Scam of the Month
 I got a call from the IRS to tell me that I owed beau-coup bucks and that I should immediately call a number to make a payment before my checking account is frozen. Ha! Additionally, Cyber criminals are preying on American tax payers that have made the April 15 deadline and are now waiting to hear about their refund. There is a massive phishing scam going on right now which tries to trick you into opening a Microsoft Word attachment. But if you do, all your files will get hijacked and encrypted. If that happens, you only get your files back after paying around $500 ransom. Remember, think before you click, and do not open any attachments you did not ask for!
Here's a great video from the IRS via YouTube explaining the latest IRS scam. Click here for the IRS report on scams related to the phone call I got (and you may get) and finally click here for a list of the IRS' Dirty Dozen Tax scams.
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Windows 10 is a free upgrade for any computer with Windows 7 or Windows 8 (Not Windows 8 R/T). It looks like Microsoft is following Apple's lead. Apple has been giving away their latest version of O/S X for compatible devices; Microsoft will do the same. While 10 is still on the drawing board, there is a beta copy on early release and if you're brave enough you can download it here. Read the unofficial take on the story here and Microsoft's official release here.
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Google is on the Hot Seat
 I have always discouraged my clients from using Google Desktop for as long as the service has been around. Why? Because the results of any Google search when you have Google Desktop installed, includes a search of your own computer as well. The results of that search, though private, are stored on a Google server. Now, Google is accused of indexing network connected corporate backup drives and storing that information on a Google server. Read all about it.
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Browser Add-Ons Help
 Get more use out of the Firefox home button. We're all used to that browser's "home button" routing back to the start page that you first see when you open up. Here's an innovative approach, install this add-on and the button will take you back to the start page of the website you're visiting. Say you're shopping on Kohls.com and you've clicked into handbags, then Coach, then that pretty red medium bag? Push that home button and you will be taken back to that first Kohls.com page. To get back to your start page just right click that home button. Here is the link. Look for additional add-ons and extensions on this same page.Chrome your preferred browser? Here are links to the add-on page for Chrome. You need to be on Chrome to use this link.
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Of Interest
 Verizon has been touting that they're the only internet provider offering an up-speed that is the same as the down-speed. That may be true but not really a selling point. Down-speed is what determines how quickly a webpage loads, how quickly your email comes in and how well your YouTube video plays. Up-speed is the same in reverse, except most of us are only uploading emails and request for that YouTube video, by comparison a tiny, tiny amount of data. Most of that up-speed goes for naught.
 For the fourth year running 123456 & password were the most popular passwords. Baseball and QWERTY, yes the first 6 on the upper row of what is officially known as a "qwerty" keyboard came in second.
 Would you believe it's privacy at a price! If you allow AT&T ultrafast fiber-optic network GigaPower to monitor your web browsing it $79 per gig of traffic, no monitoring? $99.
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If you want to download a YouTube video onto your computer try this application. Unfortunately it also comes with applications you don't want, which you will need to uninstall should you decide to download the utility.
PIXAR's 3D rendering software is free to use. The same software that was used to make Toy Story, Cars and Guardians of the Galaxy, is downloadable for free. Read about it here and download it here.
Do you know Project Blue Book? The government's record of possible UFOs that have entered our atmosphere. All of Blue Book has been released and is on the internet. Here's the write up and this is the link to the official site.
Can't find your cell phone? This site will ring it for you.
Road Trip this summer? Roadtrippers not only maps out your route for you, it also alerts you to historical sites, state parks and more. Or Roadahead Exit Finder for finding the next exit, the next gas station or the next rest stop. Both are free and available for Apple and Android. Roadhead for Android here and for IOS here.
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If you're an "Angie's List" subscriber, would you add me to their list of favored service providers. Thanx.
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I make DVD, BluRay, Chromecast and Roku connections for that Netflix account or to watch web content on your TV.
I also connect your Homelink and your garage door.
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