Scobie.Net

Category: Privacy

  • Passwords and Private File Syncing

    Got a great formula to make your passwords seem more random or tricky? Password hackers love formulas and most any formula you have learned somewhere is included in password cracking software that is easily available. Take seriously the advice of using truly random passwords, with letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, or random words strung together…

  • Autoplay, Machine, Emails, and More

    At long last, the current version of Chrome (which you should have if you are using it on a regular basis, since it automatically updates) will block many automatically playing videos so you don’t embarrass yourself in a public space with suddenly blasting audio. Chrome will still play those from sites designed to play videos…

  • Colors, Updates, Backups and Privacy

    Turn Up the Color Noises have colors? They seem to when you are trying to use noise (sounds) to cover up distracting sounds while working. After disabling social media and email alerts, if you find you are still not focusing, try other colors of noise. You know white noise (a combination of all frequencies), but…

  • Ad Blockers, Security Questions, Spam and SEO

    The ad blockers are coming! Google will activate its built-in ad blocker for its Chrome web browser on February 15. This is great news if you use Chrome – yet I would pay attention to what might happen with third-party ad blockers like Ad Block Plus or ublock Origin. There may be issues. One small…

  • Top Computer Tips for November

    If you still use Windows Vista or XP and have been relying on Firefox as your up-to-date web browser, Mozilla has announced that Firefox will no longer be supported and fixed, as Microsoft stopped supporting Vista this past April. Small Scanner Using your smartphone as a scanner is rather easy now with free apps available…

  • Windows, Google, Siri and More

    The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update now has a release date of October 17. And why would you care? If you have one of a few supported virtual reality headsets, then you will find support with its Mixed Reality platform. Honestly, there is not much new for most of us. I see changes in some…

  • Resist, Reroute, Renew, Restrict

    Devious Tactics As you are cleaning up email, trying to cut down the amount of spam you get, you may decide to unsubscribe from mailing lists. Unless you really trust that company, the unsubscribe link at the bottom of junk email may do nothing more than confirm you actually read email, thus raising the value…

  • ISP data selling, Steaming your laptop (don’t), iOS workflow, Securing your mic

    With all the recent concern about ISPs being allowed to sell their customer’s data, it is good to see what you can do and understand what ISPs are currently saying. Some major ISPs, such as Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast, have already come out saying they will not sell their own customer’s data (I suspect it…

  • Safety when walking away from your computer, Offline video playback, Browser privacy

    Safety when leaving your desk includes locking your computer with a password. Soon you will be able to tether your phone to your Windows 10 so that when you walk away (taking your phone with you) your computer will lock. When you come back you unlock it with a password. However, there are many ways…

  • Facebook privacy again, Krita, different search, email closings and organizing

    Facebook may be finally making it just a bit easier to see all of their settings that control privacy by putting together a Privacy Basics at https://www.facebook.com/about/basics that will lead you into stepping through their Privacy Checkup to see some of your basic settings. Another alternative to Photoshop, that runs on Mac or PC and…

  • Free Mac video editors, clickity-clickity, Office alt, Windows 10 privacy settings tweaks

    There are some good free video editors on the Mac, you don’t have to pay for high-end software if your needs are mostly to trim clips, assemble clips into a storyline, lay over music or other audio, correct colors, or insert transitions between clips. Various ones to look at include: Davinci Resolve 12.5 at https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve…

  • Talk to your Mac, shaming non-SSL sites, WOT and IoT trust

    If you already talk to your iPhone, why not do the same to your Mac? The Mac has built-in dictation that can be used to type with just your voice. Set it up by going to System Preferences, then Keyboard, to then click on the Dictation tab where you can turn it on. Then learn…