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Computer News

Friday Random Stuff…

April 20, 2018, 14:08(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

CCleaner

Pretty uneventful week IMHO.

Avast: The CCleaner Hack Was TeamViewer’s Fault
“To initiate the CCleaner attack, the threat actors first accessed Piriform’s network on March 11, 2017, four months before Avast acquired the company, using TeamViewer on a developer workstation to infiltrate. They successfully gained access with a single sign-in, which means they knew the login credentials.”

Ryzen Gen 2 Benchmarks
Anandtech did the right thing and applied all the Meltdown and Spectre patches before benchmarking. Keep that in mind when you read other reviews.
“In our benchmarks, we compared the new AMD chips to the more recent Intel chips, but with the Spectre and Meltdown patches applied. It is clear that the patches have had an effect on some of our Intel scores more than the AMD results: combine that with AMD’s generational improvements and for a lot of tests, especially gaming, there is either a neck-and-neck result or AMD pulls a lead in multi-threaded scenarios. For anything that is hard on a single-threaded, such as our FCAT test or Cinebench 1T, Intel wins hands down, and winning the 1T tests is no easy feat, however overall AMD is pushing that performance-per-watt metric ever closer, and offering a competitive product for users that multitask.”

Ya Don’t Say
“Increasingly, it feels like people in our industry, the tech industry, are losing touch with reality.”
Y’all. Everyone else already knows that.

Off Topic

Disgusting
Saw this:
Equilar 100: CEO Pay at the Largest Companies by Revenue
Looked up this:
Forbes: The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes List
Vogue: The Highest-Paid Models Of 2017
I don’t blame the people who get it. I blame the people who pay it and the culture that allows it to happen.

National Record Store Day
Saturday, April 21, 2018 is National Record Store Day.
“Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.”
Many music artists have special releases for this day. In the past I’ve gotten a few albums and even a Metallica cassette.
This year I am shooting for the Def Leppard – Live at Abbey Road LP. I’ve got emails out but no responses yet…
*edit (April 21, 2018, 11:40(EDT)) – No luck 🙁
About | List of releases | Home

Have A Great Weekend!
Mine will involve one or more of the items below.

Tagged With: Computer News

Tuesday Random Stuff…

April 17, 2018, 15:16(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Macrium Reflect Updated
Version 7.1.3147 of my preferred backup software has been release.
Download | Release Notes | Home Page

Russian Hackers Targeting Routers
“In a joint announcement Monday from the US Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the UK’s National Cyber Security Center, officials warned that Russian spies have been looking for vulnerabilities on millions of routers as a tool for future attacks.
The targets include routers in homes and offices, as well as firewalls and switches from internet service providers, critical infrastructure and major private companies
”
US, UK warn of Russian hackers targeting millions of routers

Off Topic

Great Beer
Last week I had Uncle Jacob’s Stout from Avery Brewing for the first time. If you like barrel-aged beers like Founders KBS or New Holland Dragon’s Milk then you’ll love this. Highly recommended.

Tagged With: Computer News

Tuesday Morning Random Stuff…

April 17, 2018, 07:42(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

intellogo

Win10 SCU
The update that didn’t happen is back in the news with no news. We still do not know what the official name of the update is. We still don’t know when it will be released. Microsoft has given us a generic “reliability issues” statement as to why it was delayed.

Oh Intel
Intel says their chips have a vulnerability that, “could allow an attacker to block BIOS/UEFI updates, or to selectively erase or corrupt portions of the firmware.” This means you’ll have to wait for your PC manufacturer to release another BIOS update, if and when they feel like it.
Just after that news, Intel announced some “new initiatives that use features specific to the Intel hardware platform to boost security“.
– Advanced memory scanning will use your GPU to aid in malware scanning.
– Advanced Platform Telemetry “uses things like the processor’s integrated performance counters to spot unusual processor activity.”

Fbook
Yeah. I know I said I was out of Fbook news for a while. But this article is amazing. IMHO a must read.
‘Dear Mark, this is why I hate you.’ An open letter to Zuckerberg

Off Topic
How Often You Should Clean Everything In Your Home (Hint: Very, Very Often)
(check out the links at the bottom of the article for guides)

Tortured for fur: Terrified silver foxes fattened in cramped cages ready to be slaughtered for fashion

Researchers find genetic cause for Alzheimer’s, possible method to reverse it

‘I was a teacher for 17 years, but I couldn’t read or write’

RIP
R. Lee Ermey, Golden Globe Nominee for ‘Full Metal Jacket,’ Dies at 74
(quotes from Full Metal Jacket)
Harry Anderson, Judge On ‘Night Court,’ Dies At His N.C. Home. He Was 65

Tagged With: Computer News

Wednesday Random Stuff…

April 11, 2018, 14:57(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Win10 1803/RS4/SCU/Next/Whatever
“They” say:
– Nobody knows what the actual name of the update is.
– Nobody knows why the update was not released.
– Nobody knows when it will be released.
Reckon the “inside sources” failed them, and us.

Winaero Tweaker 0.10
“Winaero Tweaker 0.10 is out. It will allow you to disable Windows Update reliably in Windows 10, get rid of update notifications, ads in Settings, Timeline and My People. Also, it comes with new tools and tweaks, and it properly works under Windows 10 version 1803 “Spring Creators Update”
Download

Which of the following companies do you trust the least with your personal information?
Recode polled Americans,
“Respondents were asked to choose among Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Lyft, Microsoft, Netflix, Tesla, Twitter, Snap and Uber. Twenty percent selected none of the above.”

Tagged With: Computer News

Mozilla – Internet Health Report

April 10, 2018, 09:26(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

www_news

Mozilla has a new… I don’t know what to call it: Information, research, opinion, propaganda.
Anyway, they are going to cover a variety of topics from their perspective. IMHO worth reading and keeping track of.
“The Internet Health Report is about the human experience of the Internet. It is an independent, open source compilation of data, research and stories that show how the Internet is evolving across five issues…Privacy and security, Openness, Digital inclusion, Web literacy and Decentralization…We also cast a spotlight on three of the biggest Internet health issues of the past year: Securing the Internet of Things, Understanding ‘fake news’, and Too big tech?”
The Internet Health Report v.0.1
https://internethealthreport.org/2018/introduction/readme/
https://internethealthreport.org/2018/introduction/how-healthy-is-the-internet/

Tagged With: Computer News

Patch Tuesday Morning

April 10, 2018, 07:23(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

It’s Patch Tuesday. I thought I would post some stuff early to clear the board as this Patch Tuesday should be a big one. Windows 7 is said to have 10 critical patches and Win10 SCU comes out today.
If you want to install SCU today please backup.
If you do not want to upgrade to SCU today, please follow my instructions here.

Wise Disk Cleaner 9.7.3
Improved Mozilla Firefox cleaning – Minor GUI improvements – Updated various translations.
Download (I use the portable version)

HandBrake 1.1.0
Multi-platform video converter.
“This major release includes new features, as well as bug fixes and improvements for issues affecting previous HandBrake releases.”
Download

Flash Updated
Version 29.0.0.140 is out.
for Firefox, Opera
for Internet Explorer
Flash for Edge, IE 11, and Chrome update automatically with the browser.

Stuff I’ve Bookmarked Lately
How to keep your ISP’s nose out of your browser history with encrypted DNS
Richest 1% on target to own two-thirds of all wealth by 2030
Demolition of silo in Denmark goes wrong.

Tagged With: Computer News

Thursday Random Stuff…

April 5, 2018, 15:15(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

≥ EVO?
Western Digital has a new SSD that reviewers are raving over. Anandtech says the “EVO Meets Its Match“.
“The MSRPs for the WD Black roughly match current street prices for the Samsung 960 EVO, which is exactly what the WD Black should be competing against. Neither drive has a clear overall performance advantage in the 1TB capacity we’ve analyzed with this review, though the WD Black has a modest power efficiency advantage (our idle power problems notwithstanding).”
Good to see competition but with no clear advantage and similar price points, why should I switch?

Cellphone Spying
Someone is intercepting cellphone communications around DC. Homeland Security “said it had not determined the type of devices in use or who might have been operating them. Nor did it say how many it detected or where…DHS official Christopher Krebs noted that DHS had observed “anomalous activity” consistent with Stingrays in the Washington area.”

That Thing I Said I Wasn’t Gonna Talk About
Kinda hard to keep my yap shut. So much news, and the CEO is gonna get grilled by Congress. Well, unless he threatens to show their IMs to their significant others.

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
RPG for your phone coming April 25th.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Tagged With: Computer News

Monday Random Stuff…

April 2, 2018, 14:30(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

New DNS Service
This story is all over the WWW as are the opinions of the service. Don’t skip this one y’all. IMHO essential reading.
“Cloudflare’s mission is to help build a better Internet. We’re excited today to take another step toward that mission with the launch of 1.1.1.1 — the Internet’s fastest, privacy-first consumer DNS service. This post will talk a little about what that is and a lot about why we decided to do it.”
I tried it for a little bit. Didn’t notices a bit of difference in speed. Don’t know if I will use it or not so I’m in wait-and-see mode.
iVerge – Cloudflare launches 1.1.1.1 DNS service that will speed up your internet

The Naughty List
Ranked – Tech Companies That Won’t Delete Your Information
Anyone out there use LinkedIn?

Thurrrott On Win10 SCU
“it was only a matter of time before Microsoft stopped pummeling users with so much change. And Windows 10 version 1803, thankfully, is that release…
There’s only one major new feature to speak of, called Timeline…it’s unlikely that most users will even find it…
new look and feel is more prevalent throughout the system now, giving Windows a more modern look…
Windows 10 version 1803 should begin deploying to end-user PCs on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.
”
Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!

Woody On Windows Crappy Week
“I can recall lots of bad Windows patches over the past couple of decades, but I’d be hard-pressed to come up with any that approach this year’s phalanx of Windows 7 screw-ups. It’s as if Microsoft doesn’t care about old multi-billion-dollar businesses.
For now, I continue to recommend that individuals stay put and don’t install any of the March patches.
”
I’m not entirely sure Woody and I aren’t related.

Facebook News
I’m sure we are all tired of it. I’m out (at least for the time being). If you haven’t gotten the message by now then you never will.

Off Topic

Han Solo Sneakers?
Han Solo Sneakers!
Cool but at over $100 shipped it is little too much money for me. Drop it to about $70 delivered and I would jump on it.

Do You Watch Professional Sports?
A new poll entitled Interest in Baseball Declines says, “The proportion of Americans who say they are baseball fans matches its lowest in nearly ten years.” The results of the entire poll are interesting.
Other sports:
NFL viewership down by as much as 18%
(I didn’t watch much because my teams suck.)
NBA viewership up by as much as 18%
(I haven’t watched an NBA game since Jordan retired the 1st time.)
NHL viewership seems to be down by as much as 20%
(2016-2017. I can’t seem to find current stats.)
NASCAR down
(For me the sport died February 18, 2001.)
Soccer down too.
(I don’t watch it.)
Related article: Sports media year in review: a troubling trend for ratings

Tagged With: Computer News

Weekend Random Stuff…

March 31, 2018, 16:21(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

intelssd

Updated April 1, 2018, 08:30(EDT) – added a few links

Intel SSD Toolbox 3.5.2
Download | Release Notes

Where Ya Been CNN?
CNN just discovered what we Geeks have known for years about Microsoft. To quote myself,
“The philosophy has become cloud first, mobile first, subscription-based twaddle.”

GET OFF OF FACEBOOK
As the (unscientific) poll stands now around 70% of the respondents aren’t on Facebook with another 13% leaving.
You guys are truly the best of the best of the best!
As for Fbook, the bad news continues:
Well, These New Zuckerberg IMs Won’t Help Facebook’s Privacy Problems

Growth At Any Cost: Top Facebook Executive Defended Data Collection In 2016 Memo — And Warned That Facebook Could Get People Killed

Report: Facebook Staff Suddenly Concerned About Privacy, Specifically Theirs

Americans are losing trust in Facebook — here’s why they’ll keep using it anyway

Etc.
‘He Broke Boundaries With His Mind’: Public Pays Tribute At Stephen Hawking’s Funeral

Why the rush to defend Amazon?

OFF TOPIC
From beer league to big league: 36-year-old goalie Scott Foster makes emergency debut in Blackhawks’ 6-2 win

DEF LEPPARD Guitarist Says ANGUS YOUNG Should Resist Urge To Make New AC/DC Album With AXL ROSE: ‘It’s Lost Its Integrity’

Tagged With: Computer News

Thursday Random Stuff…

March 29, 2018, 15:33(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Terry Myerson Out
Microsoft’s head of Windows is done. The only reasons I see given right now are speculation though most if it suggests he was asked to leave. I know almost nothing about him personally so I’ve no opinion on the man. As the head of Windows however…
One comment I saw said it perfectly re Myerson’s departure, “Rearranging chairs on the Titanic.” Microsoft, or at least the Windows for PCs part, has been headed in the wrong direction since Windows 7. The philosophy has become cloud first, mobile first, subscription-based twaddle. IMHO there are many people within the Microsoft hierarchy that need to go. Starting at the top.

Mp3tag 2.87 Released
Download | Release Announcment

It’s Opening Day
MLB is back. The Detroit Tigers game got postponed so I’m gonna watch my homeboy, World Series Champion, and Kates’s hubby Justin Verlander on the mound.

Tagged With: Computer News

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