You may need to start surfing the net anonymously, seriously..

Recently, many of the Internet Service Providers signed up for the "Copyright Alert System".  This system essentially has your ISP sending you warnings when you are suspected of downloading copyrighted material over the Internet.  For more information, check out this article from PCMag about the particulars. One other note, now the National Sheriff's Association is now arguing that ISP's should be mandated to keep your online records for 18 months.  By online records, we are talking everything you do online, every site, every email, etc. 

There are many problems with this system, the biggest being the lack of due process.  You can merely be accused of downloading copyrighted material and get a letter.  To head off all of this, many should consider the many ways you can surf the Internet anonymously.  This article from SmashingApps details the top ten free programs you can use to hide yourself and your surfing habits online.  Happy hiding.

1000 days and counting down...

If you are still using Windows XP, that is the official number of days you have until Microsoft ends support for the 10 year old operating system.  April 8, 2014 is the official drop dead date for Windows XP support.  You can still use it, but you will be running an operating system vulnerable with no help coming.  Don't worry, by that date, most, if not all of you will have moved on.

Dell Mini 10....solved!

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a request for suggestions on what to do with a Dell Mini 10 that would not boot, no video and with beep codes.  Well after extensive work, the problem has been solved.  I would like to thank Dell for BIOS beep codes that were incorrect.  The problem was not a bad BIOS, but a bad Keyboard.  Apparently bad keyboards on netbooks can keep them from booting.  On Desktops, bad keyboards doesn't keep the computer from booting.  Who knew....well I do...now.

Google+ off to a decent start

Not sure if they will ever catch Facebook (currently at 750 million), but Google's new social site, Google+ is off to a good start.  Currently at 7.5 million after a couple of weeks, they are anticipating over 20 million by the end of the weekend.  I personally have not signed up yet, but will, just to see what is up.  Reviews to follow.

Upgrade Windows Vista today...or else!

Well, it's not really that bad, but Microsoft officially ends support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 today.  What this means is that there will no longer be any tech support offered for that version of Windows as of today.  Simply upgrade to service pack 2 (which is what you should have already done via Windows Update) or upgrade to Windows 7.  Typically, if your computer can run Vista, it can run Windows 7.

Another month, Another series of Windows Patches

Only 22 patches this upcoming Tuesday.  As always, Windows Update as soon as you can!