Free iPad

Catch your attention?

It seems that the (cyber) criminals have concluded that the two words most likely to get you to click on their links are “free” and “iPad”. The two combined must be a sure winner – “free iPad”.

And the likelihood is pretty good that those doing the clicking (and thinking they just won an iPad) will be chumps, suckers and rubes. Their favorite demographic.

I have received text messages, emails, and seen links/ads all using this ploy.

While it would be nice if someone, or some company,  decided to just hand me an iPad – no strings attached – that ain’t never going to happen. No how. There is an old adage I would like to remind people of: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I’ll go further: if you see it via the Internet, it definitely is too good to be true. Do not click.

Let’s be careful out there folks. Exercise a little, healthy, “paranoid common sense” when online. Don’t be a victim of cybercrime.

Something for nothing??? Hmmm… It could happen..

Are you kidding me???

Folks, I just updated Java on one of my machnes, and something now has my blood boiling. Sun/Oracle – two giant names in the tech industry – “We recommend installing the Ask toolbar” (and helpfully check the checkboxes to get that spyware installed.. [note: because you willfully install it, and they come from ‘legit companies’, the industry does not generally refer to browser toolbars as “spyware”. But that’s what they are, so I do. You should too.])

Folks, let me be perfectly clear: the Ask toolbar is the very last thing you want on your computer.

To the *good people* @ Sun/Oracle: This practice is vile and stinks. We all hate it. Shame on you.

Come on, guys — you’re better than this!

Recommend? Wow!

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Free Antivirus For Macs | Friday Fun | Another Massive Breach

The myth that Apple (Macs) do not get viruses is alive and well, but the truth is that those days (if they ever really existed) are over. If you own an Apple PC/laptop, and use it to get online, you want some protection from cybercrime, and that means installing an antivirus.

For those who do not yet have an AV, you might like to know that there is a quality program available as a free download: Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition

“Free antivirus that works simply and beautifully. Now supporting Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.” (Available here.)

And if you do not own a “Mac”, but know someone who does, you may want to click the “share” button, and send them a copy of this article — unprotected machines are a risk to everyone who surfs.

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* “Googling” your own name – to see what the Internet says about you – is called “Ego surfing”. If you have done that, and did not like what you saw, here is an article that can help: How to Control Your Online Reputation

“1. Get online and be aware of what’s out there.
“Staying off Facebook won’t keep you safe. “Stop denying that the Internet has you in its grips,” says Joshua Waldman, author of Job Searching With Social Media for Dummies. He describes one executive who avoided using computers to prevent research firms from finding information about him. But within seconds, Waldman and a colleague accessed the executive’s income data, political affiliation and even a complaint he had made about his company…” Read more..

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Quick tech tip: Make too-small text on your screen bigger and easier to read by pressing “Ctrl” and the “+” keys together (use the “-” to reduce text size).

In the news: Visa, MasterCard warn of ‘massive’ security breach

“U.S. banks have received warnings from Visa and MasterCard after a credit card processor was reportedly breached. The breach may involve more than 10 million compromised card numbers.” Read more..

(On second thought.. why bother to protect your Mac when your cc is stolen from some database somewhere else? In this case, Visa’s itself.. Yippee yahoo. [I think I need a laugh…] What a coup for the hacker! Big leagues score. World Cup big.)

Friday Fun:

I don’t know about you, but I am glad the weekend is almost here…

Today’s quotable quote: “The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.” ~ Unknown

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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The Enemies App | Holy Cow! | Amazing Legos

+ Manage Your Online Identity

An alert reader brought a new Facebook “app” to my attention.. which kind of turns a few conventions on their head. And I found it interesting (and “food for thought”).

* Facebook App Lets You Add Enemies Online

“Forget friending. A new Facebook app allows users of the social network to identify and share people, places and things as “enemies” for all to see.” Read more..

While there, I noticed a blurb for a different article, about something called “Bump Pay”..

click here to read bump pay article

Wow.

I need that. Why, if I had that? I’d use it every… um,  never. Maybe it’s just me.. but nowhere but in the arena of tech am I so frequently reminded of the axiom “Just Because You Can Do Something Doesn’t Mean You Should Do It”…

Of course, the trend towards a currency-less society is gathering steam, and there is big competition now for figuring out just how online payments/currency is going to shape up. (You might have heard the term “micro-payments“..) Who needs a wallet? You’ve got a phone! Interesting.

Yes, we live in interesting times…

“Playing” with Legos”: click on the image below to see some amazing Legos creations..

(or, clck here LEGO creations at Brickworld Indy 2012.)

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Bonus: Here’s an article I think most of you will be interested in (or.. should be?) Manage Your Online Identity

“But what about your own online reputation and the personal content that’s been building up since the dawn of the Internet age? The Internet has a long memory, and your online reputation could take a permanent hit if you don’t manage it actively. Here’s a four-step guide to effectively controlling your online reputation:” Read more..

Thank you, Dear Reader, for the ‘heads up’.

Today’s quote: “Spread joy. Chase your wildest dreams.” ~ Patch Adams

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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iPad or Kindle? Which Tablet Fits You?

I only have time for a quick reading reco today.

* How to decide: should you buy a new iPad or a Kindle Fire?

“With all the buzz these days about tablets, it turns out some folks are still trying to understand which device to buy.” Read more..

I’ll try to get more posted later.. but if not, have a great day!

Today’s quote: “A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.” ~ David Brinkley

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Google Play (New) | Hotmail = The Best | 200+ Free Games

It happened while I was waiting for an antivirus scan to finish…

Yesterday during a malware removal job, I grew a wee bit bored waiting for an AV scan to finish, and so I clicked some little-noticed links, and did some exploring. Maybe you’ll be glad I did!

This first link you have probably seen – if you ever played any of the games that come with Windows, such as Solitaire, or my fave – Chess.

Get more games online

I must have seen that “Get more games online” link 500 trillion times. Well, I (finally) clicked it and was taken to..

200+ FREE games from Microsoft (Click me)

.. where I found a whole bunch of those online “Flash games” you play in your browser. Fun timewasters and free! Take a look at the selection, here.

The next link is more obscure, and I found it by exploring the pre-configured “Favorites” in Internet Explorer – which I normally do not use to surf the web (I use Firefox with NoScript).

I have mentioned “Microsoft At Home” before – specifically the ‘learn computing’ video tutorials, but it has been a long time since I’ve taken a look myself. While there, I noticed that the much-maligned Hotmail had been named Top Web App of 2011 by PC Magazine.
What?!

* Hotmail named best web app of 2011 by PC Magazine

“The Hotmail team got some great (and humbling) news recently – Hotmail was named best web application of 2011 by PC Magazine. We were particularly excited to see that people are taking notice of Hotmail’s war on Graymail and the work we’ve done this year to make Hotmail faster. There are a lot of great web applications out there, and we’re in great company, but it was an honor to make the very top of the list.”

Now.. the reason I use Hotmail is because there was a time before Gmail (and I wouldn’t touch AOL), and I don’t like Yahoo! Mail’s propensity for showing ads. I have ignored all the “Advice columns” advice to not use Hotmail – especially not for business – all these years. Now, I feel somewhat vindicated.
I still use Hotmail as my primary personal email as Gmail creeps me out.. the way they read every word.. and show me ads related to my email. Google As Big Brother. Another topic for another day.

More games: Hey.. what is that???

Click me

Introducing Google Play

Now your favorite music, books, movies, apps, and games are all in one place that’s accessible from the Web and any Android device. Discover, buy and share like never before.

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Bonus: The Digital Patent Wars

“In today’s intellectual property environment, patents have evolved into weapons of war. In fact, patent lawsuits have escalated so much that many are debating whether patents should be abolished.

Internet Evolution is examining the situation today in a brand new Big Report, “Digital Patent Wars: How Companies Are Suing Their Way to the Top.” Click here to read the analysis.”

I am out of time. Have a good one, everybody! (And don’t spend too much time on those games… ha!)

.. “Graymail”? A new word for me.

Today’s quote: “Be careless in your dress if you will, but keep a tidy soul.” ~ Mark Twain

Hey! The United Nations wrote me today…!

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Improve Your Wireless (Signal) Strength For Mere Pennies

How can I boost my wireless signal strength?

Folks, in the past few weeks, I have been asked many times about what can be done to improve the wireless signal produced by a home router/WAP. A weak signal slows you down, can cause “connectivity issues” (aka “disconnects”) and – if you have roommates streaming videos/”downloading” – make your “web surfing experience” an exercise in frustration. So I think it’s time to repost this How To article..

Like so many things in life, there is no one, single, best answer; but, methods for achieving a stronger wireless signal, at a greater distance, include:

• Replace your router’s firmware with a Linux-based system that allows for “antenna gain” adjustment. (Advanced) — free (some risk).
• Add a “reflector” (Simple) — free. (and.. today’s video!)
• Replace your antenna with a “signal boosting” (aka “range extending”) antenna, or a directional antenna. (Simple) — $25 -$50. (ths assumes your WAP has external, removable antennas.)
• Upgrade to a Wireless N router. (Simple) — $100 (or less).

I recommend the last option. Wireless N routers are quite reasonably priced now (as low as $40). But, if you have some tinfoil, scissors, and glue, I can tell you that a parabolic reflector will improve your signal (aka “gain”) .. in one direction, and it won’t cost you much more than a few minutes of your time to try it!

This short video tutorial demonstrates:

And the template is here, http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

And, you may want to look around the Internet some. There are, literally, thousands of these wireless signal boost “hacks” and tips. (No.. I never did try the Pringle’s can..)

Today’s quote: “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” ~ Albert Einstein

Am I wrong? Something is kinda funny with that one? A little.. suspicious?

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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UVK + Sunday Beauty

Folks, another pretty picture for your Sunday…

Click on image to see more by this artist (reco'd)

“Desert wildflowers” by Donald Palansky, courtesy of Flickr Commons

Today’s free download: Are you the “geeky friend” people tun to for free tech support? If so, you’ll want to know about Ultra Virus Killer (for advanced users)

“Ultra Virus Killer, also known as UVK, is a free and portable application designed to help users detect and remove malware. UVK acts as a swiss army knife of malware removal as it contains similar functionality to a range of computer technician software use.” Read more..

Today’s quote: “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” ~ Mark Twain

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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