2022 November eBytes
Cable vs. Streaming Services: Which Is Cheaper? We Do the Math
The Best Free Software to Download Now
Be Careful What You Post: How to Tell the Difference Between Fact and Fake News
What to Do When You've Been Hacked
Google Chrome Drops Support for Windows 7, 8.1 in Early 2023
Should You Pay a Premium for Apple's New iPad or Get the Cheaper 2021 Model?
Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux: Which Operating System Is Best?
How to Fix the Most Annoying Things in Windows
Opt out of people-search sites
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Cable vs. Streaming Services: Which Is Cheaper? We Do the Math
It all depends on where you live and what you watch.
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The Best Free Software to Download Now
You want powerful software? You don't have to pay for it. Everything you need to be productive and secure on your PC is on this list, and it's all totally free.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-free-software
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Be Careful What You Post: How to Tell the Difference Between Fact and Fake News
Sensational stories that align perfectly with your pre-conceived notions about a topic are likely just fuel for the outrage machine. As early voting in the US midterm elections kicks off, here's how to make sure you're what you're sharing is legit.
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What to Do When You've Been Hacked
When your email, credit card, or identity gets hacked, it can be a nightmare. Knowing what to expect can be a help; knowing how to head off the hackers is even better. Our guide helps with both.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-to-do-when-youve-been-hacked
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Google Chrome Drops Support for Windows 7, 8.1 in Early 2023
Windows 10 or later will be required if you want new Chrome releases after February.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-chrome-drops-support-for-windows-7-81-in-early-2023
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Should You Pay a Premium for Apple's New iPad or Get the Cheaper 2021 Model?
The 10th-generation Apple iPad sees its biggest design update in years, but do the new looks and features make it worth the big price increase?
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Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux: Which Operating System Is Best?
We compare the top desktop operating systems based on availability, interface design, and ease of use, plus the apps and games you can run on them.
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How to Fix the Most Annoying Things in Windows
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are great OSes, but both have...issues. Here's how to fix some of the more irritating quirks with Microsoft's ubiquitous operating systems.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-fix-the-most-annoying-things-in-windows-10
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Opt out of people-search sites
These sites help track down friends and relatives, but they also collect and sell your data to marketers and allow scammers and hackers access to your personal information. Self Defense: The process for deleting your data varies by each site and is not always easy to find or follow. You may need to repeat the removal process for different names and/or misspellings of your name for which records exist. Caution. Never pay to have your personal information removed from a site-legitimate sites offer opt-out options for free. Also, be careful clicking links on these sites-some can lead to ads for other sites that request payment. For directions to remove yourself from Instant Checkmate, DOBSearch, PeopleFinder, PeopleByName, PeekYou, Private Eye, ZabaSearch, SpyFly, US Search, PeopleFinders and BeenVerified, go to https://bit.ly/3Q6x3k0 From Komando.com.
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
What Is USB-C? An Explainer - With so many devices now featuring the interface, it's clear that the USB-C connector is here to stay. One day, it'll even show up on the Apple iPhone. Here's why that's a good thing—even if not every USB-C port is created equal.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-is-usb-c-an-explainer
Make It Stop: How to Disable Push Notifications on the Web - Want to receive fewer browser notifications? Here's how to control web notifications and block the pop-ups you don't want in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-disable-web-notifications
People Still Think Their Smart Speakers Are Eavesdropping on Conversations - In short, they’re not. But a new Chubb report finds increasing cyber anxiety, as well as people clinging to bad security habits.
Want to ditch Windows? Windowsfx may be the ideal Linux distribution for you - Here's a Linux distribution that does a remarkable job of mimicking Windows 11, which makes it a great option for anyone looking to migrate from the proprietary operating system.
Can You Spot a Phishing Scam? Take These Quizzes to Find Out - Phishing attempts can be easy to miss. See if you can tell them apart from legitimate messages and websites.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/can-you-spot-a-phishing-scam-take-these-quizzes-to-find-out
Do You Really Need to Buy an Antivirus App or a VPN Anymore? - Isn’t the built-in security on today’s PCs, phones, and tablets good enough? The answer depends on the OS you’re running.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/do-you-really-need-to-buy-antivirus-or-vpn-anymore
The Best Budget Desktop Computers for 2022 - A reliable home PC doesn't have to cost you four figures...far from it. Most of our budget-PC favorites cost less than $600, and some are hundreds less than that. Check out our top tested picks among conventional towers, compact PCs, and more.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-budget-desktop-computers
Clean Up Files Fast: Organize Your Online Storage With These 7 Simple Steps - Organize your messy files and folders with this foolproof strategy.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/clean-up-files-organize-online-storage
When Should You Change Your Password? Not as Often as You Think - You don't need to update your passwords frequently to be secure online, but in a few specific instances, you should change your passwords immediately.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/when-should-you-change-your-password
7 Ways to Improve Your Phone's Signal Strength - No bars on your phone? Slow mobile data? Here are the top tested ways to fix your mobile signal.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-improve-mobile-signal-strength
Avoid the Trash Heap: 15 Creative Uses for an Old Computer - Don't junk that ancient laptop or desktop. Reuse it! Turn an old gaming PC into a NAS, experiment with a new OS, build your own security cam, plus a dozen more creative recycling ideas.
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/avoid-the-trash-heap-creative-uses-for-an-old-computer
The Best Cheap Phones for 2022 - Looking for a new phone that won't wipe out your bank account? Whether you want a flip phone or a smartphone, we've gathered the best budget-friendly handsets on the market for around $300 or less.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cheap-phones
WeakWi-Fi signal? - The materials your walls are made of, placement of your router and how you decorate can prevent your Wi-Fi signal from getting through. Walls: Drywall is best for letting signals pass. Steel studs and the metal wires that reinforce older lathe-and-plaster walls can degrade your Wi-Fi signal...as will walls or floors made of concrete...and foil-lined insulation. Signal-blocking decor:Water in fish tanks. …dense, book filled bookshelves. . .reflective backing on mirrors...any metal decorations...TV sets and home appliances of every size. Optimal router placement: Think of your router as like a lightbulb. Just as you don't want objects to block light from filling the room, you should place the router where nothing will block the signal. From HowToGeek.com
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Ask a Question - Send any Tips & Downloads, Ask a Question, For Sale, or articles to: TheMiningPCC@gmail.com
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Q. From a PCC Member - I have a Lenovo B570 laptop model 1068, how do I determine if it's able to be upgraded to a newer version of Windows?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. To check for Windows 10 updates and if your computer can be updated to Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Windows Update , then select Check for updates. If updates are available, you can choose to install them. Also, the page will list if your computer can be updated to Windows 11.
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Q. From a PCC Member - Could you comment on the safety of 3rd party software for combining/merging pdf files. I'd rather not pay the roughly $13/mo subscription for Adobe Acrobat Standard.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. There are many ways to copy some or all of a PDF and create a new PDF using a PDF viewer and a word processor like Word. Adobe has a web site https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/merge-pdf.html that lets you combine PDF files for free. Looks like there are many sites and downloads that claim that function. When using a site, I would not use any PDFs that contain confidential or other account info.
I trust reviews and info on Tom’s Guide and here is a recommendation for free software https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-combine-pdf-files . FYI… This is not my site, but most people named Tom are great guys. I also like reviews from CNet and PC Magazine.
When downloading software to your computer, make sure to only download from a site you can trust like https://download.cnet.com and make sure your Anti-Virus software is current and scanning downloads.
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Q. From a PCC Member - How do you know if your hard drive is encrypted?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. SelectStart > Settings > Update & Security > Device encryption. If Device encryption doesn't appear, it isn't available from Windows. There is third party software that can encrypt any version of Windows if Windows can not.
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Q. From a PCC Member - I am getting a message from Google that I am running out of free space.
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Google gives 15 GB of free space for everything you have in Google. That includes email, contacts, OneDrive, Photos, and several other services. Videos take the most space. To see what you are currently using and a link on the page help manage/delete items: https://one.google.com/storage
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Q&A. From Tom Kreuzer a PCC Board Member - I was setting up a Wyze camera at my Dad's apartment and could not complete the setup. This problem affects many Internet devices, IOTs, that use a 2.4 Ghz WiFi connection to setup. The setup is done using a phone app that must be connected to the 2.4 Ghz network that the device will be connected to. Many WiFi routers today create a 2.4 and 5 network with the same network name. In the past the Android and iOS phone would let you turn off trying to use any 5 Ghz WiFi, so if the phone would let you select and connect to the 2.4 network. The latest versions do not let you select and will connect to the 5 network if both 2.4 and 5 have the same name. Since most IOT devices can not connect to 5, the IOT device connects to the 2.4 network. If the setup tries to validate that the phone and device are on the same 2.4 network the setup fails because the phone is on the 5 network. I looked online for a solution and was surprised to find none that would work for me. My Dad’s network router is controlled by the apartment building so I have no control with it using the same name. I got on a chat with Wyze to see if they had a solution. After 30 minutes they said they would forward it to a specialist and get back to me. The next day I got an email:
One way to connect to the 2.4GHz network is to move further away from the router or WiFi extender. The closer you are to the router, you will most likely get the 5G network. As 2G network can cover larger areas, it is possible that your phone will connect to it when your phone is not detecting the 5G network. (Tom responds - Not possible because the apartment has a mesh network with routers all over)
Another option will be creating a hotspot network that has the same WiFi name and password as the 2G network that you have then connect your phone to that hotspot network and redo the setup. Though this will not be 100% effective, we can try this. (Tom responds - Requires one phone as a 2.4 hotspot and another to do the setup. Might work have not tried yet?)
If those did not work, I suggest reaching out to the apartment owner and see if they can create a dedicated 2.4GHz network with a unique name and password for you to be able to connect your Wyze device/s. (Tom responds - Not possible)
I emailed back and suggested they change their setup, but that would take some time and might never happen.
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