John Healy's Tech Blog

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  • Smartphones and privacy — tuning app permissions

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    When you install or update apps on your smartphone, do you get prompts for permissions? Access to your camera, contacts, photos, network, etc. Clear or confusing? Is there a choice — all or none or just some? CNET’s article “Your Android phone is too damn nosy” discussed this issue. On Android phones, people have faced

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  • Trading away personal info — twilight of privacy?

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    Imagine you’re visiting a mall and occasionally someone stops you and asks for some personal information: Your favorite places to shop? Things you like to purchase? Brands you like? … You’re told that as a reward for providing that information you’ll get a gift certificate. What if that happens to you on the street, just

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  • Trust, ad-blocking, and do-not-track reality check

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    So, you’ve been using an ad-blocker and set your Web browsers to not accept cookies and enabled their option / preference to not track you. How’s that working? Well, Re/code’s article “Understanding ‘Do Not Track’: Truth and Consequences” discusses the reality. Make no mistake, this challenge started with publishers. Although many people in the ad

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  • No more support for Windows 8, Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10

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    If you’ve not been following Microsoft’s posts regarding lifecycle milestones for Windows and Internet Explorer, PC World’s article “Microsoft Patch Tuesday kills off Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10” (January 12, 2016) noted some important end-of-support events. Microsoft will cease support for the 3 year, 2 month, and 17-day old operating system.

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  • New PC ? — what to do first

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    If you got a new PC for the holidays, congrats. What’s next? Windows 10, Cortana, customization, updates, privacy settings, another browser, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free, backup, … fun. As for prior years, PC World posted several articles about what to do first with a new PC. 1. “Windows 10: The best tricks, tips, and tweaks” Here

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