TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Wednesday Random Stuff…

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Google Chrome Updated
” The Chrome team is delighted to announce the promotion of Chrome 63 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac and Linux. This will roll out over the coming days/weeks.
Chrome 63.0.3239.84 contains a number of fixes and improvements — a list of changes is available in the log. Watch out for upcoming Chrome and Chromium blog posts about new features and big efforts delivered in 63.
This update includes 37 security fixes.”
Download

Battle For The Net
https://www.battleforthenet.com/
“The new chairman of the FCC was a top lawyer at Verizon. Now he’s calling for a vote to kill net neutrality. We’re protesting at retail stores across the U.S. to demand that Congress stop Verizon’s puppet FCC from destroying the Internet as we know it.”
Join The Protest

Linux: Question about AMD GPU Drivers

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Linux guys,
Does anyone know of a non-rolling distro that will absolutely work with the AMDGPU-Pro Driver for Linux for my video card?
Video card: AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB
AFAIK openSuse Leap will not. Linux Mint is a no go (tried 3 times). Don’t know about Fedora but their KDE spin sucks. Ubuntu…LOL…NO.
I would prefer a KDE desktop but possibly could do another.
VMWare player also needs to work properly.

Tuesday Morning News

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Windows 7 Update Error 80248015
Last night I was in front of my TV updating my laptop. I ran Windows update and got error 80248015. I Googled it, solution, roll back system date to December 2nd. That worked. After I updated Windows I rebooted and changed the date back. Windows update failed with error 80248015 again.
I wake up this morning and the tinfoil hat brigade had been out in force overnight. “Microsoft sabotaged Windows Update!” was the cry. I run Windows Update on 2 machines, no error. I run Windows Update on my laptop again, no error. Seems to me Microsoft has fixed the problem on their end?

Wise Disk Cleaner Updated
V9.59 is out.
Download ( I use the portable version. )

Get Off Of Facebook
New Facebook Messenger Kids App? Seriously?

Monday Random Stuff…

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The Intel Management Engine Issue
Most Intel chipsets have the Intel Management Engine. We will call this IME. IME is in a separate, tiny microprocessor on your motherboard. IME does stuff “during boot-up, while the computer is running, and while it is asleep”. You’ll need to do a little reading to fully understand it but security and privacy experts say this is a security and privacy risk.
PC manufacturers are now selling systems with IME disabled.
You can try and disable this yourself. There isn’t any way in h-e-double-toothpicks I would attempt it.
Got IME?
Download, extract, and run the following. It will tell you your IME version if you have it and check for the current vulnerability.
Intel-SA-00086 Detection Tool
Further reading:
Intel Management Engine Flaws Leave Millions of PCs Exposed
Intel’s Management Engine is a security hazard, and users need a way to disable it

The Net Neutrality Discussion – What The Tech (FF video to approx the 47 minute mark)

Thursday Random Stuff…

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Firefox Quantum 57.0.1
Download
Release notes
Thanks Scott!

New GPU Drivers
AMD Radeon Crimson ReLive Edition 17.11.4 Drivers. Release notes here.
Related: Coming December 2017: Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition
Nvidia GeForce Game Ready 388.43 WHQL Drivers. “Provides the optimal gaming experience for DOOM VFR”
Nvidia Linux users may want to look at this: NVIDIA has confirmed a driver bug resulting in a loss of performance on Linux

Android Tracking
Yalies analyzed 300 Andoid apps. 75% of them “contain the signatures of trackers“. I put the blame right on Googles doorstep. Of course if they spoke up about it it would be met with “pot meet kettle” analogies.

It’s Called Reddit, Not Read It
Some Fighting Irish researchers found, “73 percent of posts on Reddit are voted on by users that haven’t actually clicked through to view the content being rated.” Surprised? Nah, me either.

Wednesday Morning News

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We The People Call for The Resignation of FCC Chairman Ajit Varadaraj Pai
“We the people have identified FCC Chairman Ajit Varadaraj Pai as a threat to our freedoms due to his call to repeal Net Neutrality. We passionately call upon the white house for the immediate removal of FCC Chairman Ajit Varadaraj Pai from office for his actions.”

Not Cute, Just Sad
Article entitled, When your kid tries to say ‘Alexa’ before ‘Mama’. Some parents think it’s cute. These are probably the same parents who let their kids haul around tablets and phones with them all day.
[Read more…] about Wednesday Morning News