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Making Yourself Mentally Strong in a Crisis is Possible

We are living in tough times. While we started off thinking a lockdown is a novelty and having fun with it (Imagine not having to go to the office to work? How cool!), we have settled into the reality where people are away from each other, we are prohibited to gather, and we aren’t allowed to travel. Suddenly, this lockdown has become such a bore and hassle that we have forgotten the fun side of everything. Before, we considered what’s happening like a little inconvenience. After all, we are only asked to stay indoors as our contribution to the world overcoming this crisis. But then, everything has started to lose significance and meaning. What started as a fun and even ideal set-up for most of us working has become something that has affected our mental state, big time.

Since we can’t meet up with friends physically, we’ve lost our rhythm, we can’t blow off steam by engaging in outdoor activities, our stress and anxiety levels have gone haywire. We may be suffering from simple cabin fever, but then, there surely has to be something more to what we’re experiencing now.  What can we do to get back our “sanity”? How can we keep our heads together and come out thriving even when the COVID-19 crisis is through?

Build positive habits

Think of what your life will be like once the world shifts to the “new normal”. Would you still want to wake up at 10 in the morning and go through the rest of your day in pajamas and uncombed hair? Surely not! Continue good habits you’ve had prior to the lockdown, such as your early morning jog and a healthy breakfast after. You will have to tweak some elements of your habits like doing a home workout instead of a jog, but you get the idea. They say you form a habit after doing it for 21 days straight, so if you start developing one now, you should have enough time to make your system get used to it. Before you know it, you will keep on doing the activity without even thinking about it.

The thing is, habits are pretty important right now. They’re a big part of how able we are to cope. More than ever, we need to look after ourselves, mentally, physically and emotionally.

(Via: https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-lockdown-wellbeing-4-ways-maintain-positive-habits)

Extend yourself

Nothing can set your head straight then feeling a sense of accomplishment because you have helped another human being. Doing something good for your community doesn’t require you to leave the corners of your home. Check out volunteering opportunities that would usually be posted on social media and see where your skills can take you in making a difference with other people’s lives.

It’s a rare win-win proposition in a bleak landscape: In helping other people get through this crisis, you can help yourself in equal measure. “It’s a way of reframing your existence,” says bioethicist Stephen Post, “getting out from the negative vortex and feeling free to do something that is meaningful.”

(Via: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/helping_others_can_help_you_cope_with_lockdown)

Unleash your creativity

Remember the days before the worldwide lockdowns when you thought about an art project and thinking maybe you can go ahead with it only if you had time? Well, you surely have a lot of time on your hands these days, so why not keep yourself sane by applying your creativity in your daily activities? Go ahead and start your art project or get your creative juices flowing with your cooking, crafts, or even with just how you arrange your furniture and appliances at home.

Lockdown could turn out to be one of the most creative times for humankind, says Ms Mann, author of The Science of Boredom. After all, William Shakespeare allegedly wrote King Lear during a plague, Sir Isaac Newton reportedly formulated the theory of gravity in quarantine in the 17th century, while Alexander Pushkin wrote some of his greatest works under lockdown in 1830.

(Via: https://www.ft.com/content/75e4231a-7a5c-11ea-af44-daa3def9ae03)

Accept the Struggle and Emerge Better

It is a common practice for everyone to appear strong and be positive during times of crisis. But then, in our efforts to make everything appear fine, we sometimes overdo it by sweeping anything that resembles negative emotions under the rug. Is this really healthy? Not. There will be moments when we struggle, maybe because we know of someone who suddenly got tested positive of the virus, or a mom struggling with homeschooling her kids. Whatever these struggles are, we should acknowledge them and not let them get bottled up inside. What’s more important to staying mentally stable these days is to acknowledge our challenges and working through them instead of ignoring them or pretending that everything is fine when it is obviously not.

What I would like to say is it is OK if you are feeling overwhelmed, fearful, emotional, and freaking out. These are normal reactions of our brain that is trying to find solutions for us in this atypical time. You don’t need to force yourself to be ‘positive’ if you can’t.

(Via: https://welldoing.org/article/covid-19-lockdown-mental-health-ok-not-be-ok)

Another thing you can do to keeping mentally fit is addressing challenges right away instead of letting them fester until they become unmanageable. If you have problems regarding lost data in your laptop, we can help you right away. Don’t wait for everything to blow up by reading here: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/external-hard-drive-recovery.

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Know Some Not-So-Good Points of VPNs

There have been a couple of circumstances when I encountered the term “VPN”. The first time was when I read about people downloading movies en masse in the late 2000s. “Experts” in the field of piracy then advised those who want to download stuff to use a VPN so that their identities can be masked and the authorities would not be able to trace their illegal activities. I had a friend forward to me a copy of a movie he downloaded illegally, and the quality was so poor that I didn’t bother finishing the film and waited for it to be released in theaters of my little ‘ol town. Suffice to say that first experience didn’t warm me up to this VPN thing everyone else seemed to be enamored.

The next time I heard of VPN was when I started playing Pokémon Go. One of my friends who also played the hottest game at that time had “caught” so many Pokémon, even those I only read of as available in other parts of the world. When I asked him how he got this monster that players can only catch in Japan when I know for certain that he hasn’t even taken a plane ride in his life, he nonchalantly replied, “VPN”. And so, I tried this VPN thing for myself. Apart from the game, I noticed my browsing speeds were at a snail’s pace.  Right there, I decided virtual private networks are not my thing.

If you are considering installing a VPN on any of your devices, take note that they also have a number of disadvantages. With all the hype you surely may have heard about VPNs, there are some things that may make your web experience not that pleasant. It is up to you to weigh the pros and cons, but for now, let’s look closer into the cons.

You will encounter issues in speed

As I remarked earlier, a VPN may decrease your internet speeds. As a VPN works hard to encrypt your network traffic that should result in your improved security and anonymity, it also will use more resources and may time more time. Thus, the introduction of some overhead can slow VPNs. You may find ideal VPN services that strike a balance between security and speed, but prepare to shell out some cash for that, because these services are paid.

There are many reasons for a slow VPN, starting from your device’s limited resources to the encryption method used and everything in between.

(Via: http://techgenix.com/slow-vpn/)

  Your VPNs can stalk you

Some VPN service will give you access to their private servers to provide you with enhanced services such as improved speed and security, but at a price: your data. This can be hidden in their fine print when you agree to their services, and who has the time and patience to read the fine print? So you have to be aware that if you’re getting free private connection for cents, chances are high that they are tracking your activity.

VPNs that log your data may choose to do so for their own gain, like bad free VPNs, or they may be forced to log for other reasons, like some kind of restrictive country law.

(Via; https://www.androidauthority.com/what-can-vpns-do-with-your-data-874846/)

  VPN Security for Business Users

Businesses usually benefit from VPNs because they allow remote employees access to the network of the company. This is especially beneficial nowadays that people are working from home and afraid to go outdoors least they want to get the COVID-19 virus.   But then, the company’s network admins may not have a lot of control over the devices that remote employees use to connect to their network, which is obviously a security risk.

Yet while VPNs could effectively enable and secure remote access in the past when most work was done onsite within company walls, their use has become increasingly risky in a world that includes a preponderance of virtual workers.

(https://www.pipelinepub.com/Security-and-Assurance/VPN-security-threats)

  100% Anonymity? Not Really

Even die-hard users of VPNs can still have their identities revealed. If your DNS leaks, or your VPN gets disconnected while you are still browsing, or if your VPN provider has agreements with government agencies that your information may be forwarded in the interest of national security, then you may not really be anonymous after all. Just know that VPNs aren’t really the Alcatraz of web user identities that they claim themselves to be.

You could argue that a VPN has a bad name in some circles. Connecting in a secure and anonymous way does protect some nefarious individuals who are transmitting illegal software, child pornography, copyrighted movies, and other illicit material. However, that view of a VPN is completely false.

(Via: https://www.tomsguide.com/features/how-does-a-vpn-protect-your-privacy-and-anonymity)

  While you need to exercise a bit of caution when using VPNs, so must you with important documents. If your system got hacked because you used a cheap VPN, we may help you with recovering files.  Read more to see your options on data recovery with your laptop here: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/laptop-data-recovery.

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Why Not Take Advantage of a VPN?

Unless you’ve been stuck in the 1990s computer knowledge, you’ve surely encountered VPNs. Virtual Private Networks are private networks that exist because two (or more) locations need to be connected with each other so that it would appear and they would work like they are in the same network. For us non-technical people, when a VPN is created, people who have access to it can be far from each other and they can use it to access the network itself or another network (that be a public one). Businesses use VPNs so that their private networks can be more secure and so that remote employees, as in people who are not working near or are connected to the network in their office, can have access to company data that are hosted in those office networks. This benefit is highly popular nowadays, with lockdowns forcing employees all over the world to work from their homes.

For individual users, VPNs can be relied on if you want to be anonymous while you are browsing. VPNs are also known to do a good job in securing your data when you are using networks that have poor security, like free WiFi public networks. Thus, when it comes to assessing the pros and cons, you might get swayed that VPNs do provide more advantages than disadvantages. But then, if you are considering using one, you may need to really know what these pros are so that you can maximize its usage.

VPNs provide enhanced security

VPNs primarily encrypt all your network traffic, so its transmission through the network is very secure. Thus, when you are using an unsecured network like WiFi hotspots in malls, airports, and libraries, using a VPN can prevent eavesdroppers on that network you’re using from seeing your traffic and therefore they cannot steal confidential data stored in your devices such as your credit card information or passwords.

Along with being able to hide their IP address and location, users of VPNs also have their personal data hidden, thanks to some sort of encryption system. (Via: https://www.information-age.com/how-vpn-improve-cyber-security-posture-123487910/)

VPNs allow you to bypass geo-restrictions

Do you get frustrated when YouTube doesn’t allow you to view the video you so want to watch because “it is not available in your region”? with a VPN, you can forget about these frustrations as a VPN gets all your network traffic through a tunnel, which makes it look like you are accessing the web from another location (the VPN’s), not your actual location. Thus, if you want access to sites that heavily put geo-restrictions on their content, a VPN can transform you into a ghost and give a free pass.

VPNs change the IP address a website sees and can fool them into thinking you're from a different region or country. If successful, you'll pay the price intended for that country, which can be less than the price for your real location. (Via: https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/internet/internet-privacy-and-safety/articles/bypass-geo-blocking)

VPNs allow you to download anonymously

Your ISP can put you on a watchlist if you are a heavy downloader because you are maximizing their service to inconvenient levels. When you use a VPN, your IP address can be masked, so you will appear as if you’re accessing sites and torrents from other locations. Your ISP and even some government agencies may not be able to track you. But beware – make sure you only download legally.

To secure your internet connection for the purpose of safety and privacy, it is wise to use a VPN when you download (or do anything online, for that matter). (Via: https://vpnoverview.com/privacy/downloading/anonymous-downloading/)

VPNs allow businesses to let their remote employees work efficiently

As mentioned earlier, VPNs allow connected users to access a network as tough those users were on a local network. If you are a remote worker from home in this lockdown period and would like to have access to files from your office network, ask your IT guys for VPN access.

Another advantage of remote access VPNs is that they provide companies with an affordable way to secure data sent by offsite employees. (Via: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/remote-access-vpn)

If you are working from home and need help with recovering lost data, we can also help you. Read on to know how we can be of assistance with your hard drive woes: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/how-to-fix-a-hard-drive.

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Stay Busy and Get Rich With Some Side Gigs This Lockdown

Two months into lockdown because of the coronavirus, most of us have may have already realized that spending the entire day watching TV shows on Netflix and playing video games can only be good for weeks or a month at most. Vegging out and doing very minimal stuff for days, a scenario most of us may have dreamt of before this pandemic broke, has already started to feel like a drag. We don’t have friends to support us with their physical presence, and there’s only too much “we’re with you in spirit” anyone of us can handle. But then, there are ways we can turn this downtime into something more productive.  Not that we’re encouraging you to be active or work yourself bone-tired every single day until the end of the lockdown period (although that’s another idea you might want to explore), but why not look into adding to your skillset and exploring side hustles during this time?

Securing a side gig or two is a great way to make yourself productive this lockdown period, not to mention get yourself extra income. With the world economy currently in very tumultuous waters, it doesn’t hurt to be in a secure financial disposition, something which income from side jobs can help you with. Not sure where to start? Here are some areas and skills you may want to look into.

Consider web development and design

There are so many opportunities available for skilled people in the field of web development and design nowadays. This is because the nature of web design and development work is predominantly online, which favors the current situation of remote work. You can develop and design a website everywhere, as long as you have a trusty device and a reliable internet connection. Get your skills in this lucrative sector by enrolling in online classes ASAP, and soon enough you can get jobs and earning a lot.

Web developers work independently as freelancers or with company teams to create websites. Depending on the job, these professionals may focus on front-end development, which involves designing sites and producing content, or back-end development, which involves writing code to make website features work.

(Via: https://www.computerscience.org/careers/web-developer/)

  Sharpen your pens (or dust off your keyboard)

As everything, especially businesses, require an online presence nowadays, an endless amount of work is available for content writers who can fill blogs, websites, white papers, and social media accounts with content. If you have great grammar, can be interested or can stir up interest in just about anything, and can whip up blog posts, articles, and social media posts at a drop of a hat, then, there is a wide array of opportunities waiting for you. Get your keyboard (or your pen or typewriter if you’re old school) ready!

In fact, freelance blogging helped me go from earning $1,600 per month to earning more than $5,500 per month. This profession was my golden ticket to bigger and better opportunities.

(Via: https://thecollegeinvestor.com/16898/the-ultimate-side-hustle-14-ways-to-get-paid-to-write/)

  Get your millennial game on by being a YouTuber

If you’re a good communicator and don’t shy away from the spotlight, why not develop your YouTube channel? With almost everybody staying home and not having a lot of choice but to entertain themselves with online content, there’s never been a perfect time to grow a follower base. Not only will you be getting some cash if you successfully grow your channel, but you can also share with the public (or at the very least, those who watch your videos) the things you are passionate about. Isn’t that a great way to keep sane this anxiety-inducing season of COVID-19?

But if you want to gain a steady increase in followers or at least publish decent content that get a good number of views and likes, you’ll need to do more than just become a contributing member on YouTube.

(Via: https://www.adorama.com/alc/10-tips-for-starting-a-youtube-channel)

Why not start a social media career?

If you’re one of those people who can’t ween themselves from checking their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram feeds every 5 minutes, why not turn this obsession into a cool career? You can manage an online community, posting on a company’s Facebook account, or inform followers of a certain social media personality of what’s new? If you’re strategic enough to think of ways and tactics to grow these social media assets, you are for sure in demand.

Fortunately, working in social media builds a broad range of transferable skills. Research, analytics, creativity and communication all provide strong foundations for social media managers thinking about their next big career move.

(Via: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-careers/)

  Now, if the important documents you need to secure some side gigs have gone missing, we can help you recover them. Otherwise, if you think your laptop has been compromised, read on: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/can-you-recognize-a-hacked-computer for more information.

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The Costs of Ransomware

Businesses, beware! Ransomware attacks have developed through the years, with attackers implementing more covert and advanced techniques, while at the same time learning from the mistakes in implementation that occurred in earlier generations of attacks. Moreover, a number of attacks have become more devious with a new component that involves data leaks, which in turn makes companies vulnerable, as they are exposed to graver threats than traditional data loss that used to be the only threat posed by ransomware.

So, how has ransomware threatened so many institutions?  How has it evolved into a more threatening event? Are businesses ready and have they equipped themselves with the necessary tools to combat these attacks? Finally, can the government do anything about this, since there have been some government institutions that have been affected?

Not just business, but whole towns!

The trends that have been prevalent in 2019 indicate that not only will these attacks be more present, but they are likely to happen more. And this will not only affect businesses, but also entire towns. In fact, it has been reported that for every six towns in the state of Massachusetts, one is a victim of ransomware.

Many towns recovered their files from backups, but at least 10 handed over taxpayer money to hackers to unlock their data, records obtained by the NBC10 Boston Investigators show.

Inside the Bay State, a handful of attacks against cities and towns have garnered widespread attention, though the problem may be more prevalent than many imagine.

(Via: https://www.nbcboston.com/investigations/1-in-6-massachusetts-communities-hit-by-ransomware-attacks/2076600/)

  The academe is not spared

Even higher institutions of learning have also fallen victim to cybercriminals peddling ransomware. Niagara University had to cancel classes on the second week of February as their computer system came under attack. The university’s IT personnel discovered on February 12 that ransomware attacked has caused some of its email servers to lockdown.

These attacks can be very serious, like the attack which crippled Erie County Medical Center recently. Some companies have been driven out of business because they can't gain access to their own computer systems.

(Via: https://news.wbfo.org/post/niagara-university-recovering-ransomware-attack)

  The new danger

What sets the new wave of ransomware cybercriminals apart from the older generations is that they have taken extortion to a new level by exposing data that they stole online and threatening whole batches of data if they do not get paid by the companies in exchange of unencrypting the data they got.

The Italian foods company Fratelli Beretta saw all the data exfiltrated from 53 systems (a total of 3GB) posted online by Maze. And more recent victims have had smaller dumps posted. Stockdale Radiology, a radiology clinic in Bakersfield, California, saw screenshots of affected systems and data from the clinic's fax server posted—including patient data transmitted from another MRI clinic.

(Via: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/01/dozens-of-companies-have-data-dumped-online-by-ransomware-ring-seeking-leverage/)

  Recovery comes with a price

Not only is being victimized by ransomware an expensive experience, but recovering from it is also more expensive as well.

It’s getting more and more expensive for victims of ransomware attacks to recover. The average cost more than doubled in the final quarter of 2019. According to a new report from Coveware, a typical total now stands at $84,116. That’s a little over double the previous figure of $41,198.

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/leemathews/2020/01/26/average-cost-to-recover-from-ransomware-skyrockets-to-over-84000/#13d42db413a2)

  It can close your shop

A few businesses have become bankrupt because of ransomware. This is because ransomware can cost a business their data, cash, and accounts, which in turn will make their customers look for other options. Direct costs in the form of ransom cybercriminals can reach thousands of dollars, and more losses are incurred because of indirect costs. But then, there are ways businesses can adopt to lessen their risk.

But you can limit your losses if you take precautions before someone tries to attack you. Those precautions can include protecting your networks and computers from being attacked, preventing the attack from proceeding and allowing you to recover if the attack was successful.

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/waynerash/2020/01/29/how-to-reduce-your-chances-of-getting-hit-with-ransomware/amp/)

  While a ransomware attack might make you feel helpless, trying to recover lost data shouldn’t. We can help you with our full suite of services. If you have a Mac, click here to see how we can help you.

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Samsung’s Updated Flip Phone Gets Teased in the Oscars

The Oscars on February 9 was one for the books. For the first time in its award giving history, the Academy gave the Best Picture recognition to a movie that is not in the English language and produced outside the USA. Parasite, a South Korean film about a poor family trying to infiltrate the lives of a rich family also took home trophies for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film.

But then, that wasn’t all South Korea’s appearances during the televised (and streamed) ceremonies. During one of the commercial gaps, another South Korean brand claimed the spotlight, none other than phone maker Samsung. To tease its upcoming unboxing event, Unpacked 2020, to be held on the 10th in San Francisco, the phone giant showed off its next foldable phone to the delight of the TV viewers. Not to say that Samsung still doesn’t have foldable phones, as it already has. Looking back, their first release of the foldable phone in September last year, had people wax nostalgic, although a lot were still unimpressed with their fragility.  But whether you’re a Samsung-stan or not, the ad sure got a lot of people talking!

Did the ad show anything new?

From the 20-second ad, we saw the device’s homage to retro fashion. The clamshell clicks are there, but there also seems to be the addition of new things like the degree of opening that would allow for facetime-style chatting.

The ad shows the flip phones from all angles, opening and closing while the Comic Strip sounds of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot pop and crackle in the background.

(Via: https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/10/samsung-teases-videocalling-on-its-next-foldable-during-the-oscars/)

  But wait… what was that?

So basically, the ad tried to make retro-chic again, and that for sure appeals to a lot of people on the lookout for a phone that brings them back to both the 1906s (Bardot and the quirky soundtrack allude to that) and the glorious 2000s when everybody had a clamshell phone. But then, eagle-eyed viewers of the commercial were able to spot a disclaimer.

One thing that became clearer though is what will happen to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip’s screens across the globe: They’re gonna get fucked up fast.

https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2020/02/10/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-phone-oscars-trailer-had-some-weird-small-print/)

  One tall phone

Other than the ad, some pictures of the Galaxy Z Flip (yes, that’s what the phone is called) were also leaked and the first impressions centered on how long the model is and how there’s a crease in the center where the phone folds (pretty much the point of the second entry here).

Now, considering that plenty of renders and even a brief video claiming to be a hands-on with the Galaxy Z Flip have already surfaced, a few new pictures may not seem like much of a big deal. But they do appear to clear up a few rumors, including what a monster of a phone this guy is.

(Via: https://gizmodo.com/leaked-photos-confirm-samsungs-new-flippable-phone-is-o-1841533311)

  Sizing up the competition  

Of course, when we talk about foldable phones, it cannot be helped that people will mention the brand that is almost synonymous with clamshell phones – Motorola. With this trend of flip phones re-emerging, Motorola’s new Razr has been touted as the more durable option, especially with complaints of the Samsung Flip having a flimsy screen emerging during its launch last year.  But then, is the Razr as durable (aka flip-able) as it is marketed to be?

But problems started to arise the minute the test began when the FoldBot couldn't even close the phone all the way with each fold. Four hours of folding and unfolding later, and the phone wouldn't even close at all.

(Via: https://sea.mashable.com/tech/9037/motorola-razr-fails-cnets-durability-test-breaks-after-only-27000-folds)

  Motorola fights back

Not to be silenced, Motorola releases its own video proving that once and for all, the Razr is still the king of foldable phones.

Motorola responded with a statement and the below video, which shows its own folding machine fully opening and closing the phone. The FoldBot only partially closes the phone before opening it again.

(Via: https://sea.mashable.com/tech/9044/motorola-puts-out-a-foldable-razr-test-video-in-response-to-durability-concerns)

  You might get excited with these clamshell phone offerings, but one thing that can surely unnerve you is when you lose files and data If this happens to you, don’t fret – we’re here to help you. Click this website to know more info.

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Ready to Go (Windows 10) Pro?

When Windows 10 was released in the middle of 2015, it came out with three versions – Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Windows Pro 10 for Workstations. Like previous Windows release, the public was quick to conclude that the Home version is, as its name implies, best for household use by the family. Individual contributors and office workers will benefit from the Pro release, and large working groups is the obvious target for the Pro 10 for Workstations.

But then, people that have been using the Pro version have been singing it praises, this despite the constant bugs to updates. So now, people who want more than what the Windows 10 Home provides and even those who still have Windows 7 (which has been de-supported in the middle of January 2020), ask, “Is updating to the Windows 10 Pro worth it?” and “What would the differences be between Windows 10 Home and pro?

  Remote Desktop

Take note that all versions of Windows 10 can remotely connect to another Windows 10 PC. However, if you're looking for remote access, only Windows 10 Pro has that. Staying with Windows 10 Home edition will not let you find settings to enable remote desktop connection, although you can connect to another PC, if that PC runs on Windows 10 Pro.

The Remote Desktop or RDP feature is disabled by default so you will need to enable it in the settings.

(Via: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/setup-use-remote-desktop-windows-10/)

  Bitlocker

For those who prioritize their security and keep their data safe from possible intruders, it's time to consider switching to Windows 10 Pro even with its extra cost. Also, for those who have gotten used to Filevault of MacOS', the Bitlocker found in Windows 10 Pro is the most similar to that service you're looking for.

BitLocker is the name given to the full disk encryption software that’s built into Windows. First introduced with Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, BitLocker is now available with the Pro editions of Windows 8 and Windows 10.

(Via: https://www.onmsft.com/how-to/getting-started-with-bitlocker-windows-10s-built-in-full-disk-encryption-tool)

Trusted and Secured Boot

Working in tandem Secure Boot and Trusted Boot aids in keeping your system away from malware and rootkits, allowing you full control of it. Trusted and Secured Boot, as their names suggest, works by checking each component of the startup process before it is loaded.

By working with Windows 10 device manufacturers, Microsoft hopes to make firmware security compromises, those that happen before Windows itself boots, a thing of the past.

(Via: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2019/10/25/windows-10-security-microsoft-announces-a-new-before-windows-boots-strategy/#2a5ff5056f26)

  Hyper-V

Virtual machine fans, rejoice! Hyper-V on Windows 10 Pro allows you to run virtual machines on CPUs that support virtualization.

There are many reasons to use a virtual machine. In most cases, they are used to run software that does not work on your OS. Whether you’re using a Windows, Mac or Linux OS, a VM will remove its limitations. For example, if you have a Windows machine and want to install an application that is only available for Mac, you can run a macOS instance on your Windows laptop to install it.

(Via: https://www.cloudwards.net/hyper-v/)

  Windows Sandbox

Anyone active on the World Wide Web will, at one point in their online lives, get a suspicious file. Whether your suspicions about a certain file are founded or not can be put to rest, thanks to Windows Sandbox that will "quarantine" a file, let you open or run it, and finally discover whether it is harmful or not.

Microsoft is trying to address the fear of running an unknown .exe on your PC, by developing a simple way for anyone running Windows 10 to launch apps in an isolated desktop environment.

(Via: https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/22/18635282/microsoft-windows-10-may-2019-update-features-review)

  While these differences may convince you to join the Windows 10 Pro bandwagon, you may most likely be all alone when dealing with data loss and recovery. But do you really have to deal with it all by yourself? Not on our watch! Allow us to help you with our expertise in data recovery. Take a look at the services we provide by clicking here.

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Is Windows 10X a Threat to iPadOS?

When the iPadOS was released in September 2019, a lot of people believed that this might already be the endgame for mobile operating systems. People were impressed with the iPadOS, claiming that it has made iPads that powerful to the point that iPad owners can already consider their Apple tablets as their main computer. The addition of new capabilities may have been overwhelming at first, but as the users got used to it, it only became a testament to how Apple has incorporated a lot of improvements to it, particularly in the areas of touch gestures and multitasking.

But then comes Microsoft with Windows 10X. Windows 10X is not really something new; it is a version of Windows 10X that is, as of February 2020, still a work in progress. This reengineering of Windows 10 has so far (at least according to those who have experienced it through an emulator for developers) resulted in a sleeker look and a system that is specifically catered for dual-screen devices, such as Microsoft’s own Surface Neo and Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold. And by the looks of it, Windows 10X may give iPadOS a run for its money.

  What you see when you boot it up   

While Windows 10X is indeed a new “expression” of Windows X, you won’t necessarily get tiles and a taskbar when you open it just like what you see when you turn on a device running on Windows 10. What you’ll see is a Start menu that is centered and a thicker Taskbar, which feels like the dock on iPads.

Windows 10X is designed exclusively for foldable and dual-screen hardware, and Microsoft has customized it as a result. One of the biggest noticeable changes is the new Windows 10X Start menu. It no longer includes the animated Live Tiles found on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows Phone, and it now includes a more simplified look.

(Via: https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/11/21132826/microsoft-windows-10x-features-dual-screen-foldable-hands-on-developers)

  Multitasking gestures  

One of the current selling points of the iPadOS is making multitasking and its associated gestures easier for users. This is one area that Windows 10X also wants to also be recognized in, and so far, reviews on how multitasking can be done with it are promising.

Gestures for multitasking also exist, where you swipe up from the bottom of the display to access the Start menu or list of running apps on the taskbar. You can also access an updated Action Centre from the taskbar that includes quick access to settings like volume, brightness, Bluetooth, rotation lock, and more.

(Via: https://www.criticalhit.net/technology/emulators-give-a-glimpse-of-what-windows-10x-will-be-like/)

  Notifications

Microsoft has reportedly made controls and notifications look better by not making it as heavy as what is currently seen on Windows 10. Although there’s been an improvement in its looks for Windows 10X, the iPadOS may still be better in not letting controls and notifications be too distracting and allowing them to be more accessible through gestures.

Notifications are now separated in their own dialog, each displaying the name of the app that generated it, along with the typical message included in a notification.

(Via: https://news.softpedia.com/news/a-closer-look-at-notifications-in-windows-10x-529204.shtml)

  Apps

In this regard, it is obviously iPadOS on the advantage, with its plethora of apps available in Apple’s App Store. The Windows 10X can still support Win32 apps, Univeral Windows Apps, Microsoft Store Apps, and Progressive Web Apps, but as we all know, the availability, much more the variety of apps in the Microsoft Store cannot compete with Apple’s. Finally, having all the apps working on dual-screen devices has created more issues for Windows 10X.

Microsoft's goal is to ensure that most existing Windows applications will "just work" with no developer modifications required, on Windows 10X. For developers who are interested in making their applications work better and in a more customized way on 10X, Microsoft is making available the programming interfaces, information about hinge positions, transitions and new proposed Web standards in that space.

(Via: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-shows-off-how-containerized-apps-will-work-in-windows-10x/)

  Now, if you’re thinking to get a dual-screen device once they are released, consider the factors we laid out for you above. If you need a new device because you ran into a problem with the hard drive of your current one, we can help. Our team of experts can assist you with hard drive problems, so reach out to us here.

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Free Yourself From AirPod Woes

Do you still remember the time when everybody made fun of AirPods as early as when Apple teased it in late 2016? One of the most scathing and funny commentaries about it was Saturday Night Live's little skit about it, when it ridiculed the way Apple promoted these cordless earphones as the best device to jam to your favorite songs. How are you supposed to dance and jump to your heart's content when they will most likely fall out from you ear with all the movement?

Fast forward to three years, AirPods and wireless earbuds have become almost ubiquitous as their wired counterparts. Everyone suddenly wants the convenience of listening to music from your smartphone without being bothered by cords getting in your way. Somehow, no one seems to be laughing at how popular AirPods are, that people want to own one despite their steep price tag. But then, as the technology is still relatively new, there are still problems users must deal with when enjoying wireless earbuds. What are these problems and are there fixes to them already?

The most common problem: Lost AirPods

They may not be directly related to the device itself, but then users would consider misplaced earbuds the most common problem they encounter. May it be because of an earbud popping out of the user’s ear while in use (which is actually not as common as a lot of people might think) or because it rolled over from where the user placed it last, there are a good number of solutions.

Your iPhone will show you the last known location where they connected to your iPhone, right on a map. This will let you know if you accidentally left them at work or if they’re still cruising around in an Uber you rode in.

(Via: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/17/how-to-find-lost-airpods-and-make-them-ring-if-theyre-hiding.html)

  Problem pairing?

Another common problem AirPod users experience is difficulty connecting the device to your iPad, iPhone, or other Mac devices. Experts advice putting them back in the charging case, let it stay there for ten seconds, then try using them again. If that doesn’t work, look deeper.

If you've never connected these AirPods to your iPhone or iPad before, make sure that the devices meet the minimum system requirements. If you have first generation AirPods, your iOS device must be running iOS 10 or later; for the second generation AirPods, you need at least iOS 12.2.

(Via: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-wont-my-airpods-connect)

  Uneven connection

Another issue that’s common among AirPod users is an uneven connection. The left side may play the music while you can’t hear anything on the right. As with the pairing problem, it is advised that you put both in the charging case and try them after 10 seconds.

There is no one definite cause but there is one definite suspect and that's Bluetooth. We might suspect this anyway because Bluetooth is startlingly wobbly, but in this case we always seem to get it soon after we've changed a connection.

(Via: https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/12/07/how-to-fix-one-airpod-not-working)

  Continuous disconnection

Of course, there's also the issue of AirPods that keep disconnecting from the device you're supposed to be listening to. Although bad Bluetooth connection is the common culprit, there may be other factors.

Fixing AirPods connection issues isn’t a clean cut-and-dried process, though. There’s not a definitive way to know for sure why your AirPods keep disconnecting. It could be the sensors inside the AirPods, or maybe the microphones or Bluetooth interference.

(Via: https://www.gotechtor.com/airpods-keep-disconnecting/)

  Audio quality

As mentioned earlier, the technology behind AirPods is still relatively new. Thus, subpar audio quality may still be a problem. There are a lot of factors that can cause this problem, and you will need to look deeper into what’s causing the audio from your AirPods to not be perfect.  Just this year, though, a firmware update has caused the active noise cancellation feature to adversely affect sound quality.

It seems that a recent firmware update has had an unintended effect on the Apple AirPods Pro’s active noise cancellation feature. Instead of improving their ANC performance, some observers and customers are saying that it made it worse. While the same update appears to have improved overall sound quality, Apple has nonetheless reportedly pulled the update.

(Via: https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/apple-airpods-pro-noise-cancellation-problems-what-to-do/)

  There may be quick fixes to problems you may encounter with your AirPod but having to deal with lost data in your laptop can be a huge challenge. Read on to know how we can help you: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/laptop-data-recovery. For MacBook users, click here to better understand your options.

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The Case of Bad Love: Getting Scammed on Romance

With thousands (if not millions) of people getting into the digital and online economy every single day, it is not surprising to see the rise in cybercrimes as well. Scams, frauds, and hacks have victimized internet users by the thousands every year, making everyone susceptible, even those who don’t consider themselves as risky.

There are victims of extortion, where cybercriminals take money or other material objects from their victims who they have coerced. Extortionists online can employ methods such as ransomware, bomb threats, and even sextortion conditions.

There are also victims of phishing scams that have not only taken the form of emails but also SMS and instant messages. The scammers usually pretend to be established and legitimate business and persuade customers to make their account information updated. Of course, when updates are done, personal information is provided.

Finally, there is a rise in what has been termed as love scams. In these online dating scenarios, virtual relationships blossom between a fraudster and the unsuspecting victim. Armed only with a fake profile on one or more dating sites, these scammers earn their victims’ trust and before they know it, the latter would already get swindled to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Let’s look deeper into this and see if there are any solutions.

  How do romance scams begin?

Here's the deal: According to the Better Business Bureau, victims of online romance scams in the US and Canada have lost more than $1 billion. What's worse, because of embarrassment and other personal reasons, victims tend to not report these scams. As a result, cybercriminals get more emboldened, gathering more victims who they scam hundreds of dollars until everything piles up and they end up getting thousands.

Romance scammers use dating websites, apps, Facebook, and other social media. Many use stolen credit cards to join the sites and post fake profiles. They meet victims, interact with them, and quickly try to get them to move to a different form communication such as email or texting. This way, if the dating site identifies the scammer as being bogus and shuts them down, they are already in contact with their victims elsewhere. The scammers will often make fake Facebook pages for their aliases to help bolster their fake identity.

(Via: https://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20200219/bbb-beware-of-online-romance-scams)

  Are senior citizens at the most risk?

Here's an extreme case: an elderly (80 years old, to be exact) widower in Oregon lost $200,000 to an online romance scam. That's how grave these situations can go.

The elaborate con job started with an unidentified person stealing a Florida's woman identity, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation said in a statement. The scammer then used the stolen identity to befriend the 80-year-old widower through an online dating service, and worked to steal his heart and his money.

(Via: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/14/us/happy-valentines-dont-fall-for-romance-scams-trnd/index.html)

  How romance scammers work

So, how do these scammers operate? They build a pretty believe profile for themselves. However, there are tell-tale signs of a romance scammer. They are not agreeable to meet-ups even if there are no inconveniences, they almost always have physically attractive profiles, their English isn't on a native speaker level despite them claiming that they have university degrees and have traveled around the world, they want to talk in other platforms to avoid scam detection by legitimate romance apps, and they are not too keen on video chats.

Scammers tend to use stock images of models, who may be styled to sell a specific product. Photos of them posing with beverages and electronics may feel staged and unnatural because indeed they are. If you already suspect something, request a family photo – they will have a hard time producing one since the model they’re impersonating may have not shot a family-themed campaign. Alternatively, they have been known to steal pictures of real people, to make themselves seem more believable.

(Via: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2020/02/14/how-romance-scammers-break-your-heart-bank-account/)

  A platform shift

Since last year, crafty scammers have slowly shifted from online romance platforms to apps that appear to be neutral and safe, like Google Hangouts and Words With Friends. The public deems that being in such wholesome apps won't make them victims, but scammers like those in Australia are somehow always ahead of the game.

A new trend emerging in 2019 involved scammers increasingly turning to apps like Google Hangouts, or online games such as Words with Friends and Scrabble to con their victims, the ACCC warned.

“No longer are dating websites the only contact method for dating and romance scams, with an increasing number of reports coming from these emerging websites and apps,” said the ACCC’s deputy chair Delia Rickard.

(Via: https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-fleeced-in-words-with-friends-love-scam-230152367.html)

  FBI offers love advice (on how to avoid online romance scams)

For people looking for love and get victimized by scammers instead, the FBI offers a number of tips.

First, people should only use reputable, nationally-recognized dating websites, though it is still possible for scammers to use these as well.

Photos and profiles should be researched using other online search tools and people should ask questions.

(Via: https://www.cbs19news.com/story/41648101/fbi-offers-tips-to-avoid-scammers-on-dating-sites-apps)

  We hope that nobody falls victim to these unscrupulous activities, just like we hope for everyone to not be victimized by data recovery concerns. If you feel like you lost data, we can help you recover it.  Visit us here: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/laptop-data-recovery and see how we can save you from worries of missing files.

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Take Advantage of User Profiles

With how our internet lives almost depend on it, we may think we already know all there is to know about our web browser. However, there's one feature of it that gets pretty much ignored, if not taken for granted. You know what user profiles are, but chances are high you overlook this feature, not giving it the time of day and not utilizing it to its full potential. The thing is, most browsers, whether you're using Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Edge, allow multiple user profiles that can make your web browsing experience all the more enjoyable. Once you get the hang of using user profiles, you will wonder why you didn't use it before.

As the name implies, user profiles allow separate browser profiles for different users, exactly like how you can have different user accounts when you log into Windows. The difference is that this is working at the browser level, so there's no need to log in and out of the user accounts set up on your OS. What profiles do is that they separate the stuff different users collect as they use the browser to surf the web. This information includes saved passwords, browsing history, installed extensions, and bookmarks, among other things. This allows you and whoever may user your laptop separate browsing experiences. Take note though, that user profile switching in browsers can be done easily, so having a separate user profile is not a guarantee of your browsing life's privacy.

What's more, you as a user can have multiple user profiles. You can have a work profile and personal profile, which lets you keep your two worlds separate. When you serve for leisure using your personal profile, for example, you won't be bothered with anything work-related like bookmarks and suggestions.

On Chrome

Chrome is the most popular web browser in the world currently, but not a lot of its users take advantage of creating their user profiles. What's great about doing this on Google is that you can actually have not just one, but multiple user profiles.

If you use Google Chrome as your main browser, you probably didn’t know it, but you can create multiple profiles. You may want to do this to share your device with other people without the need to create a new Windows 10 account.

Also, the ability to use multiple profiles can come in handy if you have more than one account, and you want to keep your things (such as work and personal) separate.

(Via: https://pureinfotech.com/add-new-user-profiles-google-chrome/)

  On Microsoft Edge

The new updates of Microsoft Edge have continuously excited netizens, thanks to its newly introduced Chromium engine. With the change comes convenience, as it is now way easier to use a new user profile in Microsoft Edge, with process comparable to that of Google Chrome's. But of course, you will need to have the new Edge Chromium installed.

When you install the new Edge browser, your user profile will default to a standard profile called “Profile 1” with no personalization. Signing in to your Microsoft account will link this profile to your account, allowing you to share bookmarks and settings across devices.

(Via: https://www.howtogeek.com/525303/how-to-use-multiple-user-profiles-in-microsoft-edge/)

  On Mozilla Firefox

It used to be that profile making on Firefox is as easy as the others. However, updates in 2019 made people panic a bit because when they opened the then-newly released Firefox 67 in May 2019, they were given blank profiles. Many users initially thought there was data loss, and therefore, a data breach.

The problem that these users experienced is that Firefox assigned a new default profile to the installation; this should not have happened, but it appears to have happened to some.

Good news is that the user data is not deleted or gone. All that is needed is to assign the old profile to the installation of Firefox to restore it.

(Via: https://www.ghacks.net/2019/05/27/how-to-fix-firefox-starting-with-a-blank-user-profile/)

  Firefox users were later assured that their information did not get lost. But if you lost files in your hard drive because of some glitch or because you accidentally deleted them, you may not get the assurance you need from everyone… but us. Click here to know how we can help you with your hard drive problems.

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Don’t Be Scammed on Your Phone

Phones these days are ubiquitous to the point that our lives are quite tied to them. Our phone has our social media accounts, which means our social network is with then, as well as online banking, shopping, and delivery, which means our addresses and places of work are in our phones as well. This is why keeping our phones and the information they hold secure and safe is of utmost importance.

However, we cannot stop unscrupulous people from trying to victimize unsuspecting phone users. By hacking into your phone, they get your information as you may end up swiped of all your money, not to mention your identity may also be duplicated. So, without further ado, here are the common scams on your phone and ways you may stop them.

  Phones can also be “phished”

We usually associate the term "phishing" with email, but crafty cybercriminals have expanded their activities to include instant messaging and SMS, too. In other words, various electronic communication methods can also victimize you on your phone, and before you know it, a stranger can access your device.

Security researchers have discovered a phishing campaign that specifically targets users of Android devices, which could result in compromise if unsigned Android applications are permitted on the device.

The campaign seeks to deliver Anubis, a malware that was originally used for cyber-espionage, now retooled as a banking trojan. Anubis can completely hijack an Android mobile device, steal data, record phone calls, and even hold the device to ransom by encrypting the victim’s personal files, said a blog post by researchers at Cofense.

(Via: https://www.scmagazineuk.com/phishing-attack-infects-android-phones-anubis-infostealer/article/1673350)

  More on “smishing”

In fact, there is already a word specifically for smartphone phishing - smishing. Recipients do not get a scam email, but instead a scammy text message on your smartphone. In a new wave of smishing scams, text messages allegedly from FedEx contains a tracking code with a link that allegedly lets you “set delivery preferences.”

If you tap that link on your phone (and you shouldn’t), you’ll end up on a fake Amazon site (a phishing site) with a fraudulent “free reward.” The site will request your credit card information for “shipping fees.” If you provide payment details, you’ll be billed $98.95 every month.

(Via: https://www.howtogeek.com/526115/what-is-smishing-and-how-do-you-protect-yourself/)

  Smartphone fake calls

Of course, instead of messages, there are some scammers that result in good ol' call. What sounds like a legitimate call can turn out to be a scam with you already giving away sensitive information. Also, there have been an increase in the number of scammers posing as FBI or government agents trying to extract information from unsuspecting people who answer their calls.

But, anyone can fake or spoof a number and make it show up on your smartphone. If you let the call go to voicemail, when you listen, you will know it is a fake call if the caller is making threats of arrest or demanding money.

(Via: https://www.winknews.com/2020/01/29/how-do-i-know-if-a-phone-call-is-spam-a-former-fbi-agent-says-how/)

  The SIM Swap

A SIM swap scam happens when someone imitates you and convinces your carrier to redirect your number to theirs by requesting from the carrier to activate a SIM card that is under the control of the impersonator. If not used to scam people, this service is supposed to be really helpful to phone owners, as the request is supposed to allow you to still use your existing number even if you lose your phone or if you’ve signed a new contract with the same carrier.

SIM swapping doesn't require you to do anything wrong. Even if you've done an excellent job of keeping your online identity secure, you can still be a victim. These scammers gain control of your phone number by convincing your cellular carrier that they’re you. They simply ask the carrier to transfer the number to a new phone, much like you would if you were upgrading your phone, or bribe a worker at a carrier retail shop. The scammer doesn’t have to hack or break into anything: your cellular carrier does all the work for them.

(Via: https://www.techlicious.com/blog/sim-swapping-scam-how-to-protect-yourself/)

  You may educate and protect yourself from these scams but dealing with a faulty hard drive may not be something you’re ready to face. But we are ready to help you.  Follow this link to see how our services can get you through the challenges of your hard drive.

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How to Clean Up Your Cookies in 4 Browsers +1

Cookies can be a good thing when you’re talking about satisfying your sweet tooth. But for our online lives, it can be both a good and bad thing. Cookies in internet-speak happen when web browsers write these short text files containing information about your interaction about specific sites. Your log-ins, usernames, and things you may have purchased on retail websites would be included in these cookies. Having cookies is supposed to make your web surfing life more convenient as they make loading times for websites you frequent faster. Moreover, you don’t have to keep on typing in your information every time you try to log in a site, as the cookies have your information ready.

Quite harmless, right? But then, these cookies tend to accumulate, taking up space on your system. Moreover, with the current situation of heightened privacy and security concerns, cookies aren’t particularly the poster kids of web safety. Advertisers have access to these cookies, which is why you may notice the same things you look for on the internet get advertised to you on your social media and email accounts. Thus, removing them on a schedule is recommended.

If you’re the type of web user who is security conscious, then we have something for you: Steps on clearing your cookies depending on the web browser you’re using.

Google Chrome

The most popular web browser makes it easy for you to delete cookies, control the data that comes out when you are browsing data, and point out which files are accepted or should be blocked. However, take note that Google will be doing away with cookies in two years.

Like other browsers, Google Chrome tracks your history — but you can easily clear that history.

You can clear your browsing history in Google Chrome in just a few simple steps by accessing the "History" menu. You can choose to delete your history from the last hour, day, week, or month. You can also clear all of your history since you started using Google Chrome.

(Via: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-clear-history-on-google-chrome)

  Mozilla Firefox

The browser more known for its add-ons, the open-source browser Firefox is one of, if not the most, customizable web browsers when it comes to privacy settings.

The open-source browser has tons of add-ons and actually offers more options than Chrome when it comes to customizing these settings. Here’s what you need to know to clear the cookies it stores.

Visit any web page and click on the Cookie Quick Manager button on the Firefox toolbar to view the add-on's menu; it displays six options. The first one is Manage All Cookies which opens the manager dashboard in a new tab in the browser. The dashboard lists each and every cookie that has been stored by your browser. Use the search bar to quickly find a particular website's cookie to manage it.

(Via: https://www.ghacks.net/2020/01/18/cookie-quick-manager-is-a-firefox-extension-that-lets-you-search-delete-protect-site-specific-cookies/)

  Safari

In the interest of fairness, of course, we have to also talk about the built-in web browser for Macs. The biggest difference for Safari on the topic of cookies is that the cookies it stores are only from your visited websites. The process of wiping out cookies from Safari is pretty easy and straightforward as well.

It’s a straightforward process to clear history/cookies and the cache in Safari on a Mac. While the button in the menu bar is labeled “Clear History” it also clears cookies and your cache.

(Via: https://9to5mac.com/2020/02/03/mac-how-to-clear-cache-history-cookies-safari/)

  Opera

Opera may be a browser-based on Google Chrome, but its users may have to undergo a slightly unique process when it comes to going to its options for cookies.

Opera isn't the first browser to put the brakes on unwanted third-party cookies. Mozilla introduced the option to block them by default when it released Firefox 63 in October 2018, and made it the default setting when Firefox 69 launched in September 2019.

(Via: https://www.techradar.com/news/opera-gets-one-click-tracker-blocking-on-top-of-its-free-vpn-service)

  CCCleaner

Now while this is not a browser, it got a place in our list because (1) it is free to download, (2) it is powerful (3) you can use it to get rid of files made by your web browser and apps. The best thing about CCCleaner is that it can simultaneously get rid of cookies from all the browsers you have on your laptop, and not just on one.

CCleaner is great for dealing with the easily-accumulated clutter clogging your computer. For avid web users, CCleaner wipes data stored in browsers, including temporary files that can take up precious space, history logs that make it easy to identify you, cookies that store information like login credentials, and more.

(Via: https://time.com/5784495/computer-cleanup-software-mac-pc-clutter/)

  In the process of cleaning your laptop, you may have overdone it and also deleted files you shouldn’t have. Don’t worry, we have you covered! Talk to us and see what services we offer to help you recover those important files.

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What Browser Will Go Well With Windows 10?

The internet browser is one piece of software that is so commonly used but also oftentimes overlooked and underappreciated. Whether we spend most of our lives online checking our social media accounts or trying to see what’s the best steals on Amazon, or passing the time by getting into a YouTube rabbit hole of cat videos, we heavily rely on a trusty browser to give us what we need. But then, choosing one to stick to can be difficult, as there is quite a number that goes well with the latest version of Windows 10.

But then, with our needs of browsing through various websites ably performed by most if not all web browsers available today, what should set the wheat apart from the proverbial chaff? The name of the web browser game these days has shifted to other factors such as user security, user privacy, functionality, and customization. That is why we have come up with this list - to make sure you have the right browser to what you prioritize as most important to your web surfing experience.

UR Browser

The UR Browser was, like most web browsers available these days, developed based on the Chromium open-source project. But then, it sets itself apart from being just another version of Chrome as it offers the user various built-in tools, with strengthened safety and privacy features for the user. With so many users putting a lot of importance in the security and privacy of their online lives, UR Browser answers that need very well, along with its other benefits such as reliability and intuitiveness.

What is UR Browser, you may ask? The simple answer is that UR Browser is a cross-platform web navigator or web browser based on Chromium and created by AdaptiveBee, with security, privacy and friendly user interface in mind.

Another way to look at it is that UR Browser is more than a simple navigator. It won’t just help you browse the web seamlessly.

(Via: https://windowsreport.com/ur-browser-review/)

  Google Chrome

Who doesn’t know Google Chrome? Who hasn’t used it even just once in their online existence? It’s currently the undisputed leader when it comes to the number of users and how they have grown so accustomed to using it. Since Chrome is preinstalled on smartphones and Android is still stronger compared to iOS in terms of user numbers, it’s no doubt that it has become ubiquitous.

Google’s Chrome browser is the most popular browser in the world, but it’s also notorious for gobbling up RAM and battery life faster than market share – but it looks like Microsoft has found a way to reduce its battery consumption – on Windows 10 devices, at least.

(Via: https://www.techradar.com/news/chrome-may-soon-be-less-of-a-battery-guzzler-in-windows-10-thanks-to-microsoft)

  Mozilla Firefox

Through its existence, Firefox has often been considered the best and most valuable alternative to Google Chrome. Its reputation has been solid in terms of its speed and reliability, but it is most known for the massive number of extensions it has. When you need your browser to do something, trust Firefox to have an extension that will do that exactly. Because of that, many regard Firefox as Chrome’s worthiest competitor.

However, it seems that Windows 10 is not playing nicely as it has suggested on its Start Menu that Firefox users use Microsoft Edge instead.

Microsoft has started using the Windows 10 Start Menu to suggest that Mozilla Firefox users switch to their new Microsoft Edge browser.

With the release of Microsoft's new Chromium-based Edge browser, Microsoft has started promoting the new browser when typing various keywords in the Windows 10 Start Menu.

(Via: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-10-start-menu-suggests-firefox-users-switch-to-edge/)

  Opera

As with the UR Browser, Opera has also beefed up its privacy features to benefit its users through a built-in VPN. Opera has always branded itself as a no-frills, easy to use browser, although it also prides itself as being the most customizable. A lot of its fans enjoy how they can make Opera suit their specific quirks, investing a huge amount of time for this.

The first thing that we want to mention about Opera’s latest update is that it sports the 56.0.2780.51583 beta version number. Therefore, the only Opera fans who can download the new update right now are those who are enrolled in the app’s beta program.

(Via: https://technostalls.com/opera-browser-56-0-2780-51583-beta-update-check-out-the-latest-improvements/)

  Microsoft Edge Chromium

Of course, since the Microsoft Edge is the preinstalled browser on Windows 10, it has to be given its spotlight. Before everyone rolls their eyes and dismiss the updated Edge anew, Microsoft may be giving its browser the attention it sorely needs. According to users, Microsoft Edge Chromium is quite promising.

For starters, it now runs on Chromium and the Blink web engine, which also powers Chrome. The engine powering the old Edge was notorious for eating up data and longer load times. The change-up should mean better compatibility with sites and more consistent performances that we have come to expect with the Chrome browser.

(Via: https://www.slashgear.com/has-microsoft-edge-finally-nailed-web-browsing-15609929/)

  Now that you know what browser would fit your specifications, but you may not know what to do with your noisy hard drive. We can help you with that. Visit our site and allow us to help you with your problematic hard drive.

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How to Get Your Email (and Save Your Reputation) Back

It’s a nightmare most, if not all of us email users, may have experienced at least once in our online lives. You click on send for an important email and milliseconds later see in terror as you spot one, two, three typos and two grammatical lapses. Worse, you hit Reply All, which has everyone at work the recipient of your email.

Undoing your accident may be a lot of work for you, considering your reputation has already taken a dive. However, all is not lost as there still may be one solution for you, particularly if not everyone has opened their emails to marvel at your travesty of an email: You may recall it. A lot of email clients actually have this feature, so let's see how this can be used, depending on your email service.

Gmail

Gmail, along with its Google brother Chrome, have become the most popular email service and search engines, respectively. Over the years, Gmail has undergone an evolution from being a handy online email service into one of the most indispensable tools for some businesses, not to mention being an important part of Google’s G Suite productivity offerings. And through the years, tons of improvements and updates have been done to Gmail, some of which can be considered successful, while some just earned the chagrin of users for making the platform slower. The update on the service’s message recall feature has been viewed positively since it came out, though. After all, Gmail users aren’t perfect!

The Undo Send feature is on by default on Gmail. Hence, you don’t need to play around any settings to enable it.

As soon as you send an email, you’ll see a pop-up on the bottom left corner of your screen, having the option to View, and Undo message. You can use the same to recall your messages, which will retract the email back to your drafts section. The View message button will not appear for messages sent from within the existing thread, though.

(Via: https://gadgetstouse.com/blog/2019/12/09/how-to-unsend-an-email-on-gmail/)

  Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is perhaps the most popular email services in companies and offices, as it provides seamless integration with other Microsoft products, particularly the ubiquitous MS Office. While it used to be that recalling your email was a challenge in Outlook's older versions, it cannot be said anymore with the newest updates. Microsoft now allows users to retract an email in Outlook, though there are some requirements for the retraction to be done successfully.

Both the user and recipient require an Exchange server email account and use Outlook as the email client.

The recipient’s mailbox should be open when an Outlook recall process is attempted.

The original Outlook message has to be unread and is in the recipient’s inbox.

Finally, the message cannot be affected by any process, such as a rule, spam filter, or add-in.

(Via: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/1171131/outlook-login-how-to-recall-outlook-email-microsoft-outlook-365-guide)

  Yahoo Mail

Oh, the much-maligned Yahoo Mail! After surviving so many data breaches, leaks, and cyberattacks, it is a conundrum how some people have continued to stick to their Yahoo Mail accounts. Take note, there are still quite a lot of them. The last major update of Yahoo Mail in relation to email recalling or retracted happened in 2016, so that’s quite a while already, but that said, Yahoo has taken some effort in presenting a solution to one of their users’ more common concerns, let’s give them that.

A new update was released by Yahoo last weekend for its mobile apps with the biggest highlight being the ability to unsend emails.

Realized you accidentally chose the wrong email recipient or caught a typo last minute? Don’t stress—starting today, we’re giving iOS users the ability to take back an email right after it’s been sent.

(Via: https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/yahoo-mail-now-lets-you-unsend-emails-3684501.html)

  While you can still act on emails that were sent in error, you might feel helpless when it comes to files that have been deleted by mistake. But don’t fret – we can help you! If you need assistance in data recovery, whether you’re running on Windows or Mac, we’re here to save the day. Click here to know more about our services.

The following article How to Get Your Email (and Save Your Reputation) Back is available on HDRA

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What SSD to Buy

The name of the game these days is storage. But not just large storage, but large and speedy storage. And when it comes to large and speedy storage, the market acknowledges solid-state drives as the gold standard. It is a good thing that consumers are now spoilt with choices, as options for SSDs are now faster, bigger, cheaper, and compatible with most systems already present in the market. Thus, there's never a better time to purchase an SSD.

The wealth of choices in stores can be overwhelming, so we've done the curation of the best options for you. Besides, you also need to consider which is the best drive that would suit your laptop the best. But before you read on, take note that some SSDs have rounded off issues. While some claim to have 250 GB and others is at 256 GB, you may consider them to have similar capacity. There's not common for drives to claim its exact capacity, but the difference is usually more or less 10 GB.

Samsung 970 Evo Plus

Samsung's newest release, the Samsung 970 Evo Plus, boasts of being faster and more affordable than its predecessor, the 970 Evo. However, generally speaking, it seems that the Samsung 970 Evo Plus is still in the middling crowd, as there are a number of other SSDs that perform better than it.

The 970 Evo Plus therefore looks like more of an attempt at a do-over rather than a chance for the 2018 model’s redemption. The Plus and non-Plus versions aren’t drastically different, both having Samsung-made Phoenix controllers and a maximum advertised read speed of 3,500MB/s, but there have been some key changes. The first is that write speeds have had a big boost on paper, jumping from a maximum 2,500MB/s on the 970 Evo to 3,300MB/s on the Evo Plus; a vast improvement for something that isn’t a full generational leap.

(Via: https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/samsung/1411554/samsung-970-evo-plus-review)

  Samsung 860 Pro

Although this has not been as updated its Evo counterpart with its last update dating way back 2018, the Samsung 860 Pro is still considered to be one of the best in the market. It is recognized for its great SATA performance, endurance, and consistent performance. The model is quite high-end, though, which discourages budget-conscious shoppers from buying it.

The 860 Pro is also the first NAS-rated prosumer SSD and it should work well in RAID. The EVO series tends to be more reasonably priced and has better performance in general applications, which keeps the 860 Pro firmly in the professional user category.

(Via: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/samsung-860-pro-ssd-review,5434.html)

  Intel Optane SSD 905P

The Intel Optain SSD is known for two things: speed and endurance, both at exceptional levels. For a high performer, though, it might be expected that it consumes a lot of power and has a high price tag. However, its capacity has also left a lot of users wanting.

This wildly pricey internal solid-state drive is, without a doubt, a luxury item for mainstream users, but it's also prodigiously fast at the types of specialized computing tasks that are the hardest for storage drives to handle: loading massive game files, transferring hours of video footage, booting up your PC, and other similar activities. It's the ultimate consumer SSD, but only consumers with very specific needs and workloads can really leverage its talents—and justify the buy.

(Via: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/intel-optane-ssd-905p)

  Western Digital Black SN750 250GB NVMe Gaming SSD

As an SSD after gamers' hearts, the WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD's performance for PC games is expectedly good. Other plus points are its low per-gigabyte cost, optional integrated heatsink, and multiple capacity options. However, its random read and write performance is low compared to similar SSDs.

With regard to gaming, WD's marketing department asserts that the heatsink, helping to maintain temperature and speeds will provide "a tangible, next-level competitive boost during intense PC gameplay". WD goes on to say how greater capacity SSDs are now in demand for gaming as it has become common for installs to be as large as 100GB per game.

(Via: https://hexus.net/tech/news/storage/126629-wd-black-sn750-nvme-ssd-aimed-gamers/)

  Crucial MX500 SATA 

Among the plus points for this device include the low cost per gigabyte, outstanding performance considering it is a SATA SSD, varied capacity options from 250 GB to 2 TB, and its long warranty. However, it suffers from a low endurance rating for usage cases that includes heavy data writes. The Crucial has been on headlines at the start of 202 with huge price cuts, giving users $30 savings.

If you're looking for some cheap SSD storage, SATA's for you. Right now, Crucial's 2TB MX500 SATA SSD is selling for the lowest price we've seen, $200 at Amazon. At launch, the 1TB unit was selling for $260, making this one of January's best tech deals.

(Via: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/crucial-2tb-ssd-sale-cheap-deal)

  Upgrading your storage is all well and good, but if your laptop’s built-in hard drive has been problematic, then we recommend you focus on this first. Let us help you understand what can be done with these errors here: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/fixing-hard-drive-errors.  Our experts are ready to help you with your hard drive problems – visit us online by click here.

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Satisfy Your Preference for Huge Flash Drives

The way storage technology has progressed recently has been staggering. Solid-state drives are now packaged into the size of chocolate bars, while portable hard drives are so powerful that terabytes of data can now fit into these devices that look like passports (pun intended as this is a WD hard drive model).

But even if these devices shrink in size, there is still a sizable market for the USB flash drive. After all, USB 3.0 ports are already built in most laptops, especially the newer models. Of course, even if SSDs and external SATAs are getting smaller, USB flash drives are still the smallest. What’s more, these minute devices now pack so much punch with their storage capacities. Let’s see which USB flash drives have impressed users with their storage capacities.

Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT

When it comes to sub drives, Kingston has earned the reputation of producing record breakers. In 2017, when the manufacturer released the Ultimate that comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities, it seems that they have outdone themselves again. The staggering capacity of the DataTraveler Ultimate GT should make most users look past its chunkiness.

Shipped in a silver metal case, the Kingston Ultimate GT 2TB USB 3.1 flash drive is available in 1 or 2TB capacities, comes with a blue USB 3.1 Gen 1 cable and Kingston branded black mesh carry bag, and it is capable of speeds up to 300MB/s read and 200MB/s write.

(Via: http://www.thessdreview.com/featured/kingston-ultimate-gt-2tb-flash-drive-review-space/)

Western Digital SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe

A new line of SanDisk Ultra Drive Luxes was introduced in January 2020’s CES event, and with capacities of up to 1TB, it has established itself as one of the biggest flash drives in terms of capacity. It’s also USB-C, which makes it a speedy and powerful machine. But those owning laptops that don’t have USB-C yet need not fret as the flash drive is also compatible with USB-A drives too.

Indeed, it features a dual USB connectivity: on one side, there is a USB Type-C connector, and if you flip it 180°, there is a traditional USB Type-A connector. The design of the SanDisk 1TB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe is smart.

(Via: https://www.cinema5d.com/sandisk-shows-a-8tb-portable-ssd-prototype-1tb-ultra-dual-drive-luxe-usb-flash-drive/)

Patriot Supersonic Rage

Patriot, maker of various computer-related devices including gaming keyboards, headsets, solid state drives, and mice are no slouches when it comes to producing flash drives. The Supersonic Rage has an Elite variant that comes with a 1TB capacity, making it one of the largest, but also most affordable flash drives.

While the GTX is the high performance play (topping out at 256GB), the GS is more of a capacity play (the top end version has 512GB of flash memory).

(Via: https://www.anandtech.com/show/9573/corsair-flash-voyager-gs-usb-30-512gb-flash-drive-capsule-review)

Corsair Flash Voyager GS

The Corsair Flash Voyager GS USB 3.0 combines reliable speed with the largest capacity of any flash drive from the manufacturer. Housed in sleek metal alloy, its recorded read and write speeds are up to 290 MB/s when used in USB 3.0 ports or higher.

Then, there’s the little known fact that it is an extremely fast drive, one of the fastest on the market with a read speed of up to 400MBps and a write speed of up to 300MBps.

(Via: https://www.techradar.com/news/the-cheapest-1tb-usb-flash-drive-in-the-world-is-also-one-of-the-fastest)

PNY Pro Elite

At its price point, the PNY Pro Elite (with 512GB and 1TB capacities) is one of the most affordable ways of getting so much storage. While it is not the best-looking flash drive available in the market, its good read and write speeds and price makes it one worth considering.

The PNY Pro Elite 1TB External SSD is now the one to beat when it comes to ultra portable solid state drives. It is cheaper and smaller than the T5 with a similar upmarket finish and as fast as that one.

(Via: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pny-pro-elite-1tb-external-ssd)

  Despite having all the storage you can have, data loss can still be a problem. Whether it's a defective device or your absentmindedness that caused this loss, we are ready to help you. Your hard drive may have failed you, causing this loss, but we can ably help you overcome this. Know more by clicking here: https://www.harddrivefailurerecovery.net/hard-drive-failure-solutions.

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