Slow Internet and Amazon Prime

Is your speed slowing down? Are you pages slow to load? Geritol won’t help but a large number of those problems can be related to your Modem/Router. The Modem part connects you to the internet and the Router part sends data to the computers on your network. If all the computers on your network show the same symptoms, then the problem is generally the Modem/Router. Look on the bottom of your router, if it’s a Thompson Router, there’s better than a 90% chance that router is failing. If just one computer has the problem, then it’s most likely that computer. So, check your speed using www.speedtest.net. If you’re paying for the middle speed from Telmex, in the mornings you should see just under 5 mbps download and just under .6 mbps upload. This assumes you are the only one on the network. If the pages are slow to load, you might consider switching to Google’s DNS (internet telephone book) – https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using.  I have been using the Google DNS for several years now and find it very fast and reliable.  As an alternate you can use Open DNS as well -http://www.howtogeek.com/164981/how-to-switch-to-opendns-or-google-dns-to-speed-up-web-browsing/  Open DNS offers you an additional advantage of screening sites that your children should not be using.  Both of the above are free services.

Amazon Prime offers free streaming music via Apple & Android Apps as well as web based connections. You do NOT need a VPN, it just works!  The only downside is that Prime Music only works on WiFi and not mobile data.

Have you ever plugged in an external storage device or external hard drive and lost track of where it went?  Hold down the Windows Logo Key and the letter E at the same time.  That brings up Windows Explorer which will list all storage devices.

First Derm and Nova Cell Phone Service

There’s a new app that may bring peace of mind to a lot of us who are out in the Sun.  We all know the real dangers of Skin Cancer.  There’s an App for that – FirstDerm; available on Apple and Android.  You take a cellphone photo of the area and submit the photo through the app to a board certified dermatologist and you get the results in 24 hours.  Cost is $40usd.  That’s expensive but it buys a lot of peace of mind especially if you have someone who likes to dodge the Doc.  From someone who’s had skin issues, it’s still best to visit the Doc who may see something else.  I visit twice a year.

Google is about to enter the Cell Phone business.  Possible name “Nova”.  Price point will be unbelievably cheap rivaling Republic Wireless at under $30 for unlimited text, data and voice.  They plan to offer a host of other services that are way ahead of the competition.  If your contract is about to expire, you may want to delay for a couple more months even if they waive that shiny new phone in front of you.

How to make Windows 8.1 boot to the Desktop during initial turn-on

Windows 8.1

If you have Windows 8 on your computer and are tired of looking at the “Tiles”, then there are some easy solutions to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7.  The first step is to download version 8.1 from the Windows App store.  After that installation, touch the windows key and type “navigation”.  Click on Navigation Properties or Task Bar and Navigation properties.  Under Start Screen, check the first two blocks.  Click Apply and OK.

Remember, no matter where you are you can get back to the desktop by touching the Windows Logo Key and the Letter “D” at the same time.  You can control shutdown by a “right click” on the Windows Logo in the bottom left corner of the screen.  Remember Right Click on the mouse or touch pad is for “options” and Left Click is for “Activate”.

Running out of room on your Ipad, try deleting all your old “Text” messages.

Two Step Authentication, Reboot almost anything

Having your email account hacked is never pleasant.  Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and a host of other major email providers offer Two Step Email Verification which can be turned on as an option.  From that point on when you sign into your email the next time, you will be asked not only for your password but also the “code” sent to you via Text, Voice Message or Mobile App.  After that initial sign-on you will be good to go with that device.  If you use a second computer or mobile device to check the same email account, you will be asked for a new “code” sent as above.  The system tries to prevent someone from guessing your password through a brute force attack and then taking over your email account.  If you choose the Text method, make sure you have a Texting Plan for your area!  If you choose the voice method, make sure you have that phone handy!  This system assumes the bad guy does not have your phone and computer.   Thanks to Ron for the suggestion!

Last week my cordless phone stopped working.  Battery level was full.  I removed the battery, counted to 10 and replaced the battery.  It works!  I’ve successfully rebooted everything from kitchen stoves to tablets.  You can try it with anything that has a chip in it.  So my wife came up with a great idea.  If I’m ever on “life support”, she plans to unplug it, count to 10 (hopefully fast) and plug it back in to see if I work!

Blue Cross / Blue Shield Data Base Breach

Anthem (the parent company of Blue Cross/Blue Shield) has had a major data breach recently. The bad guys were able to get names, addresses, Social Security numbers and a host of other data. Anthem assures us that no medical data was breached. But, the data that was stolen is more than enough to steal identities and bill Anthem for false medical claims. ID theft protection services do very little to protect you! The best ID theft firewall is a credit freeze on all three of your Credit Reporting agencies. The cost is minimal and the protection makes you bullet proof. When you freeze your credit, the Credit Reporting Agencies will give you a PIN – save that incase you need to thaw your credit! There is an easy guide on Clark Howard’s web site: http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/nFbL/. Clark Howard is a non-political consumer advocate! In addition to the credit freeze, check your Medical Statements from Blue Cross/Blue Shield very carefully for false charges.

Anthem was fined many months ago for a similar breach but took no action to secure their data.  It’s not that hard to break into a system.  You take a portable flash drive to a coffee shop near the targeted data center and leave it on the coffee table.  Someone will eventually take it to work, plug in the flash drive to the company computer to see what’s on it.  The virus is then inside the company’s firewall!  Even easier is to make a random call to someone who works in the company while at work.  Start a casual conversation that may include insider type information.  You tell the person inside that you are having trouble logging into the system and ask for their help.  Your in!!!

thecomputerguy@usa.com