Last week at the KIPCUG general meeting I said I had not installed Windows 8 on a slow computer and I did not know what would happen with that computer if I did. Today I installed Windows 8 on my old laptop that is literally coming off the hinges and this is what happened: Read more…
So far we have just dealt with privacy issues but what about Internet Security?
SSL and TSL
SSL or TSL are Internet Security protocols. They encrypt (make your communication secret) everything on the Internet point to point meaning from your computer to the web server, this includes your passwords. Whenever you login to a SSL or TSL session you will see the far left of the address bar of your web-browser change color. This should always be the case with your banking sites. If you do not see the bar change are being fished or the bank is not a good one and you should get a different one right away. It is most important that these protocols be observed when using a WiFi hotspot, if not everything you are doing can be observed. Read more…
If you really, really paranoid you can always use Incognito or private browsing plus connecting through a proxy. Yes you can connect to websites using a proxy server. Proxies prevent the site at the other end from knowing that it is your computer that is connecting to their site.
A Chromebook is a notebook computer that runs the Chrome OS and its only function is to access web-applications via the Chrome web-browser. Chromebooks are manufactured by Acer and Samsung. They are sold at Newegg, Tiger Direct and Amazon. They are priced between $349 (Wifi only) to $499 (with WiFi and 3G connectivity). Amazon and NewEgg always seems to be sold-out so go to Tiger Direct. Read more…
In the past week there has been a lot of noise surrounding the issue of the new Google Privacy Policy to take effect March 1st. Right now Google has 8 different policies each for a different service. They have been combined the into one very readable document. No legal-speak. What this policy says is… Read more…
If you don’t trust Google anymore you can opt out and never be “spied on” again.
To delete your account go to Google account settings. At the bottom under “Services” click “Close entire account and delete all services and info associated with it”. Read more…
Google does not want to trap you into using their services so they’ve made it very easy to get your data out of Google. Although very easy it is sometimes not apparent so they have created the Data Liberation Front, a website that explains the various methods used to get your data. Read more…
If you are really uncomfortable never sign into any web service, they all do what Google is doing and a lot more.
If you really want to be sure no one is watching, use “Incognito” in Chrome or “Private Browsing” in Firefox. There will be no history and no tracking cookies. There will be no functionality as well! Read more…
One of the best ways to improve your work-flow when using your computer is to use keyboard shortcuts.
Here are a few of the most important shortcuts…
Windows Key – opens the “Start Menu”.
If your using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or 8, hit the Windows Key and begin typing the name of what you want to open (programs or documents). When the item appears at the top of the menu hit enter and that item will open. Read more…
