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Random Weekend Stuff…

December 9, 2017, 12:39(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Disqus Acquired
I forgot about this. Comment system Disqus got bought out by a marketing firm.
I deleted my account.

Thinking About Building A New PC Soon
This will be my main PC. Intel i7-8700 based (Z370 chipset). I’m thinking no overclocking. May switch to Nvidia GPU. This also may be a Linux PC with Windows in VMs.
Dual M2’s (non-RAID) + a 4TB HD. 960 EVOs for the M2s as I do not think the Pros are worth the money.
This PC needs to last several years.
Any thoughts?

Ancestery DNA Testing
At a Christmas party talking to a guy with the same last name as me. He says his Dad just got an ancestry DNA test and he was only 10% Welsh and 90% Western European. We discussed issues like migration and conquering being factors. I asked him what he thought about the privacy implications of the DNA test. I got a blank stare. I explained that you basically sign away all rights and that you’ve no idea what they are doing with your data. This could have profound effects not only for his Dad but, his Dad siblings, him and his siblings, his children, and their children… Not sure if what I was saying got through and I moved the conversation on to another topic.
I don’t agree with Chuck Schumer on much of anything but he had a great quote a few days ago:
“When it comes to protecting consumers’ privacy from at-home DNA test kit services, the federal government is behind. Besides, putting your most personal genetic information in the hands of third parties for their exclusive use raises a lot of concerns, from the potential for discrimination by employers all the way to health insurance,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “That’s why I am asking the Federal Trade Commission to take a serious look at this relatively new kind of service and ensure that these companies have clear, fair privacy policies and standards for all kinds of at-home DNA test kits. We don’t want to impede research but we also don’t want to empower those looking to make a fast buck or an unfair judgement off your genetic information. We can find the right balance here, and we must.”
Schumer added, “There is no point to learning about your family tree if your privacy gets chopped down in the process.”

Gillette Fusion Manual Men’s Razor Blade Refills, 12 Count – $23.95
Must clip $6 coupon (see pic below)
Amazon will tell you it is a total of $24.04 off but this is $29.95 at Walmart.com so the net savings is actually $6.

Tagged With: Security

Friday Random Stuff…

December 8, 2017, 14:59(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Here in Central Virginia we are getting our first snow!

Protection Patch
Windows Defender has been patched. The issue is critical. You should be patched automagically at some point. You can hurry things along by checking Windows Update.
You need to be on: Microsoft Malware Protection Engine version 1.1.14405.2 or higher.
To check your Windows Defender you can open it by searching “defender” or by pressing the Windows + R keys and copy/paste: C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\msascui.exe

Software Updates
Audacity 2.2.1
Nvdia Geforce 388.59 WHQL Game Ready Driver – “Provides the optimal gaming experience for Fallout 4 VR”

Amazon Key Sucks
Amazon Key is a program that gives access to your house to the delivery guy and who knows who else. This dude had a host of problems. First off I ain’t doing a smart lock unless it is biometric. Secondly, anyone that gives a key to their house to a stranger is an idiot.

Higgins Passed Away?
I didn’t know actor John Hillerman passed away. He was famous for sicking “The Lads” on Thomas Magnum. RIP Higgy Baby.

It’s The Weekend!
https://vimeo.com/245857321

Tagged With: Computer News

New Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer

December 8, 2017, 14:17(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

https://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/938770082137743360

In VIII days, see Star Wars: #TheLastJedi.

Get tickets now: https://t.co/6vE5KUSv1f pic.twitter.com/kb1NeHFITQ

— Star Wars (@starwars) December 7, 2017


Tagged With: Off Topic

What Are You Watching?

December 8, 2017, 13:34(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

I like binge-watching TV series. Always looking for good stuff to watch. My list is below (what I can remember). It spans several years. What are you watching?
[Read more…] about What Are You Watching?

Tagged With: Off Topic

Firefox Quantum 57.0.2

December 8, 2017, 07:27(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Version 57.0.2, first offered to Release channel users on December 7, 2017
Fixed
-Block old versions of G Data Endpoint Security for crashing Firefox on start up – Windows only (bug 1421991)
-Fix a regression with WebGL and D3D9 – Windows only

Download
Thanks Scott!

Tagged With: Freeware

Wednesday Random Stuff…

December 6, 2017, 16:44(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

google chrome

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

Tagged With: Security, Software

Linux: Question about AMD GPU Drivers

December 6, 2017, 13:31(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

tux

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.

Tagged With: Linux

Tuesday Morning News

December 5, 2017, 06:26(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

www_news

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?

Tagged With: Computer News

Monday Random Stuff…

December 4, 2017, 16:01(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

intellogo

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)

Tagged With: Security

Monday Morning News

December 4, 2017, 06:01(EST) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

classicshell_new

Classic Shell Finished
Classic Shell forum: Classic Shell no longer in development. Source code released
Basically Win10s constant changes breaks stuff and it just takes too much free time to keep it going.
That sucks. Hopefully someone picks up the flag and keeps charging forward.
[Read more…] about Monday Morning News

Tagged With: Computer News

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