Technology Practice Tips Podcast (tp²) : Recent Episodes
The Law Society of Ontario
The Technology Practice Tips Podcast (tp²) is a set of byte-sized discussions on need-to-know technology topics and trends for lawyers and paralegals. Listen to tp² to gain practical insights and best practice tips on email and file management, use of social media, cloud computing, data protection, security risks and much more.
What's the digital equivalent of a yellow notepad? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss note taking software applications, including some of their features and the unique benefits they offer.
This episode discusses wireless computer networks (Wi-Fi) commonly used to connect your electronic devices to the Internet. Topics discussed include open Wi-Fi networks, secure (https) connections, encryption, virtual private networks (VPNs), and, of course, tips and tricks that you can use to keep your electronic devices secure.
Do you have a law or legal services firm website? If so, listen to this episode for a discussion of the type of content you should (and should not) include on your website. Also discussed are features that can be implemented on your website to enhance communication with clients and minimize risk.
If you were born before the year 2000, you have likely spent hours on your mobile phone trying to enunciate every syllable to send a text message or email. In today’s digital world, interacting with voice recognition software has become more sophisticated and ubiquitous. While there are benefits to using such software, this episode highlights some of the risks you should be aware of when using voice recognition applications to communicate with clients and others.
USB drives (aka flash drives or thumb drives) are portable devices that can be used to back-up your electronic data. This episode discusses the risks and benefits of using a USB drive as a backup storage device and provides practical tips for implementing a backup and recovery plan.
If you are curious what Twitter is or what it is used for, listen to this episode to learn about this popular micro-blogging site including how to protect yourself when using Twitter while ensuring you are complying with your professional obligations (=258 characters).
Can and should lawyers and paralegals use text messaging to communicate with clients? In this episode, learn about the risks and benefits of using text messages in a law or legal services practice, and tips for enhancing security when text messaging.
Note, although this episode does not discuss recent text messaging services (e.g., RCS) and includes references to older phone devices used for text messaging, the principles and strategies discussed remain relevant and applicable to today’s workplace.
In Part 4 of this 4-Part series, your tp2 hosts define key technology acronyms and terms to help you become technology literate. Organized alphabetically, this episode covers R-Z technology concepts including rooting, SMTP, two-factor authentication (2FA), URL, virtual private network (VPN), Web 2.0, XML, yottabyte, and zero day.
In Part 3 of this 4-Part series, your tp2 hosts define key technology acronyms and terms to help you become technology literate. Organized alphabetically, this episode covers M to Q technology concepts, including megabyte, network, open source, proxy, and query.
In Part 2 of this 4-Part series, your tp2 hosts define key technology acronyms and terms to help you become technology literate. Organized alphabetically, this episode covers G to L technology concepts including gigabyte, Heartbleed, internet of things, juice jacking, kernel, and Linux.
In Part 1 of this 4-Part series, your tp2 hosts define key technology acronyms and terms to help you become technology literate. Organized alphabetically, this episode covers A to F technology concepts including API, bots, containers, DDoS, and firewalls.
Have you taken an inventory of the technology products used in your law or legal services firm? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss how technology audits can be used to develop and manage appropriate technology policies for your firm, identify security vulnerabilities, and implement security plans to ensure that your firm is protected in the event of a practice interruption.
Curious about the features, benefits, and risks of social media? In this episode, you will learn how lawyers and paralegals can use social media to promote their law or legal services practice. Your tp2 hosts discuss several social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter (see also Episode #43: Twitter).
Note, while some of the social media platforms discussed in this podcast episode are no longer operational, the recommendations provided around the use of social media remain relevant and applicable to today's social media environment.
Are you aware of the social engineering techniques cyber criminals use to trick you into making security mistakes or giving away sensitive information? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss what social engineering is, identify the most common types of social engineering techniques, and provide tips and tricks for avoiding social engineering attacks.
Looking for a quick guide on how to use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds? Listen to this episode to hear your tp2 hosts explain what RSS feeds are, how you can use them, and why they may be helpful in your law or legal services practice. You will also learn about a few applications that use RSS feeds to deliver and update information.
Have you ever asked, “do I need a modem and a router?” If so, listen to this episode to learn the function of modems and routers and what some of the key differences are. As an added bonus, your tp2 hosts provide some simple steps you can take to secure your router or modem from a malicious attack.
Remote access makes it easier for you and your employees to work effectively when away from the office. In this episode, you will learn how to access devices in your home or office from a remote location, how to use remote desktop protocol (RDP) software and virtual private networks (VPNs) to access resources on a remote network, and how virtual network computing (VNC) differs from a VPN.
Ransomware is a malicious software, or malware, that prevents you from accessing your computer files, systems, or networks and demands you pay a ransom for their return. In this episode, you will learn how ransomware works and tips for identifying and avoiding a ransomware attack.
Have you ever worked at a coffee shop near the courthouse, or down the street? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss the risks of using public internet connections when working on client matters, and strategies for protecting yourself from hackers who might be lurking.
What is a computer port and how does it work? In this episode, you will learn how computers connect and communicate over the Internet, and how to manage your computer ports to minimize the risk of hackers using the port to attack your law or legal services firm's network.
Do you know how to protect yourself from email security attacks? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss some of the common methods used by fraudsters to harvest sensitive personal information (phishing, whaling, spear fishing and water holing) and provide simple tips that you can use to protect yourself and your law or legal services firm from these types of attacks.
Do you use or work with PDFs (portable document formats)? If so, listen to this episode to learn the benefits of using PDF documents and determine appropriate software for reading, writing, and editing PDFs. You will also learn how to manage metadata in PDFs and how to create PDFs from a paper original
Are your passwords keeping your accounts secure? In this episode, you will learn how to create strong, easy to remember passwords, how to store and manage those passwords, and tips for better password security.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if your law or legal services firm's data was stolen? In this episode, learn how to keep your firm's network secure from external and internal threats, the importance of software updates or patches, and steps you can take to ensure employees of your law or legal services firm are properly safeguarding client data.
In this episode, you will learn about news readers – applications that aggregate magazine and newspaper sites and deliver articles to your account based on your interests and preferences. Listen as your tp2 hosts guide you through some of the key features of news readers, and the types of news reader applications available to support your law or legal services practice.
Ever worry a hacker is intercepting the data you are transmitting over the Internet? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss a hacking method called man-in-the-middle attacks and outline the ways in which the man-in-the-middle can eavesdrop on your conversations, including sci-jacking, sniffing and evil twin attacks. You will also gain tips to help reduce your risk of cyber attacks, including using a virtual private network (VPN) or remote desktop application.
Do you use public USB charging stations to re-charge your device? If so, listen to this episode to learn about the dangers of using public USB ports and leaving your devices unattended and unprotected. Your tp2 hosts also discuss USB rubber ducky attacks and the dangers of sharing information via mobile device broadcasting.
Do you send documents from your mobile phone to the printer in your law or legal services office? If so, this episode is for you! Listen to learn about the risks and benefits of printing over the Internet, including how data sent to internet printers are transmitted and stored on third-party servers.
Are you using your smart devices smartly? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss how smart devices in your home or office can be controlled over the Internet and what steps you can take to protect yourself from the security and privacy risks associated with using such devices.
This episode describes the types of input devices that can be used to enhance productivity in your law or legal services practice. Inputs covered include physical, virtual, or predictive keyboards, voice recognition applications, wireless devices, and tablet styluses. As an added bonus, you will gain practical tips for minimizing the risk of using input devices.
Building on the file management discussion in Episode #16, in this episode your tp2 hosts discuss how files and file information can be manipulated to use and share with clients and others. You will learn when you may need to control access to certain files or documents, how to transfer paper documents into electronic documents, and the importance of developing a document management, retention, and destruction policy.
In this episode you will learn how to efficiently manage electronic files in a law or legal services practice. Listen to your tp2 hosts discuss topics such as file structures, file naming conventions, and file searches. You will also learn about the importance of backups (see Episode #5: Backups for more on this topic), how to control access to digital files, how to use indexing to enhance search applications, and how to manage files stored in the cloud. Want to learn more? Check out Episode #16: File Management…More on .
This episode discusses the use of an engagement letter or retainer agreement to explain to clients how licensees use technology in their practice, how the client's information will be used, stored, protected, and destroyed, and what the technology-related risks and benefits are to the client.
In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss the basics of encryption and how it is used to protect and secure electronic data in the context of a law or legal services practice. This episode covers encrypting information held locally, in the cloud, or transmitted over the Internet.
This episode discusses the use of email encryption to secure confidential communications with clients and others. It also provides several examples of software platforms that can be used to assist lawyers and paralegals with sending and receiving encrypted email.
In this episode you will learn about the software and hardware infrastructure required for users to send and receive electronic mail, as well as the features and tools that users can access based on those platforms. Looking for email etiquette tips or strategies? Check out tp2 Episode #1: 10 Serious Email Tips .
How do I find a file on my computer? If you want to know the answer to this question, join your tp2 hosts in this episode to learn how to efficiently locate documents on your computer using the desktop search function. You will also learn about the types of tools available to search both desktops and cloud applications, and how to locate electronic files on a mobile device.
In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss Law Society of Ontario requirements that may apply to cloud computing and provide tips for managing your relationship with cloud providers to help safeguard confidential client information.
This episode is designed to help you quickly learn the basics of cloud computing. Specific topics covered include: what is cloud computing? what is the SaaS (Software as a Service) cloud service model? and what are the risks and benefits of using cloud services?
Where is the cloud? Am I in the cloud? Is my data secure in the cloud? If you have these questions or are curious to learn more about the cloud, you’ve come to the right place. In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss the physical location of the cloud and why location matters in the context of your law or legal services practice. You will also learn how your client’s data is exchanged and stored in the cloud and whether data should be encrypted before uploading to the cloud.
Travelling across a border or overseas with your electronic device? This episode is for you! Join your tp2 hosts for tips and strategies on how to protect confidential information stored on your electronic devices when travelling domestically or internationally. You will also learn how to clean your devices to ensure all confidential information is removed, and how to retrieve that information once you arrive at your destination.
This episode discusses technology policies that allow you to bring your own device (BYOD) for use in a law or legal services firm. Listen to your tp2 hosts discuss the common benefits and risks of BYOD policies and provide tips and recommendations for managing such devices.
Electronic records can be lost, destroyed, or become inaccessible. Listen to this episode to learn how to appropriately safeguard and manage your electronic records by duplicating or backing up electronic data, selecting appropriate backup providers, regularly testing backups, and developing appropriate backup policies for your law or legal services firm.
Want to browse the web privately? In this episode, your tp2 hosts discuss how your internet activity is tracked, how anonymous browsing differs from "incognito" browsing available on commercial web-browsers, and options for browsing the web as anonymously as possible.
Listen to your tp2 hosts as they answer five key questions about encryption: what it is? how much does it cost? how strong should it be? what is the difference between military and bank-grade encryption? And do licensees need to use encryption? For more information on the topics covered in this episode, check out Episode #13: Email Encryption and Episode #14: Encryption.
Do you want to add two-factor authentication (2FA) to your account? If you've ever been asked this question and weren’t sure, listen to this episode to learn the basics of 2FA including what it is, how it relates to passwords, why it is increasing in prevalence, and how it can be used to protect your account from being compromised.
In this episode, your tp2 hosts share their top ten tips for managing and using email to project professionalism, enhance efficiency, and reduce risk. As an added bonus, you’ll learn about the dos and don’ts of attaching documents to an email.