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Last checked 3/1/2024

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Virus/Anti-Virus/Security Information
  • What Websites Learn About You is a very basic article on protecting your privacy while you use the Web.
  • Two Factor Authentication This site explains what two factor authentication is. It also lists organizations and businesses (by category) and identifies their authentication method. You can use this list to find out if vendors that you interact with have reasonable levels of security.
  • Cyber Security Videos is a collection of videos that cover various topics in cyber security. A good intro as well as some deeper material as long as you like videos.
  • Privacy Protecting Apps is an article about a few privacy apps to intall that will help reduce the amount of data that is shared with others.
  • Essential Apps For Ironclad Online Privacy (2023) - reviews a handful of services that can scrub the Web and eliminate personal data. Most effective services have fees.
  • 10 Critical Security Habits you should be practicing but probably aren't
  • VMyth reports on hoaxes, viruses, and related news (not updated since 2011).
  • Virus Bulletin
  • ScamBusters - information and advice on Internet fraud including hoaxes, urban legends, gossip, innuendo, half-truths, etc.
  • Snopes - scam verification site - includes news verification and an email newsletter if you sign up.
  • ProcessLibrary.com provides information about those processes that are running on your machine like svchost.exe or lsass.exe. Useful when you are looking for malware.
  • Safeweb is a service from Norton that lets you enter a Web site URL and it tells you if there is anything unsafe about it.
  • Five Best VPN Service Providers as determined by a LifeHacker survey.
  • Encrypting Data on Your Computer This is a very short introduction to data encryption but the article includes suggestions for encryption freeware.
  • Encrypting Data on Your USB Drive reviews a handful of suggested software including freeware like SecureStick and Rohos Mini Drive.
  • Best Encryption Services of 2018 as determined by a PCMag.
  • How to Stay Anonymous Online 2018 article in PCMag.
  • AntiOnline is a security forum
  • Stay Safe Online is full of information and tips to keep your browsing safe. Sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance
  • Router Tests is a collection of online tests for your router.
  • How To View USB Device History Windows records each time a USB device is connected to your PC and you can view this history with help from this article (2022).

    • Firewalls:
  • Firewall FAQ - great list of sites that review firewall software. Site has all kinds of other information about firewalls, spyware, routers, anti-virus software, etc.
  • Firewall FAQ
  • ZoneAlarm has firewall software for personal use.
  • Tiny Firewall is free for personal use.
  • Firehole is a little test program that you can download to see if it can get around Zonealarm and other common firewalls.
  • TooLeaky is a little test program that you can download to see if it can get around Zonealarm and other common firewalls. This guy says that firewalls offer only illusory protection.

    • Security:
  • Firefox Monitor You enter your email address, which Firefox promises is not recorded, and security databases are checked to see if accounts with that email address have been part of security breaches. NOTE: This doesn't protect you - consider it a warning. If your email address is found, it is probable that the bad guys know it and you should be very vigilant about phishing emails and other scams. Or change your email address.
  • Have I Been Pwned?5 stars You enter your email address (it gives me pause but it seems to be legit) and the site tells you if that email address has been part of a site hack that has harvested user credentials and made them public. It tells you which sites were hacked. Immediately change your password on those hacked sites since you can assume that your credentials on that site have been made public. Also, if you use the same password/username combination on other site accounts - assume that those accounts have been breached and change your password on those sites also. Good advice: never ever reuse a password on more than one site. BTW, to be "pwned" is slang for being totally defeated (as in a computer online game).

    Here is a quote from their privacy policy: "We do not collect or store your personal information when you conduct a search in the HIBP database. Searching for an email address or phone number only ever retrieves the data from storage then returns it in the response. The data from the search is not explicitly stored anywhere."

  • Hasso-Plattner-Institut Identity Check5 stars is much like Have I Been Pawned in that it shows if your email address has been compromised. It sends the results to your email so it is more private and it indicates what has been breached.
  • Clario5 stars has an article that shows what companies collect what data and also shows how they share it.
  • Privacy Not Included is a Mozilla project that shows what personal infomation is collected by specific product vendors. You can vote on how "creepy" you feel a product is (that is, how creepy you feel about how the vendor uses your data) and then see how others voted.
  • Most Invasive Apps (2025) is a list of apps that indicates how invasive they are. The data table shows the percentage of your data that is collected and sold to third parties. Facebook, Amazon Prime, Google, LinkedIn, G-Mail, TikTok, and YouTube are among the worst.
  • Annual Credit Report is a site that will provide you with credit reports from the big three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You will need to fill out a form that requires your current and previous address along with the usual identifying data such as birthdate, phone, and social security number.
  • IndentityTheft.gov has information on what to do if you believe your identity has been stolen.
  • IdTheftCenter has information on how to protect your identity including weekly reports of data breaches and scams via podcasts. The site has a newsletter
  • How To Freeze Your Credit Accounts This site has links to the three major credit bureaus. You need to set up an account at each of the bureaus so that you can request a freeze on your credit which can be reversed within 24 hrs at your descretion when you may need to borrow money.
  • Essential Apps For Protecting Your Privacy (2024) PCmag article that reviews ten software offerings that will help you stay private. Most have fees and all are inconvenient to some degree. This is what the state of data privacy has come to.
  • Privacy Guides This is an organization that reviews and recommends privacy software including browsers, VPNs, and email clients.
  • Passkeys Directory is a database of vendors that accept passkey authentication. The database is supported by the public and is sponsored by 1Password.
  • Fake Email Addresses5 stars This is a trick for Gmail accounts where you use a plus sign or period to create a legal, but unique, email address based on your real address. This is very useful when signing up for junk, newsletters, etc.
  • 4 Free Temporary Mail Services This article (2025) reviews a handful of sites that provide temporary email addresses that can be used to avoid using your real email address. This prevents your real email address from falling into the hands of spammers.
  • RestorePrivacy5 stars has news of data breaches and has recommendations for various applications that are better at keeping your data secure. The site has a great set of how-to articles on improving your data security.
  • Five Free Privacy Tools (2022) These suggestions include apps to block trackers, email address and phone number substitution services, etc.
  • How To Remove Your Data From The Internet (2022) Hint: it ain't easy
  • How To Delete Your Facebook Account
  • Big Ass Data Broker Opt Out List is a large collection of links to forms which allow you to opt out of search sites and other sites that collect your data and make it available to others.
  • How to Delete Your Information From People Search Sites is a Consumer Reports article with a lot of good information. Depressing but useful information.
  • Terms of Service - Didn't Read TOSDR - gives a very concise, easy to understand overview of the terms of service at major Web sites and services. You didn't read them, probably. Most likey, not all of the terms. Well, here is your chance to see what rights you are giving away by using Google, Twitter, Wikipedia, Quora, etc.
  • Paranoid's Guide to Protecting Your Personal Data is a great series of articles from ComputerWorld which includes many techniques.
  • Essential Apps For Protecting Your Privacy Online5 stars These are apps that you want to look at if you want to get serious about your privacy. It gets expensive.
  • Simple Opt Out5 stars has a huge list of companies with links to simple explanations for how you can opt out of their data collection policies.
  • How To Set Up A Digital Dead Man's Switch This article shows you how to have a site send you emails which you must respond to periodically or the site will send your instructions to someone of your choice to alert them of your death.
  • Streaming Box Security The article reviews a number of security settings for streaming services and TVs.
  • Best Secure Routers Michael Horowitz starts from the state of current routers and makes a good case for how terribly insecure they are. He makes some suggestions for more secure alternatives. Eye-opening article.
  • Router Security Michael Horowitz gives excellent advice on securing your home router.
  • Best Cloud Backup Services (2022) is a PCWorld article that reviews 6 backup services.
  • Stay Safe Online - Tips on home security from the National Cyber Security Alliance
  • Terms of Service Didn't Read is a "...user rights initiative to rate and label website terms and privacy policies..." It translates the legalese so you can understand what you are consenting to and what options you have.
  • Microsoft Safety and Security Center
  • Create Passwords with Dice
  • CorrectHorseBatteryStaple is an easy to use, easy to remember, password generator.
  • Five Reasons Why You Need a Password Generator (2020) Excellent article has five very good suggestions for password generator apps.
  • Seven Ways to Create Secure and Memorable Passwords (2020) Good tips on creating strong passwords that you can remember.
  • Databreaches.net is a blog that collects info about data breaches. Very eye-opening.
  • A Complete Guide To Airtags - the bluetooth tracking device from Apple.
  • Malware Tips is a forum that specializes in malware issues including software, VPN, troubleshooting, etc. Very extensive.
  • Folder Protection with Windows Defender This articles shows how to set up Windows Defender (Windows 10) to prevent programs from writing to specified folders unless you give them permission. This protects them from most types of malware.
  • all.net - advice and links to other security resources. Leans toward the geeky side.
  • Panopticlick This site checks your browser and advises you about how much information is being leaked to outside agencies. Sponsored by EFF.
  • How to Discover Hidden Wireless Networks The article reviews a handful of wireless network tools that help identify access points and connected devices.
  • How to Know If Someone is Using My Wireless Network The article reviews a handful of wireless network freeware tools that help identify connected devices. I prefer WhoIsOnMyWifi. These are useful in checking for hidden cams in BnB's.
  • MakeUseOf Articles on Security This is a good resource for keeping up on the latest issues in PC and Internet security.
  • Mozilla Review of Device Security The makers of the Firefox browser have a site on which they report their review of how secure they judge various specific devices. They do not recommend any devices but give details on how a device may be tracking you or recording your use.
  • How to Set Up DNS Over HTTPS On Windows 10
  • How to Set Up DNS Over HTTPS in Firefox. Encrypts DNS requests in addition to the usual HTTPS protection.
  • DNS Over HTTPS Servers - from the GitHub site.
  • Best DDNS Providers Dynamic DNS is useful if your Internet Service Provider changes your IP address often and you want to set up a local Web server or service that requires a known IP address.
  • Best DNS To Improve Online Security This 2024 article reviews a handful of domain name servers that improve your online browsing security.
  • How Your Internet Speed Is Affected By The DNS You Use This 2024 article explains how DNS work and how they affect the speed you experience on the Internet. It also has details about how to set your DNS on various browsers and devices.
  • How to Encrypt Your Email
  • Pixel Privacy is a blog about Internet based privacy. The site has articles on how to improve your privacy on your phone, on Facebook, using password managers, etc. Simple, straight forward stuff.
  • AV Test These folks test the effectiveness of anti-virus programs and rate them every month. This article shows the results for Windows based antivirus programs.
  • AmIUnique Visit this site to find out how unique your browser fingerprint is. If it is not very unique, then you are being tracked.
  • DeviceInfo shows how much information is available to the sites that you visit.
  • CoverYourTracks is an EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) site that shows you how much of a fingerprint your browser leaves to identify you.
  • Privacy Tools is a collection of freeware that is useful when trying to protect your privacy.
  • Hide Your MAC Address shows you how.
  • Malwarebytes Research Center is a good source for news of current malware and scam threats.
  • AntiOnline is a very busy forum that handles all types of computer security issues. The "What´s New" tab is helpful to get a snapshot of the issues of the day.
  • How To Use Windows 11 Pro To Create An Encrypted Virtual Drive
Network
Technical Support
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Adobe
  • Microsoft Support
  • Dell Support
  • Gateway Support
  • Tech Support Forum
  • Tech Support Guy - tech support forums
  • Microsoft Technet used to be a chargeable item but is now free.
  • GeeksToGo Forum
  • WordPerfect Knowledge Base5 stars contains years of support questions and answers.
  • How to Create a Word Form
  • Slipstick - info on Outlook and Exchange.
  • How-To-Outlook offers help with all versions of Outlook.
  • Outlook-Tips has a whole bunch of tips on how to use Outlook.
  • Office Portal Status - check to see if the Office 365 servers are up and running.
  • Windows 11 Forum is a busy forum that discusses all issues related to the Windows operating system including a section dedicated to news and rumor.
  • UtterAccess - Access database forum - very active.
  • Access Web is a helpful site for those who use Microsoft's Access.
  • Adobe Forums is a pretty good forum for Adobe products.
  • Windows Secrets Lounge has a lot of Windows forums that can get pretty deep at times. The site has been transferred to AskWoody.com as of December, 2018.
  • Attachmate
  • Factory Reset has manuals and drivers for computers.
  • MakeUseOfPDF Guides MakeUseOf has a nice little collection of small PDF manuals covering topics like Linux to Digital Photography to Gmail.
  • Computer Hope has some very easy to understand information on computers and peripherals and is meant to be a support site. It has links to drivers. Good site for beginners and browsing.
  • Developer offers help to developers.
  • Tek Tips - a collection of technical support forums with a good search engine. Requires registration and use of a password.
  • Computing.net lets you asks questions and the community of users will answer. You can browse the previously submitted material. No registration required.
  • TechSupport Alert has a number of how-to's and a list of free support sites and support sites that charge a fee.

    • Expert Sites:
  • Experts-Exchange You are given points which you can use to ask questions of 'experts'. Wide variety of categories.
  • FAQs.org - is an archive of FAQs found on the Web. This is a voluminous collection and covers every conceivable topic from mental depression to linux to religion.
  • Printer Techs - laser printer maintenance and fixes
  • Dr Watson - how to use the Dr. Watson program in Windows to debug crashes and shutdowns.
  • C|Net's Forums - get help on just about anything computer related - read what others say.
  • Tech Recipes - a blog around short little how-to's related to Windows, MySQL, UNIX, Programming, and a few other categories.
  • Ask Leo - Leo is Leo Notenboom who answers questions about computers and related topics. Answers are generally pretty good and are aimed at the novice to intermediate user.
  • Help with PCs has a lot of information and detailed instructions aimed at the everyday user.
  • Online Tech Tips - has a lot of tips in blog format. There are a lot of categories.
  • Ask Woody Forums has a very active forum community. The site also sponosors a free newsletter that includes security alerts and other timely advice. This site replaces the Windows Secrets site as of December 2018.
  • Failing Hard Drive Sounds - provides the actual sound of various types of hard drive failures. It even has specific sounds for the drives of various vendors.
  • The Tech Support Guy has active forums related to PC assistance and troubleshooting including operating systems, networking, email, digital photography, etc.
  • Computer Hope has news and forums related to computer support. You have to register to post to the forum but you can browse for free.
  • 10 Professional Sample Code Sites where a programmer can find some cute-and-paste code, tutorials, algorithm discussions, etc.
  • Bleeping Computer has forums, tutorials, startup lists, etc.
  • Cybertech Help has a bunch of forums.
  • AskVG has a lot of tech info that is not obviously available elsewhere.
  • How to Delete Accounts from social media Web services like Flickr and Google.
  • How to Use Linux to Fix a Windows System This is a great article that shows how to create a bootable version of Linux on a USB memory stick. Once you have Linux running, you can use it to recover Windows passwords, move files off the computer to a backup disk, run antivirus software on it, etc.
  • How to Safely Uninstall Ubuntu from a Dual Boot Environment is not as easy as you might think.
  • Dong Knows Tech Good site for how-to's and tech reviews, mostly wifi related.
Tech Tutorials
VPN (Virtual Private Network
AI/GPT
  • GPT4All This is an open source project that makes Large Language Model databases available to the public for download. This apparently solves some privacy issues since the program works on an isolated machine and does not depend on access to the Internet once loaded.
  • Perplexity uses AI databases (includinng GPT) to answer your questions. The page presentation is clean and is easy to use. The privacy statement for the site does not have a lot of yadda-yadda in it but there are enough caveats to make it unclear how private this engine is. There is paid subscription and a free service. The latter limits your inquiries to 4 an hour. You can limit the focus of the inquiry to academic databases, Reddit, or YouTube. There are enough other features to make this an interesting page.

Raspberry Pi

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