Computer News

Microsoft PowerToys 0.14
Changes and bugfixes
Download | Release Info

Intel Chipset Drivers v10.1.18
“Certified for 19h1” That’s awesome except we are on 19h2.
Download | Release Notes

AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.12.1 Optional
Support for Radeon RX 5300M, fixes for RX 5700. If you don’t have one of those cards then skip this.
Download | Release Notes

Firefox 71
Download: 64-bit (en-US) | All Downloads | Release Notes
Related:
Tor Browser 9.0.2
Tails 4.1

FinalCrypt 5.6.9
Bugfixes and performance improvements
Download | Changelog | Home Page

Kali Linux 2019.4
Lots of changes. Apparently there is an ‘Undercover’ mode. Haven’t had a chance to try it.
Download

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

Vulnerability in fully patched Android phones under active attack by bank thieves
“The vulnerability allows malicious apps to masquerade as legitimate apps that targets have already installed and come to trust, researchers from security firm Promon reported in a post. Running under the guise of trusted apps already installed, the malicious apps can then request permissions to carry out sensitive tasks, such as recording audio or video, taking photos, reading text messages or phishing login credentials. Targets who click yes to the request are then compromised.”
See: The StrandHogg vulnerability
Not good. Not good at all.

Wired: I Ditched Google for DuckDuckGo. Here’s Why You Should Too
“It all started with a realization: Most the things I search for are easy to find. Did I really need the all-seeing, all-knowing algorithms of Google to assist me? Probably not. So I made a simple change: I opened up Firefox on my Android phone and switched Google search for DuckDuckGo. As a result, I’ve had a fairly tedious but important revelation: I search for really obvious stuff. Google’s own data backs this up. Its annual round-up of the most searched-for terms is basically a list of names and events: World Cup, Avicii, Mac Miller, Stan Lee, Black Panther, Megan Markle. The list goes on. And I don’t need to buy into Google’s leviathan network of privacy-invading trackers to find out what Black Panther is and when I can go and see it at my local cinema.”
There are good points in the article. I use DuckDuckGo on my computer and phone. I have to say this, for real research there is nothing that tops Google. They know almost everything about almost everyone.

Oregon FBI Tech Tuesday: Securing Smart TVs
“Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: building a digital defense with your TV.
Yes, I said your TV. Specifically your smart TV…the one that is sitting in your living room right now. Or, the one that you plan to buy on super sale on Black Friday.”
Unplug it from the internet. My gripe is we went from waiting for the tubes to heat up, to instant on, to waiting for the TV to boot up.

For banks, data on your spending habits could be a gold mine
“For years, Google and Facebook have been showing ads based on your online behavior. Retailers from Amazon to Walgreens also regularly suction up your transaction history to steer future spending and hold your loyalty.
Now banks, too, want to turn data they already have on your spending habits into extra revenue by identifying likely customers for retailers. Banks are increasingly aware that they could be sitting on a gold mine of information that can be used to predict — or sway — where you spend. Historically, such data has been used mostly for fraud protection…Unlike Google or Facebook, which try to infer what you’re interested in buying based on your searches, web visits or likes, “banks have the secret weapon in that they actually know what we spend money on”…“Consumers aren’t aware of the subtle nudges apps are giving them to buy, buy, buy,” Mierzwinski said. “They are basically digging deep into your psyche and figuring out how to manipulate you.”

American jobs are getting worse, new economic index shows
“In 1990, the jobs were pretty much evenly divided” said Daniel Alpert, a founder of Westwood Capital and one of the creators of the index. In the process of running the numbers, he said, “We discovered that 63% of all jobs that were created since 1990 were low-wage, low-hour jobs. That was a pretty stunning statistic.”

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready WHQL Driver 441.41
Support for Halo: Reach and Image Sharpening Support for Vulkan and OpenGL
Download | Release Notes

Paint.NET 4.2.7
Bugfix for last weeks 4.2.6
Download | Release Info

FinalCrypt 5.6.7
Bugfixes
Download | Changelog

Microsoft Office Updated
Fixes and more fixes.
Release Info for 365 | Release info for standard version
See MS How-To: Install Office updates

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

The California DMV Is Making $50M a Year Selling Drivers’ Personal Information
“DMVs across the country are selling data that drivers are required to provide to the organization in order to obtain a license. This information includes names, physical addresses, and car registration information. California’s sales come from a state which generally scrutinizes privacy to a higher degree than the rest of the country.”

Gobbled Out: 1 In 4 Americans Are Tired Of Traditional Thanksgiving Food
“A new survey of 2,000 Americans has revealed that more than a quarter (26%) have grown weary of the usual Thanksgiving food options and would like to see some new cuisine on the menu this year.
It should come as no surprise then that 45% of the survey’s respondents say they’ve already spiced up a Thanksgiving by cooking non-traditional food for the big meal, or plan to do so in the future. Moreover, 43% say they would be open to celebrating an “alternative Thanksgiving” this year.”
We are back to a small traditional turkey dinner this year. For years we have had a tradition of having crab legs for Thanksgiving. Last year we tried that and my Dad just cannot crack the legs anymore. This meant my wife and I had to do his and between cooking the legs in batches and after cracking his, our crab legs were getting cold. It just wasn’t enjoyable anymore. With his condition so badly deteriorating he doesn’t know Thanksgiving from any other day anyway.

Audacity 2.3.3
Many improvements and bugfixes. “Refactoring and 150+ bugs fixed since 2.3.2”
Download | Release Info

Paint.NET 4.2.6
Many improvements and bugfixes.
Download | Release Info

FinalCrypt
“Update fixed the 1st 70 bytes Crib Drag Vulnerability
Disabled all 0 to 255 byte value inversion of keydata
Removed Glow & Bloom effects for better GUI response
Please decrypt en re-encrypt for 100% OTP compliance”
Download | Changelog
Thanks Eric!

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

1.2 Billion Records Found Exposed Online in a Single Server
“contain profiles of hundreds of millions of people that include home and cell phone numbers, associated social media profiles like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Github, work histories seemingly scraped from LinkedIn, almost 50 million unique phone numbers, and 622 million unique email addresses.”

“Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!”…

DVD – Come On Feel The Noize: The Story Of How Rock Became Metal
Exclusive, long-lost live material from rock’s most iconic bands & artists, as well as all-new original interviews with the living legends themselves: This film is your access-all-areas backstage pass to Heavy Metal and Hard Rock history. Delve into the rich history of Heavy Metal: from its scandalous origins in the 1960s to its heyday in the 1980s, from its glam phase in the 1970s to its indestructible present in 2017. A backstage pass into the history of how Rock became Heavy Metal.
Pre-Order at Amazon Now

AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.11.3 Optional
Fortnite DX12 support
Download | Release Notes

Intel SSD Toolbox 3.5.12
-Added support for Intel SSD 665p Series
-Intel Optane SSD 900P Series firmware update to 435
-Minor bug fixes
Download | Release Notes

Macrium Reflect 7.2.4539
Fixes to program and boot media.
Download | Release Notes

Google Chrome 78.0.3904.108
“The stable channel has been updated to 78.0.3904.108 for Windows, Mac, and Linux…This update includes 5 security fixes.”
“We’ve just released Chrome 78 (78.0.3904.108) for Android: it’ll become available on Google Play over the next few weeks. This release contains the following features, as well as stability and performance improvements:
Dark theme for Chrome menus, settings, and surfaces. Find it in Settings > Themes.”
Download (64-bit en-US) | All Downloads | Release Info (PC) | Download (Android) | Release Info (Android)

AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.11.2 Optional
Support for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Fix for Battlegrounds.
Download | Release Notes

Intel Graphics Drivers Updated
Windows 7 and 8.1 15.36 (4th Generation Drivers)
“This is simply a security update for 4th generation Intel® platforms on Windows 7* and Windows 8.1*. No further drivers are to be expected for this generation on these operating systems.”
Windows 7 and 8.1 6th Generation Drivers
“This is a security release and only supports Windows 7* and 8.1* for 6th Generation processors.”
Windows 10 DCH Drivers Version: 26.20.100.7463
Launch driver for: Football Manager 2020 and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Wise Disk Cleaner 10.2.5
Download (I use portable) | Release Notes

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Some Answers To Emails
I rolled some of these up into one section or a quick answer.

1909 / 19H2 / November Update 2019
I’m recommending you backup and move to this now. I’m going to treat this as like a LTS (Long-Term Support) version of Linux. That is to say I’m recommending everyone move to this version and if you have “mission critical” systems plan on staying there for a while. 1909 will stay supported until May, 2021.
FWIW – Some folks are confused by the numbers and such. 1909 / 19H2 / November Update 2019 are the same thing.
Reader Ed informed me that 1909 is being distributed via the Media Creation Tool.
I will slowly begin working on a full revision to the Win10 Tweak Guide next week. No time table for completion, as many of you know I have my hands full here.

Credge (Microsoft Edge Chromium browser)
I haven’t reported on this because I don’t care any more about it than any other Microsoft browser. I don’t and won’t use them.

Intel IME
Q – Just wondering about your opinion on the Intel Management Engine vulnerability, as of late 2019? GOOD or BAD?
A – Which one? Jk
They’re all bad and the fixes all hurt performance. AFAIK their is nothing the end user can do but patch or risk it.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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

Intel Fixes a Security Flaw It Said Was Repaired 6 Months Ago
“The chip maker patched several problems in May. Now it is issuing another fix, and researchers say the company hasn’t been straight about its issues.”
Which reminds me. I haven’t heard back from the lawyers on my lawsuit in a while.

Boss Notices His Employee Sobbing At Her Desk, And His Act Of Kindness Turns Her Into The Best Employee
“Recently, he told his LinkedIn connections about the time he stumbled upon a mom employee, crying at her desk. She’d been up all night, was out of sick days, and her child was ill. However, instead of telling her to suck it up, Bernie did something that modern managers are forgetting about. It’s called being a decent human being and showing empathy.”
The few bosses I’ve had outside of the military have not been good. Most of them just aren’t leaders nor have they had any training. Not a single one earned a drop of respect or loyalty from anyone who worked for them. It all starts with not being an a$$hat. If you can’t manage that you probably aren’t a good human being either.

VMware Workstation 15.5.1 Player
Download | Release Notes

Microsoft Office Updated
A few fixes and a few new minor features.
Release Info for 365 | Release info for standard version
See MS How-To: Install Office updates

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

Google’s ‘Project Nightingale’ Gathers Personal Health Data on Millions of Americans
Paywalled
“The data involved in the initiative encompasses lab results, doctor diagnoses and hospitalization records, among other categories, and amounts to a complete health history, including patient names and dates of birth….At least 150 Google employees already have access to much of the data on tens of millions of patients, according to a person familiar with the matter and the documents…Some Ascension employees have raised questions about the way the data is being collected and shared, both from a technological and ethical perspective, according to the people familiar with the project. But privacy experts said it appeared to be permissible under federal law.”

9 Drinks That Help You Sleep
“A good night’s rest is often overlooked as an important component of health.
Experts recommend that adults aged 18–60 get at least 7–9 hours of sleep each night.
Too little or too much sleep is associated with an increased risk of depression, diabetes, heart disease, and even death.
But sleeping for at least 7 full hours each night does not always come easy.
Fortunately, a variety of sleep-inducing drinks can help you catch some z’s.
Here are 9 drinks that may improve your sleep naturally.”
I would pay real money for 6 hours of uninterrupted REM sleep.

Dating Deception: When Sex Is On Our Minds, Lying Comes Naturally
“New study reveals what most of us probably already know: People will say just about anything to get laid.”
I started swearing to my god and on my mother’s grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore, that I would love you to the end of time

Your DNA Profile is Private? A Florida Judge Just Said Otherwise
“Last week, however, a Florida detective announced at a police convention that he had obtained a warrant to penetrate GEDmatch and search its full database of nearly one million users. Legal experts said that this appeared to be the first time a judge had approved such a warrant, and that the development could have profound implications for genetic privacy.”
Grrrrrr…

Your hatred of heart-healthy veggies could be genetic
“If certain vegetables have always made you gag, you may be more than a picky eater. Instead, you might be what scientists call a “super-taster:” a person with a genetic predisposition to taste food differently.”
If my Mom was still alive I would print this out for her!
Mom: “You’re not leaving the table until you clean your plate.”
Me: “But Mom, I’m a super-taster!”

Microsoft PowerToys Updated
Bugfixes
Download & Info (You want the PowerToysSetup.msi file towards the bottom of the page.)

Google Chrome 78.0.3904.87
2 security fixes.
Download (64-bit en-US) | All Downloads | Release Info

CrystalDiskMark 7.0.0e
This is one of the 2 SSD/Disk benchmark tools I use. There is no reason to install this. Just extract the zip and run the appropriate exe. I always run it from a different disk that the one I am benchmarking.
Download & Info | I’ve got it on my server too

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

The Chive – ‘The Breakfast Club’ will never get old… ever. (31 Photos)

Mouth cancer rates reach record high: Is oral sex to blame?
“While most cancers are on the decrease, cases of mouth cancer continue to rise at an alarming rate…According to their report, HPV causes an estimated 73 percent of oropharyngeal mouth cancers….In the US, the five-year survival rate for cancer in the oral cavity is about 57 percent. Those who live through it could have to do so without a tongue or jaw.”
A buddy of mine had part of his tongue removed because of this. He’s good now fortunately.
See: Should I get the HPV vaccine?
“All people ages 9 to 45 can get the HPV vaccine to protect against genital warts and/or different types of HPV that can cause cancer. It’s recommended that children get the vaccine at age 11 or 12, so they’re fully protected years before they become sexually active.
But regardless of your age, talk with your nurse or doctor to find out if the HPV vaccine could benefit you.”

AmazonBasics Home Keypad Safe On Sale
I bought the 1.2 back in July. The 1.52 is the best deal right now.
1.2 Cubic Feet (16% off) | 1.52 Cubic Feet (21% off) | 1.8 Cubic Feet (15% off)

Firefox 70.0.1
-Fix for an issue that caused some websites or page elements using dynamic JavaScript to fail to load. (Bug 1592136)
-Update OpenH264 video plugin for macOS 10.15 users (Bug 1587543)
-Title bar no longer shows in full screen view (Bug 1588747)
-OpenH264 video codec version bump for macOS 10.15 users (Bug 1587543)
Download (64-bit en-US) | All Downloads | Release Notes

Macrium Reflect 7.2.4523
Several fixes. Most related to rescue media.
Download | Release Notes
Thanks Arthur!

Samsung NVM Express Driver v3.2
“Enhanced security for installation”
Download & Info (I’ve got it here if you can’t get it from the download page)
The installer will not even launch on my Win10 1903 rig. So I guess the “security” is working.

Intel Wireless Bluetooth for Windows 10 v21.50.0
Several fixes including, “driver has been updated to include functional and security updates. Users should update to the latest version.”
Download | Release Notes

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

Exclusive: Veterans want answers as new data shows rise in cancers over two decades of war
“Veterans saw a spike in urinary, prostate, liver and blood cancers during nearly two decades of war, and some military families now question whether their exposure to toxic environments is to blame, according to a McClatchy investigation.”
Well let’s see. I was in the Gulf War. The sky was black from burning oil wells the entire time I was there. For a month we had “burn pits” going every day. My shot record is a mile long including the anthrax vaccine and god knows what else what they actually injected us with. I remember when I was stationed in Germany we got alerted for possible emergency deployment to another continent. They lined us up and gave us 1/2 a dozen shots. Most were with the jetgun (vets you know what I’m talking about). I remember it vividly because our unit veterinarian also doubled as our medic (short on personnel because of budget cuts). At some point in the middle of this, this individual passed out face first into the gym floor. None of those shots ever made it into our shot records. Anyway, I digress.
If you’re a vet or love one you should read this.

Michigan man sentenced in toss of rock off overpass that killed vehicle passenger
I discussed this here: https://www.tweakhound.com/2017/10/24/rock-dropping-punks/
“A 19-year-old from Michigan — who was the oldest suspect in a group that threw a large rock off of an overpass, killing a man — was sentenced Tuesday to serve between 39 months and 20 years in prison, according to reports.
Kyle Anger pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after dropping a six-pound rock from an overpass in Vienna Township, about 80 miles north of Detroit, in October 2017.
Prosecutors said Anger threw the rock that smashed through a truck’s windshield and killed 32-year-old Kenneth White, who was a passenger in the car on his way home from work.”
WTF kinda sentence is that? The family of the victim is understandably upset.
“A young man was taken from a family, a loving, caring family and he was a loving, caring, compassionate person and now his son has to grow up, his daughter has to grow up…without him,” said Simpson. “Where is the fairness here? 39 months for murder…This is a great injustice. This is a slap in my face. This is a slap in my son’s face.”

The Link Between Diet, Exercise and Alzheimer’s
Paywalled
“Among healthy patients, people who made changes in nutrition and exercise showed cognitive improvements on average. People who were already experiencing some memory problems also showed cognitive improvement—if they followed at least 60% of the recommended changes.
It’s unclear whether the lifestyle changes can actually help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease, or simply improve cognition
Here are some of the lifestyle changes that Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, says might help improve your cognitive abilities, depending on your body type and medical profile. Patients should consult a doctor before taking any steps.
*Eat a half-cup of blueberries and strawberries two to three times a week.
*Eat two to three servings per week of wild fish, which are high in Omega-3 fatty acids.
*Add powdered cocoa flavanols to coffee, smoothies or skim milk.
*Practice good sleep hygiene: Sleep at least 7.5 hours a day, avoid caffeinated drinks after 1 p.m., go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, and avoid electronics, texting and email 30-45 minutes before bed.
*Exercise at least three times a week with a mix of aerobic and resistance/weight training.
*Have one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil daily.
*Cut back on sugar and carbohydrates and look for whole grains and foods with high amounts of fiber.
*Play a musical instrument.
*Learn something new, such as a foreign language.
*Minimize stress through activities like meditation.”

Microsoft PowerToys Updated
Added a batch rename utility called PowerRename.
Download & Info (You want the PowerToysSetup.msi file towards the bottom of the page.)

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready WHQL Driver 441.08
Adds support for 2 new video cards. Pretty meh release. I’m skipping it.
Download | Release Notes

Win10 Rumors
1909 on November 5th or 12th. Yep, that’s all I got.

Remove And Block GWX In Windows 7 UPDATED
A small fix.

AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.10.2 Optional
Support For CoD: Modern Warfare, The Outer Worlds, Chernobylite and a few fixed issues.
Download | Release Notes

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

The FCC is using streaming services as an excuse to raise cable rates
“The rise of streaming services could give cable companies an excuse to raise rates under a Federal Communications Commission order handed down on October 25th. The order, which comes in response to a petition by Charter, finds that AT&T’s TV Now streaming service qualifies as reasonable competition for conventional cable, opening the door to a massive deregulation in monopoly cable markets.”

Comcast Is Lobbying Against Encryption That Could Prevent it From Learning Your Browsing History
“Internet giant Comcast is lobbying U.S. lawmakers against plans to encrypt web traffic that would make it harder for internet service providers (ISPs) to determine your browsing history, according to a lobbying presentation obtained by Motherboard.
The plan, which Google intends to implement soon, would enforce the encryption of DNS data made using Chrome, meaning the sites you visit. Privacy activists have praised Google’s move. But ISPs are pushing back as part of a wider lobbying effort against encrypted DNS, according to the presentation. Technologists and activists say this encryption would make it harder for ISPs to leverage data for things such as targeted advertising, as well as block some forms of censorship by authoritarian regimes.”

Speaking Truth to Power: Reflections on My Career at Microsoft
“The future trajectory of Microsoft depends in large part on Satya’s actual commitment to his publicly professed desire to create a more diverse and humble company. One can make a case, citing the examples above, that Microsoft is making progress. But my former female colleagues who reviewed this document in advance of its publication are unconvinced. ”
Some interesting insights but using the phrase “Speaking Truth to Power” in this manner is an insult to the people and movements who actually have.
“Speaking truth to power is a non-violent political tactic, employed by dissidents against the received wisdom or propaganda of governments they regard as oppressive, authoritarian or an ideocracy. The phrase originated with a Pendle Hill pamphlet Speak Truth to Power: a Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence, published in 1955. Speak Truth To Power is also the title of a global Human Rights initiative under the auspices of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Practitioners who have campaigned for a more just and truthful world have included Vaclav Havel, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and Elie Wiesel”

Alzheimer’s drug that failed early tests now dubbed effective, heads to FDA
“Those who received higher doses of aducanumab “experienced significant benefits on measures of cognition and function such as memory, orientation, and language,” the company reported. Those patients also saw benefits in daily activities, such as while they were managing their personal finances, cleaning, doing laundry, shopping, and traveling outside their homes.“