TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

SMB1 Attacks Out There

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A few weeks ago I mentioned how you could remove SMB1 from your computer. There is a serious vulnerability that is now involved in ransom-ware attacks.
1 – Patch all your Windows boxes. ( Microsoft Security Bulletin MS17-010 – Critical )
2 – Get rid of SMB1. Follow the instructions on the following page. ONLY remove SMB1:
How to enable and disable SMBv1, SMBv2, and SMBv3 in Windows and Windows Server

Start10 Updated

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Start10 is a Windows 10 start menu alternative. It is $5 and is my preferred start menu replacement.
Start10 v1.55
– Fix for Desktop menu when Fences is not installed.
– Security update.
– Bug fixes
Download

Tuesday Random Stuff…

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Is Kaspersky Software A National Security Risk?
Apparently some in our intelligence community think so.
“In February, the Department of Homeland Security issued a secret report on the matter to other government agencies. And the FBI is investigating the nature of Kaspersky Lab’s relationship to the Russian government“.
For it’s part Kaspersky “has repeatedly insisted it poses no threat to U.S. customers and would never be used as a government tool.”
I know almost nothing about Russian politics. I have never been to Russia. The closest I ever got to Russia was East Berlin a couple of years before the wall came down.
Having said all that, I can’t imagine anyone in Russia telling President Vladimir Putin or his boys “Nyet“.

Google Chrome Updated
“The stable channel has been updated to 58.0.3029.110 for Windows, Mac, and Linux…In order to improve stability, performance, and security, users who are currently on 32-bit version of Chrome, and 64-bit Windows with 4GB or more of memory and auto-update enabled will be automatically migrated to 64-bit Chrome during this update.”
Download: Google Chrome Web 32-bit    Google Chrome 64-bit

O&O ShutUp10 Version 1.5.1390
Version 1.5.1390 – released on May 09, 2017
– Changing languages now available in the Help Menu
– Adjustments to the UI
– Small bug fixes
– Available in German, English, French, Italian and Russian.
Download

Intel SSD Toolbox 3.4.5
See download page for release info.

Firefox 53.0.2
A few days late with this.
Windows 64-bit (en-US)
Windows 32-bit (en-US)
Other systems and languages

Adobe Flash Updated
APSB17-15 Security updates available for Adobe Flash Player
Download Flash

Wise Disk Cleaner 9.47
– Improved Microsoft Edge Cache and Cookies cleaning.
– Improved Microsoft IE Cache and Cookies cleaning.
– Other minor improvements.
Download

I Need A New PC Case

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I’ve finally had it with my Rosewill Blackhawk-Ultra case (my Amazon review). Looking for a new one. Suggestions/input wanted.
Kinda have green in mind, don’t know why.
Full or mid-tower. Absolute ceiling of $200 but would prefer cheaper.
Saw this on Amazon. Not the cats’s meow or anything but it might work:
Apevia X-SNIPER2-GN ATX Mid Tower

Might even consider going retro. Always liked they look of the old Alienware cases but they are commanding high prices on Craigslist.

Tuesday Random Stuff…

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New Win10 Update
April 25, 2017—KB4016240 (OS Build 15063.250)
“This non-security update includes quality improvements. No new operating system features are being introduced in this update.”
As always keep an eye on AskWoody for advice on the latest Windows Updates.

I Have No Words
Speed Up Windows by Disabling and Removing HomeGroup

Tweak Guide Worthy?
I experimented with this new feature: Lock your Windows 10 PC automatically when you step away from it
Kinda neat. Would be better if it worked like a USB key (can’t login without it).
Not sure if this is worth putting in the Tweak Guide. What do y’all think?

Does This Make Me Look Fat?
Rafael Rivera says “Yes”. Windows is Bloated, Thanks to Adobe’s Extensible Metadata Platform
Basically Windows images contain a lot of useless data that can be stripped away.
“Windows Explorer, for example, is a critical Shell component in the startup hot path. But despite its importance, it’s comprised of ~20% pure garbage. ApplicationFrame.dll, responsible for Windows app title bars and frame gizmos, is ~41% garbage. Twinui, imageres, and other related components scored with much lower numbers but couldn’t fully escape Adobe XMP.”

Cool Story Bro!
Video at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBG03A49-0Y
“Tom Sitter won The Moth in Madison StorySLAM at the High Noon Saloon February 13, 2017. Tom scored our first ever 10 with his winning story tonight. The memory of the girls he carefully selected to give his five valentines to in 1933 was strong enough that 84 years later he still knew their names.”