Rick's Daily Tips

How to disable Web Search in the Windows 10 search box

Posted on November 17, 2016

Update: Windows 10 no longer allows you to opt out of including web results in your local searches so this post is now moot.

Original post continues below…

By default, the search box in Windows 10 will return search results for your query from both your local computer and the Internet.

As is typically the case, some folks love the integrated search feature, and others hate it.

Personally, I prefer to use the Windows search box just to search for items on my computer. For web searches, I prefer to use Google.

If you would prefer to keep your local and online searches separate as well, you can easily disable the Web Search feature in Windows 10. Here’s how: [Read more…]

How to prevent Microsoft from using Windows 10 to spy on you

Posted on November 8, 2016

Did you know that Microsoft uses your computer’s Windows 10 installation to spy on you?

Windows 10 has a “Telemetry and Data Collection” tool that gathers several kinds of user data from your PC and sends it back to Microsoft via the Internet.

Personally, I don’t much like that. [Read more…]

Scam alert: Web of Trust (WOT) browser extension caught selling sensitive user data to third parties

Posted on November 7, 2016

Another day, another scam. But I must admit that this one caught me by surprise.

The makers of the popular “Web of Trust” browser extension (aka WOT) have been caught collecting and selling sensitive user information to third party companies.

And when I say the information being sold is sensitive, well…check it out for yourself: [Read more…]

Q&A: What’s the best way to connect 13 computers to create a classroom network?

Posted on November 5, 2016

Question from Carl B.: As the youth minister for my church, I’m in charge of our computer-based Bible training program. I need your help with a networking question.

We have a classroom that’s set up to allow 5 students at a time to use a popular Bible study software package and collaborate with the class in virtual discussions. The kids also take computer-based quizzes and tests.

We currently have 6 desktop computers connected to the network via two wired routers. All the computers can access the Internet, but we only connect the router to the DSL modem when we need to download Windows updates. The students are never allowed to use the Internet so that needn’t factor into your recommendation.

We want to add an additional 7 computers so that 12 students plus the teacher can be connected to the network at the same time. In order to do this, can we add extra routers to the network to connect the extra computers? Or perhaps you have a better setup that you can recommend?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

HackerThings.com – Products for the “Geek” in all of us

Posted on November 4, 2016

Back in the days before the term “hacker” took on the dark, illicit meaning that it has today, being called a hacker was actually a compliment.

In the golden age of computing, being a hacker simply meant that you enjoyed modifying and enhancing computer hardware and software in order to make it do new, interesting and exciting things.

Then along came the Internet and in no time flat the word hacker had become synonymous with the words crook, thief and criminal. And it’s truly a shame.
[Read more…]