Your internet connection, web sites and services.
Internet and Web
How can I avoid CAPTCHA?
Episode 1609
Joe fromJoe is sick of CAPTCHA, which he gets when using Google and his VPN. But not when he uses BING. Can he get rid of CAPTCHA? Leo says that those are in place because there are so many bots online. It's just Google making sure you are indeed a real person online. You can also use Google.com/NCR, which apparently removes captcha. Check out this link on REDDIT - https://www.reddit.com/r/VPN/comments/8dx45z/any_way_to_reduce_google_captcha_annoyances_for/.
How can I delete my Facebook account?
Episode 1609
Ellie fromEllie would like to get rid of her account on Facebook. Completely. Leo says that you don't really have to do that unless you really want to. He suggests starting by taking the app off your phone. But thanks to the GDPR regulations from the EU, Facebook has made it easy. Go to deleteFacebook.com. It gives you a link directly to the Facebook delete page. Facebook will first deactivate your account for a month. After that, it will be permanently deleted. If you visit Facebook once during that time, it will assume you don't want to delete your account.
Facebook makes a profit on a record $5 Billion Fine by the FTC
Episode 1609
After agreeing to a consent decree to protect user privacy in 2011, Facebook has been fined $5 billion for failing to obey the decree. It's the largest fine in the history of the Federal Trade Commission, but it didn't really hurt Facebook, as the stock market rewarded the social media company with a $6 billion stock bump. This leaves Leo to wonder if you can really fine Facebook enough to make it hurt and if the only way to punish the social media giant is to stop using it.
Johnny Jet ... Hotspotted
Episode 1608
App of the week - PRUVO. It'll help you save money after you book a hotel room. When you book a refundable room and forward it at save@provo.net. They will monitor it and let you know when the price goes down. Then they will help you rebook under the better rate, saving you a lot of money. Android and iOS, plus online at Pruvo.net.
Are Hotspots Secure?
Episode 1608
Tucker fromTucker wants to use a captive portal wifi hotspot, but is it secure? Some are poorly made and can leak your data, others can sell data or even input advertising into it. Is Opera a good one? Leo says it's not exactly a VPN, and by giving away the service, that costs money. So they have to be making money somehow. Also, it's not strictly a VPN, it's a proxy service. One thing that Leo recommends is the Tiny Hardware Firewall. It has a built-in webserver, dual wifi radios, and a built-in hardware firewall.
Can I Filter Search Results on Google by Date?
Episode 1607
Jerry fromJerry wants to know if Google search has a date when a website was last updated. Leo says that would be a cool feature, and Google used to do that. Leo says there is a button on Google's search settings for ADVANCED. You can narrow results by the last update. That will weed out anything that isn't too old.
Why is My Internet Speed So Slow?
Episode 1607
Ryan fromRyan got a new modem because his ISP is now giving him faster download speeds. But when he plugs in his router, it slows down to a crawl. Leo says that since the router is new, it should be fine. Try a different ethernet cable. If the cable is old, it may not handle the bandwidth. Then, try another computer and see if you can replicate the issue. If you can't, then that will point to something on your computer. It may be the ethernet port is too old. Also, update the firmware of your router.
Caller has Fun with Phishing Scammers
Episode 1607
Dave fromDave got a call that his computer was hacked. Knowing he was being phished, he decided to have some fun with them (especially since he doesn't have a computer). Leo says it's good that Dave gave them a taste of their own medicine, but it's sad that we have to deal with scammers and end up using so much energy to protect ourselves. But while it's great Dave knew and was able to turn the tables on them, it's always best to just hang up.
How Can I Learn About the Latest Technology and Smartphones?
Episode 1607
Brian fromBrian got off the internet two years ago. Now he's back on and he's wondering how to catch up and learn stuff. Leo says that these days, people learn to do things by going to YouTube. Anything you need to learn is probably available as a video on youtube. Local community colleges also usually have extension courses that you can learn for cheap. Online, there's a great site called HowToGeek.
Why Won't My New Lightning Cable Work with My iPod?
Episode 1607
Char fromChar bought a cable for his iPod on Amazon and it wouldn't transfer data. Leo says that sometimes there are cheap cables that don't have the data channel, and are only meant for charging. The real problem is, Amazon doesn't check to make sure the vendors aren't misrepresenting their products, and it's easy to get snookered. Let the buyer beware.
