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Here are just some of the cool features built into Google. Try them out and you might find Google opens up a whole new door for you.

Use quotation marks – To find documents with the exact phrase in them, use quotes.

Use the + sign – Use the plus sign in front of words to make sure it will be included.

Use the – sign – Use the minus sign in front of a word to eliminate it in the search.

Try a Wildcard – Inserting a * in between phrases will result in any word within that phrase.

Dictionary - Google is a dictionary, type (define:) before a word to get the definition.

Calculator – Google is a powerful calculator, just type (2+2) and remember the proper order of operation for more complex problems.

Site search – Type a word and then (:edu) to find results only in the .edu domain. Works on all domains, .com, .gov etc.

Synonyms – Use ( ~ ) to search for synonyms of the word you type.

Use OR – Type “snake” “dog” or “cat” to get search results with snake and either dog or cat.

Numerical searches – Type (Ronald Reagan 1984…1989) to get results on Ronald Reagan during this time period.

Conversions – Type (32cm to ft) to get a centimeter to foot conversion.

Questions Answered – Ask google a question as a statement. If you want to know the US population, type (“is the population of US”).

File format – To find a specific file format, type (filetype:) and the file type.

Microsoft’s free consumer antivirus is now available. So far, I like it. It’s lightweight and does not seem to change any performance with my computer.

You can find it at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Scenario: You have too many passwords you have to remember for tons of web sites. Let’s face it, just about everyone uses the same password or couple of passwords because it is too hard to remember passwords for so many web sites. The problem with using the same password for multiple web sites is that some web sites are better at securing your data like your passwords than others. If "Joe Hacker" discovers your username and password at "someblog.com" he or she might try to use it at bankofamerica.com, chase.com or every other online banking institution to gain access to whatever bank account you might own.

Enter Password Maker! Best used with Firefox, Password Maker securely uses one password you pick and creates a password using your master password and the web site domain name you want the password for. This allows you to have a different password for all your online accounts without having to remember a different password. I find this tool works best as a plugin for Firefox, quite possibly the world’s best web browser because it creates a button and does all of the work for you. Basically, you click a button, enter your master password, and copy and paste the password created.

I have tested the firefox plugin in in Windows Vista, OSX 10.6, and Ubuntu 9.04 and it should work on XP and Windows 7. For more information go to: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/469 or http://passwordmaker.org/

Security Tips for using this program:

1. You Master Password should not be the same as any of your usernames for your web sites.

2. Don’t save your master password in the program. Enter your master password every time for added security.

3. Use longer passwords, the default is 7 in Password Maker but there is nothing stopping you from having a long random password that is 20 characters, accept a poorly designed web site requiring short passwords.

4. Add an additional password only you know in addition to your created password from Password Maker. This should not be the same as any usernames or your master password. For example, if the password generated for your bank account is "09rl-sle" add a word or phrase in front of behind it making your password something like "goodpassword09rl-sle."

5. Never share your usernames, passwords, or master password with anyone.

Since the cost of sending email is pretty much free, especially when bots do it for you on compromised machines, spam email will continue to be a nuisance. According to MAAWG, the Messaging Anti-Aubuse Working Group, in a study they did called "A Look at Consumers’ Awareness of Email Security and Practices or "Of Course, I Never Reply to Spam – Except Sometimes," 1 in 6 people are interested in the offers they receive from spam.

1 in 6 is more than enough people keep the spam coming. Spam is here to stay!

For the full report go here: http://www.maawg.org/about/publishedDocuments/2009_MAAWG-Consumer_Survey-Part1.pdf

In my opinion, anti-virus programs are not good enough to prevent you from getting a virus, but they do tell you when you get one usually. If you want to prevent viruses, keep Windows up to date via windows update, you should have a router between your Verizon modem and your computer(s) (in some cases the modem and router are the same device which is usually good enough), and ask yourself and your children if you really need to install something from a web site. Lately, people are getting viruses by being tricked into installing something from a web site they think they need. When that annoying alert message pops up asking you to approve a software installation, it is potentially preventing something malicious from installing. Even though it is annoying, it is a good idea to get into the habit of reading it and asking if you really need to do it.

Here is a good example of how most kids get a virus:

They get an email or message from Myspace or Facebook from a friend or someone they don’t know that says something along the lines of “Hey, I caught you on video tame last night here is the video”

Most people have to check out what is on the other end of that link. They click it and it takes them to a site that looks like Myspace or Facebook but it is not. The site then says, “you need to download the latest flash player to view this video” which is pretty common because flash player is constantly needing updates. What the unsuspecting victim does not know is that they are really downloading a virus.

If you fall under this scenario this is how I would handle it. First I would ask myself if I really need to watch the video. If I do, I would then think who makes the flash player. I know that is Adobe. I would then go to Adobe.com and download the flash player there and get the latest player. Doing this I know I will have the latest player and if i go back to that same site with the video and it still says the same message, then I know it is nefarious.

With that said, if you want to get an antivirus, I suggest nod32 from eset.com. The reason I suggest them is because they supposedly look at what you do in real time. Most antiviruses wait for updates from the mothership and then do a computer scan which does not help you if you have already unintentionally installed the virus and the virus disabled your antivirus. There will always be risk because the antivirus must know about the virus and today there viruses are being changed and created at an alarming rate.

With all this said, in my opinion, if you think you have a virus. I would no longer trust the machine with or without antivirus. The only way to guarantee you are virus free is to reformat the computer and reinstall windows. This is why it is very important to keep your Windows Recovery Discs or use a utility to create them if it is included. With Recovery discs you can install a fresh copy of Windows on your system. Just don’t forget to backup your data first!

I hope this helps.

1. Do not download anything from the internet unless you absolutely must!

2. If a web site says it needs to download something in order for the site to work or for you to get what you need to get, ask yourself if you really need to do it? If you can get by without it, do it. If you need a player, go to the web site where the player originates. For example, go to Adobe.com for the most recent version of Flash.

3. Don’t open any attachments in email unless you are expecting them and they are from people you know.

4. Don’t click any links in email. Go the web site in question via your web browser by typing the web address yourself. Turning off html email will solve this.

5. When you get a “pop-up,” use Task Manager to close it.

6. Back up your data to more than one medium. It’s only a matter of time before your hard drive fails.

7. Keep Windows up to date by allowing auto update to run.

8. Don’t install any software you don’t really need.

9. Don’t trust web sites. Stick to big consumer web sites to buy things like BestBuy.com instead of JoeSmoElectronics.com.

Tools

1. Turn on your Firewall.

2. Use a router.

3. Have an up-to-date and antivirus.

4. Use Windows XP or above.

5. If using WiFi, make sure to use WPA authentication with AES encryption and a strong password that is not guessable or a single word.

Recently I decided to add a double din GPS unit to my 2004 Dodge Ram. This is not normally a hard thing to do but the 2004 Dodge Ram is only made to fit a single din. Follow these steps at your own risk. I assume no responsibility. Do your own research and you know what you will be getting into.

What you will need:

Dremel
Replacement Bezel (not required)
Bondo
Rough to fine sandpaper
Spray paint
Plummer’s Floss

I wont go into the particular unit I installed in the truck or how to wire it because it is pretty easy to figure out. The first thing I suggest, although not required, is to buy a replacement bezel incase you ruin yours. I found one for $50 on ebay. If you ruin yours, you should be able to buy a replacement from the dealer but it will be pricey.

The first step, is to buy your double din stereo and see if it will fit in the area where your stereo goes. I think a 1 and 1/2 din unit will fit with no modification to your truck. If it fits, no modification is necessary to the dash. If however, your double din does not fit, you will have to cut away some excess plastic so it will fit with your Dremel.

As soon as you can snugly fit your stereo in place, you will want to use plummer’s floss or some sort of bracket to mount your unit in place. As soon as you know you can get your unit in the place you want, go ahead and wire it up if you want to. My suggestion would be to buy a $5 wire harness adapter so you don’t have to cut your truck’s factory plug and can easily plug or un-plug your unit.

Now it is time to measure or eyeball if you are me, and cut out space for your unit. I held my plastic bezel over the unit about 10 times cutting and shaving off plastic a little bit at a time making sure not to cut too much with your Dremel. You might want to tape off where you need to cut.

Once you are satisfied you have cut enough plastic or cut too much, it is time to get messy with Bondo. You may have noticed there is some spare space on the left and right side of the unit with the bezel installed. Before moving to the Bondo, I cut away some plastic and used plastic resin to glue them into the sides.

Ok now Bondo. Just get some Bondo at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot and get ready to have some patience. If you have never experienced Bondo before, you must know you have to act quick and it will probably take you many applications to get the shape you want. You may even get to the point where you think you are finished, sand it, and find you have to add more because of a bubble. As long as you mix it correctly, (instructions are on the box) the Bondo will harden really quickly. If you have to add a lot of Bondo to one area and it wont stay in place before hardening, you can tape cardboard in place to hold it.

Once you feel you have the desired shape, time to get sanding. I would first cut away any access Bondo, sand the excess, and make sure it fits. If you don’t like the shape, add more Bondo making sure all dust is gone before applying it. As you can see, this took me many times before I got it where I wanted it. I also could have kept going to perfect it more but I got to a certain point where I was satisfied.

When you are ready for final Sanding I suggest this is where you put your effort. I did not mention this earlier but it is important to make sure your Bondo is dried and hard before sanding. Start with rough paper and move to very fine. My final sanding ended up with a sponge.

Once you have finished sanding, time to paint. At first, I decided to go with a glossy color but my horrible sanding stood out so I decided to go with a flat black. You also may have to paint the whole bezel in case you nicked a part or sanded an un-intended area.

The original Gray I decided to use looked great when painting but from the driver’s seat, some minor imperfections showed up and I went with a flat black which turned out much better. If you want to go with a glossy color, make sure your sanding is good. Finally, the finished product is below (not flat black) I’ll add that picture later.

Tell me what you think.

Greg

****Update 02/15/2010. I decided to paint the whole thing flat black. I found there were much less visual defects you could see with my bad sanding this way.

Just wanted to take some time to say the HP CM1017 Multifunction Color Laser printer is a really great choice for small businesses and homes. This printer is not for someone who needs amazing photo prints and is not for someone who needs microscopic scanning but it is a really affordable workhorse for any small office. I’m not going to go into the details like print speed but rather point out a few facts that is essential for my office:

• Built in ethernet port, this machine is network ready so all computers in the office can print to it.
• Color Printing.
• Built in scanner and copier.
• Memory card reader.
• 250 sheet paper tray

One thing that is missing is a fax machine but in my case, I would rather not receive spam faxes all day. You should also know the scanning bed is only for 8.5 x 11″ scanning.

I purchased my printer on March 14, 2008 and the toner cartridges are about 75% full after going through a ream of paper. This printer is made for a small business or home, not for a big business, and not where you will be printing over 100 pages a day.

All you need is $250, a one time fee for the equipment, and you have free phone service for the rest of you life, that is if the company stays in business that long. Ooma is a pretty revolutionary device that uses your internet connection to make regular phone calls. The amazing difference that Ooma has over many of the other VoIP phone systems is that it is built to use the infrastructure in your house. The only important thing you must have in order for Ooma to work well is a decent high speed internet connection.

The installation is easy, you put the Ooma main device between your internet modem and your router or computer and also between a telephone jack and your phone. The connection from the Ooma hub to you phone jack is only necessary if you want to use the other phones in your house with Ooma. That’s right, you can  use any of your other phones in your house with Ooma. A little device called the Ooma scout is required but for every other phone jack that you want a phone on. Ooma will work with your existing phone number or you can eliminate the monthly bill from the phone company and port your number to Ooma. I have high hopes of Ooma to survive because they have a great business model with tons of extra features they call Ooma Premier and you get them for free for 60 days with your purchase.

Here is what you get with basic plan:

• Ooma Hub and Scout.

• Unlimited U.S. calling.

• Caller ID, call waiting, and voicemail.

• Low cost international rates.

• Hear voicemail not only from the unit but also from a web site.

• More little features here and there

Here is what you get with the Premier plan:

• Everything above.
• Instant second line, yes you can be on the phone and someone else can pick up a phone and make a call.
• Three way conferencing
• Message screening (works just like a traditional answering machine).
• Send to voicemail.
• Voicemail forwarding to email so you can listen to messages from email.
• Do not disturb
• Personalize a second number on all Ooma devices or one specific one.
• Private voicemail.
• Customer rings for callers.

I have been very happy with my purchase of the Ooma phone system. It was very easy to setup and configure. I got mine on Amazon.

Given some recent events, I decided to get a camera system. For the low price of $700 found at Costco.com (at the time of this writing), I feel I have had good enough results with the Q-see QSD6209 9 channel DVR System. As far as functionality, this thing is far from professional but is good enough for a one day project for any DIY’er.

First the good:

• Price – $700 for a 9 camera DVR system is a great price
• Bigger Hard Drive – I called Q-see to see if I could upgrade the standard 250GB drive and they said yes. I popped open the box and swapped the SATA drive with a 500GB with no problem. Once the system booted, it formatted the drive and I was ready to go. The person from Q-see did tell me the max was 500GB so I am not sure about anything higher.
• Long 60 foot cables (I actually had to pick up 3 50 foot extensions which was easy and cheap.
• VGA, BNC, RCA USB, or web for viewing the video.
• Home alarm system hook up.
• Availability to upgrade to motion sensors.
• Night Vision camera.
• Color cameras

Now the bad:

• The web interface is horrible and most people wont use it. Their software is not signed by Microsoft so it wont install from the web interface unless you turn off your Active X security controls. Just take care of that Q-See!
• Did seem to freeze or at the remote was not responsive at one time

Honestly, it is a great price to deter theft and catch some punks doing pranks in the act. Other people might want to consult a professional but for the DIY person, this kit is perfect.

You can pick up yours at Costco.com