|
All the Ways Your Wi-Fi Router Can Spy
on You
It can even be trained to read your
lips.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/08/wi-fi-surveillance/497132/
Kaspersky says it briefly possessed
classified NSA files
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kaspersky-says-briefly-possessed-classified-151300745.html
What “Malvertising” Is, How It Affects
You and How to Stop It
https://www.maketecheasier.com/what-is-malvertising/
How to Password Protect Notes on the
iPhone
https://www.howtogeek.com/327762/how-to-password-protect-notes-on-the-iphone/
The Government Wants You—To Hack U.S.
Election Systems
https://www.geek.com/tech/the-government-wants-you-to-hack-u-s-election-systems-1721551/
The Xbox One X will support 1440p
displays
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/11/2/16597100/xbox-one-x-1440p-support-confirmed
HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN PC
https://www.pcmech.com/article/build-your-own-pc-guide/
Can you see why this WhatsApp message
can't be trusted?
Homographic attack on WhatsApp users.
https://www.grahamcluley.com/whatsapp-voucher-scam/
When Android’s Battery Optimization
Does More Harm Than Good
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/androids-battery-optimization-harm-good/
Fake WhatsApp app tricked over a
million users
https://hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/fake-whatsapp-app-tricked-over-a-million-users-19195.html#new_tab
Here's How To Trace an Email Category:
Email
https://askbobrankin.com/heres_how_to_trace_an_email.html
The US government may take away the
$7,500 tax credit for EVs
Current tax reform efforts could
disincentivize the new technology.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/02/us-government-may-take-away-ev-tax-credit/
How to Turn Off the iPhone X
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-turn-off-iphone-x,review-4826.html
What Information Should I Provide When
Asking for Help?
When you ask someone for help, stack
the deck in your favor by painting a clear picture of the problem
you're experiencing.
https://askleo.com/information-provide-asking-help/?awt_l=GnD8k&awt_m=JqrdNCkVG3dfbL
How to unblock apps to download files
stored in the cloud on Windows 10
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-unblock-apps-download-files-stored-cloud-windows-10
Microsoft ceases production of the
Kinect
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-ceases-production-kinect-131700983.html
How to Install Mycroft AI Assistant On
Raspberry Pi
https://www.maketecheasier.com/install-mycroft-on-raspberry-pi/
Everything You Need to Know About
“Reset This PC” in Windows 8 and 10
https://www.howtogeek.com/132428/everything-you-need-to-know-about-refreshing-and-resetting-your-windows-8-pc/
The iPhone X Has the Weirdest Battery
We've Ever Seen
The iPhone X has a very unusual
L-shaped, dual-cell battery. Here's what it might mean for the
future of phones.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/357166/the-iphone-x-has-the-weirdest-battery-weve-ever-seen
The iPhone X was originally planned for
2018
https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/1/16593218/apple-iphone-x-2018-original-plan-moved-up-schedule-fingerprint-sensor
HOW TO ACCESS YOUR ROUTER CONFIGURATION
WITHOUT A PASSWORD
https://www.pcmech.com/article/how-to-access-your-router-configuration-without-a-password/
87% of banks don't identify fraud in
real time. Download the '2017 Faces of Fraud Survey' report now!
https://www.grahamcluley.com/vasco-feed-sponsor-17/
10 Sites That Will Teach You How to
Draw Well
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-sites-teach-basics-drawing-art/
Google’s bug-tracking system contained
its own vulnerabilities, researcher discovers
https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-data-protection/googles-bug-tracking-system-contained-vulnerabilities-researcher-discovers/#new_tab
Is Sharing Your Netflix Password
Illegal? Category: Video
https://askbobrankin.com/is_sharing_your_netflix_password_illegal.html
Oprah will be Alexa’s first
celebrity-voiced shopping assistant
She’ll guide you through her Favorite
Things and make it easy to purchase them.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/02/oprah-alexa-s-first-celebrity-voiced-shopping-assistant/
How to Force the iPhone X to Reboot
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-force-iphone-x-reboot,review-4822.html
Adventures with Image Backups and
Secure Boot
I loaned my laptop to my cousin for
several weeks. Here are the steps I took to give her a
clean machine, while restoring the machine to my configuration on
her return.
https://askleo.com/adventures-image-backups-secure-boot/?awt_l=GnD8k&awt_m=JqrdNCkVG3dfbL
Microsoft Store updated for Insiders
with Fluent Design flourishes and more
https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-store-updated-insiders-fluent-design-flourishes-and-more
Tesla makes quick work of Puerto Rico
hospital solar power relief project
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-makes-quick-puerto-rico-153643033.html
How to Quickly Type Special Characters
in Linux
https://www.maketecheasier.com/quickly-type-special-characters-linux/
Is There a Way to Force-Enable Reader
View in Mozilla Firefox?
https://www.howtogeek.com/268116/is-there-a-way-to-force-enable-reader-view-in-mozilla-firefox/
The Best DNA Testing Kits of 2017
Curious about where you come from?
Genetic testing kits can help you dig into your ancestry and
family heritage. We tested five popular DNA services to show you
the ones that provide the information you want most.
https://www.pcmag.com/roundup/356975/the-best-dna-testing-kits
Eric Schmidt says America needs to ‘get
its act together’ in AI competition with China
‘Trust me, these Chinese people are
good’
https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/1/16592338/eric-schmidt-google-ai-competition-us-china
VIVALDI REVIEW: THE NEXT BIG BROWSER NO
ONE KNOWS ABOUT
https://www.pcmech.com/article/vivaldi-review-the-next-big-browser-no-one-knows-about/
How to use Windows 10
Everything you need to know
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/computing/how-to-use-windows-10-1306689
8 Free Excel Add-Ins to Make Visually
Pleasing Spreadsheets
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/free-excel-add-ins-visual-spreadsheets/
Poisoning the Well: Banking Trojan
Targets Google Search Results
http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/11/zeus-panda-campaign.html
The fear and fantasy of broadband price
hikes
Will higher internet prices negate the
benefits of dumping cable TV? Here’s some perspective.
https://www.techhive.com/article/3234890/streaming-services/fear-and-fantasy-of-broadband-price-hikes-for-cord-cutters.html
Homeland Security wants to scan your
face at the border
The agency will seek solutions at an
'industry' day in Silicon Valley mid-November.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/02/homeland-security-scan-your-face-border/
How to Close Apps on the iPhone X
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-close-apps-iphone-x,review-4821.html
Can I Leave a Laptop Running All the
Time?
Leaving a laptop running all the time
boils down to two things: your convenience and a decision.
My computer is in use most of the day.
Will a laptop handle being on for so many hours every day?
https://askleo.com/can-leave-laptop-running-time/?awt_l=GnD8k&awt_m=JqrdNCkVG3dfb
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update's most
common user problems and complaints
https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-fall-creators-update-user-problems-and-complaints
Gmail's third-party add-ons are ready
to make short work of your inbox
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gmail-apos-third-party-add-181100538.html
7 of the Best Secure Email Services for
Better Privacy
https://www.maketecheasier.com/secure-email-services/
How to Find a Style You Don’t See on
the Home Tab in Microsoft Word
https://www.howtogeek.com/268681/how-to-find-a-style-you-dont-see-on-the-home-tab-in-microsoft-word/
HP Develops Zero-Gravity Printer for
ISS
This printer may look like a standard
HP Envy 5600 printer, but NASA demanded a number of
zero-gravity-friendly upgrades.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/357168/hp-develops-zero-gravity-printer-for-iss
Russia’s social media meddling could
spell the end of online anonymity
A stronger real name policy could be a
small price to pay for forestalling federal regulation
https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/1/16592374/russia-facebook-ads-clint-watts-social-media-anonymity-privacy
BUFFERBLOAT: FIX YOUR SLOW NETWORK
https://www.pcmech.com/article/bufferbloat-fix-slow-network/
How to download and install the Windows
10 Fall Creators Update right now
Get the latest version of Windows 10
right now
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-download-and-install-the-windows-10-fall-creators-update-right-now
5 Things You Could Do With 1TB of RAM
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/things-do-with-1tb-ram/
TorMoil Vulnerability Leaks Real IP
Address from Tor Browser Users
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/tormoil-vulnerability-leaks-real-ip-address-from-tor-browser-users/
Brinno SHC500 Peephole Camera review:
Peep your porch with this hidden camera
This camera replaces your peephole
and and keeps a video log of every neighborly and nefarious
visitor.
https://www.techhive.com/article/3232088/security-cameras/brinno-shc500-peephole-camera-review.html
Men's health tech creates shame-free
ways to get treatment
A recent spate of
startups tackle sensitive medical issues without a trip to the
clinic.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/02/roman-startup-mens-health-tech-shame/
How to Reset Your iPhone and What to
Expect When You Do
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/iphone-reset-guide,news-21433.html
Windows 10 Update: 10 Key New Security
Features
Microsoft is tightening its focus on
Windows 10 security with several new security tools in its latest
major OS update.
https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/windows-10-update-10-key-new-security-features/d/d-id/1330225
Amazon's new Retro Zone sells video
games and nostalgia
Nostalgia sells. Retro games sell, too.
Amazon just wants to capitalize on that venture.
https://www.windowscentral.com/amazons-new-retro-zone-sells-video-games-and-nostalgia
Microsoft's Sonar lets you check your
website for performance and security issues
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-apos-sonar-lets-check-194543154.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments by -- Bob Primak --
Re. FYI#1068
(Wed 11/01/2017):
Why Snapchat
Spectacles failed
It kind of looks
like Snapchat is being out-competed by its imitators, especially
the one with access to the Instagram platform. But the marketing
was badly botched for this gadget. And yes, people are still
freaked out by camera glasses -- with good reasons.
How to Choose a
Filesystem for Your USB Drive
Unless I'm
making rescue media, I leave the drives as FAT-32 if that's how
they came. If I wanted to run Linux from a USB flash drive, I
would be inclined to use a Nix file system of some sort. For
portable hard drives or future SSDs, I use mixed OSes with
different file systems, so partitioning becomes my first step, and
then formatting to whatever is best for each OS. I rarely if ever
leave a drive in exFAT format, due to the instability of that file
system. Backup drives especially need far greater reliability than
exFAT has allowed me in my experience.
This Is What
Happens When You Ask Google to Get Spooky In a Smart Home
"OK Google,
scare me. You should just try this one for yourself." Or just ask
Google to show you your full Web History which they retain.
Watching for
Interactions
Once upon a
time, backup software used to be very sensitive to background
programs and changes to system files while the backup was running.
So much so that the best backup programs ran outside of Windows
entirely. (Aomei BackerUpper runs as part of the Aomei WinPE
environment, and has an excellent reputation for reliability and
speed.) But on most of today's desktop PCs, processors have
multiple hyperthreads and a lot of speed, and RAM isn't really an
issue. Still, I usually turn off Tray items like OneDrive and any
cleaners or updaters before doing any kind of system maintenance.
My tablet is terribly underpowered, so I have to disable
everything I can in order to get a reliable and speedy backup. So
it depends on hardware resources and just how many apps are
running in the background, as well as what those apps are doing. I
use Macrium Reflect Free from within Windows 10 Pro on both my
tablet and my NUC PC. For Linux, Clonezilla runs outside the OS,
so its only limitation is how slowly the program reads from the
CD. Which is very, very clowly. A USB version might speed things
up considerably. My Linux is only on my NUC.
How to Uninstall
Windows 10’s Built-in Apps (and How to Reinstall Them)
Sometimes this
is the last-ditch fix when Store Apps get really badly messed up
during updating. I've had manifests get severely mangled to the
point where this was the best solution. If running wsreset.exe,
and running the downloaded troubleshooter from the Microsoft Site
don't solve the issue, try this: Uninstall, then reinstall all the
built-in apps. Cleaning up and Registry cleaning (with CCleaner or
Glary Utilities) between these operations can help as well.
Reaper: Calm
Before the IoT Security Storm?
No doubt about
it -- the bad guys have gotten ahead of IoT security. it's time to
secure our home networks as best we can. Several companies have
hardware appliances which separate IoT traffic from normal
Internet traffic, then apply rules to protect access to the
Things. This isn't expensive or difficult to set up anymore. This
is a good first step, but onboard security is a must.
Malwarebytes
Anti-Malware for Android 3.1.0.11
Regarding all
Mobile Security Apps -- they are unnecessary, in the same sense
that third-party and second-opinion security applications are
unnecessary in Windows 10. Google already has built-in security,
if you don't turn it off. And Windows 10 already has Windows
Defender, if you don't turn it off. The main difference is, unless
you have rooted the phone, or unless you side load apps from
outside the Play Store, Google already has you covered for almost
all threats. Android security is better than Windows security for
one important reason -- permissions (same with Linux vs. Windows).
By default, Android and Linux Deny everything and allow only when
there has been affirmative user interaction. Windows tends to
Allow Everything until you set it up to Deny something. And then
there's the Windows Trusted Installer, which overrides all local
security policies. Very bad design! And as Linux and Android
prove, not the only way the OS could have been engineered. Soif
you have not modified your Android, you don't need third party
security apps. They serve only to drain your battery and slow down
your phone. See also:
Best Android
security app? Why you're asking the wrong question
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3235521/android/best-android-security-app-why-youre-asking-the-wrong-question.html
Other than as an
Actual Phone, What Do You Normally Use Your Smartphone For?
Increasingly, my
phone serves as a camera. I use Google Drive to upload and store,
then later download to my Linux PC, the resulting photos. Also, my
phone is my map these days.
Apple Fires
Engineer Over Daughter’s Viral iPhone X Video
It was a
pre-release model, so why did the engineer think it was a good
idea to put it into the hands of a teenager? I was not aware that
this incident took place inside Apple's HQ building. That was
bound to raise hackles from Apple execs.
Re. FYI#1069
(Thurs 11/02/2017):
How to Restore
Default Apps for File Extension Type Associations in Windows 10
I have the
opposite problem -- I want custom File Type Associations but in
Version 1703, Windows 10 keeps setting them back to Default Apps.
This needs to stop!
This city
covered lampposts with airbags to stop "smartphone zombies"
Next thing you
know, they'll be installing external airbags on cars and trains
and buses to prevent texting while walking injuries. I think they
should be concentrating on educating people to pay more attention
to their surroundings. Anything else is merely covering their own
assets.
Re. FYI#1070
(Fri 11/03/2017):
No comments
Re. FYI#1071
(Sat 11/04/2017):
DISKPART - How
to Partition GPT disk
This is
literally the most difficult method to do this available. As with
any conversion, make a full clone of the disk as it is before
doing anything of this sort!
Use EaseUS to do
this task with less effort and less risk of data loss:
https://www.partition-tool.com/resource/GPT-disk-partition-manager/convert-mbr-disk-to-gpt-disk.htm
Use MiniTool
Partition Wizard to do the task:
https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/convert-MBR-disk-to-GPT-disk.html
Use Macrium
Reflect, but the disk will be formatted in the process, so you
need to do a system backup and back up any other OSes and data
partitions before starting:
http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/conversions/convert_an_mbr_disk_to_a_gpt_disk.htm
Use Aomei
Partition Assistant to do the job from WinPeE:
https://www.disk-partition.com/help/convert-gpt-mbr-disk.html
As I say,
literally *any* method, other than DiskPart in Windows, is easier
and safer. (All of these use free third party tools.)
Windows 10's new
privacy feature you need to start using now
This is possibly
the Worst. Reason. Ever. to use Windows Defender as your primary
active antivirus program. It may not even be very effective vs.
ransomware, unless you Defend the whole disk. Which only
Enterprise users can do as of the Fall Creators Update.
Re. FYI#1072
(Sun 11/05/2017):
No comments.
Re. FYI#1073
(Mon 11/06/2017):
How to Find an
iMovie Alternative for Your Windows PC
This article is
100 percent out of date. More than half of these programs,
including the Windows Movie Maker, no longer exist.
Improve Web
Security by Using Chrome’s Auto-Generated Passwords
Any password
generator which works through a web browser, especially as a
built-in feature, is vulnerable to hacking or hijacking. Online
password generators can leak, but this is even riskier.
How to Install
Windows 95 in a Virtual Machine
Why??
Facebook will
soon limit news so you only see "paid" posts
Not true.
Can This Robot
Manage Your Passwords? Category: Security
RoboForm despite
its name, does not qualify as a robot. It's just software.
Kaspersky Secure
Connection VPN review
I would be very
skeptical of any VPN sold by and operated by this company, given
their ties to the Russian Government.
Yes, you can use
Linux without knowing the command line
You can, but you
shouldn't. There are still many useful Linux utilities which do
not have a GUI "front end". And some of the GUIs are worse than
the Command Line. If anything goes wrong in system configuration
(rather frequently happens in my experience with Ubuntu) you will
most likely find advice which goes into the Command Line. Fixing
anything which goes wrong will almost certainly involve going into
the Command Line. Sometimes just a few lines of code will find and
fix an issue without going through a lot of extra hassle.
How to Turn On
or Off Windows Defender Application Guard for Microsoft Edge in
Windows 10
This is an
Enterprise feature, not available in the Pro or Home editions.
WiFi “Krack”
Vulnerability in WPA2: What You Need to Know
My phone just
got the Sept., 2017 updates for Android, so it's presumably
protected now. I guess better late than never ( :rolleyes: ).
Re. FYI#1074
(Tues 11/07/2017):
[Windows 10 Tip]
Restrict Windows Update from Using Internet Connection Bandwidth
Since the 1703
update, you can meter not just a WiFi connection, but also a wired
(ethernet) connection (at least in the Pro edition and higher).
It's best not to rely too heavily on this method, because some
"critical" updates may still get applied as soon as they are
released. Not always a welcome development.
TripAdvisor
apologizes for censoring user reports about sexual assault and
rape
Their stock was
still dumped heavily. The site may never recover.
What Is
“Broadcast DVR Server” and Why Is It Running on My PC?
The only
"Broadcast DVR" I would ever have running on any device is
something like the Plex Server or other real Broadcast DVR. This
Windows 10 service is misnamed. It may also harbor more Windows
spyware, and DRM to remove pirated game software and apps.
What to Expect
from the Ubuntu 17.10 Release
I'm still
waiting for the next LTS release. That's due in Spring 2018
(18.04).
Malwarebytes:
Protection for Android Category: Mobile , Security
As I referenced
in a previous post, most business advisers do not approve of
third-party Android security. Most of it is snake oil, and some of
it can slow down your phone tremendously. I don't hate
Malwarebytes, but I use just the free and basic features of Avira
for Android on my phone. It never flags anything as long as I stay
away from the paid add-ons. Google Play is fully protected by its
own scanner these days.
8 Google Drive
for Android Features You Should Be Using
I use about five
of these features on my phone. I mostly share files or photos with
my Linux PC when I get home, although the tablet could also access
and use (and edit) the same files and photos.
Beware of
Cryptocurrency Miner Scripts that Hijack Your Browser
I use extensions
to block this waste of my resources.
Why new users
don't need to fear the Linux command line
I suppose some
people will never feel comfortable with the Command Line
interface, but sometimes this is the fastest and most efficient
way to get something done. Even learning to use simple commands
can help solve some Linux issues. There are plenty of fancier
things which can only be done with the Command Line.
5 open source
personal finance tools for Linux
I use
LibreOffice Calc a lot, but to get the data it uses, my bank has
online tools which work well for that account. It's the only
account which I must monitor, for government reporting purposes,
so this works out just fine. Some downloaded data show up best in
LibreOffice Writer, BTW. Since the data show up in table form,
it's still possible to copy cells or columns or rows, much like in
Calc, but with many fewer options. Once transferred to Calc, the
original data in Writer can be discarded.
Make Your Linux
System Awesome With Conky
I don't like
Conky's presentation in any theme I've seen so far. I use a bunch
of different tools in Linux to monitor different aspects of system
performance and activity. Sometimes it's good to specialize.
Mon., Nov. 06,
2017 -- Comcast Outage Hits Parts of US (Northeast especially
affected)
HOW A TINY ERROR
SHUT OFF THE INTERNET FOR PARTS OF THE US
https://www.wired.com/story/how-a-tiny-error-shut-off-the-internet-for-parts-of-the-us/
I got hit by
this, although businesses were screaming the loudest. Hard to work
online at home, too. I had to disconnect and reconnect all my
networked devices once things began to settle down a bit. But some
serious questions arise from all of this. What if this had been a
cyber-attack? Whatever happened to failover and resiliancy in the
Internet Backbone? And why was RCN, a Comcast competitor, rerouted
so much faster than Comcast, the biggest player in the business?
BTW, the company where the "oopsie" happened is owned by
CenturyLink, a Comcast competitor.
Wed., Nov. 08,
2017 -- My Moto G4 Android phone just received a security update
for its Android 7.0 OS. While there are only a very few feature
updates included, this brings the security level up to the Sept.,
2017 updates. This is important for two main reasons. One is a
host of Bluetooth issues, while the other involves the WPA2 WiFi
vulnerabilities. So it's a bit safer now to use the phone with
Bluetooth and WiFi. I still wouldn't throw caution to the winds,
but this does mean that this model is still receiving security
updates from Motorola (Lenovo).
(ongoing) -- In
my Linux installation, I am finding that VueScan Free does a good
job of replacing XSANE, which won't find my wireless scanner for
some reason. I do have to sneak the Previews out as screenshots,
but they work well when processed through LibreOffice and exported
as PDF files, with no watermarks. This is probably a violation of
some stinky EULA term, but it works. And it's free. The watermarks
placed on documents by third party scanning and PDF handling
programs are one reason why I don't use proprietary software in
Linux or Windows when I can avoid it. But in this case, the Open
Source program simply does not work with my network.
(ongoing) -- I
recently got the Linux network bandwidth monitor vnstat working
again in my NUC's Ubuntu 16.04 installation. I had to delete its
databases after removing and reinstalling vnstat. Then I edited
its config file to comment out the non-existent ethernet interface
for my NUC. Permissions were not an issue, nor was my firewall
setup.
From My Own
Reading:
Intel and AMD
team up: A future Core chip will have Radeon graphics inside
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3235934/components-processors/intel-and-amd-ship-a-core-chip-with-radeon-graphics.html
"Absolutely
incredible! Intel will ship a chip powered by AMD's Radeon
graphics next year to bring top-tier, triple-A games to the
thin-and-light notebook market."
Critics are
wrong to slam iPhone X’s new face tech
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3236244/mobile-wireless/critics-are-wrong-to-slam-iphone-x-s-new-face-tech.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments by -- Joe Nowak
Scam of the Week from CyberHeist News
Tue Nov 7, 2017 11:05 pm (PST
Here's the latest "Scam of the Week" from CyberHeistNews.
"Heads-up! Bad guys are emailing you that your Netflix account
has been suspended, and it looks just like the real thing. They
are trying to get your login information and your credit card
data.
Don't fall for this type of scam. If you want to change the
settings of subscription services like this, never click on links
in any email and just type the name of the site in your browser or
use a bookmark that you set.
Whatever email about Netflix you see in the coming weeks... THINK
BEFORE YOU CLICK.
Back
to Top
|
