How to Protect Your Boot Drive with BitLocker – When it comes to protecting the data on your computer, you can’t do better than strong encryption. Properly encrypted, your files are safe even if a ne’er-do-well gains access to your computer, either physically or through a network. In the past, we’ve discussed how to use various encryption tools to encrypt individual files or create virtual, encrypted drives. Now, we’ll look at how to get maximum security by encrypting your boot disk using the BitLocker full-drive encryption system that’s built into Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise.
The Best Free Android Apps of 2011 – From word games to new social networks and streaming services, it was a very good year for beefing up your Android device without having to drop a single dime. Here are some recommendations.
How to Pick the Right Power Supply – We’re not going to get too deep into the inner workings of the PC power supply, but it’s worth talking a bit about the basics of how they work before we dive into what to buy. Note that all references to household current are U.S. numbers, so adjust accordingly if you’re reading this in a different part of the world.
Hacker says he broke into Texas water plant, others – Annoyed with the downplaying of the risk to critical infrastructure systems, a hacker targets a water plant in South Houston following news of an Illinois water plant intrusion. Was U.S. water utility hacked last week?
App Uses Your Webcam to Detect Your Heart and Breathing Rates – A new iOS app tries to monitor your heart rate and breathing rate using nothing but the iPad 2’s camera.
New Kernel Patch Slashes Linux’s Power Appetite – Thanks to this long-awaited fix, Linux users on laptops could soon enjoy longer battery life.
Lawsuit claims Grooveshark workers posted 100,000 pirated songs – Universal Music claims that employees of the Grooveshark streaming service systematically uploaded unauthorized music to the service.
Holiday Shopper Beware: Smartphone Thieves Are Getting Smarter – Smartphones galore, harried shoppers, crowded places, all make up an environment rife with theft.
SOPA’s latest threat: IP blocking, privacy-busting packet inspection – A little-noticed section of the Stop Online Piracy Act could require deep-packet inspection and blocking IP addresses of copyright-infringing Web sites, a significant change from earlier versions.
Company News:
LogMeIn Rescue Adds iPhone, iPad, Android Capabilities – The latest version of LogMeIn Rescue, LogMeIn’s remote support offering, introduces mobile device configuration capabilities to troubleshoot and secure smart devices in the field. Designed for mobile operators, customer care organizations and IT help desks, Rescue provides a single, Web-based tool for remotely supporting tablets, smartphones and computers running iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows, Windows Mobile, and Mac OS X.
Buy now, if you dare: Microsoft takes orders for $8,400 table PC – Microsoft has put its second-generation Surface unit on sale ahead of shipping it next year. The $8,400 unit made its debut at CES earlier this year.
Off Topic (Sort of):
Hello, Siri, People Aren’t Obsolete Yet – Only humans can solve problems. Most end users come to you because they need a problem solved. Companies whose people can solve customer problems are gold. They will help retain customers even when a competitor lowers prices. Here’s what else humans can do.
Stephen Hawking: Colonize space, or else – In recent times, famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has become something of a hawk when it comes to human survival.
How Tech Will Change How We Work – Mobility, social networking and other technologies are changing the way we live and the way we work. Here’s a look at how these advances will fundamentally change how and where we work in the years ahead.
Student catches bullying teacher on cell phone video – The thing about cell phone video is that it can capture people in their natural state. According to ABC News, Artuz had already told his parents that his teacher, Steven Roth, was treating him in a less than educative manner. His parents didn’t believe him. His father–also named Julio–was so skeptical that he told his son to prove it. So angling his cell phone in a highly professional manner, young Julio captured Roth calling him a “tard.” He was also the object of an old school classic: “I will kick your ass from here to kingdom come until I’m 80 years old.”
Why Are LCD TV Prices Falling? You’re Not Buying, That’s Why – Slumping demand in Western Europe and North America are primarily to blame for the poor performance of sales of LCD TV panels, an analyst says.
Today’s Quote:
“Two wrongs don’t make a right, but they make a good excuse.”
– Thomas Szasz
Today’s Free Downloads:
Emsisoft Emergency Kit 1.0.0.25 – The Emsisoft Emergency Kit contains a collection of programs that can be used without a software installation to scan and clean infected computers for malware.
GPU Monitor 5.4 – GPU Monitor lets you monitor the most recent stats of your NVIDIA or AMD/ATI Desktop Graphic Card. It does not require any 3rd party applications.
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