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If you find the information TechByter Worldwide provides useful or interesting, please consider a contribution.
It's the end of the year. This is one of two weeks TechByter takes off each year. There's no podcast, but there's a brief greeting and a quick look back 20 years ago.
No matter which holiday (or holidays) you celebrate of observe, I hope that they will be full of peace, love, and joy. And may 2021 be better for us all.
When You Need to Rename Lots of Files, Choose the Bulk Rename Utility: Renaming files is easy when you have just one or two, but there's a big difference if you have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of files that need to be renamed. Fortunately, there's an app for that.
Short Circuits: What's Up, Dock? Perhaps you've noticed that USB devices have proliferated so much that they outnumber the quantity of ports offered by the computer. That would be a good reason to add a dock, but there's an overwhelming number of options. Maybe you don't need a dock, but just a simple hub.
InDesign's Enhancements Are Important Even If You Don't Use InDesign: InDesign is one of the more specialized applications in Adobe's Creative Cloud, but updates and improvements in one application sometimes give clues about what Adobe might introduce in other applications, so let's take a look at the October 2020 version.
Spare Parts (only on the website): As of mid-2021, Google will eliminate free unlimited photo storage. Let's see what the options are. • Password disasters continue to be far too common, and password manager Dashlane has identified what the company calls the worst offenders. • Twenty years ago: How much was 520 megabytes? Not much by today's standards, but in 2000 it was a big deal.
PhotoDemon Offers Powerful Features But No Documentation: If you're looking for the world's best photo editing program, PhotoDemon probably isn't it. Even so, it has some intriguing features, and that makes it worth looking at.
Short Circuits: Taking A Short Stroll On The Amazon Sidewalk: If you have an Amazon smart connected device, it may soon be connecting to more than you think, and quite a few people are either infuriated, frightened, or both about it. Let's consider the good features and the cautions of neighborhood mesh computing.
Adobe Illustrator Goes Mobile: A year ago, Adobe created a version of Photoshop for the IPad. This year, it's Illustrator's turn on the small screen. The objective was to make it possible to use full featured applications on highly portable devices. That may be less important now that we need to avoid meetings and travel, but the expansion to other hardware also makes it possible to work with Adobe applications from an easy chair instead of from a desk.
Spare Parts (only on the website): The digital divide in the United States hasn't been worsened by the pandemic, but the pandemic has worsened the effects of the digital divide. • Robocalls continue to increase, but scam calls were down slightly in November. Don't expect that to continue. • Twenty years ago: Online sales were down in 2000, but they've been up ever since. And in this pandemic year, they're one of the few economic bright spots.
Every Scanner Owner Needs VueScan: If you have a scanner, it probably came with some software, but there's a better option. You'll have to pay $40 or maybe $90 for VueScan, but it's worth it to get the best results from any scanner, and there are even more advantages if you have multiple scanners or multiple computers.
Short Circuits: Send in the Clones: Although I've mentioned replacing mechanical drives with solid-state drives before, I have a real-life example of how easy the process is.
Less Expensive than Punching the Computer when Facebook Annoys: If you think Facebook isn't showing the posts you really want to see, you're probably right. Let's consider a way to sidestep Facebook's "artificial intelligence".
Spare Parts (only on the website): Phishing scams are always worse around the end of the year, and this year the threat is worse than usual. • An organization is trying to help high school students who are dealing with distance learning while homeless. • Twenty years ago: Even Stephen King couldn't make ebooks popular in 2000. We just weren't ready.
This is one of two weeks TechByter takes off each year. There's no podcast, but there's a brief greeting and a quick look back 20 years ago.
Exposure X6 is Still the Best for Film Looks: Exposure X6 honors its legacy of creating outstanding film looks, and builds on its raw image editing capabilities. It's worth a look as a standalone application as well as a plug-in for Adobe applications. This week we'll see what's new.
Short Circuits: The Easy Way to Keep (Some) Applications Up to Date: Software developers increasingly add code to their applications so that they will search for and, if the user prefers, install updates. But there are still many applications that need to be updated manually. Fortunately, there's an easy way to update a lot of them.
Is Evernote Better than OneNote? Occasionally I see articles about Evernote and how wonderful it is. In fact, I've tried three times to make Evernote my friend and have failed an equal number of times. Microsoft's OneNote has better formatting, I find it easier to use, and it's available for Windows, MacOS, Android, IPadOS, and IOS devices. Sorry, it's not an option for Linux users unless you install WINE.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Download a free trial of a helper application for a game such as Minecraft, and you might find that the price jumps to $30 per week after a three-day trial. • Ebooks are making inroads into schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, a change that's likely to continue. • Twenty years ago: Spelling checkers were just beginning to be introduced.
Grab a Handful of Goodies from Nir Sofer: I always enjoy working with individual developers who create small, specialized utility applications. Nir Sofer is one of these people. He has created more than 100 utilities, and this week I'll tell you about five that I consider to be quite useful.
Short Circuits: Reactivating Windows Following a Hardware Change: Have you put off upgrading some of the major hardware components in your computer because you fear it will invalidate the Windows 10 license? Performing a few steps in advance will eliminate that concern.
Google's New Chromecast Now Has a Remote: Google will ship a new Chromecast device before the end of the year. It's priced well, comes with a remote control, and even offers an on-screen menu.
Spare Parts (only on the website): People are using on-line payment systems more because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but concerns about being victimized online are inching up. • Schools in low-income areas are hard pressed to provide quality classes online, and that's probably not a big surprise. • Twenty years ago: Bill Gates was discounting the need for classrooms in third-world nations to be wired for computer access.
Photoshop's Top Tricks for 2021: The 2021 version of Adobe Photoshop introduces a series of splashy new artificial intelligence features and a variety of other useful capabilities. Some of them are "half-baked", but that's not a pejorative term. Every new product release by Adobe proves that "half-baked" is a good thing. I'll explain that in the process of describing some new features in Photoshop.
Short Circuits: Hubba, Hubba, Mozilla: Mozilla has Hubs. No, not the chrome things that you find on cars. It's a virtual reality conferencing system, and it's not Zoom, nor is it intended to be.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Sales of robotic devices continue to increase by more than 20% year over year. • Graphic artists, photographers, and designers have reacted to 2020 by placing increased emphasis on the pandemic and social issues. • Twenty years ago: Email client Eudora had introduced "Mood Watch" to help users avoid aggressive language in their messages. Yeah. Good luck with that.
SnagIt 2021 Adds Time-Saving Features: TechSmith's SnagIt has one new feature for 2021 that justifies the cost of the update all by itself, but that feature is not alone.
Short Circuits: Adobe Max: The Really Big Show: October's Adobe Max program usually attracts around 15,000 people from countries around the globe. This year there were nearly 500,000 registered attendees. The primary differences were that those who attended all got in for free.
Saving Money on Your Smart Phone: Most of us wish smart phones cost less, but we're willing to go into debt for them because they're considered essential by so many. How about some tips for saving money?
Spare Parts (only on the website): A free 47-page ebook by Wells Fargo Financial Advisors can help safeguard your computer and your finances. I have the download link. • The feds have filed suit against Google, complaining about monopolistic practices. • Twenty years ago: Xerox was in the process of spinning off the legendary Palo Alto Research Center, the organization that invented much of modern computing.
Saving Money on a New Computer: Some people like to replace their computer with a new model around the end of the year, and because the end of the year is approaching, this might might be a good time to think about how to save money on the deal.
Short Circuits: Consider this Alternative to Ad Blockers: Anyone who uses more than one browser and wants to eliminate ads should consider an alternative to the various ad removers offered as browser plug-ins. The plug-ins need to be installed and updated on every computer you use. Wouldn't it be great to have an option that worked for every application that uses the internet? Let's see how to create one.
Organizing Your EBooks: Ebook organizer and reader Calibre has been updated to version 5. Although relatively weak as a reader, Calibre is the best organizer you'll find.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Is Microsoft thinking about switching to Linux? There's been some speculation about that lately. • Looking for a really cheap computer? There's the Compute Stick from Intel, but be sure to consider its limitations before buying. • Twenty years ago: Adobe was beginning a concerted effort to develop applications for home users, not just graphics professionals. The effort seems to have paid off.
Big Data May Be Your Enemy: Big data and artificial intelligence offer a lot of promise, but there are also formidable challenges. Unless proved otherwise, perhaps we should consider these technologies dangerous, or at least potentially hostile.
Short Circuits: Windows 10 October 2020 Edition (version 20H2) is Coming: Microsoft released Windows 10 version 20H2 in late September. It will arrive on your computer at some undetermined time, but it's easy enough to obtain if you want it. For the second year in a row, the fall update is tiny when compared to version 2004 (aka 20H1).
Still Using Microsoft Office 2010? Well, Stop It! Support for Office 2010 ended on 13 October 2020. If you're thinking this is no big deal, think again. The end of support means the end of security updates and bug fixes.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Sometimes I get the crazy idea that there are scammers who intentionally create email messages with so many errors that no sentient human would fall for them. Why? There's no logical reason. • If you use Zoom or any other meeting application that supports background substitution, Tech Republic has some Halloween images you might like. • Twenty years ago: Security concerns in 2000 were not substantially different from what they are today. The players have changed, but many of the rules remain the same.
The Magic Wand that Should be in Your Pocket: Have you ever wished you had a magic wand in your pocket? Maybe your computer isn't working right, or maybe you're in the office and need access to your personal email account, or maybe you need to use a computer that isn't yours and you don't want to leave any traces. That's where the magic wand comes in.
Short Circuits: Ping and Traceroute Reveal Secrets: Two of the most useful applications on any computer are ping and traceroute. Individually and together they can help you find out why a website is slow. Let's look at what they tell us.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Google Maps has a new layer that might be on your phone, but not all phones have the COVID-19 information layer yet. • Facebook continues to shut down fraudulent accounts. • Twenty years ago: Remember SCSI drives? That's an acronym for small computer system interface, not an opinion about the quality of the drive.
Zooming Along with PowerPoint: Zoom Meetings has become almost the de facto standard for business meetings, conferences, webinars, and even screen sharing. It's all just talking heads, though. This is a problem that can be resolved by using PowerPoint. Carefully.
Short Circuits: Run as Administrator? I am the Administrator! Most of us have some applications that must be run as Administrator, but your account on the computer is probably an administrator account, but not the Administrator. Reminders to run as Administrator can be annoying, and more so if it's an application you use often. Let's see how to fix this.
Microsoft's Educational Initiative is Designed for All Students: Microsoft has been quietly adding features to Microsoft 365, and even to the free online version. Many of these new features address educational needs for reading, writing, math, and communications.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Photographers have a love-hate relationship with stock photography, and so do project managers. Adobe's bi-annual report on the state of stock photography has just been released. • If the Microsoft segment this week didn't convince you that education tools are a big thing this year, a report from App Annie might do it. • Twenty years ago: I may have been amazed by how much memory could be placed in a small package in 2000, but today there's lots more memory in even smaller containers.
Fixing Icons that Wander, Adding an On-Screen Clock, and More: Have you ever turned your computer on and found that your carefully organized Desktop icons have been scattered all over the screen? If the location of Desktop icons is important to you, there's a way to glue them in place.
Short Circuits: Stop Accidentally Closing Apps on Your Tablet or Convertible Computer: Tablet and convertible computer users often close applications without intending to. There's a way to fix this, but it's a bit complicated.
Using Social Fixer to Fix Facebook: If you don't yet have the new version of Facebook, you will have it soon, and Facebook says there will be no way to go back, but you can improve the way Facebook works. Two applications exist to do this, FB Purity and Social Fixer. The FB in FB Purity stands for Fluff-Busting. If you're not using one of these, Facebook is a lot more frustrating than it needs to be.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Maybe you read a book a few years ago and now you need some information or a quotation from the text, but you can't remember the name of the book. All is not lost. • Microsoft has found that underwater data centers have fewer system failures than land-based data centers. • Twenty years ago: I thought that computers were everywhere, but I had no way to foresee what was coming in 2020.
Finding Photos Fast with Excire Search in Adobe Lightroom Classic: Lightroom Classic users can add key words to help locate images, but Excire's Search plug-in adds generic keywords and fundamentally changes the process of looking for images by enabling remarkably good facial recognition.
Short Circuits: Facebook's New Interface Is Terrible, or Maybe it's Not: I've been watching messages from Facebook users who have been switched to the new interface. With few exceptions, people say they hate it. A few weeks ago Facebook said all users will be converted to the new interface in September, so maybe I would like to switch now. Fearing the worst, I switched.
Dazed and Confused by Old Stuff and New Stuff: Maybe you've seen the video with a couple of 17-year-old guys who are given a rotary phone and told that they have to make a call. If you laughed at the plight of the teens, maybe you were laughing prematurely.
Spare Parts (only on the website): This year's Adobe MAX will be in no physical location. As an online event, there's no attendance fee, and Adobe would like to hire people to provide some of the virtual trimmings. • Microsoft and LinkedIn have established a plan to provide training for those who need new job skills. Training will be provided without cost. • Twenty years ago: What we meant by "high-speed internet" was a lot different in 2000 than it is today.
MacroExpress Magically Automates Large and Small Tasks: MacroExpress is an application that has been on every Windows computer I've used since sometime in the late 1990s. It's one of those rare applications that I consider to be absolutely essential. I'll explain why, and maybe you'll feel the same.
Short Circuits: No, You Don't Have to Verify Your Account: Any account. Period. Any email, instant message, or phone call that says you must "verify" your account information has about a 99.999% chance of being a scam.
The Scams Just Keep on Coming! Let's take a look at a couple of recent scam attempts, one that claims my some unknown user has loged in to my email account and another that promises a $50 gift from Sam's Club. Or maybe it's $90, but the message is full of errors.
Spare Parts (only on the website): There's one critical step you should take before contacting tech support to report a problem, and that one simple step may solve the problem. • If that one simple, critical step doesn't solve the problem, there's one more thing to think about. • Twenty years ago: Storing files on the internet was new and expensive. Eventually it caught on and became affordable
Check Out Version 1.8 of Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher: Serif's Affinity division has released updated versions of Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher. Despite the low prices of these applications, they pack surprisingly robust feature sets.
Short Circuits: Beware Fraudulent COVID-19 Contact Tracing: Scammers are inventive. They pay attention to the news and COVID-19 has been quite profitable for them. So profitable that Medicare and the Centers for Disease Control have launched a campaign to let people know how contact tracing works and, just as important, how to spot a fake. Most of the contact tracing scams have used phone calls so far, but its virtually guaranteed that email scammers will follow.
It's MY Browser, so Keep Your Mitts Off It! Have you ever opened your web browser only to find that it's not your web browser? Some program developers build into their application installers a process that changes your default browser or your default search engine. Even Microsoft does this if you are distracted during an operating system update. It's an easy problem to fix.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Adobe's free Photoshop Camera app for Android and IOS devices keeps getting better with the addition of free lenses that modify images taken with the app. • Acronis TrueImage 2021 doubles down on security measures with tools that scan for viruses, watch for malware, and use artificial intelligence to identify attacks before they can do damage. • Twenty years ago: A 19-inch monitor seemed gigantic, but flat-panel monitors were prohibitively expensive and those big cathode-ray tube screens left little space on the desk.
Sometimes Even Due Diligence Isn't Enough: If you've ever bought a piece of hardware that didn't quite live up to its hype and its reviews, you're not alone. I have a story for you that involves sequential failures to satisfy. Perhaps it'll be worth a chuckle or two.
Short Circuits: Avoid that Sick PUP: Whether you call them potentially unwanted programs (PUP) or potentially unwanted applications (PUA) they're annoying and some of them are dangerous. Some browsers attempt to block these annoyances, but Microsoft's latest Windows 10 update aims to put the protection at the operating system level. There's a problem, though.
Has Microsoft Updated Your Computer to Version 2004 Yet? A surprising number of Windows computers are still running version 1909 and haven't been updated to version 2004 even though version 2009's release date is right around the corner. If you're still running an earlier version of Windows and wish Microsoft would get around to pushing the 2004 update to your computer, you can obtain it without Microsoft's help.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Too many people fail to recognize scam ads and blindly share the ad or follow the link. Let's think about that. • One of the worst performing business sectors in terms of online security awareness is the one that encompasses energy and utilities. • Twenty years ago: Corel thought that Linux would allow the company to compete with Microsoft.
LibreOffice 7 Offers Some Compelling New Features: The free, open-source office suite, LibreOffice, is out with version 7, and it has an impressive bunch of new features, improved performance, and enhanced capabilities to deal with Microsoft Office files.
Short Circuits: Microsoft Disables the Creation of Restore Points on Most Windows 10 Systems: Microsoft created restore points for Windows systems in the distant past, and you may think that your Windows 10 computer is protected by the technology. Surprise! Unless you have enabled restore points, it isn't.
KeePassXC: A New Version of the Other Password Manager: Everybody should have a password manager, but maybe you don't want a password manager that stores your passwords in the cloud even though it's demonstrably safe. If so, now's the time to take a look at KeePassXC, a new version of the venerable KeePass.
Spare Parts (only on the website): The novel coronavirus has become a gold mine for scammers. They have adapted old ploys to new circumstances. • Adobe, Red Hat, and IBM are teaming up to enhance online security as users of online systems demand more ease of use. • Twenty years ago: The Oxford English Dictionary had just been released in an online version for more than $500 per year. Today, it's $90 per year, but libraries often provide online access without cost.
Reach for the Skylum! Skylum's Luminar 3 has made remarkable strides on the way to Luminar 4. The application is less than four years old, yet it offers some delightful surprises.
Short Circuits: Protecting Your Email Account with Phony Addresses: If you'd like to be able to create a temporary address that you can provide when you're not quite sure you want to give someone your real address, Mozilla's Firefox Relay may do the job. It's in private beta now.
Check the Internet Archive for Long Lost Goodies: Remember The Oregon Trail, Zork, PacMan, or M.U.L.E.? If you liked these games in the 1980s, you can give them a second shot right now on any Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. No downloads are involved because they run in a browser window.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Microsoft is experimenting with hydrogen fuel cells for backup power at data centers, and says that they offer advantages over diesel generators. • The Firefighter Safety Research Institute has released a report on a fire at a 2.16 megawatt lithium ion battery energy storage system in Surprise, Arizona. • Twenty years ago: The US Postal Service was thinking about offering email. Just about everyone thought it was a dumb idea, but it might have solved one of today's problems.
How to Stop Wasting Time Looking for Digital Images: As the number of digital images we accumulate increases, possibly at an alarming rate, finding one specific image becomes challenging. Artificial intelligence can help.
Short Circuits: Outdated Drivers Needlessly Vex Windows Users: Device drivers are among the most problematic issues for Windows users, but they're virtually invisible and that makes keeping them up to date difficult. There are applications that can help, but they need to be treated with care.
Sometimes a Hardware Failure is Just a Hardware Failure: Although a bad device driver can cause a problem with keyboards, sometimes the keyboard just fails. Microsoft wants more than $100 for their keyboard cover that fits on Surface Pro tablets, but a third-party keyboard for half that price offers a lot of useful features.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Mozilla has begun offering a virtual private network. It's currently limited to Windows computers and both IOS and Android mobile devices in six countries, but more devices and countries are coming. • Two mechanical dogs are wandering around a Ford plant, helping engineers to collect data for a planned retooling. • Twenty years ago: Bluetooth devices were just beginning to be sold. They were expensive and had security flaws. Now it's hard to find a device without Bluetooth built in.
Two-Factor Authentication is Essential and Perhaps Easier than Expected: A strong password helps to keep your information private, but a single error can give control of your accounts to crooks. Setting up two-factor authentication is the best way to add security, and you may be surprised by how easy the process has become.
Short Circuits: Put a PaintCan on Your Ipad or Iphone: Adobe has two painting applications, one for people who know how to draw and paint (or want to learn) and another for those who just want to create painterly effects using their own photographs. We'll take a look at both.
Two Seconds from Disaster: Earlier this month, I was about two seconds away from disaster as I held the mouse cursor over a poisoned link. Then logic kicked in.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Potential disaster lurks behind more than 100,000 websites that claim to have legitimate Covid-19 information. • The pandemic is creating severe supply shortages for information technology departments. • Twenty years ago: Online services were beginning to make it possible for travel agents to book ground transportation in addition to flights.
Inexpensive Online Backup Could be Right for You: Online backup systems often offer the ability to recover more than just the most recent version of a file, but there are less expensive options if you're willing to give up that useful feature.
Short Circuits: Save Money When Buying a Tablet Computer, but Only if it's a Windows Device: Despite their advantages, tablet computers have one huge disadvantage: Price. When you're shopping for a Windows tablet, it's possible to save money on storage space if the device offers an XD memory card slot.
Facebook Account Hacked? Probably Not. Facebook users often see messages about "hacked" accounts, but the accounts probably haven't been hacked — just cloned. There are ways to make your account unattractive to crooks.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Podcast aggregator Stitcher is about to be acquired by SiriusXM after being owned by the E W Scripps Company for five years. • Would you take a pay cut to gain the flexibility of working from home? A lot of people would, and you may be surprised by how much of a pay cut they would accept. • Twenty years ago: The Crusoe processor from Transmeta promised to bring to market amazing new small computers that ran cooler, but it didn't happen.
At Adobe, Change Never Ends: The software world continues its transition to software as a service, and users see small changes frequently. Adobe delivers two large updates every year, one of which arrived in late June with lots of new features.
Short Circuits: Bidding a Fond Farewell to the Windows Control Panel, But Not for a While: When Microsoft released Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985, it had component called the "Control Panel". The Control Panel has persisted for nearly 35 years now, even though Microsoft added the Settings app, because the Control Panel still offers some settings that the new app doesn't have. When will the Control Panel go away?
Unexpected, Unintuitive Wi-Fi Channel Selection: Is your Wi-Fi router set up properly? Most routers today can transmit signals in the 2.4GHz range and 5GHz range. Some of the newer devices also can communicate in the 60GHz range. Choosing the wrong channel can reduce your system's performance and that of your neighbors.
Spare Parts (only on the website): The seeming illogic of selecting a Wi-Fi channel for your router has a basis in logic. • Microsoft continues its push to get Windows users to at least give the new Edge browser a try. • Twenty years ago: Microsoft was about to start shipping the Millennium Edition of Windows, and I thought it would be an improvement over Windows 98. Well, not exactly.
Finding the Right Email Client for Your Mobile Device: Your smart phone or tablet doubtless includes an email application, but there's probably a better option. Let's look for one.
Short Circuits: Weather or Not: Up-to-date weather information is good to have and there are several services that use differing approaches to present that information.
Wait, Email, Come Back! I Want to Add Something! Many email application can be set up to delay messages you send. That's a handy feature if you frequently think of something you meant to include shortly after pressing the Send button.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Internet service provider Wide Open West is warning customers about a scam. The warning applies to all ISPs. • You probably have a Google account, and now would be a good time to run a security audit. It's easy and takes just a few minutes. • Twenty years ago: "Big, Fast, and Cheap — Choose Any Three!" Disk drives were finally becoming affordable.
The Importance of Using a Virtual Private Network: It's essential to use a viritual private network on portable devices that connect to Wi-Fi hotspots or open networks. Although it's a good safety practice to also use a VPN on a desktop system with a wired connection, you may find that it's not possible.
Short Circuits: Working Safely from Home: If your office job still has you working from home, you should have a virtual private network, and we'll look at some other important security measures.
This is a Good Time to Learn Something New: Many of us are still staying at home most of the time. To reduce the boredom, you might consider picking up a new skill or two. Your local library can probably help with that.
Spare Parts (only on the website): A minor Windows Explorer annoyance turned out to be an easy fix. I'll explain what the problem was and how I corrected it. • Microsoft's Windows Insider program is changing. Some of the changes are semantic, but it appears that there will be an increased emphasis on quality. • Twenty years ago: Time Warner Columbus told Roadrunner users that there would no longer be an extra charge to connect more than one home computer to the internet.
The Office on Your Android or IOS Phone: Don't expect to do any heavy-duty editing or spreadsheet development on your smartphone or tablet, but now several Office 365 apps let you work with Office suite documents wherever you are and on whatever device you have.
Short Circuits: Eliminating the Repeated Taskbar and Desktop Refresh Annoyance: Maybe you think you've seen the Taskbar and Desktop refresh repeatedly, but thought you're halluciniting. You're not. It is. And there's a way to fix it. Maybe.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Recognizing that a smart phone camera serves as the primary camera, and possibly the only camera, for a growing number of people, Adobe continues to add features to its Lightroom Camera app and the June update included a new application called Photoshop Camera. • Covid-19 has created a demand for computers, but it has also limited the supply of computers and components that are made in China. • Twenty years ago: PC Expo was about to get underway in New York City, where home networks would be a hot topic.
The Ipad Team’s New Player is Impressive: The latest Ipads from Apple can be bought with an overpriced keyboard and an overpriced pencil. If you add the extras, you'll almost have a computer, and it might replace your portable computer. We'll take a look at pluses and minuses.
Short Circuits: Three Must-Have Utilities for Finding What's Under the Hood: When you're looking for the cause of a problem or considering an upgrade, you may need to find out what's under the computer's hood. Speccy, HWInfo64, and Crystal Disk Info are three tools that provide insight, and you'll want at least two of them.
Spare Parts (only on the webstite): Adobe's big mid-year update was delivered to Creative Cloud users this week, and the additions range from fun toys to highly desirable new and improved features. • Facebook launched an initiative to register voters this week, and will offer some new capabilities: One allows users to hide annoying political ads and a second reveals how much is being spent on Facebook ads for presidential and congressional races. • Twenty years ago: Online shopping was just beginning to be something people thought they might be willing to trust.
Solving a Problem that Couldn't Possibly be Happening: Occasionally a problem crops up and, although it seems to be something that will be an easy fix, provides frustration and some degree of entertainment for several days. Initially you might question whether it's really happening.
Short Circuits: Choosing an Email Application that will Never be Updated: When I was wrestling with Outlook's inability to send mail, I tried using Thunderbird. Although it complained about a problem, it let me set an exception and then just worked. I considered switching to Thunderbird because, while it's unlikely to ever see another significant update, it's a fine email client.
Since We're Already in Mozilla's Neighborhood, Let's Glance at Firefox Version 78: Firefox still can't get the respect it deserves, but the Mozilla development team keeps making the browser better. There's no question that Chromium-based browsers have the greatest market penetration, but Firefox is back in the game with some new features to accompany the browser's emphasis on privacy and security.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Some Facebook scammers aren't even trying to appear legitimate any more. • Keeping employees safe has exposed some companies' networks and proprietary data during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. • Twenty years ago: Maxtor was about to introduce enormous disk drives that could hold up to 60 gigabytes of data, but you would need deep pockets to buy one.
Computers Need Scheduled Maintenance, and it's Not Difficult: Just like cars, trucks, airplanes, furnaces, and bicycles, hardware and software can fail even if you perform all the suggested maintenance. Maintenance does allow you to find upcoming problems and fix them before they happen, though. Routine troubleshooting is easy and doesn't take much time.
Short Circuits: Portable Solid-State Drives are Finally Affordable (More or Less): Portable USB solid-state drives were once a luxury for those who needed lots of fast external storage while on the go. The drives are still a bit pricy, but they're a lot more affordable than they used to be.
Reducing the Risks of Working from Home: Offices are reopening, but many people are still working from home, and may be for a long time. Maybe permanently. Too many companies neglected to secure equipment used for office work and now they're in danger.
Spare Parts (only on the website): You know not to open email attachments from strangers, but what if somebody you do know replies to an email from you and includes an unexpected attachment? • If you've ever wondered which antivirus application is best, the answer is easy: None of them. AV Comparatives can point out the relative strengths and weaknesses. • Twenty years ago: Plans were afoot to put Congressional hearings online. This was another groundbreaking effort that didn't quite make it.
Don't Trust Your ISP's Domain Name Service: Your internet service provider has a domain name server, but you don't have to use it. There are good reasons why you might want to ditch the provided service and use a better one. The change is easy to make, you'll get better service, and it won't cost anything.
Short Circuits: Keeping The Bad Guys Away From Your Mac: Computers that run on MacOS are less of a target than those running Windows, but threats do exist. Let's consider some protective measures. (Hint: Most of these tips also apply if you have a Windows or Linux computer.)
Listening to Radio from Everywhere: Those who miss the variety that radio used to provide can use a clever service to find and listen to radio stations all over the world. Jazz from Paris, classical from New York, country from Calgary — it's all there.
Spare Parts (only on the website): COVID-19 is forcing many changes. Among them: Making security systems at financial institutions stronger, ways for people to enjoy an at-home vacation, expected changes in work-from-home policies by companies, and huge increases in at-home data consumption. • Twenty years ago: The trial to break up Microsoft was nearing an end with an order that broke Microsoft into two pieces, except that it didn't.
Zooming In: Zoom was poised to sweep all other online meeting applications away, and then security concerns surfaced. Big ones. Zoom has moved quickly to resolve the issues, but now the company is facing an up-hill battle against competitors.
Short Circuits: Yes, You Can Download Videos from YouTube and Other Sites: If you've ever wished you could download a video from YouTube, you've probably been frustrated to see that no such option exists. You'd almost think that YouTube doesn't want you to download videos, and you would be right. Several methods exist to make the task easy, and they're all legal.
The New Look of Commerce Post-COVID-19: We're beginning to see some indications of what stores will look like for the foreseeable future — at least that part of the future prior to the development of a vaccine to protect against the novel coronavirus. Some companies seem to be more willing than others to adapt. Apple's plans are impressive.
Spare Parts (only on the website): About one third of workers feel that a machine might take their job. Let's look at some of the details. • COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation abound, but it's easy to find honest information, too. I'll list eight reliable resources. • Twenty years ago: After selling WebObject Java for $50,000, Apple suddenly cut the price to $700. This did not delight those who had paid the full price.
Can Privacy-Preserving Contact Tracing Work? Apple and Google will allow their respective smart phones to communicate with each other. The goal is to help public health officials locate people who have crossed paths with people who were later found to be COVID-19 positive. It's a good idea, but it's unlikely to succeed.
Short Circuits: Avoiding Malware-Laced Files and Links: Probably there has been no time when computer sercurity threats were more pronounced than they are today. Scammers and thieves take advantage of big events, and COVID-19 is perhaps the largest single event since the advent of ubiquitous computers.
Have You Looked at Edge Lately? Microsoft's new Chromium-based version of Edge is making progress and promises to be the first worthwhile browser from Microsoft. The number of extensions for Edge continues to increase and, whether you use Edge or not, browser extensions can provide features you wish your favorite browser had.
Spare Parts (only on the website): The lowly Windows File Explorer has some hidden tricks that can make file management easier. • The market for wearable health devices is seeing explosive growth that isn't expected to end anytime soon. • Twenty years ago: Kodak was desperately seeking relevance in a world where film was becoming irrelevant.
Camtasia Expands Beyond Documentation Videos: Camtasia has been the preferred application for nearly 18 years by those who need to create video documentation for computer users, but in recent years TechSmith has pushed the application into other areas. The 2020 version includes sophisticated editing capabilities that are easy to use.
Short Circuits: Saving Disk Space in Adobe Lightroom: Depending on how often you send images from Lightroom to Photoshop for pixel-level editing, making a small change in the workflow could save a substantial amount of disk space.
Seeing an Opening, Scammers Shift to High Gear: There's never a shortage of scams, but large events bring out the creeps in large numbers and the COVID-19 pandemic is clearly a large event. The scammers have repackaged old tricks in new boxes, but some of the old techniques still work surprisingly well.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Google and Apple say they want to work together to provide technical assistance for identifying people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. • If you lose access to your Google account, there are automated recovery procedures that are easy. That's good because recovering an account manually isn't easy or fast. • Twenty years ago: Many of us might have been excited by a $180 device that played CDs and DVDs full of MP3 files. Suddenly we could take a lot of music with us wherever we went.
Why a Duck? Although Google is the most used search engine and Bing is a distant second, an even more distant Duck Duck Go has several advantages.
Short Circuits: Working From Home Exposes Security Issues: Research that shows company security is more at risk when employees work from home is no surprise to security experts. The risk to corporate data is substantial.
Do You Need All Those Start-Up Applications? A lot of applications start with Windows. The operating system needs some processes and you've probably added some, but there may be others that you didn't request and may not even know are running. Needless applications can cause problems, and we'll consider how to find them and remove the ones you don't want.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Improvements for Firefox's search function makes finding something faster and easier. • The COVID-19 pandemic continues and will likely worsen as states begin to loosen regulations. Now's a good time so surveil yourself. • Twenty years ago: I loaded a virus onto the office computer -- the first and only time I made that mistake. It taught me a most important lesson.
You Need VLC For DVDs, But It Does A Lot More: Prior to Windows 8, users could play DVDs with the Windows Media Player. Microsoft dropped the Media Player in Windows 8, but offered a version that included it at a higher price. When Windows 10 came along, Windows Media Player was gone and Microsoft no longer offers a replacement. That's OK because there's something better and it's free.
Short Circuits: Fixing Disadvantages Caused by Small High-Resolution Screens: Those who use their Windows computer's desktop for links to files and applications sometimes complain about how small text, icons, and mouse cursors are. If you've recently purchsed a high-resolution monitor or have a portable computer with a small screen, you might wish that those items were larger. The good news is that these are all easy fixes.
Expand Your Computer with a Multi-Function Dock: Although designed to work with Apple Macbook Pro computers, a device that's being developed and is currently featured on Indiegogo will work with other computers and mobile devices. The HybridDrive can be connected to any device with a USB-C port.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Technology may be able to help track new COVID-19 cases as states relax some of the restrictions we've been dealing with. • If you're trying to find out when your stimulus check will arrive from the IRS, the IRS website may be able to help; beware of rogue sites, though, because more than 4000 new domains exist and they all want to "help" you. • Twenty years ago: The MP3 revolution was moving right along, but we still had to deal with unknown new terms such as "rip".
Making Facebook Tolerable: Facebook can be useful, but the unremitting flood of advertisements and other "improvements" that are forced onto users can be maddening. There are ways to fix the problems.
Short Circuits: The Internet In A Time Of Crisis: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought conspiracy nuts, crooks, and liars out from wherever they normally spend their time. We need honest information and facts. Fortunately, they exist and they're not hard to find.
An Update on Google's Nest Mini: If you decide to invest in a Google smart speaker such as the Nest Mini, make sure that it's working as expected and, if not, insist that Google replace it. It took far too long to convince Google, but now the problem has been resolved.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Some applications that are installed on computers have started asking the user to log in. This is a good trend. • This month's Microsoft Patch Tuesday includes a lot of security fixes, so it's not one to delay. • Twenty years ago: Netscape was excited about the release of Navigator 6. Netscape was already feeling pressure from Microsoft and, a few years later from Firefox. Navigator was discontinued in 2008.
Computer Performance Tests Reveal Slow Spots: How fast is your computer? Those who used to build and race hot rods might be interested, but should the rest of us? Maybe we should becuase these tests are about more than just having numbers you can brag about. If the computer seems to be slow, testing can show you where the problem is.
Short Circuits: Staying Sane in a Time of Social Distancing: These are tough times and it's far from clear when conditions will improve. Not to disregard or even downplay the desperation, last week I described museum tours and other things you can do virtually when you can't go out. This week let's look at resources such as music, books, motion pictures, and television programs can help reduce stress.
COVID-19 Offers Scammers New Opportunities, But Alert Users Will Be Safe: Scammers aren't stupid. They watch the news and adapt their messages to fit the narrative. What's distressing is that people continue to fall for the same old scams that have simply been repackaged in new clothing. Then tech writers like me have to write the same old stories and dress them up with new specifics. It shouldn't be this way.
Spare Parts (only on the website): We'll review virtual private networks and video conferencing. VPN usage has seen a significant increase in the past decade and many video conferencing applications are far less secure than they should be, even for personal use. • Twenty years ago: Macromedia had just introduced version 3 of Dreamweaver and included Fireworks for the first time.
Executor is an Application Launcher that Does More: I described the Launchy program launcher for Windows three weeks ago, and said I'd soon have information about a competitor. This week we'll take a look at Executor.
Short Circuits: Fixing Network Problems: Unless your home network has been dusted liberally with magic Network Pixie Dust™, you probably encounter occasional problems. Sometimes the cause of the problem is obvious, but more often than not the problem does its best to hide, so let's review some of the quick and easy steps that can get your computer back online.
Why You Might Want a Fake Email Address and How to Get One: If you've ever wished that you could give someone or some company a temporary email address to avoid spam, it's easy and you have a choice of several services.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Museum tours, theme parks, Broadway plays, and more are available online and many are free. They're good options in this time of "social distancing" and staying at home. • Researchers at Harvard say that a financial data bill of rights is long past due. • Twenty years ago: Star Office was being promoted as the application that would wrest domination of the desktop away from Microsoft.
It's Time to Give Firefox Another Try: What's your primary web browser? For a lot of people, the answer will be Chrome, which has half of the market or more on desktop, notebook, and tablet computers. All browsers look about the same, but lots of differences exist below the surface. Maybe it's time to think about switching browsers, not just for the sake of something new but for the sake of something better and more secure.
Short Circuits: Getting a Second Opinion from Malwarebytes to Backstop an Antivirus Application: Every Windows computer should have a copy of Malwarebytes. The free version will scan the computer on demand and remove malware. For $30 or $40 per year, Malwarebytes Premium will also watch for malware in real time, protect against ransomware, and prevent access to known malicious websites. But maybe the free version is the better choice.
Unchecky Rejects Unwanted Applications: No matter how careful you are, sometimes an application will include extra "gifts" when you install them — applications that you don't want. It's always wise to use whatever advanced installation the application offers so that you can reject the unwanted pieces, but it's easy to forget. That's when you might want to have Unchecky watching your back.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Crooks view the sudden shift to having employees work from home as an outstanding opportunity to plant malware and steal corporate data. • Freelance editors work from home almost exclusively and many of them have neat, tidy offices. Then there's my office. • Twenty years ago: A new service called Amadeus had just been created to give Scandinavians a way to book airline flights using their phones.
Should I Use Photoshop or Illustrator? Those who argue that Illustrator is better than Photoshop or that Photoshop is better than Illustrator are missing the point: Adobe makes each for specific purposes.
Short Circuits: Many Responses to the Novel Coronavirus: The usual basketball March Madness has been canceled and replaced with Coronavirus Madness. Disneyland is closed. The National Association of Broadcasters annual convention is off. Schools are closed. Broadway shows are shut down. People are working from home if they can. Regardless of how this plays out, there's plenty of inconvenience to go around even if you don't get sick.
Trimming the WinSxS Directory: Anyone who occasionally goes prospecting to find temporary files and other junk that can be deleted to reclaim disk space may have encountered a directory called WinSxS inside the Windows directory and wondered what it is and whether it can be deleted to save space. [Spoiler: NO!!!]
Spare Parts (only on the website): The expected coronavirus scams are spreading across the internet and it's wise to avoid them. • Some healthcare providers are bringing telemedicine online sooner than expected for what would have been basic office visits. • Twenty years ago: Intel was looking 20 years ahead. How accurate was the company in looking ahead to 2020?
Launchy: A Bit Dated, but Still a Timesaver: Not everyone likes the methods Microsoft has provided to start applications in Windows 10. If you're in that group, maybe you'd like some additional options. It's also possible to start applications with a keyboard-based launcher. Sometimes that's a faster and easier way to work.
Short Circuits: Maybe it's Time to Clean the Keyboard: I'll be the first to admit that I'm not particularly neat, but sometimes the dust, dirt, grit, and crumbs in the keyboard become too much for even me to bear. That's when it's time to clean the thing. Let's see what's involved.
Affinity Updates Photo, Designer, and Publisher Apps: British software developer Serif's Affinity line of applications were all updated to version 1.8 at the end of February and the result is a series of powerful applications with surprisingly low prices.
Spare Parts (only on the website): More resources for Adobe Stock users who can now obtain images from two new providers. • Given the source of many computer components, it's probably no surprise that the new coronavirus is having an adverse effect on computer shipments. • Twenty years ago: Several organizations started providing dial-up internet access for free.
Wacom's Little "One" Could Be Big: Tablets have become essential devices for graphic artists and a lot of professional photographers, but getting used to them is difficult because the tablet is separate from the screen. Tablets with screens, although easier to use, are costly. Now Wacom has a screen with a writable surface and a modest price.
Short Circuits: Happy 30th Birthday to Photoshop: Photoshop has been a part of the photographic landscape for so long that it's hard to remember a time before it existed. Today Lightroom and Lightroom Classic have taken over much of the photographic workflow from Photoshop, but the application continues to be an essential tool for precision editing of photographs, digital design, and advertising.
Companies Go on Offense to Fight Scammers: It's discouraging that scam messages that claim to come from businesses are still so successful for crooks, but there's an easy generic response that will ensure you don't become the victim of a fraudster.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Some tech conferences, including Facebook's big F8 event have been cancelled because of coronavirus fears. • Crooks and scammers are capitalizing on those fears, too, so beware of messages from people you don't know. • Twenty years ago: Theaters were beginning to offer tickets online with a test in five movie houses in Dallas.
More Affordable Solid-State Disk Drives Can Speed Your Computer: Anyone who’s been waiting for solid-state disk drives to become affordable has now waited long enough. Prices will doubtless continue to drop, but they're low enough now to be within range for even frugal shoppers and upgrading a computer's boot drive to a solid-state device is now the fastest and easiest way to accelerate the machine.
Short Circuits: Nikon Coolpix P950's Extremely Long Reach: A new point-and-shoot Nikon camera that costs $800 and has an 83-times zoom lens was a big hit at the consumer electronics show. There are good reasons to want one and a couple of reasons not to.
PC Decrapifier's Potentially Hazardous Solution in Search of a Problem: Used carefully, PC Decrapifier is a handy tool, but it's all too easy to use the wrong way.
Every Digital Image Can Be Improved: No matter what camera you own, every photograph that it makes can be improved and the process may take only a few minutes.
Spare Parts (only on the website): How much of your personal data are you willing to surrender to get better service from companies? • This may be a surprise, but it seems that crooks take vacations, too. • Twenty years ago: I didn't use Audition because it didn't yet exist. Instead, I used Cool Edit Pro, and later it became Audition.
Finding Elusive Files: Does this ever happen to you? You remember that you were working on a file this morning, or yesterday, or sometime last week. You need to open the file again, but you can’t remember what you called it or where you saved it. Windows 10 has a handy tool for finding misplaced files. When you need something more powerful, Agent Ransack is waiting. We'll look at both methods.
Short Circuits: Time for a Clean Machine: Microsoft's Storage Sense gives users a way to get rid of unneeded files.
User Account Control Warnings Protect Your Computer’s Security: Have you ever wanted to just turn off those User Account Control warnings? One word is appropriate here: Don't! I'll explain why.
Are You Running a Safe Version of Firefox? Firefox users should check to be sure that they're running version 72.0.1 or later.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Cyber threats continue to evolve and so do protective measures. • Crooks are using the cornonavirus scare to spread malware and Russians are using it to spread disinformation. • Twenty years ago: Microsoft introduced Windows 2000, Microsoft's first "industrial strength" operating system.
Office 10 Joins Windows 7 in Nowhere Land: Windows 7 reached its end of life recently, and Microsoft will end support for Office 2010 in mid-October. Let's look at your options for when the time comes.
Short Circuits: Out, Damned Spot! Out, I Say! If you’ve ever tried to delete or rename a file only to have Windows refuse, LockHunter can save the day.
Time to Check System Files: Microsoft has two utilities that keep system files in good shape. Using them occasionally is wise.
Quickly and Easily Create a PDF on a Windows 10 Computer: One of the easiest ways to share information is with a PDF document and Windows 10 makes the process even easier.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Russian and Japanese scientists say a new material can extend the life of solid-state devices in high-use applications. • What do people do at the Super Bowl? Most of them used their phones a lot. • Twenty years ago: Corel Corporation had previewed a Linux version of its graphics applications. The effort was not exactly a big success.
Blue Light Not So Special: It’s common knowledge that blue-light emissions from computers, tablets, and phones can cause sleep-related problems. The problem may be more severe that just a bit of sleep deprivation, though.
Short Circuits: Microsoft Sharpens its Edge: Microsoft's new Chromium-based Edge browser continues to evolve, and it offers some advantages compared to Chrome and Firefox, maybe even enough to attract users.
On the Internet, Entropy is Winning: It's beginning to look like entropy will win on the internet and the term "splinternet" has gained a following. Thirty years ago, many of us saw the internet as a way to bring people together. It hasn’t exactly worked out that way, so maybe we should rename it the entropynet.
Spare Parts (only on the website): The National PTA tries to identify ways to help families make the best use of online resources. • Older adults are increasingly adopting smart phones and computers, but are less receptive to wearable devices and tablets. • Twenty years ago: Digital cameras were about to reach the magic ONE megapixel level for the unheard-of low price of just $1000.
Security Demands a Password Manager and That's Not All: Several decades ago, antivirus applications weren't necessary. Then suddenly they were. Antivirus applications weren't needed for Apple computers. Then they were. Password managers were nice-to-have applications for years, but hardly necessary. Now they are, and so are some additional security measures.
Short Circuits: A Pox on Your Website Notifications! Website pop-up messages asking to send notifications are annoying and now browser publishers are making it easier for those of us who detest the messages to get rid of them.
Whose Default (Location) is That? Sometimes you might want Windows to believe that you're not in the location where the operating system thinks you are. It's an easy fix.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Website pop-up messages asking to send notifications are annoying and now browser publishers are making it easier for those of us who detest the messages to get rid of them. • Sometimes you might want Windows to believe that you're not in the location where the operating system thinks you are. It's an easy fix.
Tools to Help You Write Gooder English: Spelling checkers are so common that few applications omit them these days and grammar checkers are becoming more common. Given the amount of trouble we have with auto-correct, which I often refer to as "auto-corrupt", how much can these tools help?
Short Circuits: Got Updates? Don't Delay! Microsoft's January patches include one that's designed to repair a major security flaw in Windows 10. Installing this patch should be a priority for everyone.
Why a Microsoft Account is Better than a Local Account: If the account you use with Windows 10 is a local account instead of a Microsoft account, you may want to reconsider.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Malwarebytes Labs says a company that provides mobile phones for low-income individuals under a federal program has been packing those phones with malware. • Responding to threats from do-it-yourself home security system providers, ADT has launched its own brand of user-installable devices. • Twenty years ago: We were so concerned with battery life on notebook computers that a company attempted to create a super-low-power system.
Guess Who Finally Got a Smart Speaker! Several years after the first smart speakers were released, I have one. It wasn't my idea, but it was free and it seems to be useful.
Short Circuits: An Object Lesson on the Importance of Backup: Backup is a topic that I drag out frequently. Maybe too frequently, but in the first week of the new year I received a powerful reminder of why backup is important and not just for those times when a disk drive crashes.
Lies and Liars: Lies are endemic on the internet and particularly in social media. Those who are interested in truth can find it.
Spare Parts (only on the website): Windows 7 is no longer viable, but you might not have to pay for an update to Windows 10. • A school district in suburban Austin has lost more than $2 million to scammers. • Twenty years ago: The MP3 music format, which had been invented 3 years earlier, was beginning to take off.
Is This the Year of Linux? If you've wondered whether Linux would be right for you, you're not alone. I've asked myself that question just about every year since the early 1990s. Let's take another look.
Short Circuits: Unlocking a Restricted PDF Document: Some PDF documents have restrictions on copying data or printing the file, and sometimes even passwords that prohibit opening the file. There are workarounds.
Getting to Safe Mode the Easy Way: Remember when you could get to Safe mode in Windows by pressing F8 during the boot process? Microsoft removed that capability starting with Windows 8, but you can restore it if you don't might a slightly slower boot.
Spare Parts (only on the website): When Windows doesn't work right, you might be tempted to wipe the disk and start over. Before using the big hammer, you can often save time and effort by repairing Windows instead. • The Federal Communications Commission wants cellular providers to block fraudulent calls, but don't expect change anytime soon. In the meantime, it's up to us. • Twenty years ago: A small but growing group of Linux fans predicted that Linux would take over the desktop. We're still waiting.
Find Hidden Powers with Utility Programs: We'll take a close look at two useful utilities and a location where you can find lots of equally useful applications.
Short Circuits: Speeding Up an Older Computer: If you want to accelerate an older computer, you have several options, but some of them aren't worth what they'll cost.
Talk to Yourself in the Future Tense: Future Me is an unusual website that allows users to send messages to themselves in the future. Why? I'll see if I can explain that.
Spare Parts (only on the website): A scammer who sent fake sextortion messages has been arresed, but that won't have much effect on the scourge. • Would you be able to tell the difference between the real log-in page for Amazon's app and a phony that tries to steal your credentials? I couldn't and this illustrates why it's important not to click enticing links in email messages. • Twenty years ago: A website aimed at being a clearinhouse for product recalls seemed like a good idea. It wasn't.