[Fox News] Who is Galileo Galilei? Italian philosopher who shaped our understanding of the stars

Few figures shine as brightly as Galileo Galilei, an Italian philosopher whose contributions to astronomy revolutionized the understanding of the stars. 

“Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) has always played a key role in any history of science, as well as many histories of philosophy. He is a – if not the – central figure of the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century,” reads the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Born in Pisa, Italy on Feb. 15, 1564, Galileo’s insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge propelled him to the forefront of scientific inquiry during the Renaissance era.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JANUARY 7, 1610, GALILEO DISCOVERS THE MOONS OF JUPITER

Galileo’s journey began in Renaissance Italy at the University of Pisa, where he initially studied medicine but soon found his true calling in mathematics and natural philosophy. 

His need for learning led him to explore diverse fields, including physics, engineering and astronomy. However, due to financial constraints, he left the University of Pisa without completing his degree, says History.com. 

Galileo continued his self-directed studies and expanded his knowledge in various fields.

Despite facing financial challenges, Galileo’s pursuit of knowledge and passion for science set the stage for his later achievements. 

In 1609, Galileo constructed his first telescope, where he made a series of astonishing discoveries that forever altered our perception of the universe.

On Jan. 7, 1610, Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter — making it the first observation of this planet.

He utilized his telescope to identify four of Jupiter’s orbiting moons, examine Saturn, observe the varying phases of Venus, and scrutinize sunspots on the surface of the sun. The four moons, and Jupiter’s largest satellites, are lo, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

“In observing the sun, Galileo saw a series of ‘imperfections.’ He had discovered sunspots. Monitoring these spots on the sun demonstrated that the sun in fact rotated. Furthermore, later observations by Francesco Sizzi in 1612 suggested that the spots on the sun actually changed over time,” says The Library of Congress.

ITALY MUSEUM TO DISPLAY FINGERS, TOOTH BELIEVED TO BE GALILEO’S 

Galileo was ordered to appear before the Holy Office to face charges related to his advocating for the Copernican theory and his belief in the Earth’s movement around the sun, a stance the Catholic Church deemed heretical.

This marked Galileo’s second confrontation for rejecting the Church’s doctrine that positioned the Earth as the unmovable center of the universe.

“In 1616, Galileo had been forbidden from holding or defending his beliefs. In the 1633 interrogation, he denied that he ‘held’ belief in the Copernican view but continued to write about the issue and evidence as a means of ‘discussion’ rather than belief,” according to History.com. 

Undeterred by persecution, Galileo continued his astronomical inquiries, publishing “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” in 1632. The book presented a vigorous defense of heliocentrism and provoked the anger of Church authorities. 

In 1633, Galileo faced the Inquisition and was found guilty of heresy and sentenced to house arrest by Pope Urban VIII for the remainder of his life, says History.com.

ITALY MUSEUM TO DISPLAY FINGERS, TOOTH BELIEVED TO BE GALILEO’S

Galileo’s contributions to physics, mathematics and astronomy echo across the ages, earning him a rightful place among history’s greatest minds. Nearly 70 at the time of his trial, Galileo lived his last nine years under comfortable house arrest, while writing a summary of his early experiments.

In 2018, U.K. researchers said they found a long-lost letter written by Galileo that shows he engaged in a little deception to fend off the Inquisition.

Galileo wrote to a friend in 1613 saying he believed the Earth revolved around the sun, and not vice versa. He got sneaky and asked his friend for the original back, so he could soften it after a friar forwarded it to the Inquisition.

“He died in Arcetri near Florence, Italy on Jan. 8, 1642, at the age of 77 after suffering from heart palpitations and a fever,” says History.com

As we gaze upon the stars, let us remember the man whose dedication to truth reshaped the course of scientific questions for centuries to come. 

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[Fox News] 5 ways to make your Facebook account bulletproof

Scammers are constantly looking for ways to access your Facebook account. It doesn’t matter who you are; they want your information. They’re even stealing accounts from dog shelters. And if they get in, some users say recovering your account is a hassle. That’s why it’s important to make sure your account is locked down.

Here’s how to keep your Facebook account secure and safe from any potential scammers or hackers.

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

One of the biggest things you can do is use a secure password on your account. Make sure it’s different from your other accounts. However, with data leaks becoming more frequent, it would be wise to change your passwords frequently — we recommend every three months.

Changing your Facebook password from your iPhone is not much different from changing it from your computer. Here’s what you do:

Changing your Facebook password from your Android also has very similar steps. Keep in mind that many Android phones act slightly different from one another, so these instructions may be similar, though not exact, for your phone and version of Android software.

Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords for your Facebook account. It will help you create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills in passwords for you when you’re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.

MORE: DON’T FALL FOR THAT ‘LOOK WHO DIED’ FACEBOOK MESSAGE TRAP

Also known as 2FA, two-factor authentication has become a standard security setting. Working from home has made this even more common, as companies want to make sure you’re on a secure network before you use their programs. While it might seem annoying to follow a few extra steps to log in to your Facebook account, it’s worth it to protect your account from anyone else getting in.

Two-factor authentication requires you to approve a login on a separate device, so you’ll need to enable this feature on a desktop computer and then make sure you have the Facebook mobile app installed and logged in on your smartphone. Here’s how to turn it on from your computer:

Here’s how to turn it on from your smartphone:

MORE: HOW TO OUTSMART CRIMINAL HACKERS BY LOCKING THEM OUT OF YOUR DIGITAL ACCOUNTS

You can opt in for text messages and email updates if anyone logs into your Facebook account from a device you haven’t marked as a recognized device. You can also have the notification pop up on your Facebook app. Here’s how to set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices on your computer:

Here’s how to set up alerts for logins from unrecognized devices on your smartphone:

MORE: SCAMMERS ARE USING FAKE NEWS AND MALICIOUS LINKS TO TARGET YOU IN AN EMOTIONAL FACEBOOK PHISHING TRAP

Conduct a Privacy Checkup on your account about once a month to ensure it is still secure. Facebook will guide you through settings so you can ensure your data settings, ad preferences and search settings are all as you’d like them to be.

Do not click on suspicious links on Facebook, even if they appear to come from a friend or a company you know. This includes links as posts or in emails. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself:

Hover over the link: Most browsers show the actual destination URL when you hover your cursor over a link. Check if it matches the text displayed and looks legitimate.

Report suspicious links on Facebook. If you see a suspicious link on Facebook, be sure to report it. This helps keep the platform safe for everyone.

Have good antivirus software: The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

You may realize a hacker has taken over your account if you can’t log in, or you may notice some red flags while still logged into your account – like posts you didn’t create. If you’ve already been hacked, follow these steps:

If you do not have access to the phone number or email associated with your Facebook account, head to facebook.com/login/identify. You’ll be able to fill out a form to have Facebook review your account while answering a few security questions to prove the account you’re trying to recover is yours. You’ll have to provide proof of ID, like a photo of a driver’s license. We understand there is hesitance to upload your ID, but Facebook says these uploads are encrypted and stored securely.

Another option:

While locking down your Facebook account seems like a lot of work, it’s worth it. The peace of mind you’ll have knowing that hackers will have a hard time breaking into your account is priceless. Recovering your account can be difficult, so it’s better to get ahead of any hackers.

Do you feel like Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is doing enough to protect your Facebook account from hackers? What else do you think should be done to protect your account? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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