Finds of the Week: Block Windows Updates in Windows 10 Home / All about Windows System Repair Discs / 8 ways to protect yourself online / Science Daily [1]
Finds of the Week is a list of web sites I've come across lately that are interesting, fun, or useful (or all three). I hope you enjoy them. -Rhiannon
Block Windows Updates with Windows 10 Update Switch [3]
If you have Windows 10 Home edition, you probably know that there's no way to stop Windows updates on your machine unless you have a Wi-Fi connection that's set to metered or use a wireless hotspot (which Microsoft normally sets automatically to a metered connection. If you're on a wired, or ethernet connection, there was no way to block Windows updates, until now. Ghacks has a good write up of a free portable program that can set network connections to metered connections, allowing you to block updates. I suggest reading the whole article if you want to try the program as there are some details that are good to know. You can find out more about metered connections here [4].
What is a system repair disc and how to create one in Windows [5]
Windows system repair discs come in handy for troubleshooting computer problems. System repair discs let you boot up your computer when nothing else works (unless there's a hardware failure, which is a different issue) and offers options for repairing your system. There are several good articles on the internet on how to create system repair discs, but I like this one because it covers Windows 7, 8, and Windows 10. Note that in Windows 8.1, the option to create a repair disc disappeared - the option there is to create a repair USB drive instead (link included in article).
Eight things you need to do right now to protect yourself online [6]
Most of us probably know or use many of the suggestions in this article but a few may be new or of use. Practicing good password protocols is a good place to start and using a good password manager [7] can help if you have more than a few passwords to remember. They are also good at generating strong passwords. Some things, like two factor authorization, aren't that useful if you don't have cell phone or live in an area where coverage is spotty and/or unreliable, or if you travel often. The article mentions full disc encryption - if you have Windows, they suggest BitLocker but they fail to mention that BitLocker is only available in Pro and up versions of Windows. Not to worry though, we've got you covered with our Best Free Drive Encryption Utility [8]selections. It's also a good idea to install anti-ransomware on your system. This is a good free program for Windows users: Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware [9]. For more Windows security, see our Best Free Windows Desktop Software Security List. [10]
Science Daily [11]
I like most things related to data and science and Science Daily supplies me with a steady supply of interesting information in the physical, biological, earth and applied sciences like health, technology, the environment, education, and society along with some quirky news for added interest. Stories include links to academic studies, related research, videos, with plenty of photographs and illustrations for those of us who like pictures. Articles are curated from top universities and research organizations so the information is current and relevant. If you like tidbits of a wide range of science related topics you'll enjoy this site.
You can find more Tech Treats here [12].