2026 March eBytes
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Warning: Facebook Ads for Free Windows 11 Upgrade Will Infect PCs With Malware
Half of all cyberattacks start in your browser: 10 essential tips for staying safe
Prompt Engineering 101: The Secret Formula for Writing AI Prompts That Actually Work
How to Use 200+ Alexa Voice Commands to Control Your Entire Smart Home
10 open-source apps I recommend every Windows user download - for free
Why You Should Stop Using Face ID Right Now
You can stream 10 free movies a month with this hidden service - boasting 30,000 titles
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Warning: Facebook Ads for Free Windows 11 Upgrade Will Infect PCs With Malware
Scammers are preying on Windows 10 users who haven't moved to Windows 11 with ads that urge you to 'Upgrade to Win 11 Pro Today,' antivirus provider Malwarebytes reports.
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Half of all cyberattacks start in your browser: 10 essential tips for staying safe
New research finds that 48% of cyberattacks involve your web browser - and AI is only making matters worse. Follow these best practices to protect yourself.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/browser-security-tips-stay-safe/
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Prompt Engineering 101: The Secret Formula for Writing AI Prompts That Actually Work
From deep research to image generation, better prompts unlock better outcomes. Follow my step-by-step guide for the best results.
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How to Use 200+ Alexa Voice Commands to Control Your Entire Smart Home
These are all the Alexa and Alexa Plus commands you could need to handle a wide variety of situations.
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10 open-source apps I recommend every Windows user download - for free
There are great open-source applications available for most tasks. Here are some of my favorites.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/10-open-source-free-windows-apps-boost-your-productivity/
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Why You Should Stop Using Face ID Right Now
Biometric locks like face recognition are easy to set up—but thanks to a legal loophole, they're easier for law enforcement to bypass than a passcode.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/stop-using-face-id-right-now-heres-why
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You can stream 10 free movies a month with this hidden service - boasting 30,000 titles
All you need to start streaming is your library card.
https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/kanopy-free-streaming-service-signup/
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Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
Want free TV streaming? How to get more than 1000 channels - no subscription required - The Roku Channel vs. Google TV Freeplay: Both services offer hundreds of free channels, but one has a far better interface.
Microsoft Is Killing Publisher in October. Here's What You Should Use Instead - Microsoft Publisher is retiring—but your designs can level up. Whether you want something familiar, beginner-friendly, or fully professional.
Stop Using Windows 11 Like a Beginner: 31 Hidden Tricks Microsoft Never Taught You - Windows 11 is more advanced than you might think. We show you how to take advantage of AI‑powered Copilot tricks, customization tips, hidden settings, multitasking tools, security tweaks, and more.
How to download YouTube videos for free - You can download YouTube videos to watch at any time - even without a Premium subscription.
https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/how-i-download-youtube-videos-for-free/
6 underrated Android features that are seriously useful (and how they've made my life easier) -
You won't use these hidden Android options every day - but when you do, you'll be thankful they exist.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/6-hidden-android-features-every-user-should-know/
Your PC's critical security certificates may be about to expire - how to check - Another crucial Windows expiration date is right around the corner for more than a billion PCs. Here's what you need to do now.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/secure-boot-certificate-updates-2026/
The Best Cheap Phone Plans for 2026 - If you're looking to save money on your wireless bill, these lesser-known, lower-cost cell phone plans might be the ticket.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cheap-phone-plans
How to clear your Windows 11 PC cache (and why it makes such a big difference) - Clearing this hidden data will markedly speed up your computer - here's how to do it.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-clear-your-windows-11-pc-cache/
What does an orange USB port mean? I learned the truth behind the colors, and it's wild - Those colored USB ports aren't random. Here's what they tell you.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-your-usb-port-color-means/
Here Are All the iOS 26 Tips and Tricks You Need to Know - Curious about whether you can change your iPhone's Liquid Glass design or how to get rid of your alarm slider? Look no further.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/apple-iphone-ios-26-cheat-sheet/
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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 Brother HL-L2370DW printer that keeps losing its WiFi connection and if I unplug and reset connectivity is restored but sometimes I have to establish WIFI network & password to get connectivity. What is the problem?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. Sounds like your printer is losing its connection. You can usually check if the WiFi image on the printer is green and has a connection. If not green it has been disconnected from your WiFi router. Most routers will disconnect a connected device if it is not used. That timeout can be as short as several hours or as long as several days till they get disconnected. Many printers do not have enough smarts to reconnect when they get disconnected, so turning off and on the printer forces it to connect. Below are some solutions to try if you do not want to turn off and on. You can also be losing the connection if the printer does not have a strong 2.4 Ghz signal from your router.
Key Steps to Stabilize the Connection:
Assign a Static/Static IP Address: This is the most effective fix. Access your router's admin page via a web browser, locate the connected devices list, and set a static IP for your Brother printer so it doesn't change.
Update Firmware: Download the latest firmware for the HL-L2370DW from the Brother support website.
Check 2.4 GHz Band: Ensure your router is broadcasting a 2.4 GHz network, as this printer does not support 5 GHz.
Router Placement: Ensure the printer is not too far from the router or obstructed by metal objects.
Reinstall Drivers: Use the full driver and software package from Brother instead of the generic Windows driver.
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Q. From a PCC Member - How to access web content blocked by popups
With Safari on iPhone - Suppose a news article on the web is blocked by a popup window (often offering access by subscription). Many such popups, if not most, result from execution of JavaScript code. Disable JavaScript then to view the blocked content.
Settings app > Apps > Safari > Advanced > JavaScript > [disable]
Refresh the page of interest in Safari
On finishing the article, re-enable JavaScript since it often enables other functions and features you may find useful
iOS 26.2 provides another - and more direct means of blocking pop-ups to gain the same effect.
Settings app > Apps > Safari > Block Pop-ups (in the General section) > [enable]
For Safari on macOS - Check whether these options are available under Preferences.
Perhaps a Safari extension exists for turning JavaScript off and on again (or blocking pop-ups) without leaving Safari. You may wish to inform your friends about it if you find one. You may be able to do the same with other browsers (e.g. Brave, Firefox, DuckDuckGo) using different means on other platforms using other operating systems. I do not advocate sharing the hidden content you have thus (or otherwise) accessed.
…
You may want to ask AI (Perplexity, Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek, &c.) … How can I disable JavaScript in the web browser app [Brave | Safari | Firefox | DuckDuckGo | Ecosia] without leaving the app?
For example from DeepSeek (DeepThink)
User wants to disable JavaScript without switching to another browser or external tools.
I recall Brave has two main ways to handle this globally: through Shields settings or site-specific permissions. But since the user mentioned "without leaving the app," I should focus on methods entirely within Brave's interface.
Wait, there's also the option using brave:// flags, but that might be too technical. Let me structure the response from simplest to most advanced. The site-specific method is most practical for daily use, while the global setting is better for strict needs.
I should also mention that disabling JavaScript breaks many websites, so a quick re-enable toggle is useful. The site-specific permission method actually allows that through the lock icon.
You can disable JavaScript in Brave without leaving the app using its built-in settings. Here are the main methods:
Method 1: Disable Globally (All Sites)
1. Open Brave browser
2. Click the menu (⋮) button in the top-right corner
3. Go to Settings → Privacy and security
4. Click Site and shield settings
5. Select JavaScript
6. Toggle the switch to "Don't allow sites to use JavaScript"
Method 2: Per-Site Control via Shields
1. Navigate to any website
2. Click the Brave Shields icon (lion icon) in the address bar
3. Scroll down to "Scripts" section
4. Switch from "Allow all scripts" to "Block all scripts"
Method 3: Using Site Settings
1. Click the lock/padlock icon in the address bar
2. Select Site settings
3. Find JavaScript in the permissions list
4. Change from "Allow" to "Block"
Important Notes:
· Global disabling will break most modern websites (forms, interactive content, etc. won't work)
· The per-site method via Shields is usually best for temporarily blocking JavaScript on specific sites
· Brave also has a "Block Scripts" option in brave://settings/content/javascript for more control
For temporary testing, consider using Private/Incognito windows with JavaScript disabled instead of changing your main browsing settings.
The Shields method (Method 2) is usually the quickest for temporary disabling on specific sites without affecting your overall browsing experience.
How would I do the same using brave://flags?
DeepSeek (edited response)
Recommended Approach. Instead of using flags, the most effective ways remain:
· Global disable: brave://settings/content/javascript → toggle off
· Per-site disable: Click Brave Shields icon → toggle "Scripts" to Block
· Quick keyboard shortcut: Press F12 for Developer Tools, then Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on Mac), type "Disable JavaScript" and select it (temporary, for current tab only)
The flags page is really for developers testing upcoming browser features, not for managing basic browsing settings like JavaScript execution
A. From Mike Griffin, a PCC Board member. This is useful. Thanks for the research! Javascript can also be a bit buggy at times and the popups can take a long time to appear - slowing you down. I will sometimes use the browser “reader view” if I want to read or print an article without ads every other paragraph.
Safari Reader View (Mac, iPhone, iPad)
Activate: Click the aA or document icon on the left side of the address bar and select Show Reader.
Keyboard Shortcut: Press Shift + Command + R.
Customize: Click the aA button again to adjust font size, background color (white, sepia, dark, gray), and font style.
Automatic Reader: Right-click the Reader icon to set it to automatically turn on for specific websites.
Note: If the icon is not present, the page does not support Reader View.
Firefox Reader View (Desktop, Android, iOS)
Activate: Click the document icon on the right side of the address bar.
Keyboard Shortcut: Press F9.
Customize: Use the left-hand toolbar to adjust font style, size, spacing, and switch to dark mode.
Text-to-Speech: Click the headphone icon (or press 'n') to have Firefox read the article aloud.
Exit: Click the icon again, which turns blue when active, to return to the original page.
Both browsers offer similar functionality to improve readability, though they may not work on all websites (e.g., those without a clear <article> tag).
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. I understand what you're doing, but this has been ongoing since day one on the Internet. It is a game of whack-a-mole between Ads, sites, and services trying to capture info and sell ads. Ad blockers try to keep up with changes and tricks, but if you use the Internet you will run into Ads and trackers. Kind of like mosquitos in Minnesota, you can not get away from all of them. For most people I recommend an Ad blocker, because they are easier to turn on and off or whitelist sites than turning off javascript and many other attempts. I use the free software Adblock. Below is what PCMag recommends.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-ad-blockers
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