Posts

Showing posts from January, 2020

Avast and Your Privacy

The internet has been full of concerns about Avast's handling of its user's privacy. Here are my thoughts on this very important subject matter. I personally wish that this had never occurred. There is no going back but there is a commitment from Avast for a brighter future. Microsoft, Google your ISP, etc, etc. All collect data and use it in many different ways. Making money is one of the ways your data is used. By default, the OS is set to share as much of your info as possible. The programs and apps you install usually have the default setting set in a way that you offer as much information as possible The average user doesn't go into those settings to make changes which is what all large and small companies depend on. Here in the US, if you've ever been on the internet for any amount of time, you no longer have any privacy. If you delete your information from one source, you can be assured that this information has already been gathered in many other places. Sec

1-28-2020 Buttonwood Bay Bytes Computer Club - Sebring FL

Image
More pictures,  https://photos.app.goo.gl/AyU3i1Cow6N492bj9 It's always a pleasure to visit Buttonwood Bay. They also have an excellent lunch available at very reasonable prices.(Hamburger - $2.25) The question asked covered  Avast Secure Browser ,  Passwords Manager  and  Avast Omni . I also answered some questions about  Avast SecureLine . This was my last presentation in Florida. I'll be heading home tomorrow but not for long. On Sunday, I leave for Arizona.

1-27-2020 Valencia Reserve Computer Club - Boynton Beach, FL

Image
Last night's enjoyable presentation was to a smaller audience followed by lots of questions. The lights were dimmed so the picture isn't the greatest. Sorry about that.

Your Phone - Windows 10

Image
Your Phone is an app developed by Microsoft for Windows 10. Its main purpose is to connect Android or iOS devices to Windows 10 devices. Start the app via  Settings > Phone  then add your phone. It makes calling a contact or a phone# very easy right from your computer. Sound quality on my system is better than using the phone directly. Connection is via Bluetooth so you do need the phone close enough for pairing. It can also show you your photos, messages and, notifications. There's also a dial pad if you aren't calling from your contact list.

LaunchBar Commander - Worth a look

Image
More information and download  https://www.donationcoder.com/software/mouser/popular-apps/launchbar-commander I've downloaded and am using the portable version (portable.zip). Great addition to Windows 10.

1-21-2020 Tampa Bay Technology Center - Clearwater, FL

Image
It was nice to see the room filled with  club members  and guests last night. Most attendees arrived at the last minute. I wonder if that's because it was so cold last night. I expected a heatwave in Florida, it was down right cold last night. It was another enjoyable evening teaching those interested in learning more about what it takes to stay reasonably safe and secure in this complex world where so much technology needs protection. Avast SecureLine  and the  Avast Passwords  manager were the products most asked about last night.

How2 Enable Real Working Search Box on New Tab Page in Google Chrome

Image
Directions

Need something more than Task Manager?

Image
Here's a full featured Task Manager replacement. Its lightweight, portable, with many enhancements. More information,  https://www.mitec.cz/tmx.html Download 32 bit,  https://www.mitec.cz/Downloads/TMX.zip Download 64 bit,  https://www.mitec.cz/Downloads/TMX64.zip

1-16-2020 Lake Sumter Computer Society - Leesburg, FL

Image
This is a smaller group but they asked as many questions as the larger audiences. The main interests again centered around  Avast SecureLine  and  Avast Omni

1-15-2020 Cascade Lakes Comp & Tech Club - Boynton Beach, FL

Image
More photos,  https://photos.app.goo.gl/RaDPRv7CSWE7ynEW9 We covered many questions on several topics after the presentation. Passwords ,  Installation of Avast ,  Secure Line  and  Avast Omni It was another enjoyable evening and all the questions showed the clubs interest in  the topic .

Block 3rd party cookies in Chrome and other (Chromium based) Browsers

Image
Use the following in the address bar: chrome://settings/content/cookies Follow this: This also works in the Avast Secure browser just change what you type in the address bar to this, secure://settings/content/cookies This should work in many Chromium based browsers with slight modifications. In the new Edge (Chromium based) Browser, use the following, edge://settings/content/cookies

1-14-2020 Valencia Pointe Computer Club - Del Ry Beach, FL

Image
It's always nice to do the presentation to a full house. The presentation was well received and followed by many questions. The extensive Q&A session covered questions about  SecureLine , the protection offered in the  free version of Avast , the  Passwords Manager  and,  Avast Omni . It was a very enjoyable evening. You'll find more pictures at  https://photos.app.goo.gl/gRgNidsUfchcr9AJ6

Creating a Re-occurring Quick Scan in Avast

Image
https://youtu.be/jvy1kYODWbI

1-12-2020 Bellaggio Computer and Technology Club - Lake Worth, FL

Image
More pictures,  https://photos.app.goo.gl/mMwQNznD8naKbEuL6 And no, I did not pop out of the cake prior to the meeting. The club  had their annual breakfast and this year it included a birthday cake for a member. Another well attended presentation followed by quite a few questions. Phishing  was a big topic and so was the use of a  VPN  like  SecureLine .

1-10-2020 Deerfield Beach Computer Club - Deerfield Beach, FL

Image
It was nice to see so many familiar faces at today's presentation.  https://www.db-cc.net/ There were questions after the presentation on  repairing Avast ,  Avast protection for smart devices  and, Avast Omni .

1-9-2020 Platina Computer Club - Boynton Beach, FL

Image
Another well attended presentation followed by a Q&A session. Lots of interest in  Avast Omni

1-8-2020 Sarasota Technology Users Group - Sarasota, FL

Image
As you can see, it was an excellent turnout by the members of the club. The STUG organization  also does computer refurbishing and every computer that they refurbish and give back to the community has Avast Free installed on those computers.  https://www.thestug.org/refurb_files/refurb.html Last year alone, that amounted to more than 1000 Avast installs. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with lots of questions.

1-8-2020 Cascades Computer & Technology Club - Port St Lucie, FL

Image
A nice turnout for this afternoon's presentation. We had some questions during the presentation and a very extensive Q&A session afterward. The main topics covered in the Q&A were  Avast Passwords Manager ,  SecureLine  and,   Avast Secure Browser . Someone also wanted to know what Avast could do to protect her car. That's currently not available but I'm sure Avast is probably working on that protection