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Author Archives: Paul Begley
Venmo security concerns
I haven’t reviewed Venmo security in a long time. Originally I took a look when my middle daughter was looking for an electronic payment service to sort out payments to roommates and friends in college. At that time (2010?), Venmo … Continue reading
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Apple design
This is an Apple Magic Mouse being recharged. Apple is frequently hailed as a model of design. This is a poorly designed mouse.
Posted in Design
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Backup hardware and software recommendations for family computers
Lots of people ask about backup and disaster recovery for family computers. I use an external USB/eSATA case and Acronis True Image software to image all my friends and family computers. Reference links below for the hardware and software. The … Continue reading
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Browser recommendations – performance and security
This is a post to answer some regular questions I get from friends and family. I’ll update it regularly as required. First, I use an ad blocker. Sites don’t like you to block ads, but there are so many malicious … Continue reading
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Ajit Pai (FCC Chairman) is not our friend
We are watching the FCC sell out the consumers it is supposed to protect. Ajit Pai is the head of the FCC. He’s a smart guy, but he is not the friend of the consumer, he’s a former Communication Industry … Continue reading
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Why do I hate DirecTV Now, let me count the ways
I got an e-mail from AT&T/DirecTV asking me to complete a survey on why I unsubscribed from DirecTV Now. I spent quite a bit of time crafting a comprehensive answer, only to receive the notice below. Part of my issue … Continue reading
"A safe propane torch for applications around the home"
I get a feed from “Cool Tools” and this caught my eye. I’m thinking of using it to remove snow or scare the shit out of my neighbors. Looking for a backpack to hold the propane tank next. Harbor Freight … Continue reading
HP notes – update BIOS from F10
I got a friends-and-family return-from-lease HP 8100 workstation. No RAM, no disk, just the basic workstation. I am trying to install Windows 10, but I’m having issues with the OS install failing. HP notes point to an out-of-date BIOS. The … Continue reading
Netgear security update
Check your router for a vulnerability by entering the string below into your browser (change [router-address] to the IP address of your router (example: 192.168.1.1)). http://[router-address]/cgi-bin/;uname$IFS-a If that page shows anything but an error or an empty page, your router … Continue reading
Posted in hardware, networking, security
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Hiking
I’ll start to post more about hobbies as well as technology. On our Yosemite trip this month, I focused on packing light. I weighed and documented everything I took. This resulted in a much more successful and enjoyable trip. … Continue reading