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Showing posts from 2016

Avast New Years Resolution - Beef Up Your Protection

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Happy New Year 2017

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May the joy and warmth of the Holiday Season be with you and yours through out the coming year.

Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays

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Image Backup - The easy way.

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This is all the information you need. C:\Windows\System32\sdclt.exe to create the desktop shortcut. sdclt.exe for use in the run command box.

A new Addition

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A picture is always worth 1000 words. This newest addition to our family. London Marie was born on 12/8/2016. She weighs a mere 4 lbs 11 oz and, measures 18 inches in length. We all know that good things come in small packages. Welcome and God bless you London Marie. ===============================     Norbert (Bob) Gostischa about.me/bob3160     Free Security Seminars available.Here's a sample: Protecting Yourself, Your Computer and, Your Identity Absolutely free, ask me for details. (505) 250-1089 See where I've done Presentations lately:  http://bob3160.blogspot.com/           Proud Member   Speakers Bureau

Avast Free Home Network Security Scan

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GoPro Riding on iRobot Rumba

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MLPAA Waterfall Project

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GOPRO Sunset 12 1 2016

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Going out to get the mail at just the right time to catch a very pretty sunset.

Changing Profile Picture for my.avast.com Account

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Mother Nature's Tribute to Veterans Day 2016

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Statistics Return to Avast

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Avast Free Beta 12.4.2281

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Avast's first release since acquiring AVG.

11-3-2016 WOT (Web Of Trust) Not so Trustworthy

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                            Web Of Trust ( WOT ) This once trusted Browser Ad-On has just been remove by both Google and Mozilla.(  http://techdows.com/2016/11/web-of-trust-add-on-removed.html  )                                                    WOT add-on analysis Summary                                                The WOT add-on can execute arbitrary code on any page, including privileged browser pages.                                                                                                                                                         Impact and severity: Critical. If WOT wants to, they can do anything ranging from stealing banking credentials to installing malware on the user’s compute r.                   At the time of analysis, this functionality was not abused.   This mostly user based utility which was meant to help you decide the trustworthiness of a website now turns out to actually profit from selling your browsing habits.    If it's

Adding a Quick Launch Bar to Windows 10

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Adding a Quick Launch Bar to Windows 10 (The Quick Launch bar goes back to Windows XP) Next you'll need to type in the Choose a folder box as shown: If you did this step correctly you'll now see this. Follow the directions shown: The Quick Launch Bar should now be added to the Task Bar: A quick way to get to this Quick Launch bar in order to add or delete items is through the Run Command: Depress the Windows Key and the R key then follow directions: You can add or delete shortcuts directly from this folder and, they will reflect in the newly created Quick Launch Bar Hope you find this useful.

10/19/2016 - 10/23/2016 2016 APCUG INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

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I just spent four days with about 75 very enthused User Group members at the APCUG 2016 INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE All the attendees were eager to learn about the new technology discussed and very eager to learn how to protect their systems, smart phones and tablets in today's dangerous world. It was also nice to do some one on one teaching on just how Avast works, how to install it etc.  

10-12-2016 Santa Clarita Valley Computer Club (SCV Computer Club)

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Last nights Webinar was done using  Zoom . I was very pleasantly surprise how easy it was to use and how flawlessly it performed. No slowdowns, no audio problem. Even the embedded videos in the presentation worked flawlessly. The audience also enjoyed the remote presentation. here's the feedback I've already received: " Hi, We had 18 attendees. It was fun to see them having so much fun. As I told you 2 years ago,  you say the same stuff I do but you have the creds. Many of them were taking notes. Judy" It was truly an enjoyable evening. 

10-11-2016 Rochester Computer Society

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Last night I had the pleasure of doing a remote presentation for the members of the Rochester Computer Society   (Rochester, NY)   http://www.rcsi.org/program.htm

Advanced Boot and Recovery Options in Windows 10

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A Tip for Safely using Open WiFi

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  If you don't use  Opera  as your default browser, (I currently don't) add it to your arsenal of Layered Protection. You'll  notice that I've  changed my settings  to have  VPN Enabled  whenever I launch the browser. Since  Opera  now offers VPN for free to everyone, it's great whenever you are using Open WiFi. If you can afford it, using  Avast SecureLine  is still your best choice. if you can't, open  Opera  any time you're using Open WiFi.

Reset your Avast Acount Password

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Avast Battery Saver

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9-1-2016 WAUC (Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club) Milwaukee, WI

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Last night I had the pleasure of doing a remote presentation for the members and guests of the WAUC (Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club) Despite a few Audio glitches, this was an enjoyable event followed by quite a few questions. It was nice to know that 12 of the members attending were already Avast users.  We spent a little time after the presentation bringing up the Avast SafeZone Browser to answer some questions. You can see a few more pictures at:  https://goo.gl/photos/ryZMTwBbirtz2uDA7

9-1-2016 WAUC (Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club) Milwaukee, WI

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Last night I had the pleasure of doing a remote presentation for the members and guests of the WAUC (Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club) Despite a few Audio glitches, this was an enjoyable event followed by quite a few questions. It was nice to know that 12 of the members attending were already Avast users.  We spent a little time after the presentation bringing up the Avast SafeZone Browser to answer some questions. You can see a few more pictures at:  https://goo.gl/photos/ryZMTwBbirtz2uDA7

9-1-2016 WAUC (Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club) Milwaukee, WI

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Last night I had the pleasure of doing a remote presentation for the members and guests of the WAUC (Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club) Despite a few Audio glitches, this was an enjoyable event followed by quite a few questions. It was nice to know that 12 of the members attending were already Avast users.  We spent a little time after the presentation bringing up the Avast SafeZone Browser to answer some questions. You can see a few more pictures at:  https://goo.gl/photos/ryZMTwBbirtz2uDA7

Control or Prevent Auto Reboot after Windows 10 Update

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APCUG 2016 INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

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Avast Free Mobile Security

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Windows 10 - Want to know more about your Laptop Battery

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  This is only a small part of the report available by entering:    powercfg /batteryreport into a command prompt:     You can retrieve the report by going to the Users folder.

Installing Avast v12.3.2279 on top of AVG ZEN

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Avast Passive Mode - Windows 10 v 1607

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Changing Windows 10 Explorer

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Quick Assist - Windows 10 v.1607

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8-8-2016 Time is getting Shorter!

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  Time is getting Shorter The time limit for reverting back to a previous build of Windows 10 has been reduced to 10 days. Prior to this last update, (Windows 10, v. 1607) that time frame was always 30 days. This rule also applies to those running the Insider Preview builds.

Recover HD Space after Windows 10 v. 1607 Update

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Windows 10 Anniversary Update v 1607

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Avast Nitro Update version 12.2.3126.0

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7-27-2016 Some Days You Get Lucky !

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6-12-2016 East-Central Ohio Technology Users Club - Newark OH Click here for all the pictures. This is a club I've belonged to for the past 4 years. 41 members attended and several others participated via  Zoom I purchased a raffle ticket while I was there. Guess it was a lucky ticket. My prize arrived today.     It might be small in size but certainly not small in it's ability to store an enormous amount of data, etc. It's big enough to store all the stuff I now have on several USB Drives.  Thanks to my friend Robert Vance for mailing it to me. 

Hurry, Hurry, the end is almost here!

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Upgrading to Windows 10 for free,  is coming to an end! The last day to take advantage of a free upgrade is this Friday, 7/29/2016.  If you upgrade and change your mind and revert back to your current Windows version, (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) that time limit doesn't apply as long as the upgrade happens no later than 7/29/2016. (You have 30 days after the upgrade that you may revert back to your old Operating System) You'll find some excellent guidance and help for the upgrade and subsequent use of Windows 10 at:  http://www.solvusoft.com/en/windows-10-troubleshooting-guide/

Getting to your Recommendations in Avast.

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Avast Beta build 12.2.3106.0 New Features

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7-18-2016 Yes, it's real!

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On my way home yesterday, this is what I passed twice: http://bigidahopotato.com/the-truck/ The first encounter was on Interstate I35E  outside of Dallas TX and later that afternoon, I again saw and passed this monster truck on Interstate I40 outside of  Tucumcari, NM. As you can see, I even received a friendly greeting from Larry, the driver of this truck.   Click here to see all the Photos

7-16-2016 North Texas PC Users Group - Addison, TX

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We had a full house for this presentation.  Some of the member of the club  sat on the floor.  Click here to view all the pictures.  

Pokemon GO - To Go or Not to Go, that is the question ?

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The Pokemon Go game seems to have taken over the world in less than a weekend. It uses your phone’s GPS. It allows you, via your camera,  to capture Pokemon in the real world. Due to an oversight by the apps developers, Pokemon Go is also able to capture all the private data linked to your Google account. When you sign up, you are asked to provide your Google login and third party apps can use these credentials since the game places no restrictions on how this information can be used. Is a game really worth having your information compromised and probably used in ways you may not like ? Maybe you should think twice before installing and using this App. Stay safe, be free. I hope this helps.

7-12-2016 The Computer Club @ Apache Wells - Show Low AZ

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  Click here to see all the photos Helping the members of The Computer Club @ Apache Wells stay safe while using their computer, smart phones and tablets.

Video Downloader Feature - Avast SafeZone Browser

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Here's MY Version of "The Best Security Suites of 2016"

I read the following article today (  http://goo.gl/r283ml ) and don't understand why anyone wants to spend all that money when there is protection available totally free of charge. Protection and Security just as good, or better, than what's suggested in that article. Here are the programs I suggest that, once installed, will protect your system and do it all for FREE. What's better than being fully protected and doing it all for FREE: Avast Free Nitro Update (  https://www.avast.com/index  ), an excellent Free Antivirus that I've personally used since 2003 and am happy to endorse. Since the free version of Avast doesn't have a Firewall, I suggest that you use the Firewall built into Windows . The Firewall built into Windows 7 through 10 gives you all the protection you need and is already a part of your operating system. Verify, via the Control Panel, that it is turned on and active.  Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free (  https://www.malwarebytes.com/m...  )

6/28/2016 Dayton Microcomputer Association (DMA) Huber Heights, OH

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Click here to see all the photos I was in my kitchen in  Meadow Lake , They were attending a meeting of the  DMA in Huber Heights, OH We did have 3 glitches when their WiFi didn't want to co-operate but, those incidences were quickly resolved to make this a good remote presentation. Unfortunately this clubs schedule was more than a week away from my last presentation where I was actually in Ohio so we needed to schedule this as a remote presentation. The presentation was also followed by a Q&A session. Hopefully next year, this club will be on a schedule for a live presentation.

Windows Troubleshooter

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Avast Free Nitro Update

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6-20-2016 Canton Massillon Alliance, Canton, OH

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Click here to see all of the photos.   This was the final presentation on this trip up north and east to Ohio and Pennsylvania. Another club that was very attentive  and had a lot of questions during and after the presentation.

6-20-2016 Computer Club Meeting Tech Talk - Solon, OH

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Click here to see all the photos. An excellent response to the presentation and the brunch afterwards was very nice and appreciated.

6-19-2016 Pittsburgh Area Computer Club - Pittsburgh PA

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Click here to see all the pictures. A very small but interesting group with several follow-up questions.

6-16-2016 Computer Users of Erie - Erie PA

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Click here to see the photos. The  Computer Users of Erie  asked many questions on the various topics covered.

6-14-2016 CPUsers Group - Tarentum PA

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Click here to see all the photos. 45 Members and guests of  this club  attended last nights presentation. This presentation was followed by a very intensive Q&A session.

6-12-2016 East-Central Ohio Technology Users Club - Newark OH

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Click here for all the pictures. This is a club I've belonged to for the past 4 years. 41 members attended and several others participated via  Zoom

6/11/2016 Greater Cleveland PC Users Group - Cleveland OH

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Click here to see all of the Photos. I was both sad and honored to do the final presentation for the  Greater Cleveland PCUG  which was formed in 1982.  The club has been in existence since before most of the Avast Support Forum Members were born.

6-9-2016 NASAC Computer Users Group - Xenia OH

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This is a friendly little Computer Club which had many questions before during and after the presentation. The conversation continued after the meeting at a local restaurant. Click here to view the album.

6/8/2016 North East Ohio PC Users Group - Westlake OH

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See more photos at:  https://goo.gl/photos/nZL3cGhsitzJsMJr6 More information about the NEOPCUG:  http://www.neopc.org/

Locating Lost or Stolen Laptop in Windows 10

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May 7 1 PM Eastern Time Come One, Come All - Totally FREE

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APCUG 's 2016 Spring Virtual Technology Conference               To register for this VTC, please click on the below link:                               http://bit.ly/apcug-2016-spring-vtc TRACK 1 Starts at 1:00 PM Eastern Time TECHNOLOGY FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE Bob Gostischa, Avast Evangelist Looking back at technology and comparing it to now, this presentation is an enjoyable and funny comparison  combined with the stark reality of what you need to do to keep safe in the modern world. The presentation covers:  Computers (Windows and Mac), tablets and Smart Phones. Join Bob as he takes a comical look back in time and then explains what you need to know to stay safe in the present.  He will make your Internet experience and computer operation safe, secure and, enjoyable. APCUG uses ZOOM for the VTC webinar presentations ( www.zoom.us ). If you have not participated in a VTC, go to  https://zoom.us/download   to download the app for the device you will be using to ‘attend’ the