Go, Niners!
I just want to take a moment and wish my team good luck in today’s big Championship game — Go, Niners!
(And I’m taking the Pats.)
[update: Yay! The 49ers are heading to a Super Bowl for the sixth time in franchise history. They will seek their sixth Super Bowl title when they face the winner of the Baltimore-New England game in New Orleans on Feb. 3.]
I Like Fridays Better Than Mondays..
I do not have a lot of time today, but here are a few things..
* MediaFire Launches Android App With 50GB Free Storage
“MediaFire is rolling out the red carpet for Android owners, unlocking 50GB of free storage along with its new Android-based storage application.
The app joins its iOS counterpart in providing on-the-go productivity for people who need to access and share files from anywhere.” Read more..
[update: for a review of MediaFire from a man I trust, click here.]
And sometimes, I do not know whether to laugh, or cry.. (but it is an interesting read): Facebook Posts Easier to Remember Than Actual Faces, Books
“Your memory of Facebook posts is likely stronger than your recollection of actual faces or actual books, according to a new study.” Read more..
After yesterday’s article, a reader wrote and asked..
Q: “Hi Paul, How about some discussion on AV availability for smart phones, especially the new Windows phone I got during the holidays.” ~ Jay
A: Jay,
Well.. smartphones and tablets are not my area of expertise; but I have discussed that in the past, (and posted 15 Mobile Security Tools (smart phones/tablets) in my Blogroll links) but it has been a while.I do not use iGadgets, so I don’t know what is currently available for iOS in the iStore (at one point, there was nothing). Same goes for the Windows Phone. But I use Lookout on my (Android) phone and am trying Norton Mobile Lite on my (Android) tablet (both are free). So far I have no complaints with either. (And I believe they have versions for the other mobiles.)
I haven’t looked to see if anyone has posted any efficacy tests recently, but your comment/question has prompted me to make a mental note to research that.
This may help too: Got a New Phone For Christmas? Don’t Forget These Safety Tips
Perhaps a reader can contribute more on this question..?
* A game-changing lawsuit? Free credit checks sought after ‘unprecedented’ data loss
“Class-action lawsuit launched by N.L. lawyer on behalf of 583,000 Canadians” Read more..
(If agencies actually could be held liable for the data they lose… BIG changes will occur..! [Right now, it’s kinda just an “oh, well.”])
* Friday Fun Video
Today’s quote: “Those are my principles. If you don’t like them I have others.” ~ Groucho Marx
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Best Antivirus | Goggle’s Free Wi Fi | Windows 8| More
(Wow. It’s Thursday already.) Here are some “informations” I think you’ll find helpful and/or interesting.
Yesterday, I reminded you that in today’s world, all your Internet-capable devices need to have an antivirus/security product. But which one? Are some better than others? Oh, yes. (And, last year’s top pick may be this year’s dud.) I no longer have time to do my own testing, but for years I have relied on Neil Rubenking at PC Magazine to do that heavy lifting for me. He has just published his Choose the Best Antivirus in 2013
“We put just about every antivirus product through rigorous testing to help you choose the one that will suit you best. We award the Editor’s Choice designation to those that we consider to be top-of-the-line in one way or another, but if your criteria are different from ours you can get details from our reviews of all of the available choices.” Read more..
Seems it’s (past) time for me to reevaluate my personal rankings of the free AV’s category…
Another article of his caught my attention as well. Why You Shouldn’t Trust Google’s Free WiFi Network
“Last week, Google unveiled plans to build a free wireless Internet zone in Chelsea, a New York City neighborhood. Pretty much every news report and social media conversation focused on how the free Wi-Fi would give people in the area easy access to the Internet.” Read more..
[Giving away free Internet. Hmm.. aside from TNSTAAFL.. how about cui bono?]
Also, Deb Shinder is writing a series those of you with Windows 8 may find very helpful. Talking Tech: Getting Your Favorite Features Back in Windows 8: Windows Media Center
“Last month, I started this series on how Windows 8 users can get back some of the features that were removed, beginning with the Start button/menu. My plan was to tell you, this month, how to install Windows Media Center. It’s good that I waited, because the process I would have described a month ago seems to no longer work. You can still get Windows 8 back, but you might have to pay for it – even though Microsoft says it’s free until January 31. Here’s a little background and the story of my recent experiences.” Read more..
Oh, there’s more I’d like to share with you today, but I’m out of time. Have a great day everybody!

“You can use a Chromebook to find videos of cats on YouTube. This proves it meets the needs of 99.9% of internet users worldwide.”
(Not only is he probably correct, but that says a lot about us.)
Okay. I found a minute, so here’s one more Reading reco: The Chromebook — it’s like an iPad, but with a keyboard
“I wasn’t expecting to like it, but in the end I loved it. The Chromebook could be the perfect post-PC device that has a keyboard.” Read more..
Today’s quote: “A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.” ~ James Dent
(Okay. So? I’m ready for warmer weather.)
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Meet The Modern Bank Robber (Mastermind)
Folks, “viruses” and “hackers” – as the media has dubbed them, are more accurately called “malware” and “criminals”, and despite portrayal as “gifted kids”, are all about stealing our money. Cybercrime nets the bad guys over a $100 Billion (with a “B”) each year.. that we know about.
Here is a picture of a cybercriminal “mastermind”.
And, yes. Zeus was a bad one. (See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus_%28Trojan_horse%29)
* Alleged Zeus botnet master nabbed in Bangkok
“An Algerian hacker arrested in Thailand on 6 January is the master of a botnet that stole $100 million (£62 million) from banks worldwide, it is claimed.
Dubbed the ‘Happy Hacker’ because of his smiling appearance, 24-year-old computer sciences graduate Hamza Bendelladj was arrested in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, following a tip-off from the FBI.” Read more..
If you have never heard of the “cyber mafia”, or are unaware of the undeclared “cyber warfare” that is going on, well, they say ignorance is bliss. But please be aware that we are in (at least) the 5th year of the “largest transfer of wealth by theft in history” ¹. (And clowns like this guy are just one factor.)
You really do need an (up-to-date) “antivirus” on all your Internet-connect devices, and you should learn about Internet safety and security. These bad guys are way ahead of the good guys. We are only beginning to wake up to how insecure our “databases” and “infrastructure” really are.
I hope you will take the time to learn, share what you’ve learned, and do your best to try to not become a victim of cybercrime.. (And for some of you, that means not become a victim of cybercrime again, as the number of victims is already staggering.)
¹ http://www.zdnet.com/nsa-cybercrime-is-the-greatest-transfer-of-wealth-in-history-7000000598/
.. I suppose if I had $100 million squirreled away at age 24, I’d be smiling too.. maybe.
Interesting listening? (Reader submitted): Is technology making us lonelier? Listen
“Would we be better off if we disconnected from our devices and re-connected with real-world human beings? Or do you feel more connected than ever before?
In The Big Disconnect: The story of technology and loneliness, Vancouver writer Giles Slade argues that technological developments are a big part of why we’re increasingly isolated because the quality of online relationships can’t replace the value face-to-face contact, while authors argue that our smart phones and social media if anything make us more interpersonally connected.
What do you think?” Listen
Thank you, Dear Reader, for bringing that ‘podcast’ to my attention.
Bonus reading: Prosecutors Blamed for Aaron Swartz Suicide
“Friends and allies of Aaron Swartz charge that overzealous prosecutors and draconian intellectual property laws drove the promising young hacker to take his own life on Friday.”
Read more..
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Best Thing I’ve Read In A Month
Folks, here is an article I consider the best “tech read” I have come across in a long, long while. Every single computer owner (which is, what, every adult and most children?) should read it (and get “mad as *heck*) but of course, maybe only 10,000 actually will..
* Why does crapware still exist? Follow the Silicon Valley money trail
“If you followed security experts’ advice and manually updated Java this week to fix a critical vulnerability, you might have gotten more than you asked for. Oracle probably makes tens of millions of dollars a year from crapware, and big venture capitalists see it as a growth business. Read more..
… “monetize” …
And, I suggested removing Java altogether, (see, Remove Java (+ A Friday Fun Video )) but you should be aware of the general idea spelled out here: Why you shouldn’t always listen to security advice
“You should update Java. Or uninstall it. Or not completely uninstall it, but disable it. Or not do anything at all because it’s not a problem. Whoever’s advice you take, the chances are it’s wrong.” Read more..
(.. but it’s kind of implied that you get savvy, too, and learn how computers function.)
.. Another busy day here. Have a good one everybody.
Bonus reading: Microsoft’s Surface needs a reboot: Here’s how
“The mobile market needs a third player to keep iOS and Android on its toes, but as it stands Microsoft’s Surface tablets don’t cut it. But with a few tweaks the platform has a chance of being a serious player.” Read more..
.. sexy ..
Today’s quote: “One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop.” ~G.M. Weilacher
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
A few interesting items…
* An inside look at Internet Explorer 10’s mysterious Flash whitelist
“In Windows 8 and especially on Windows RT, your ability to run Flash programs hosted on the web depends on whether a site is included on Microsoft’s Compatibility View list. So what does it take to get added to that list? And what can you do if a favorite Flash-based site won’t work?” Read more
* Nine changes to the default Word 2013 settings (short slideshow)
“Some of the default settings in Word 2013 just don’t work for him, so before he does anything else Mark Kaelin changes them.” View on site
A lot of you had your Yahoo! Mail accounts hacked (and everyone in your Contacts list received an email containing a dangerous link…). If you haven’t done so in a while, you probably want to change your password. (And yes, you have to be suspicious. Just because a link seems to come from a friend, doesn’t mean they really sent it to you..)
* Yahoo Mail users hit by widespread hacking, XSS exploit seemingly to blame (Update: Fixed)
“Late last night reports started coming in suggesting that Yahoo Mail users have had their accounts hacked. While “hacked” is a very broad term nowadays, it does appear that Yahoo email accounts are being compromised after users click on a malicious link they receive in their inboxes.” Read more..
* Java zero-day infections pick up steam
“An exploit that takes advantage of a gaping hole in Java has exploded across the globe, according to security firm Kaspersky Labs.” Read more..
Related: Remove Java (+ A Friday Fun Video )
And this article seems a bit late to the game to me..
* Ditch the problem router and move to Wireless-N
“If you’ve been having problems with your Wireless-G Wi-Fi, it might be time to consider an inexpensive upgrade to Wireless-N.” Read more..
Well, I’m out of time. Have a great day, everybody!
Today’s quote: “What I just said is the fundamental, end-all, final, not-subject-to-opinion absolute truth, depending on where you’re standing.” ~ Steve Martin
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<
All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.