Rick's Daily Tips - Tech Tips, Techniques and Tutorials

Review: Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SATA III Internal SSD

Posted on October 17, 2017

Thanks to the advent of 3D V-NAND and other new flash memory technologies, solid state drives are getting both larger and less expensive all the time.

While SSDs are still considerably more expensive than hard drives with the same amount of storage capacity, the cost differential is now smaller than ever.

A perfect example is the new Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SATA III Internal SSD, one of the largest commonly available solid state drives on the market today. I recently had the opportunity to check one out, and I came away quite impressed. [Read more…]

Scam alert: Newly-discovered security flaw makes every Wi-Fi device you own vulnerable to hackers

Posted on October 17, 2017

Well, it’s a new day, and yet another serious security issue has arisen. And this one affects literally every device you own that communicates over Wi-Fi.

CyberSecurity Researchers have discovered a critical flaw in the WPA2 security protocol that can allow hackers to eavesdrop on (and even hijack) your Wi-Fi communications, regardless of how securely your devices and network are locked down.

This vulnerability is present in every Wi-Fi enabled router, computer, smart phone, tablet, smart watch…well, you get the picture. If it communicates over Wi-Fi, its connection can be hacked! [Read more…]

Use an IP Camera and your mobile device to monitor your house while on vacation

Posted on October 17, 2017

Are you planning on taking a well-deserved vacation but worry about vandals and burglars ransacking your home while you’re gone? Unfortunately, in today’s world that is a very valid concern.

A good home security system is a great deterrent, but not every home needs a full-blown system like that.

Depending on your home’s size and layout, an inexpensive and strategically placed IP camera or two could be all you need keep an “eye” on your house while you’re out of town using your smart phone, tablet or laptop computer.

IP cameras work by transmitting video and/or still images to your Wi-Fi router, allowing you to monitor the area that’s in view of the camera from anywhere in the world via your mobile device. [Read more…]

Picture of the Day: “Orange Sunrise”

Posted on October 17, 2017

Today’s “Picture of the Day” features a very golden sunrise over the marshes of England’s Tetney Haven. I hope you like it.

Thanks for checking out the “Picture of the Day”!

Did you know that Amazon has thousands of Kindle ebooks on photography, from beginner to advanced – and every level in between?

Many titles are absolutely free, and you won’t even need a Kindle device to enjoy them!

Click here to check out the awesome selection of free and low-cost photography ebooks at Amazon!

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

How to check if a used phone has been reported lost or stolen before you buy it

Posted on October 16, 2017

It’s no secret that some modern smartphones cost as much as a decent computer system. That’s why used phones are in such high demand these days.

Buying a used smartphone sight-unseen is a risky endeavor because there’s no way to know how much abuse the device has received or what kind of shape it’s actually in.

Even worse, if the phone you’re thinking about purchasing was lost or stolen it could well be locked in order to prevent it from being activated by a new owner – which could be you if you end up buying it.

Things are easier if you’re buying a used phone in person because you can actually hold it in your hand and make sure it works.

If it powers up and you can make phone calls and send text messages on it, the odds are pretty decent that it hasn’t either been stolen or lost by the original owner and “found” by the seller. [Read more…]