to train, advise and consult individuals, companies and governments on how to be secure on the Internet. However, what gives me even more pleasure is when I get to tinker around with technology and tweak it to make it work cooler, faster and better. There are very few things that I find more exciting than being able to stretch the limits of technology. Due to the proliferation of social networks, smartphones and applications, I’m constantly asked questions outside the hacking space, where people are curious about how they could optimize their digital lives. A few years ago, I started my own show on MTV called What the Hack!

  Every week, VJ Jose and I shared simple tips, tricks and tweaks which made everybody’s technological lives easier, faster and better. The response to the show was fantastic and played a significant role in encouraging me to think about writing this book.

  If you use technology on a daily basis but wish that there was a way to improve your interaction with it, without necessarily getting very technical or geeky, I think you will find this book quite useful. As the title suggests, this book contains 100 simple ways that will make your everyday digital life cooler, simpler, faster, stylish and more productive. Each chapter will give you practical tips, tricks, tweaks, apps and tools that will help you stretch the limits of technology, so that you can get more out of it—at work, at home and while you are on the move.