Get Your Computer Ready For Windows Creators Update

We are only a few days away from the next major update…AKA Windows Creators Update…April 11, to be exact. That is the day Microsoft starts the rollout. When you get yours is anyone’s guess. But it is coming…it is an automatic update so just sit back and relax and wait for it to happen. Hopefully it goes smoothly for all us.

However we can be prepared if something goes wrong. Read the article below on how to prepare. Backups are your best protection, of course…but there are other tips and tricks you should know about. Just be prepared.

On a personal note, this will be the last edition of this blog for a week or two. No, I am not going on vacation or a photo expedition. On the contrary, I go into the hospital next week to get a new knee. I have been living in pain for over a year so it is time to get it done. I have never been in a hospital before, much less major surgery, so don’t know what to expect.

I have no idea what my life will be like for the first few weeks after surgery other than a lot of rehab therapy on a daily basis, more pain, and very limited movement (with a walker, then a cane) until it all heals. But I am told my life will be so much better in the near future. So, based upon what I don’t know, I had best stop publishing until I can once again sit at my desk comfortably and start writing. Believe me, when I can write again, I will. 

So wish me luck. Me and my new knee will be back ASAP. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

US lawmakers: Get a warrant to search phones at the border

Customs and Border Protection can search your personal electronics without suspicion. A Senate bill introduced Tuesday would change that.

 

Amazon to Live-Stream NFL Thursday Night Football Games, Replacing Twitter

Amazon reportedly paid $50 million for the rights, which is five times more than what Twitter paid a season ago. Facebook and YouTube also bid for the streaming package.

 

Microsoft finally reveals what data Windows 10 collects from your PC

The Windows 10 Creators Update is making it easier to understand what information the operating system wants.

 

Gigabit LTE: Crazy-fast wireless speeds, explained

Gigabit LTE is an advanced form of LTE, the 4G wireless technology that the cellular carriers use to connect mobile devices.

Yahoo and AOL to form new company 'Oath' after Verizon deal

The two past-their-prime internet pioneers will be housed under a new media division at Verizon called “Oath." The Yahoo name may disappear.

 

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Do this before you update to the Windows 10 Creators Update

Regardless of when you run the update, you may want to run preparations before you install the Creators Update on your machine. The following guide gives you tips on how to prepare your device properly before you run the update.

How to install Windows on an external drive

USB 3.1 can make it almost as fast as an internal drive.

 

How to Change Your Name on Facebook

Whether you’ve just gotten married, no longer identify with your birth name, or just want to change the overly formal “Robert” to “Rob” on your profile, here’s how to change the name you’re using on Facebook.

 

How to Run a Security Checkup on Your Google Account

Concerned about the wrong person snagging unauthorized access to your Google account? You can run a security check on your account to make sure it's as safe and secure as possible.

 

How to Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows

If you’ve ever been denied access to a file or folder in Windows, chances are you need to take ownership of them with your user account. Here’s how.

 

Mobile Computing

How to record phone calls

Whether you're conducting an interview or just want to capture a bad customer-service call for posterity, these are your options.

 

Microsoft launches ‘Who’s In,’ a social event planning app for iMessage

The company is giving social another shot with a new iMessage app called “Who’s In,” aimed at helping friends plan events and other outings, like movie dates, dinners out, visits to nearby attractions, and more.

 

6 easy ways to keep your Android phone secure

Protect your device from hackers with these tips.

 

How to set up a backup phone

Whether you earmark an old phone or just buy an inexpensive spare, it's a smart idea to have a backup at the ready.

 

iOS 10.3: The best new features to try out

Don't expect obvious changes in this version of iOS, but there are a few subtle tweaks that may be worth the upgrade.

 

Apple iPad (2017) Review & Rating

While there's little reason for existing iPad owners to upgrade, the new iPad's price stabs a stake into the heart of many competing Android tablets.

More on Using a VPN to Protect Your Privacy

On this day, the President signed the new legislation that allows all Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) to sell your data for money without your permission. The tech media is now awash in stories about how a VPN can help protect your privacy and deny ISP’s information about your browsing habits. I’ve included a couple of the more relevant stories about how and why you may want a VPN. First, let me give you a short explanation about how they work.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Its a technology that allows you to use the Internet in a very private way. Thousands of businesses have been using VPN’s for years to protect their business data. While we all must use an ISP to get on the Net, a VPN is a tunnel through the Net that hides your browsing from and ISP or anyone else.

Let’s say you want to do a Google search. Your ISP will know that you went to Google.com, but your search request goes through a VPN, blocking that info from your ISP. The same with the data coming back from your search. All your ISP knows is you went to Google.

In this case, VPN’s takes your search request and routes it through servers around the US and the world. From there, it goes on to the Internet to Google. The information from Google, is then sent back to the server, then back through the VPN to your computer. A good VPN provider also encrypts your data in both directions making it unreadable to anyone but you, and Google, of course. That is the simple explanation.

What are the downsides? By routing it to another server, your Internet might seem a bit slow. But if you have decent service, you will not even notice any lag time. I have a good service and I don’t notice any slowdown.

Another issue that could arise is the VPN service might also sell your data. But that is extremely unlikely in most cases as that would be the end of that VPN company. Most VPN’s state quite clearly they will not sell your data.

The other downside is that most VPN’s cost money. However there are a couple of free ones. I use Hotspot which is free…but they will send you the occasional advertisement, although I must admit I have yet to see one. Hotspot has a good reputation and has been recommended by tech experts that I trust. And, as I said earlier, I see no lag time in using them.

You can get a VPN as a plug-in for your browser…or as an app that protects your entire computer, no matter what you use. Right now I have the latter version on my Windows computer to see how it works. On my MAC, I currently have Hotspot installed only on my browsers. The Windows computer is my  test machine.

Another privacy protection is to use sites that are encrypted. All banks on the Net are encrypted as are many, many other sites. In case you forgot, you can tell if a site is encrypted as it has HTTPS as part of its address. Using a free plug-in called HTTPS Everywhere will encrypt data from many of the major Websites. ISP’s cannot read encrypted data.

I hope the information here is helpful to you in understanding VPN’s. It is such a shame that we must use it to protect ourselves from our own ISP’s and our government. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Privacy 101: Why You Need a VPN

Congress just moved to let ISPs sell your personal data. Here's how to protect yourself.

 

Protect Yourself With a Free VPN Service

Can't afford a premium VPN? That's no reason to leave your network traffic unprotected. Here's what you need to know about free VPN services.

 

Major internet providers say will not sell customer browsing histories

Comcast Corp, Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc say they will not sell customers’ individual internet browsing information, days after the U.S. Congress approved legislation reversing Obama administration era internet privacy rules.

 

Move over Windows: Android is now the biggest OS in the world

Android is now on 37.93% of all devices, just edging out Windows which is on 37.91%. It’s only a sliver of difference, but a very telling milestone nonetheless.

 

Hackers can now attack your smart TVs by tapping over-the-air signals

You can now add smart TVs to the list of vulnerable devices – only this time around, turning off your internet connection won’t save you.

 

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Windows 10 Creators Update: The 5 biggest changes

These are the features and tweaks you'll notice first.

 

The Best Tune-Up Utilities of 2017

Reinvigorate your sluggish PC with one of our top-rated tune-up utilities.

 

Amazon Cash enables shopping on Amazon without a credit or debit card

The service should make Amazon more accessible to the 9 million US households without a bank account.

 

The Beginner's Guide to PC Backup

You know you're supposed to back up your data. If you're not sure how, this guide will help.

 

OneNote for Windows 10 Updated with Section Passwords

OneNote for Windows 10 received a fairly major update today with several new features, including section password support, notebook reordering, and more.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple releases iOS 10.3.1 for iPhone, iPad

Apple says the small update includes bug fixes and improved security.

The stunning world of bezel-less phones (roundup)

Though the feature hasn't reached mainstream popularity just yet, there are a handful of phones that aspire to have the look.

 

How to Add a Charging Station to Your Nightstand (Without Ruining It)

With some inexpensive parts and a few minutes of time, you can upgrade your nightstand into an all-in-one charging station for your gear.

 

11 default iPhone apps you can replace with much better ones

Delete Maps, Mail and Safari and never look back — there are much better versions of the default apps you get when you first get a new iPhone.

 

Most Android users running outdated security patches: report

A cybersecurity company found that 71 percent of Android users on major US carriers are easy targets for hackers.

 

Google improves two-step verification on phones

You'll now see more information about sign-in requests, such as the time and location.