TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) with Bill Blinn

Several ways exist to test your internet connection speed and it's a good idea to check at least occasionally to ensure that your internet service provider isn't shortchanging you. We'll take a look at five options. In Short Circuits: An app that allows employees to communicate anonymously with each other and with people in related businesses will probably be near the top of the HR department's list of apps to detest. If you think you've won the Facebook lottery, you have another think coming. The appeal of on-line grocery shopping has attracted few people so far, but the market segment is growing. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Popular health information site WebMD will soon be available in China. • Virtual reality is being tested as a way to help younger people understand the problems of aging. • Peripheral maker Kensington thinks you should use a base to raise your monitor and, while you're at it, place a fan under the monitor stand.

With a variety of free office suites available, is sticking with Microsoft's $100-per-year offering the right choice? Let's look at the history of suites and then consider what's available now. In Short Circuits: To avoid installing a virus accidentally, it's a good idea to do more than just depend on an antivirus application. Even Linux users need to start taking malware seriously. We'll examine why that is. In Spare Parts (only on the website): It's all too easy to give away our private information and companies that want that information make it even easier. • An email arrives with 3 attached purchase orders. Would you be curious enough to open them? • Not all virtual private networks are secure according to a report from TechPro Research. • Doubtless you already hold robocallers in low esteem and now there's another good reason to dislike them.

Data protection firm Cybereason says Macs are now one of the most serious security threats in businesses and other enterprises. That statement will surprise a lot of people and anger some, but it shouldn't be rejected. In Short Circuits: It's been 20 years since Apple introduced the IMac, a computer that was so different from previous Apple computers that it nearly caused a user revolt, but it also set the stage for Apple's current successes. If you ever need to help friends fix problems with their computers, you'll want to check out Aero Admin. It's a screen sharing support tool with an amazingly capable free version. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The monthly Microsoft patches that were released this week correct 50 flaws, of which 17 are critical. • Malwarebytes has just released a version of their protective application for IOS devices.

If you need to buy a new monitor, you'll have several questions to consider: The physical size and the number of pixesl are two of the key considerations. The number of options has increased a lot, so let's take a look. Also: A company with the ironic name Securus was hacked and thousands of accounts have been exposed. This is the 600th TechByter podcast. In Spare Parts: Virtual private network technology can reveal geographically blocked content. Travel industry sites are under attack and the torrent is increasing.

Anyone who needs to document on-screen applications will appreciate some of the new capabilities in the 2018 version of TechSmith's Camtasia that also brings the MacOS version closer to duplicating the Windows version. In Short Circuits: Browser security is more important every day. A new version of Firefox adds some safety features and Mozilla is developing a process that might be able to warn users when a site that has their credentials has been attacked. It's vacation season, so maybe now is a good time to think about how to improve selfies. Package non-delivery scams seemed to disappear from the face of the internet a year or more ago, but now they're back. In Spare Parts (only on the website): A company that offers one-hour delivery of beer, wine, and spirits has expanded to 100 markets. • Mobile payment systems continue to gain acceptance, but some of the big players are dealing with declines.

Last week we talked about the importance of updating your router's firmware to avoid a nasty flaw, but the files on your computer are vulnerable even with the latest firmware because no security system is perfect. That's why this week's topic is backup. In Short Circuits: TechSmith has a new version of Camtasia. Although I haven't yet had time to review it, the update appears to be a good one. A popular game is being advertised as available for Android devices even though it isn't. There's a profit motive behind the scam. Adobe is working on a new project called Rush that might make video editing more accessible to everyone. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Inventors are examining ways to allow highways to create the electricity needed for nearby devices. • Workers say that they're generally optimistic about artificial intelligence, but feel that the technology needs to be controlled by law. • Three-D printing has been around for a while and now the latest thing is 3D scanning.

A firmware update is available for most routers designed for home and small-office use. Firmware updates are easy to miss, but the current updates are important because they patch a security flaw that can give criminals access to the router and let them see any information sent to or from your network. In Short Circuits: This week Net Neutrality ended. There's still a possible way to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's decision, but it involves voters convincing Congress to act. Don't hold your breath. Adobe has patched another zero-day exploit in Flash. Apple has plans to improve MacOS security. Honda and GM are partnering for battery research and development. In Spare Parts (only on the website): This month's patches from Microsoft correct 11 critical flaws and another 49 that are rated as "important". • Acronis plans to establish a technology park. • Starting this week, you'll see some changes if you use Office.com or Office 365.

Anyone who's planning to create a website, will probably work with a visual editor such as Adobe Dreamweaver. To learn what goes on behind the scenes, though, nothing beats a little preliminary learning with a non-visual editor. In Short Circuits: Certain sounds can cause your computer to crash and might even harm the computer's hard disk, but it's a long shot. Companies that provide home health care can reduce the number of hospital readmissions for many chronic diseases, but only if they act promptly. Technology comes to the rescue. If you're using an older version of Chrome or Firefox, a new technique can be used to steal information as you visit websites. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Poor customer experience seems to be the norm on federal websites and, according to Forrester Research, conditions aren't improving. • Most Americans say the internet has made their lives better, but has worsened society overall and they're worried that tech companies don't consider the impact of their products and services.

If you're thinking about buying a new camera, it's important to consider more than megapixels. Even low-end cameras have plenty of pixels these days, so let's look at one other specification that's important to know. In Short Circuits: Have you rebooted your router yet? A significant security problem could allow hackers, believed to be Russian, to gain access to it. A couple of companies are talking about creating driverless delivery vehicles. States are expected to stampede into a vacuum created by a Supreme Court ruling that allows them to permit on-line sports betting. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Read the FBI's full statement on router security. • Alien Skin, the creator of many plug-ins for Photoshop, has been around for 25 years and is offering some attractive sale prices, but only for a few days. • Automation eliminates some jobs and may create others.

No matter which operating system runs your computer, there are tips and tricks that make tasks easier or faster or less annoying. This week we'll take a look at some that apply to Windows and the MacOS. In Short Circuits: Website owners should beware of messages that appear to be warnings from their hosting company. Scammers are trying to steal login credentials, but it's easy to spot a phony. The most dangerous application on your computer continues to be the one that sends and receives email. In Spare Parts (only on the website): A new botnet can control some 5000 websites, more than half of them on servers operated by GoDaddy according to security firm Proofpoint. • Serious gamers need to shell out a lot of money for their computers, but the specifications for these machines are astounding. • If you're not ready yet for a self-driving car, you're in the majority. • New European Union privacy rules went into effect on 25 May and they affect the operation of websites outside of Europe.