Interesting Internet Finds

Steve Costello, Boca Raton Computer Society

While going through the more than 300 RSS feeds, I often run across things that I think might be of interest to other user group members. The following are some items I found interesting during recent months.

 

How To Reinstall Windows Without An Installation Disc

https://askleo.com/how-to-reinstall-windows-without-an-installation-disc/

This question comes up all the time at user meetings. Leo Notenboom provides several excellent answers. Basically everything he says in the post boils down to being ready before the need comes up.

 

Is Linux Really Immune To Viruses and Malware? Here’s the Truth

https://www.leetvofficial.com/is-linux-really-immune-to-viruses-and-malware-heres-the-truth/

Linux is becoming more popular now, especially with support for Windows 7 coming to an end. Before you switch you should be aware of the virus and malware issues.

 

How (And Why) To Use Google’s Chromebook Simulator

https://www.howtogeek.com/439256/how-and-why-to-use-googles-chromebook-simulator/

If you are like me and considering buying a Chromebook, you should check out this post.

 

4 Things To Look For When Buying A USB Hub

https://www.maketecheasier.com/things-look-out-for-buying-usb-hub/

There are still a lot of USB devices around, and less USB ports on computers these days. If you don’t have enough ports on your laptop, or desktop, you will need a USB hub. This post tells you what you need to look for to make the best purchase. (Note: I have several hubs that I use often.)

 

How To Optimize Your Google Drive Storage

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/google-softwaretips/how-to-optimize-your-google-drive-storage/

If you use Google Drive storage (and if you have a Google account you should) it should be optimized. This post explains how to optimize the storage.

 

Encrypt Public WiFi With Firefox Private Network For Secure Connection

https://www.ilovefreesoftware.com/12/windows/internet/plugins/encrypt-public-wifi-with-firefox-private-network-for-secure-connection.html

If you use Firefox there is now an option to have a free secure connections. Check out this post to learn all about it. It is not the best option, but is better than no VPN at all.

 

The Dumbest USB Gadgets You Can Buy

https://www.reviewgeek.com/5774/the-dumbest-usb-gadgets-you-can-buy/

 

This is not the kind of thing I usually share, but I just couldn’t believe some of the things shown. Also, if they are for sale, I assume someone is dumb enough to by one (not you or me, of course).

 

Here’s What You Should Use Instead of CCleaner

https://www.howtogeek.com/361112/heres-what-you-should-use-instead-of-ccleaner/

 

I still use CCleaner, but others have concerns lately. For those who no longer use it, this post tells you what you should use instead.

 

Gmail For Mobile: Disable Conversation View?

https://www.askdavetaylor.com/gmail-for-mobile-android-disable-conversation-view/

 

Did you know that you can disable conversation view on your mobile (Android only for now)? Dave explains what conversation view actually is, and how to disable it in Android Gmail.

 

What is Android Bootloader? A Complete Guide

https://joyofandroid.com/android-bootloader/

 

For those of you who like to know the inner workings of Android, this is a good guide to the bootloader.

 

OneDrive tips and tricks: How to master Microsoft’s free cloud storage

https://www.zdnet.com/article/onedrive-tips-and-tricks-how-to-master-microsofts-free-cloud-storage/

 

This is a great read for anyone who uses Microsoft OneDrive, especially for those who are using an Office 365 Home or Personal subscription.

 

When 2FA Goes Bad

https://askbobrankin.com/when_2fa_goes_bad.html

 

Yes, I know that everyone says you should be using two factor authorization on all you accounts that support it even if SMS messaging is the only option. But, I think you also need to be aware of what can go wrong. Bob Rankin talks about what happened recently to Reddit.

 

How to Install Minimal Ubuntu on Your Old PC

https://www.maketecheasier.com/install-a-minimal-ubuntu-on-old-laptop/

 

I recently had a friend ask what he should do with an old x386 laptop with only 2GB of RAM. I told him he should put Linux on it. He did install Ubuntu on it and got everything running with only minor problems. If you have an old PC and want to try installing Ubuntu on it, check out this post. (Note: Other Linux distributions should work in a similar way. I have used both Ubuntu and Mint myself.)