Facebook May Not Be For Everyone

What most people don’t realize is that “Applications” aren’t part of Facebook. They’re created by 3rd party companies. When you agree to downloads an application, you share your info with a company which may have a completely different security and privacy terms as Facebook.

Everyone should keep in mind you don’t have to accept every request on Facebook. Of course, I’m against Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Cancer but I also won’t join a cause on Facebook which has access to my personal info. It’s ok to click on Ignore.

If you’re new to Facebook, the first place you need to visit even before uploading your face is the Privacy Settings menu. “Facebook takes your privacy seriously but you need to do your part.”

8 Great Free Security Tools

Here are PC World's picks for no-cost ways to protect your PC, including Avast Home Edition, SpywareBlaster, and more.

Can You Trust Free Antivirus Software?

Lots of companies offer software that’s supposed to stop worms, viruses, and other malware for free. We tested nine such security programs to find the ones you can really depend on.

Which Free Antivirus Software Is Best for You?

PureText 2.0

Have you ever copied some text from a web page or a document and then wanted to paste it as simple text into another application without getting all the formatting from the original source? PureText makes this simple by adding a new Windows hot-key (default is WINDOWS+V) that allows you to paste text to any application without formatting.

Wyzo 3 - The Media Browser

Wyzo is an awesome new browser that optimizes your online media experience. It will accelerate your web downloads, let you download torrents with a single click, discover media in your browser and much more.

How to Choose a Firewall

Computer firewalls: Everything you need to know

Everyone says you should use a firewall to help protect your computer when you go online. But what exactly is a firewall, and how does it defend your PC? Get answers to these and other questions in our:

• frequently asked questions page on firewalls.
• Learn what a firewall is
• See how to tell if your computer already has one.
• And if you need a firewall, get the pros and cons of each type so you can pick the right one for you.

Microsoft Security Newsletter.

Create A Better, Stronger Password

Create A Better, Stronger Password

• Avoid names and dictionary words
• Use at least eight characters; the more the better
• Include upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols

A strong password should look like random characters. In fact, a truly random password is the strongest available. Unfortunately, you probably won’t remember a randomly generated string of characters.

Such a password could look like this: IwIhl@M$bi86.
Here is the trick you can use for all of your passwords.

Start by thinking of a meaningful sentence. It can be anything you want. It could be a favorite song lyric, famous quote or catchphrase. Or it could just be something you made up.

Here is mine: I love to watch the 09 Tigers at Comerica Park

Make the password look random. Take the first character from each word.

“Iltwt09T@compk”

Use multiple passwords

This password is very strong. Criminals probably couldn’t crack it. It would take so long that it wouldn’t be worth the time. Don’t use the same password for everything. If you do, once one account is compromised, all are compromised. Use different passwords. It is hard to remember all of those passwords.

There are several easy ways to handle that difficulty.

1. A password manager. These programs store all of your passwords in an encrypted file. You only need to remember one password to access them. Examples: KeePass, LastPass or Pageonce.
2. 
   
3. Modify your one strong password. Add or change a few characters for each account. If you have a Gmail account and Amazon account, use the original password as the root. And then, you’ll add characters related to the service.

Examples:
For Gmail - use IwIhl@M$bi86Gm
For Amazon - use AmZIwIhl@M$bi86

Donate Cell Phones

The used cell phones stashed away in your closets or drawers have real value. To some, these cell phones offer an opportunity to communicate in a way that they never have. The materials that comprise our old cell phones can also be recycled and reused to make many other products, helping to preserve the world around us. Imagine the difference each of us can make if we just do our part!

Donate cell phones today - it's simple and FREE!

Simple Electronics Trouble Shooting

The most effective troubleshooting/repair tool available for computers or microprocessor-controlled systems is turning power off, waiting a period of time, and turning power back on.

Using the off/on switch or normal software shutdown will cure more than 90 percent of the problems, but not all of them. After turning off the computer, you need to pull the plug from the wall and make sure anything the computer interfaces with (modem, printer, etc.) is also turned off and unplugged. (Power strips are great for this.) If your computer has a battery, such as a laptop does, or a built-in UPS battery, you also need to remove this power source. The reason is that even if you turn off your computer, it still draws power to keep certain monitoring and startup circuits alive -- which may be causing the problem.

Turn the computer off (and remove the battery in a laptop), wait 30 seconds, replace the battery if necessary, and turn it on. If this does not cure the problem, turn it off, unplug everything, remove battery backup, wait several minutes (up to 30 minutes), and try again. If this does not work, then leave it off overnight.

One of the most effective methods for troubleshooting electronics is unplugging power. The time-tested technique is to turn it off, pull the plug, remove the battery, wait, replace the battery, plug it back in, and turn it back on. And best of all…this powerful method of troubleshooting electronics is free!

Source: Power Supply Design
A power supply design blog by Jerrold Foutz.

The PC Decrapifier

Clean your new computer

New computers come with unwanted trial programs and services installed by the manufacturer. Use PC Decrapifier. This free program removes many common trial programs and offers.
Cost: Free

TheUserManualSite

ManualsOnline helps you locate user manuals, how-to guides, installation instructions, and tutorials from thousands of manufacturers and hundreds of thousands of products.

Oddee.com - A Blog on Oddities: the odd, bizarre and strange things of our world!

Welcome to Oddee. A blog with over 3 million visits a month, it features the odd, strange and bizarre things of our world. Be amazed! (This is one of the strangest sites I have ever seen! Don)

How to avoid the “500 worst passwords of all time”

We all have lots of Internet passwords and about half of them are not difficult to guess. Just take a look at the “500 worst passwords of all time.”

A strong password should be two things: easily recalled by its owner and difficult to guess by someone who doesn’t know it. So even non-hackers can guess a few on the worst list.

Find People. Learn About Hoaxes and Scams

Click below for lots of info.

How to Find Email Addresses

How do I find someone's email address?

Latest Email Hoaxes - Current Internet Scams - Hoax-Slayer

Find out real info about real people 28411

Locate People - Find Almost Anyone
Lots of information, extensive contact sources and even tools that will allow you to:
- Find people who have relocated
- Find people who have changed their name or address
- Locate resources for adoption related searches
- Determine which locate source to use and how
- Have the government locate deadbeat parents
- Locate people using public records available to anyone
- Locate military buddies
- Find addresses using just a phone number
- Create a map showing directions to a person's house
- How to follow the paper trail almost everyone leaves
- Use the same tips & tricks that investigator's use when all else fails
- Use the post office to determine the address behind a PO Box

PC Mech Buyer's Guides

Here are some of the most popular buyer's guides from:

1. Buy Replacement Laptop Batteries Off eBay
2. How to Buy Speakers
3. How to Buy a Printer
4. Where's The Best Place To Buy And Sell Stuff Online?
5. How-To: Buy A Computer Case
6. How to Buy a Business PC
7. Buy Software on Ebay
8. How to Buy an Inkjet Printer
9. How to Buy an MP3 Player
10. How To: Buy a Fan Controller
11. Only Buy From Reputable Online Retailers
12. To Build or Buy, That is the Question

Dial "Dir-ect-ions"

Need directions to an address anywhere in the continental US? Select "Address" and say where you are and where you want to go. You can give an address or an intersection.

Fix Picture

FixPicture.Org is a FREE online website utility for digital camera owners. It's the fastest way to resize and convert your pictures and images. You can apply rotation, and some effects like greyscale, sepia, blur, ...

It's so simple, select your picture file, choose some process to apply, click on OK, and you'll be able to save the picture on your computer. Supports all popular picture file formats.

Loudtalks - push to talk over the Internet

The fastest way to communicate online. Don't type or call — just push F7 and speak! Reply, when convenient, talk to all people in a group at once or anyone individually, re-play the entire conversation later from voice history. It works on your Windows Mobile device too.

• Easy 2-minutes setup
• Talk instantly to anyone in the team
• Connect from anywhere via Internet
• Manage user accounts, channels and access rights from admin web-console
• All conversations are securely encrypted
• Re-play complete conversations later from voice history
• Use SDK to integrate with your existing applications
• Connect together clients on PC, Windows Mobile and conventional two-way radios