TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Win10 1903, Are You Ready?

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Windows 10 May 2019 Update
Win10 1903 brings several changes, most of which the average user won’t care about. Two changes of note are supposed increased performance and improved control of Windows Update. The best breakdown I’ve seen to date is:
Neowin – The Windows 10 May 2019 Update is coming – here’s what’s new

Release Date
– “Official” date unknown at this time. “End of May” often quoted. Expect it somewhere between tomorrow and hell freezing over.
– ISOs are floating around now

Blocking 1903
– Easy way: Use O&O ShutUp10
See also: Windows Update section of the Tweak Guide.
(1903 will bring major changes to this.)

Preparing for 1903
– Update all your apps and drivers.
– Backup everything. Make a system image. I use the free Macrium Reflect. This is also a good time to backup everything else.
See also: Windows 10 Backup And Recovery Options

My Recommendation
– Put off installing 1903 at least one month.
– Better safe than sorry. Microsoft will, at some point, state that 1903 is “safe for business”. The October 2018 Update was declared safe on March 28th, 2019.

Tweaking Windows 10
It will be at least a month after release before the Win10 Tweak Guide is updated.

Random Friday Stuff…

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Nvidia Geforce Game Ready WHQL Driver 430.64
Provides the optimal gaming experience for RAGE 2, Total War: Three Kingdoms, and World War Z
Download | Release Notes

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not

It’s Time to Break Up Facebook
Lots of great points made by Chris Hughes, a co-founder of Facebook.

Parents can’t delete what kids tell Amazon voice assistant
Now those advocates say the kids’ version of Amazon’s Alexa won’t forget what children tell it, even after parents try to delete the conversations. For that and other alleged privacy flaws they found while testing the service, they’re now asking the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday to investigate whether it violates children’s privacy laws.
Here’s a thought. Stop using devices as babysitters.

Mozilla looks to Tor as it ponders Super Private Browsing mode
“Super Private Browsing Mode”? Is this like Double Secret Probation?

Eggheads confirm: Rampant Android bloatware a privacy and security hellscape
The apps bundled with many Android phones are presenting threats to security and privacy greater than most users think.
This according to a paper (PDF) from university researchers in the US and Spain who studied the pre-installed software that 214 different vendors included in their Android devices. They found that everyone from the hardware builders to mobile carriers and third-party advertisers were loading products up with risky code.

Feds charge Chinese national in 2015 breach of health insurer Anthem
Federal prosecutors have indicted a Chinese national they say carried out sophisticated network intrusions on four US companies, including one on health insurer Anthem that stole personal information belonging to close to 80 million people.

Boston Beer Company and Dogfish Head Agree to Merge in $300 Million Deal
The merger brings together the Brewers Association’s second-largest craft beer maker, Boston Beer, with the 13th largest craft brewery, Dogfish Head. Both companies will retain their status as BA-defined independent craft breweries.
This is HUGH news in the craft beer world. Dunno what I think about it yet.

‘Wild Kingdom’ Host Jim Fowler Dead At 89
The wildlife expert co-hosted Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom” with Marlin Perkins beginning in 1963.
I loved that show.

Cap2Cap
Tomorrow I’m riding the Cap2Cap annual bike ride fundraiser event for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. Not enough time riding this year so I’m only doing the 23 miler.

Tuesday Morning Random Stuff…

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O&O ShutUp10 Updated
Version 1.6.1402 features Win10 1903 support.
Download | Changelog

Tails 3.13.2
Fixes and improvements
Download & Info

Tor Browser 8.0.9
This release fixes the issue which caused NoScript and all other Firefox extensions signed by Mozilla to be disabled.
Download & Info

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:
[Read more…] about Tuesday Morning Random Stuff…

Random Friday Stuff…

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Win10 1809 Updated
This update includes quality improvements.
May 3, 2019—KB4495667 (OS Build 17763.475)

Intel Chipset Drivers
Intel released updated Win10 only Chipset drivers. Gigabyte has newer ones:
http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Driver/mb_driver_chipset_intel_10.1.17986.8131.zip

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Dell laptops and computers vulnerable to remote hijacks
A vulnerability in the Dell SupportAssist utility exposes Dell laptops and personal computers to a remote attack that can allow hackers to execute code with admin privileges on devices using an older version of this tool and take over users’ systems.
Dell has released a patch for this security flaw on April 23; however, many users are likely to remain vulnerable unless they’ve already updated the tool –which is used for debugging, diagnostics, and Dell drivers auto-updates.
You don’t need it. Uninstall it.

Increasing transparency and customer control over data (Microsoft)
today we are announcing three ways we’re increasing transparency and control for our customers… First, for all our major products, we’ll categorize the data we collect from devices as either required or optional… Second, we will increase transparency about the data we collect by improving product documentation. Specifically, we’ll ensure that documentation for our major products and services describes the data we collect in each of these categories… Third, we’re introducing a new report that will be published twice a year at privacy.microsoft.com. This report will highlight any new required data collection we believe is fundamental to provide, secure, update or maintain the performance of our products. We will also note instances when we stop collecting certain types of data from devices (because product or service changes mean the data is no longer required). Last, we will explain when we make changes to our data collection in response to new privacy laws, industry standards and regulations.

Pentagon says China’s military using espionage to steal secrets
“China uses a variety of methods to acquire foreign military and dual-use technologies, including targeted foreign direct investment, cyber theft, and exploitation of private Chinese nationals’ access to these technologies, as well as harnessing its intelligence services, computer intrusions, and other illicit approaches,” the Congressionally mandated Department of Defense report said.
“China obtains foreign technology through imports, foreign direct investment, the establishment of foreign research and development (R&D) centers, joint ventures, research and academic partnerships, talent recruitment, and industrial and cyberespionage,” the report added.

Vet Stuff
10 Things Most Veterans Don’t Know About VA Home Loans
Free Dental Care for Veterans Available June 8

Thursday Random Stuff…

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Busy lately, quick update.

Win10 Updates
All supported Win10 versions have had updates in the last week or so.
“This update includes quality improvements.”
No time to get in to it today. For info start here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4464619

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

How to enable Chrome for Android’s dark mode

Systems with small disks won’t be able to install Windows 10 May 2019 update
Yeah, I had to read that twice too…

Retailers Are Tracking Where You Shop—and Where You Sleep
They’re buying mobile-phone data that can track where and for how long people shop, eat, see movies — and where they go before and after.

What Amazon knows about you
Damn near everything.

Introducing auto-delete controls for your Location History and activity data
You can already use your Google Account to access simple on/off controls for Location History and Web & App Activity, and if you choose—to delete all or part of that data manually. In addition to these options, we’re announcing auto-delete controls that make it even easier to manage your data…Choose a time limit for how long you want your activity data to be saved—3 or 18 months—and any data older than that will be automatically deleted from your account on an ongoing basis. These controls are coming first to Location History and Web & App Activity and will roll out in the coming weeks.
Well, that is an unexpected pleasant surprise!

Rich guys are most likely to have no idea what they’re talking about, study suggests
Researchers embarked on a novel study intent on measuring what a Princeton philosophy professor contends is one of the most salient features of our culture — the ability to play the expert without being one.
Or, as the social scientists put it, to BS.

Attendance drops for 12 MLB teams, as loss of gate takes on more permanent look
As the game’s worst part of the calendar comes to a close, 12 of 30 teams will draw fewer fans in March-April than they did in a similar period last year – with seven of those teams seeing double-digit percentage dips, led by the Toronto Blue Jays’ 33% drop-off, according to research by USA TODAY Sports.
Empty stadium pic on Twitter.