Opera Browser Now Offers Free VPN Service

I tip my geek hat to the folks over at Opera.

* Opera Browser Now Offers Free and Unlimited Built-in VPN Service

“Opera becomes the first web browser to offer a built-in Free, unlimited and 256-bit encrypted VPN service for everyone.

Opera’s Free VPN protects unencrypted browser session from leaking on public WiFi networks and will also let unblock firewalls to improve privacy and security.” Read more..

* Get the Opera browser here.

Today’s Pretty Picture:

Not a bad cellphone pic, eh? Click on image to see more by this artist

“Spring 2011” by SurFeRGiRL30, courtesy of Flickr Commons

* * *

Today’s quote: “There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” ~ Aldous Huxley

Copyright 2007-2015 © “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.

Tuesday Items

Folks, here are a few headlines and articles I found worthy of recommendation:

* Despite security flaws, legal failures: How to fight revenge porn

“The celebrity stolen nudes scandal has shined an uncomfortable light on everything from cloud security to sexual privacy. Now there’s finally a very public conversation happening about how hard it is for women to fight online attacks such as this.

I think it’s time to talk about fighting back.” Read more..

[ The article provides tips and advice for getting your stuff {i.e. embarrassing photos} removed {“taken down”} from the Internet. It’s not really about porn. ]

This article has me seriously re-interested in ditching Android and switching to a Windows phone; but what it says about Google is worth the read, too: Nokia 925: My first Windows phone

“What’s it like for a lifetime Apple and Android user to begin using a Windows phone? Violet Blue found out.” Read more..

And the follow-up article: The Windows phone: One month later

“It’s been just over one month since Violet Blue switched from being a lifetime Apple and Android user to trying out a Nokia 925. Our newest Windows Phone user has a few things to say.” Read more..

For those anxious for Windows 10 (and/or the new “Spartan” browser):

This is Spartan! Windows 10 Technical Preview, Build 10049

“With Build 10049 of Windows 10 Technical Preview, Greg Shultz gets his hands on the Project Spartan browser. Take a look at some of the changes you can expect to see.” Read more..

And.. I’ve said it before: Heads up people: Tech neck is crimpin’ my style and your skin

“That’s because people on BART and buses and in public places don’t talk to each other so much anymore. Heck, some of them can hardly lift up their heads to look away from the tiny screens they hold in their hands.” Read more..

Well, that’s enough for today. If you read only one, read the first one; it’ll make you more aware of how tech (and the Internet) really work. Have a good one, everybody.

Today’s quotable quote: “When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be.” ~ Thomas S. Monson

Copyright 2007-2015 © “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.

Aftermath (aka “Friday Fun”)

Howdy Folks, hope you’re doing swell, and Life is the cat’s pajamas for you today.

As you may know, the Big News in my area is a drenching storm, and you may also know that “San Fransisco was the hardest hit”.

Well, for those who might care,I am pleased to report ‘ole Tech Paul has, so far, (knock on wood) only suffered a very brief power outage during the worst of it.

Shopping Season: I did take advantage of the “Black Friday”, Cyber Monday”, “Green Monday” (when did that start?? And what’s next?), etc., sales, as there are some too-good-to-pass-up bargains out there for the eagle-eyed (for example, I got a 128 GB USB 3.0 thumb drive free after rebate). And I want to let you know that the bargain season is not over. Far from it. If you have some tech gear you’re thinking of replacing/”upgrading”, keep your eye (or sign up for their ‘bargain alert’ emails) on Tiger Direct and Newegg.

More Tech: I have been giving a tryout to a new (to me) web browser. It’s Comodo’s “Ice Dragon”. So far, I am quite impressed (but I was a “Firefox guy”. Chrome people will prefer their “Comodo Dragon”).

“Comodo IceDragon is a secure Web browser based on the same open-source browser engine that powers Mozilla’s Firefox. Like the Chrome-based Comodo Dragon, IceDragon offers a variety of security and performance enhancements to the browser core, such as improved social media integration, fast page loading via Comodo’s integrated secure DNS service, and SiteInspector, which scans Web pages for malware directly from the browser. IceDragon is fully compatible with all Firefox plug-ins and add-ons, too.” From CNet’s review.

Unrelated to Tech: Cheer up. Take deep breaths.
I know folks get a little stressed out this time of year. Rude, even.
And holiday travel can be a challenge to the psyche (even if you’re lucky enough to not to have your flight canceled..)
And I know all about crass commercialism, and how advertisements make watching TV nigh on impossible… (do you REALLY think I am going to buy a new car as a Xmas gift??) and remind us there are such things as electric razors, but..
Just breath.
Count your blessings.
Chant “ohm… ohm… ohm…” if that’s what works for you.

I have a policy: if I encounter rudeness and stress? I counter it with a double-dose of civility, courtesy, and charm. Yes! Go ahead and take that parking space I’ve been waiting 10 minutes for! Godspeed to you! Another’ll open in a jiffy!
Lead by example.

Don’t forget/lose sight of what’s important (hint: it ain’t getting that FitBit gift-wrapped and to the Post Office..)

And even though my timing is a wee bit early, allow this grouchy curmudgeon to wish you the very happiest of holidays.

Today’s quote: “The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Copyright 2007-2014 © “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.
And please, never forget – one person can make a difference.
Find a way to make someone’s day today.
(Best advice I ever heard? Don’t sweat the small stuff.)

Stargazing In Shirtsleeves

A very rare night here (it’s actually warm) that is just perfect for pointing a telescope up at the sky.

How long has it been?

Long time for me. Kinda fun.

Too long.. anywho:

For those who have less than ideal conditions.. perhaps you missed my article on perhaps the neato-keen-est astronomy “app” ever devised (yet). Worldwide Telescope Now In Your Browser. (Includes a video “demo”.)

Aprés pos of nottin’ at all: Today, it so happened, I had a chance to watch some tree guys bring down a REALLY, really tall tree.. Section by section. Man. I got “nervous” for the one guy chainsawing up near the tippy-top. No wonder those guys make a decent penny. Yikes!

It’s something to see, if you’ve never watched..

Today’s quote: “It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” ~ W.C. Fields

Copyright 2007-2012 © “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.

Which Browser Blocks The Most Malware? Surprise!

In Q2 of 2011, NSS Labs performed a test of web browser protection against socially-engineered malware targeting users around the globe.

“Socially-engineered malware is a widespread problem, claiming one third of internet users as victims. The use of free browser-based reputation systems to assist in the fight against socially-engineered malware is a strong use of cloud technologies. However, in this global test of socially-engineered malware, we found that not all vendor implementations and daily operations yield the same results.“

So who did the best at blocking online threats? The result of one lab’s tests may surprise you.

Windows Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) caught an exceptional 99.2% of live threats. Read more..

(A full report of their tests is available as a PDF download. Anyone interested in the true state of Internet insecurity should take a quick read.. pick up a few interesting [and scary] factoids.)

Today’s quote: “A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all – he’s walking on them.” ~ Leonard Louis Levinson

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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IE, Firefox, or Chrome – Which is best?* | Consumer as beta tester

I am frequently asked my opinion about web browsers: mainly, “which is best – Firefox or Chrome?” Yes, sometimes I am asked about IE or Opera too. Well.. what do you mean by “best”? And is your definition of “best” the same as mine? Fortunately, I don’t have to think too hard when I am asked, as web browsers all basically do the same thing –> show you websites.

I use Firefox as my “alternative” browser. And I have chosen it simply because of the many Add-ons available. If these “Add ons” were not available, I would not use Firefox. It’s that simple.

So, what Firefox Add-ons do I use? I’ll show you:

[addenda: I have recently added OptimizeGoogle (specifically to strip out the ads in Gmail) to my suite of defenses.]

With the exception of the Vimeo video capture-to-blog plug in, I would recommend this configuration. Why? Well, what do these things do? Look at them, and you’ll see that they are defenses – typically, blocking elements I do not want. And yes folks, your machine needs defenses on the Internet. (OK. The Java is not a defense. It’s a vulnerability.. see, Java, the new Adobe (+How To Protect Yourself).)

Adding Add-ons to Firefox is easy: click on the Tools menu, and then Add-ons. A window like the one pictured will open. In the upper left is the Get Add-ons button. Click it.
(If that seems like too many to you, I would say at a minimum you want NoScript, WOT, and Flashblock.)

*     *     *

Do you have a favorite TV show? Do you ever record movies?

I thought so. So I have a reading reco for you, a tutorial: How To Burn A Recorded TV Show in Windows Media Center

“Many people out there that have Windows Vista and Windows 7 based computers have never tapped into the Windows Media Center component that is right under their noses.”

* Orig post: 11/12/2010

Today’s reco’d read: Should we now expect to pay $500+ to be tablet beta-testers?

“Tablet makers continue to fall short of the Apple iPad and roll out buggy and incomplete tablet devices, at prices of $500 or more, and I am getting tired of it. Aren’t you?” Read More…

Today’s quote: “Success is simply a matter of luck.  Ask any failure.”  ~ Earl Wilson

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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How To Set Internet Explorer As Your Main Browser

Quick Tutorial: How To Set IE As The Default

If you have been using an “alternative” web browser (such as Firefox or Chrome), but now that IE 9 is out, you want to switch back.. and you want Internet Explorer to be the one that opens automatically when you click on hyperlinks, etc., you need to set it as what is called the “default” browser. Here are the steps to do so in Vista and Windows 7.

To make Internet Explorer your default web browser:

1) Click the Start button, then click Control Panel, then click Network and Internet, and then click Internet Options.

2) Click the Programs tab, and then click the Make default button.

3) OK, and then close Internet Explorer.

Okay. That’s it. You’re done.

You can still use your other (installed) web browsers – simply open them – but Internet Explorer will be the one that your machine goes to first. And, you can always change your mind and make some other browser your “default” at some future date.

Friday Fun:

Today’s quote: Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.  ~ Anthony J. D’Angelo

Today’s free download: MailWasher allows you to preview multiple accounts and all aspects of your e-mails before you download them. It also allows you to delete and bounce e-mails back to the originator. The sender will receive an e-mail saying the address was unknown. Another feature helps identify and mark e-mail as normal, virus, possibly virus, possibly spam, probably spam, chain letter, and blacklisted, so you can deal with the e-mail as you wish. Other features are comprehensive customizable filters, use of MAPS RBL to identify spammers, multiple accounts, visual and auditory notification of new e-mail, minimization to system tray, and much more. It works with Outlook, Outlook Express, Incredimail, Thunderbird, Windows Mail, GMail, Hotmail and every other email program..

Limitations: Will only monitor one email account. A Pro Version is available without restrictions.

Today’s reading reco: Google’s Blogger outage makes the case against a cloud-only strategy

“The same week that Google made its strongest pitch ever for putting your entire business online, one of its flagship services has failed spectacularly. There’s a lesson here.”

(I find that hilarious..)

Just because:

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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