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Local Germany
07-07-2025
- Local Germany
What are the digital IDs you can get in Germany?
A functioning electronic identification (eID) allows you to verify your identity online for a number of public sector services. Practically speaking, this means less time searching for appointments and visiting Bürgerämter and immigration offices. The eID function can also add your personal data to online forms in some cases, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors. In addition the cards are accepted for a growing number of private sector services, including banking, insurance, e-kiosks and vending machines. There are a number of different types of German identification documents that have eID capabilities, and the one you can get depends on your residency status. Here's an overview of Germany's various digital identifications: German National Identity Card ( Personalausweis ) with eID Function All German citizens aged 16 and over receive this card, which has an embedded chip for secure electronic identification. The eID function, which is activated by default on all cards issued since 2017, allows people to log in to government portals (for services related to taxes, social security, benefits and more), and access online banking and insurance services. READ ALSO: What foreigners should know about Germany's digital ID cards and residence permits Cardholders can also use the eID function to register for utilities, sign contracts digitally, and use self-service kiosks and vending machines that require identification or age verification. eID Card for EU/EEA Citizens EU and EEA citizens living in Germany can apply for a special eID card, granting them the same digital identification privileges as German citizens. This card is especially valuable for accessing German e-government services and private sector offerings. Advertisement READ ALSO: Q&A - What to know about the roll out of Germany's electronic patient file Electronic Residence Permit (eAT) with eID Function Non-German residents in the country have an electronic residence permit, which can also be used as means of digital identification. An activated eID and a smartphone can make certain functions much easier. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-tmn / Zacharie Scheurer The eID function on residence permit cards isn't always activated by default, which means that cardholders may need to make an additional trip to the immigration office to get it up and running. (According to information shared on the All About Berlin website , the eID function is often pre-activated when you pick up your residency permit directly from the Ausländerbehörde, but may not be if you got your card in the mail.) If it is activated, cardholders still need to set-up the eID function initially through the AusweisApp . Non-EU foreign residents can use the eAT to access some government services, including: applying for unemployment benefits applying for Kindergeld registering a vehicle requesting a replacement of your registration certificate ( Anmeldung ) registering as an organ donor However, non-EU citizens are somewhat limited with what can be done digitally. For example, eAT holders cannot apply for a new ID card online whereas naturalised Germans and EU citizens can with an eID. READ ALSO: Reader question - Can foreign arrivals use the e-gates at German airports? Non-EU citizens also cannot change their registered address online - meaning they must still make an appointment and visit their local Bürgeramt to hand in papers. BundID (Federal User Account) BundID is a centralized digital identity account for anyone interacting with German authorities. Creating a BundID account allows people to access a range of digital government services, from applying for federal, state, and local government services, to submitting online applications for benefits, permits, or certificates, and receiving official notifications. Advertisement German citizens, EU/EEA citizens, and non-EU residents in the country can all create a BundID account by using either their e-Ausweis , eAT card, or eID card for EU/EEA citizens. It's also possible to create a slightly restricted BundID account for tax services by using an ELSTER certificate. READ ALSO: 'Digital office' - How Germany wants to move work contracts online Foreign residents, students, job seekers, families, and anyone who needs to interact with the German authorities on a regular basis will benefit from creating a BundID account. Because the account is valid across the country, it also makes sense for people who move within Germany to create an account, in order to avoid having to repeatedly establish your identity for different state-specific services. How do I get an eID? According to Germany's Interior Ministry (BMI), as of October of last year 97 percent of ID cards in circulation had eID functionality, with over 75 million eIDs in circulation. So it's entirely possible you have one already. To find out whether your ID card has an activated online identification eID function, you have to download the AusweisApp on your phone and/or computer. Advertisement Then use the 'Check device and ID card' feature. If your eID function is activated, the app will display a green check mark next to "eID function activated". (If you're using the app on your computer, you will also need to link the app to your phone or use a card reader device to scan your physical ID card.) If your eID function is not activated, then unfortunately you'll have to make yet another trip to your the Bürgeramt or Ausländerbehörde that issued your ID card. In these cases, a face to face meeting is still the price you have to pay to join the digital revolution.
The Star
06-07-2025
- The Star
How to remove the 'recommended' section in the Windows 11 start menu
It all looks nice now, but just wait until Windows starts 'recommending' stuff to you in the start menu. — Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa BERLIN: In Windows 11, the trusty Start menu features a selection of program shortcuts in the upper section under "Pinned". Additionally, there is a button labelled "All apps" in the top right corner, which allows users to browse through all installed programs. However, to the annoyance of many users, there's now also a lower section of the Start menu called "Recommended" showing list of random files and recently opened apps. The good news you can remove this somewhat peculiar selection of suggestions. To do this, right-click in the empty area between "Pinned" and "All app" in the upper section. A context menu with a single entry - "Start settings" - should appear. Select this with a left click to open the settings page for the Start menu. You should then be able to select "More pins" at the top and then toggle the sliders for the following three entries to the "Off" position: "Show recently added apps" "Show the most used apps" "Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer and items in Jump Lists" Afterwards, the "Recommended" section should be empty, and there will also be a bit more space available for program shortcuts. – dpa
The Star
22-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
'Dopamine detox': Why it pays to put your phone away
A bit of chocolate here, a few minutes on Instagram there – these daily rituals bring us little boosts of happiness. But only in the short term. Sooner or later, feelings of overstimulation and stress start to creep in. — Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa BERLIN: What do you do while sitting in a doctor's waiting room? Or after settling into a train seat on your commute home from work? Or standing at the kitchen stove as the noodle water creeps towards a boil? If you're like many people, you reach for your smartphone to check the latest on social media. From a psychological standpoint, it's an easily explicable behaviour: Video snippets are entertaining and ever-ready diversions. They give you a quick hit of happiness, but it quickly subsides. Responsible for this is the "feel-good" chemical messenger dopamine, a key component of the brain's reward system, explains Dr Steffen Häfner, a specialist in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy. Its release reinforces behaviours favourable for survival, reproduction and well-being, such as eating, sex and social interactions. A between-meal chocolate bar or cup of coffee also provide a dopamine fix. So what's wrong with pleasurable feelings? Well, too much of a good thing can be bad for you – ask a chocolate lover. As for smartphone use, subjecting your brain to lots of stimuli can lead to overstimulation, "the release of large amounts of dopamine potentially heightening psychological stress, unease or difficulty concentrating," Häfner says. When you reach the satiation point, your brain needs greater amounts of stimuli to get the kick it craves, "similar to an addiction mechanism," as Häfner describes it. A possible sign of overstimulation is reluctance to put away your smartphone in favour of, say, playing a time-consuming board game or watching a feature-length film. Activities like these don't give you a quick dopamine kick and therefore lack appeal. So what's the way out of overstimulation towards a healthy balance? "Dopamine detox." It's not about abstaining from pleasurable activities, but rather reducing stimuli so that your nervous system can relax again. Here are four ways to do it: Cut down on your evening screen time, or eliminate it altogether. Deactivate push notifications. Don't always listen to podcasts or music while you're doing something else, but focus on them. Above all, incorporate "analogue" activities into your day, such as reading, painting or taking walks. Should you keep catching yourself seeking a quick dopamine kick by eating sweets, drinking coffee or shopping online, you can refrain from these things for a while. As difficult as it may be in the beginning, it'll pay off if you stick to it. You'll find that your powers of perception sharpen again, and pleasure doing everyday things will return. Handling stimuli mindfully, Häfner says, can help reduce stress and boost your psychological resilience. – dpa
The Star
01-06-2025
- The Star
Tweak your settings in Windows 11 to make it feel more familiar
If you are puzzled by Windows 11, a few small tweaks will make the commands feel more familiar, and accessible. — Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa-tmn BERLIN: People who upgrade to Windows 11 are often confused because the Start menu is in a different location than in Windows 10 – namely, in the middle of the taskbar instead of on the far left. The good news for anyone who can't or doesn't want to get used to the new position is that it can be moved back to its old position. Just open the Settings menu with the keyboard shortcut "Windows + I", type "Taskbar" into the search field at the top and select "Taskbar Settings" from the results. Then go to the "Taskbar Behavior" option and select "Left" under "Taskbar Alignment." But that's not all you can change. If you get annoyed by the search trends and news teasers displayed in the Start menu, you can also turn them off. To do this, navigate to "Privacy and Security/Search Permissions/More Settings" in Settings and disable the "Show Search Highlights" option. If you haven't already done so during the installation, you should also take the opportunity to go through and adjust all of the privacy settings under "Privacy and Security" – from "Security" to "Windows Permissions" to "App Permissions.' Microsoft's Edge browser is set as the default browser during installation. However, you can change this in the settings under "Apps/Default Apps" – provided that you have installed another browser besides Edge. – dpa
The Star
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Last chance to stop Instagram training Meta's AI with your data
Meta's new AI logo is creeping into more areas of its services like WhatsApp. On Instagram, users now have just days until a deadline ends to opt-out of their data being used to train the AI. — Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa SAN FRANCISCO: On May 27 at the latest, Meta will begin training its new artificial intelligence system, Meta AI, using public data from its users. Instagram users can object to this, provided they fill out an online form by May 26. You'll need to be logged in and and give your email address. The additional text field can be left blank, and consumer protection groups have pointed out that no justification is needed for an objection. Once approved, you should see a pop-up saying "We will honour your request," after which you receive an email confirming that Meta won't use your public information to train its AI. Consumer protection activists say Meta's approach to AI violates European data protection laws and court claims in the EU are pending. However consumer rights experts suggest users actively opt out nonetheless. A similar opt-out form is also available for Facebook users, but it requires more information. Personal chats on WhatsApp are not affected by Meta's use of AI. However, if users communicate with Meta AI on WhatsApp or include Meta AI in a group chat, this communication could be used for AI training. To avoid this, users should refrain from using Meta AI on WhatsApp. This includes not using the Meta AI input field, not tapping the bluish circle, and not adding the AI assistant to a group chat with "@MetaAI." Meta AI and the blue circle cannot be disabled or hidden in Meta's services. Users who do not wish to use the AI can only ignore it. – dpa
