COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Stanley]

Consult Pluggy David. He will doubtless have sage advice for you.
Just remembered the days when 'virus protection' cost me money. Does it still exist?

[PanBiker]

So have the lads at Windows. I've had two full security updates in the last few days. I'm not looking forward to Windows 7 losing support soon, though I suppose I'll adapt .

Upgrade to Windows 10, I did all my machines when it was offered as a free upgrade, not sure if that is still the case. Windows Defender and Firewall built in. Regular background updates, (normally on Tuesdays or Wednesdays) with larger upgrades notified and scheduled for convenience. Turn of all the bits you don't want and you are sorted.

[Tripps]

Just remembered the days when 'virus protection' cost me money. Does it still exist?

I rely on the Windows feature, plus Avast anti virus - their free version, and have done for more than ten years now. Touch wood - never had a virus problem, and only about two or three warnings that I was under attack. I've just done full scan, and as always they try to get me to pay for the full version.

I'm sure Pluggy would have something to say about it all, but it works for me.

[Pluggy]

I refer you to Panbiker's answer. Use the bulit in Windows 10 defender.

[Big Kev]

Windows Defender does it for me, I've binned Avast.

[Stanley]

Sorry to report I do nothing, I just rely on Linux to shield me.

[Big Kev]

Sorry to report I do nothing, I just rely on Linux to shield me.

Basically the same as Windows 10 and Defender, 'built in' security.

[Stanley]

[Tizer]

Some people will love this, others will hate it...
`Amazon gets closer to getting Alexa everywhere' LINK

[Stanley]

This 'people' hates the idea!

[Tizer]

Me too!

Here's an example of what's going on in social media advertising and why the Electoral Commission needs to keep an eye on such things:
`Election ads: Energy group attacks Labour nationalisation plans' LINK

[plaques]

Just move the bill to the Lobby group and spending restrictions on electioneering become meaningless. As they say, Money Talks.

[Stanley]

Unfortunately that has always been true P. My Rotten Boroughs example is a good indicator.

[Whyperion]

Some people will love this, others will hate it...
`Amazon gets closer to getting Alexa everywhere' LINK

I use google for searches - maybe I should try something else, sometimes If I want USA results I get UK, sometimes its the other way round. I also get suggestions that dont have what I searched for, or mis-spellings.

[plaques]

Still in my convalescent mode from my flu, it actually was flu, I played around with a couple of things which had been bugging me for some time. Result, One success, one failure.
The success, if you can call it that, was exposing all the various passwords that I'd asked the computer to save instead of re-entering them on each call up. This all started because the smart TV asked for it when I logged into One Guy. With memory failing and the TV making life difficult, I found that in windows 10 you can open up these passwords but need the window's user name and password, But there's the rub, what is my user name? opening up the command box and entering 'whoami' gives you your name. The rest is history to be forgotten again.
The failure, smart TV wins this one. Onto Google maps. 'Your operating system needs to be updated' then gives a choice. Ours is a LG smart which runs WebOS. which was not on their list, Tried the other downloads but nothing appeared to happen. Brain now flatlining so I gave in. Any Ideas anybody?

[Stanley]

I don't even know what WebOS is! So no useful advice from this quarter old friend....
I had my own problems this morning. Up at Sparrow Fart as usual and no TalkTalk connection so I looked at pics in my archive for two hours. It came back online at 05:00 and I got my 'not dead behind the door' messages out on email and Whatsapp, checked the Bridgetown to Manchester flight was on final approach and bugger me, it vanished again. Shut everything down and went for a half hour's walk. Came back and it is established again. I hope they do a bit better this time!

[Big Kev]

Openreach have been and wired me up, local satellite installer came round too and fitted a dish. TV Is up on the wall in the front room and we have t'internet, hurrah!

[PanBiker]

WebOS is a version of Linux used as the OS on LG and other makes of smart TV's. I would have thought that if your TV is cabled up to the internet it shuold be able to find any updates that it requires. Having said that could it be the case that Google maps is no longer compatible with WebOS?

WebOS info here:

WebOS Version History

My TV is a not too smart Samsung HD jobby, no built in apps and the like. My Humax box can have apps added from the Humax website but they don't include t'internet or any from the Google stable, I can get YouTube via the sat box though and some of the pay per view channels.

[Big Kev]

My TV is a not too smart Samsung HD jobby, no built in apps and the like. My Humax box can have apps added from the Humax website but they don't include t'internet or any from the Google stable, I can get YouTube via the sat box though and some of the pay per view channels.

I have Netflix set up on my Humax Freesat box along with the BBC iPlayer, they probably get more use than 'live' TV. There are a few interesting programmes on the Yesterday stream on the UKTVPlay app too. Abandoned Engineering has some good bits

[PanBiker]

Same here Kev, I just have what was set up from new. Not added any more from the Humax site.

[chinatyke]

Checked the internet speed when I came home and I'm getting 25 - 30 Mbps download instead of the 100 Mbps that I pay for. I'm now in touch with China Telecom, my ISP, who I usually refer to as The Corporate Thieves. It seems to be the case that if you don't use the internet, like us over the last month, it is automatically throttled back until you call them, and then like magic it is restored to full bandwidth. Now waiting for a service engineer to check it out.

[Stanley]

Go for them China!

[chinatyke]

A technician visited and soon found the problem. He immediately checked my incoming line and got 95 Mbps.Then he checked my computer upstairs and it was <10 Mbps. So it was the ethernet between my computer and the modem. He waggled a few wires at the modem and I got 95 Mbps upstairs on my computer. Problem solved. No charge! I wonder how many idiots like me he sees in his day?

I'm happy again!

[Tizer]

Here in the UK they'd have charged you £60 or more for that!

[Tripps]

He immediately checked my incoming line and got 95 Mbps.

I've just checked mine and it is a tad over 10 Mbps. The upload is less than 1 Mbps. I feel quite inadequate.

Actually I don't see it it as a problem for my usage, but my contract is nearly up so I'll amuse myself by ringing Plusnet, and seeing what they can offer me. Or maybe I'll wait for the Labour Party to come to my rescue and provide free fibre broadband.