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Antivirus In Your Linux Mint VM

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I use my Linux Mint VM for most of my internet activity. Because of this I like to install an antivirus on that VM so that I can scan files before I transfer them to the Windows host.
To be clear, I do this to protect Windows, not Linux Mint.
I use ClamAV:
“Clam AntiVirus (ClamAV) is a free software, cross-platform and open-source antivirus software toolkit able to detect many types of malicious software, including viruses.”
ClamAV Manuals

Let’s Install It
We are going to install ClamTk:
“ClamTk is a graphical front-end for ClamAV using Perl and Gtk libraries. It is designed to be an easy-to-use, lightweight, on-demand antivirus scanner for Linux systems.”
[Read more…] about Antivirus In Your Linux Mint VM

UAC – Quick notes on why I disable it.

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Original article: Windows 7 UAC – Quick notes on why I disable it. circa 2009

***31 December, 2020
As of today my original article is over eleven years old. Links to sources have disappeared. I updated the links today, mostly to the Internet Wayback Machine archive. I’ve also backed up these sources to PDF and have linked to those where appropriate.

Microsoft introduced User Account Control (UAC) with Windows Vista. Windows 7 has an “improved” version of UAC. The purpose of this short note is to explain why I do not like or use UAC on my own machines (because I get asked so much), it is not to start an argument or to try to convince others to disable UAC.
[Read more…] about UAC – Quick notes on why I disable it.

My O&O ShutUp10 Settings – 03DEC2020 – Win10 20H2

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Download O&O ShutUp10
This is meant to be a starting point. You must use your head.
I don’t use the Microsoft Store and I only use the basic default apps like camera, calculator, video, etc.
This program can break things if you don’t pay attention.
All these settings are available somewhere within the Charlie Foxtrot that is Windows Settings. The advantage of this program is it puts everything in one place.
My settings (right-click > save link as). You can use this for reference if you like: https://www.tweakhound.com/win10/ooshutup10_TH_mainrig_03DEC2020.cfg
Pretty much “Recommended” settings plus or minus a few things.
[Read more…] about My O&O ShutUp10 Settings – 03DEC2020 – Win10 20H2

Patch Tuesday

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Windows Update
You should be on 20H2, 2004, or 1909. I now have 5 PC’s running Win10 20H2, one running Windows 7 (no network), and 1 running TrueNAS.
Win10 1909 – November 10, 2020—KB4586786 (OS Builds 18362.1198 and 18363.1198)
Win10 2004 & 20H2 – November 10, 2020—KB4586781 (OS Builds 19041.630 and 19042.630)

New Graphics Drivers
AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.11.1 Optional (11/6/2020)
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 457.30 WHQL (11/9/2020)
Intel Graphics Windows 10 DCH Drivers (Version: 27.20.100.8935 Date: 11/6/2020)

Browser Updates
Google Chrome 86.0.4240.193 (1 security fix)
Firefox 82.0.3 (1 security fix)

Other Software
Cleanmgr+ 1.36.1141
EMDB 3.70

Off Topic

Veteran’s Day Deals For Vets
A ton of restaurants are offering something. Many national retailers are giving 10% off.
Military.com – 2020 Veterans Day Retail Deals and Discounts
Noteworthy:
Food Lion 10% off “active military, veterans and their families should present their MVP card, along with military identification”
Office Depot and OfficeMax 25% off “Valid in Office Depot and OfficeMax stores only for all Veterans, Active Duty Military Personnel, Retirees, Reservists, and their dependents. Must present a valid Military ID, Military Dependent ID, or form of Veteran ID at the time of purchase.
Publix “Veterans, active military personnel, and their families are invited to save 10% on groceries on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.”
Staples 25% off

Hot deals today! Up to 30% off on Data Storage from Seagate, Western Digital and more

Samsung (MZ-V7S1T0B/AM) 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB – M.2 NVMe
List Price $249.99
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Contact Tracing Apps

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Apple, Google Release Virus Contact-Tracing Tools to App Makers
“Apple Inc. and Google released the first versions of their Covid-19 contact-tracing tools to public health organizations on Wednesday so the agencies can start building applications ahead of the system’s launch in mid-May.”

Contact tracing apps can help stop coronavirus. But they can hurt privacy.

EFF – COVID-19 and Digital Rights
EFF – Apple and Google’s COVID-19 Exposure Notification API: Questions and Answers

Americans split on use of contact tracing apps powered by Apple/Google API
“Americans are divided on whether they would be willing to use coronavirus contact tracing apps powered by the joint Apple/Google API. A Washington Post/University of Maryland poll found an exact 50/50 split between those who would use it and those who wouldn’t.”

So what say you, are you gonna install it?

Patch Tuesday

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Windows 7-10 updated. Patches between 3 and 7 dozen vulnerabilities depending on OS and version.
Windows 7
April 14, 2020—KB4550965 (Security-only update)
April 14, 2020—KB4550964 (Monthly Rollup)
Windows 8.1
April 14, 2020—KB4550970 (Security-only update)
April 14, 2020—KB4550961 (Monthly Rollup)
Windows 10
1909 & 1903 – April 14, 2020—KB4549951 (OS Builds 18362.778 and 18363.778)
1809 – April 14, 2020—KB4549949 (OS Build 17763.1158)

Security Update Guide > Release Notes > April 2020 Security Updates

Patch Tuesday

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Windows Updates
Windows 10
1909 – March 10, 2020—KB4540673 (OS Builds 18362.719 and 18363.719)
1903 – March 10, 2020—KB4540673 (OS Builds 18362.719 and 18363.719)
1809 – March 10, 2020—KB4538461 (OS Build 17763.1098)

Windows 8.1
March 10, 2020—KB4541509 (Monthly Rollup)
March 10, 2020—KB4541505 (Security-only update)

Windows 7
March 10, 2020—KB4540688 (Monthly Rollup)
March 10, 2020—KB4541500 (Security-only update)
***IMPORTANT***
READ THE SECTION “Before installing this update”
Prerequisite:
You must install the updates listed below and restart your device before installing the latest Rollup. Installing these updates improves the reliability of the update process and mitigates potential issues while installing the Rollup and applying Microsoft security fixes.

Patch Tuesday

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Windows 10
1909 is out. What’s new in Windows 10, version 1909
See: How to get the Windows 10 November 2019 Update
More at the bottom of this post.
1903 – November 12, 2019—KB4524570 (OS Build 18362.476 and 18363.476)
“Updates to improve security when using Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.”
1809 – November 12, 2019—KB4523205 (OS Build 17763.864)
Updates to improve security when using Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.
Updates to improve security when using external devices (such as game controllers, printers, and web cameras) and input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or stylus.
Updates to improve security when using Microsoft Office products.
1803 – End of Life

Windows 8.1
November 12, 2019—KB4525250 (Security-only update)
Includes 3 security updates.
November 12, 2019—KB4525243 (Monthly Rollup)
Includes 3 security updates and 4 fixes.

Windows 7
November 12, 2019—KB4525233 (Security-only update)
Includes 3 security updates.
November 12, 2019—KB4525235 (Monthly Rollup)
Includes 3 security updates and 2 fixes.

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready WHQL Driver 441.20
Download | Release Notes

What’s new for Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows 10, version 1903 release notes
Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 share a common core operating system and an identical set of system files. As a result, the new features in Windows 10, version 1909 were included in the recent monthly quality update for Windows 10, version 1903 (released October 8, 2019), but are currently in a dormant state. These new features will remain dormant until they are turned on using an enablement package, which is a small, quick-to-install “master switch” that simply activates the Windows 10, version 1909 features.
To reflect this change, the release notes for Windows 10, version 1903 and Windows 10, version 1909 will share an update history page. Each release page will contain a list of addressed issues for both 1903 and 1909 versions. Note that the 1909 version will always contain the fixes for 1903; however, 1903 will not contain the fixes for 1909. This page will provide you with the build numbers for both 1909 and 1903 versions so that it will be easier for support to assist you if you encounter issues.

Feature Update via Windows 10, version 1909 Enablement Package
Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 share a common core operating system with an identical set of system files. Therefore, the new features in Windows 10, version 1909 were included in the latest monthly quality update for Windows 10, version 1903 (released October 8, 2019), but are in an inactive and dormant state. These new features will remain dormant until they are turned on through the “enablement package,” a small, quick-to-install “master switch” that activates the Windows 10, version 1909 features.
The enablement package is a great option for installing a scoped feature update like Windows 10, version 1909 as it enables an update from version 1903 to version 1909 with a single restart, reducing update downtime. This enables devices to take advantage of new features now. For version 1903 devices that receive updates directly from Windows Update, devices automatically get the enablement package by installing the feature update to Windows 10, version 1909.
If a device is updating from Windows 10, version 1809 or an earlier version, this feature update enablement package cannot be manually installed. Instead, it is bundled and automatically included with the feature update to Windows 10, version 1909. Note the installation time is not reduced in this scenario.