I just set up my Raspberry Pi as a Pi-Hole and I couldn't be more pleased.
It was super simple to set up and install the Pi-Hole software. You can read all about it on pi-hole.net. I just updated my Pi and followed their instructions. I set a static IP on my router and even pointed my local network clients to use the Pi-Hole for DNS (IPv4 and IPv6). It was that simple and now everything on my Wifi is "safer". I was especially shocked at all of the legal adware sites that are being "pi-holed".
I like to think that most of the information is anonymous but why risk it when something like this is available for free (I plan to donate) and so easy to set up. Go get yourself a Raspberry Pi and get it done.
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Nov 7, 2018
Jun 22, 2015
CBS Now Offering Monthly Service
One of the big networks are finally offering a monthly fee service. CBS is now offering a CBS All Access service at $5.99/mo. for streaming all content. They claim even the NCAA basketball tourney will be streamed. Not a bad price for access to all of the shows. Now I need to start choosing keeping closer tabs on the monthly service fees for streaming.
It makes me wonder how long it will take someone to start up a service to package these streaming services and make them available the way cable companies should have done long ago.
Feb 8, 2011
Google Family Safety Center
I'll be adding this to the list or home computing resources. What a great tool.
Google Family Safety Center
Nov 3, 2010
WiFi Channel Problems
Recently I have been struggling with my home wifi network, at least with my laptop. It seemed that every other machine in the house didn't have a problem. However, my laptop would perform erratic, at best. It would chug along then all network activity would freeze. I few minutes later it would start to flow again. I tried everything (or so I thought). I eventually ran a network cable down the stairs and into the office and wired my laptop. It solved the problem so I was sure it was wifi related. A friend of mine suggested using a spectrum analyzer to find what was the best channel to use. I was skeptical at first until I realized what all used wifi frequencies (cordless phones). Sure enough, when I changed to channel 12, I couldn't see anything at all. Then I tried channel 1 and all was right with the world.
Just to satisfy my curiosity, I searched out a wifi channel analyzer to test the channels and find the best available. There are a number of freeware choices out there for Mac and PC. When the report came in I was not too shocked to see that the channel I was using had the most interference. Channel 1 was pretty clear but channel 3 was clean. I quickly changed my WAP to use channel 3 and my problems are solved.
Just to satisfy my curiosity, I searched out a wifi channel analyzer to test the channels and find the best available. There are a number of freeware choices out there for Mac and PC. When the report came in I was not too shocked to see that the channel I was using had the most interference. Channel 1 was pretty clear but channel 3 was clean. I quickly changed my WAP to use channel 3 and my problems are solved.
Oct 12, 2010
Host File Kung Fu
MVPS Custom Host File Instructions
I've been using a custom host file on my workstation for quite a while now. It works really well in blocking all sorts of undesired activity. Of course I only have 3 lines to block specific advertising sites but the potential is endless. Such a small change to my local configuration makes such a huge difference in all aspects of online activity.
If you are familiar with the NoScript or AdBlock plugins for Firefox then you are familiar with the concept of blocking certain domains, URLs or DNS names. Your host file is just an extension of how this works. Only instead of doing it at the application level, it does it at the operating system level.
Any time your machine tries to access a resource on the network, it has to translate that network address from a name to a number. If that process doesn't work (or is told to look in the wrong place) the resource isn't found. If that process is a looking for an advertisement or a nasty script, then that resource fails to load. When that resource fails to load it frees up resources on your machine to load more important stuff, like that article on how to winterize your lawn. Your host file just tells your machine to look in the wrong places for specific resources since any resource at this specific location is known to be undesired.
I use Open DNS at home to block a lot of these sites but this doesn't help when you leave the safety and comfort of your home network.
There are multiple sites out there that help with custom host files but MVPS is one of the best. Please take a look and see what they have to offer.
I've been using a custom host file on my workstation for quite a while now. It works really well in blocking all sorts of undesired activity. Of course I only have 3 lines to block specific advertising sites but the potential is endless. Such a small change to my local configuration makes such a huge difference in all aspects of online activity.
If you are familiar with the NoScript or AdBlock plugins for Firefox then you are familiar with the concept of blocking certain domains, URLs or DNS names. Your host file is just an extension of how this works. Only instead of doing it at the application level, it does it at the operating system level.
Any time your machine tries to access a resource on the network, it has to translate that network address from a name to a number. If that process doesn't work (or is told to look in the wrong place) the resource isn't found. If that process is a looking for an advertisement or a nasty script, then that resource fails to load. When that resource fails to load it frees up resources on your machine to load more important stuff, like that article on how to winterize your lawn. Your host file just tells your machine to look in the wrong places for specific resources since any resource at this specific location is known to be undesired.
I use Open DNS at home to block a lot of these sites but this doesn't help when you leave the safety and comfort of your home network.
There are multiple sites out there that help with custom host files but MVPS is one of the best. Please take a look and see what they have to offer.
Myth vs. Fact: Identity theft
Myth vs. Fact: Identity theft:
Myth: Identity theft usually happens on the Internet.
Fact: Online methods accounted for only 11% of identity theft in 2009
Most identity theft happens offline. According to a 2009 study by Javelin Strategy and Research, stolen wallets and paperwork account for almost half (43%) of all identity theft.
Steps you can take to help prevent identity theft include:
Myth: Identity theft usually happens on the Internet.
Fact: Online methods accounted for only 11% of identity theft in 2009
Most identity theft happens offline. According to a 2009 study by Javelin Strategy and Research, stolen wallets and paperwork account for almost half (43%) of all identity theft.
Steps you can take to help prevent identity theft include:
- Keep sensitive paperwork in a locked storage device and never put checks in an unlocked mailbox.
- Shred sensitive paperwork when you no longer need it.
- Never leave your wallet, purse, mobile phone, or laptop unattended.
- Defend your computer with a firewall, antivirus, and antispyware software. Keep all software current (including your web browser) with automatic updating. Password-protect your wireless connection at home.
- Never share personal information that could be used to steal your identity.
- Create strong passwords that are hard to guess, and do not share them with others.
Sep 12, 2010
Google Family Safety Center
Announcing our new Family Safety Center: "posted by Kate Hammond, Marketing Manager
Helping your children use the Internet safely is similar to teaching them to navigate the offline world. There are parts of the real world that you wouldn’t let your children explore unsupervised—and that goes for the online world as well. But while most of us remember being taught to cross the road and not talk to strangers, we probably weren’t taught how much personal information we should share online or how to handle cyberbullies.
Therefore, it’s no surprise when parents and teachers tell us they want to learn more about how to help their kids use the Internet safely and responsibly.
Today, we’re launching our new Family Safety Center; a one-stop shop about staying safe online. We’ve included advice from leading child safety organizations around the world, tips and ideas from parents here at Google, as well as information on how to use the safety tools and controls built into Google products.
For day-to-day practical tips we asked some of our parents at Google to share their own ideas. Tactics they use range from limiting screen time and preventing computers in kids’ bedrooms to ad hoc checks on their browser history and social networking profiles. Everyone has different ideas and there’s no right or wrong answer, but hopefully some of these will resonate and inspire you. See more videos and let us know your own thoughts on our YouTube channel.
To answer some of the toughest questions most important to parents, such as accessing inappropriate content and meeting strangers online, we went straight to the people that know best; the organizations that advocate and promote child safety and digital literacy. Organizations that we’ve partnered with around the world include the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s OnGuard Online initiative, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, U.K.’s ChildNet, and New Zealand’s NetSafe.
The new Safety Center also provides information on the safety tools built into Google products. SafeSearch and YouTube Safety Mode can help you control what content your children stumble across. Sharing controls in YouTube, Picasa, Blogger and others ensure your videos, photos and blogs are shared only with the right people. And in response to popular requests, we’ve added a section on managing geolocation features on mobiles.
With kids growing up in an age where digital know-how is essential, it’s increasingly important to ensure that they’re developing healthy, safe and responsible online habits. And we’re thinking every day about how we can help parents and teachers to do just that.
Helping your children use the Internet safely is similar to teaching them to navigate the offline world. There are parts of the real world that you wouldn’t let your children explore unsupervised—and that goes for the online world as well. But while most of us remember being taught to cross the road and not talk to strangers, we probably weren’t taught how much personal information we should share online or how to handle cyberbullies.
Therefore, it’s no surprise when parents and teachers tell us they want to learn more about how to help their kids use the Internet safely and responsibly.
Today, we’re launching our new Family Safety Center; a one-stop shop about staying safe online. We’ve included advice from leading child safety organizations around the world, tips and ideas from parents here at Google, as well as information on how to use the safety tools and controls built into Google products.
For day-to-day practical tips we asked some of our parents at Google to share their own ideas. Tactics they use range from limiting screen time and preventing computers in kids’ bedrooms to ad hoc checks on their browser history and social networking profiles. Everyone has different ideas and there’s no right or wrong answer, but hopefully some of these will resonate and inspire you. See more videos and let us know your own thoughts on our YouTube channel.
To answer some of the toughest questions most important to parents, such as accessing inappropriate content and meeting strangers online, we went straight to the people that know best; the organizations that advocate and promote child safety and digital literacy. Organizations that we’ve partnered with around the world include the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s OnGuard Online initiative, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, U.K.’s ChildNet, and New Zealand’s NetSafe.
The new Safety Center also provides information on the safety tools built into Google products. SafeSearch and YouTube Safety Mode can help you control what content your children stumble across. Sharing controls in YouTube, Picasa, Blogger and others ensure your videos, photos and blogs are shared only with the right people. And in response to popular requests, we’ve added a section on managing geolocation features on mobiles.
With kids growing up in an age where digital know-how is essential, it’s increasingly important to ensure that they’re developing healthy, safe and responsible online habits. And we’re thinking every day about how we can help parents and teachers to do just that.
Jun 30, 2010
Airport Express joining DD-WRT wireless using WPA2
Okay, I've been hammering away at this for hours so I am posting something about it.
This afternoon something hosed my wireless router, big time. Not sure what happened but it wasn't acting right. I managed to get it reset back to defaults and it worked fine. This is good because I thought it was burned up or something.
I managed to get all my settings and DHCP reservations back but I couldn't get my Airport Express to join the WPA2 Personal network. Eventually I loaded the old firmware image and took some screen shots before it failed again.
Apparently the Airport Express will NOT use TKIP WPA Algorithms. It must use AES. As soon as I set it to AES the Airport Express turned green and I had my music. I haven't tried TKIP+AES. Perhaps that will work too. I'm too tired to test it.
I searched high and low but all I could find was information on using WDS in this environment. I found nothing relating to what WPA Algorithms the Airport Express should use. So, here it is.
This afternoon something hosed my wireless router, big time. Not sure what happened but it wasn't acting right. I managed to get it reset back to defaults and it worked fine. This is good because I thought it was burned up or something.
I managed to get all my settings and DHCP reservations back but I couldn't get my Airport Express to join the WPA2 Personal network. Eventually I loaded the old firmware image and took some screen shots before it failed again.
Apparently the Airport Express will NOT use TKIP WPA Algorithms. It must use AES. As soon as I set it to AES the Airport Express turned green and I had my music. I haven't tried TKIP+AES. Perhaps that will work too. I'm too tired to test it.
I searched high and low but all I could find was information on using WDS in this environment. I found nothing relating to what WPA Algorithms the Airport Express should use. So, here it is.
Jun 23, 2010
Home Network Filtering Service from OpenDNS
More great services from OpenDNS.
FamilyShield is a No-Setup Adult Content Blocker for Your Router [Content Filtering]: "
OpenDNS already offered a great content filtering tool that you could set up on your home Wi-Fi router. Now the DNS provider is making it easier to block impressionable eyes from adult content—and clever proxies and other work-arounds, too. More »
FamilyShield is a No-Setup Adult Content Blocker for Your Router [Content Filtering]: "
OpenDNS already offered a great content filtering tool that you could set up on your home Wi-Fi router. Now the DNS provider is making it easier to block impressionable eyes from adult content—and clever proxies and other work-arounds, too. More »
May 31, 2010
Home Computing Necessities
I have updated the Home Computing box on the right. It now contains links to suggested software for any home.
Firefox: For the safest browsing around. Make sure to set your history to clear on exit. See below for suggested addons.
Adblock Plus: The Web has never looked better (and safer).
Noscript: I am always stunned at the number of sites wanting to run a script on my machine. You will be too.
OpenDNS: If you have kids on the web, this is a great resource for protecting them from errant clicks. And saving you from hours of re-installing software.
The rest of the links are great resources for Home Computing. Feel free to write if you have any questions or suggestions.
Firefox: For the safest browsing around. Make sure to set your history to clear on exit. See below for suggested addons.
Adblock Plus: The Web has never looked better (and safer).
Noscript: I am always stunned at the number of sites wanting to run a script on my machine. You will be too.
OpenDNS: If you have kids on the web, this is a great resource for protecting them from errant clicks. And saving you from hours of re-installing software.
The rest of the links are great resources for Home Computing. Feel free to write if you have any questions or suggestions.
Nov 6, 2009
Home Wiring HowTo
Here's a little help on the Home Wiring front. We recently moved into a new house and I've been meaning to run some cable over to the new TV cabinet. Now I have some encouragement.
You've ripped a movie on your laptop, and now want it on that fancy new home theater PC next to your TV. If you've got the time, wiring your house with Cat-5e cable could make transfer times a distant memory.
You've ripped a movie on your laptop, and now want it on that fancy new home theater PC next to your TV. If you've got the time, wiring your house with Cat-5e cable could make transfer times a distant memory.
Instrucables user Rogue Agent gets into the nuts, bolts, studs, and boxes needed to wire a house with omni-present cable in a fairly professional manner. The tutorial is based on setting up an actual cable switching box on a server-type rack. For those who just need to run cable from one room to another, the tips on finding, mounting, and securing cable through the walls, without your home looking like the scene of a sledgehammer party, are just as helpful.
Have you taken the dive into home cable networking? What guides, tutorials, or tips do you wish you'd known from the start? Tell us, and share the links, in the comments.
How to Wire Your House With Cat-5 (or 6) For Ethernet Networking [Instructables]
Aug 11, 2008
CERT Home Security Pages
CERT offers a lot of great security information for all types of computer users from advanced businesses to home users.
The Home Network Security page and the Home Computer Security page are two great resources for home users.
The Home Network Security page and the Home Computer Security page are two great resources for home users.
Feb 21, 2008
What is Spyware?
What is it?
Spyware is a very active and dangerous threat to any computer connected to the internet where users browse the web. If new toolbars or multiple popup ads and banners suddenly appear while you are browsing the web, you most likely have some kind of Spyware or Adware. However, even if you don't see this type of behavior you may still be infected. These applications can remain silent in the background collecting information about where you go and what you do on the internet. Then it uploads this information to home servers while your machine is idle. Sometimes this activity takes place while you are trying to use the machine. This can make your internet connection or any type of activity on your machine very slow and almost unresponsive.
What can I do about it?
There are several applications that will clean and remove most Spyware. However, some of the more advanced products require many steps and possibly rebooting your machine several times.
Since most of these nasty applications simply open the door to other nasty applications you rarely have just one. For this reason you need to make sure you remove every part of every application or your machine will simply become re-infected in a matter of seconds. This is why more than one application is recommended when trying to secure against or recover from Spyware infections.
It is important to note that many Spyware applications will disguise themselves as a Spyware removal tool. Make sure to "Google" any application before installing. Most likely, someone has experienced that application before and this will give you a hint on its reputation.
To defend against Spyware I recommend the following steps.
Spyware is a very active and dangerous threat to any computer connected to the internet where users browse the web. If new toolbars or multiple popup ads and banners suddenly appear while you are browsing the web, you most likely have some kind of Spyware or Adware. However, even if you don't see this type of behavior you may still be infected. These applications can remain silent in the background collecting information about where you go and what you do on the internet. Then it uploads this information to home servers while your machine is idle. Sometimes this activity takes place while you are trying to use the machine. This can make your internet connection or any type of activity on your machine very slow and almost unresponsive.
What can I do about it?
There are several applications that will clean and remove most Spyware. However, some of the more advanced products require many steps and possibly rebooting your machine several times.
Since most of these nasty applications simply open the door to other nasty applications you rarely have just one. For this reason you need to make sure you remove every part of every application or your machine will simply become re-infected in a matter of seconds. This is why more than one application is recommended when trying to secure against or recover from Spyware infections.
It is important to note that many Spyware applications will disguise themselves as a Spyware removal tool. Make sure to "Google" any application before installing. Most likely, someone has experienced that application before and this will give you a hint on its reputation.
To defend against Spyware I recommend the following steps.
- Use Firefox for all browsing unless you are at a KNOWN TRUSTED SITE that requires IE.
- Install some or all of the applications below.
- Browse wisely.
- Never click a link in an email. If you must open a link from email, copy then paste it into your browser.
- NEVER click any link or button from a popup window. Popups will appear as a new browser window. Unless you intentionally started that application, do not click on any links or buttons. If in doubt don't click anything, do an "alt-F4" to close the window.
- Keep your eye on the address bar. Make sure you haven't wandered onto an un-trusted or shady site. People browse the web so quickly anymore it is easy to follow links onto a site that should not be trusted. Most reputable sites will not try to hide the site name. If you think you are at USBank.com it should say that in the address bar, not just an IP address.
- Never click a link in an email. If you must open a link from email, copy then paste it into your browser.
- Keep Windows up to date.
- If you are really paranoid you can use the Noscript plugin for Firefox.
- Browse the Internet from behind a Firewall that blocks attacks on certain ports. Make sure this Firewall is checked and updated regularly.
- Spybot-S&D: A freeware program maintained and updated with new spyware information regularly. A great tool to remove Spyware from your PC, also be sure to click on the "Search for Updates" button and then if any new updates are displayed, make sure they are checked and then click "download updates". Additionally after you have updated click the immunization button to prevent many common Spyware instances on your PC in the future.
- Ad-Aware: Another freeware program for searching and removing Spyware. The interface is more user friendly, however the freeware version does not contain any sort of preventative measures against future Spyware infections.
- Webroot's Spy Sweeper is an excellent product with a full-featured demo that is free to download. The free demo allows you to update your Spyware definitions once. Ongoing protection and definition updates are fee-based.
- SpywareBlaster: SpywareBlaster does not clean spyware and Adware from your system, but it can help prevent it. SpywareBlaster does not run in the background, so your system won't take a performance hit if you decide to install it. This program is freeware, however the automatic update feature is fee-based.
- Google Toolbar: Among its other features, the Google Toolbar includes a popup blocking feature. The Google Toolbar is freeware.
- House Call: Not really a download, but an online virus scanner that can bypass problems in Windows that allow certain viruses to prevent themselves from being deleted from your system. Unfortunately it requires ActiveX, an insecure Internet Explorer to run (there is a Netscape only version, but it seems to be very buggy). The advantages outweigh this small problem, however.
- Microsoft's Antispyware: Microsoft's Anti-Spyware solution, which is based on the award-winning Giant AntiSpyware Suite. This product is still in Beta, but it is effective at cleaning certain types of threats (Spyware Agents, for example) that other virus/spyware scanners can't detect/clean.
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