2017-08 Windows SMB Users at Risk: Block These Ports to Protect Yourself
Cast your mind back to May 2017. FBI Director James Comey was fired, terrorists struck an Arianna Grande concert in Manchester, and the world fell victim to the WannaCry ransomware attack. WannaCry infected more than 230,000 computers across 150 countries. It brought the United Kingdom’s health service to a standstill, crashed cell phone networks in Spain, and caused long delays on Germany’s railways. In short, it was one of the worst cyber attacks the world had ever seen. Now, three months later, you mi...
Posted on August 17th, 2017
2017-08 It’s Not Wolfram Alpha: Solve Any Math Equation With Symbolab
If you haven’t heard about Wolfram Alpha, then you probably aren’t interested enough in facts, data, or the Star Trek computer. The computational search engine does a few things that even Google can’t do, and also has its everyday productive uses. In short, it’s a great educational tool, and everyone should check out Wolfram Alpha’s Problem Generator. But every dumbfounded student knows that you need more than one lasso to tame the perils of mathematics… so enter Symbolab Math Solver. A Search Engine for...
Posted on August 17th, 2017
2017-08 Instinctively Shoot a Bow and Arrow
For thousands of years, humans have used the bow and arrow for hunting and warfare. Today, you can buy bows equipped with devices and sights to help you aim accurately and hit a bull’s-eye almost every time they’re drawn. For example, with a fixed pin sight, an archer has a guide that shows how to adjust his aim to ensure he hits the target no matter the distance.
But ancient archers had to learn how to aim without sights. This skill — called instinctive shooting — requires years of trial and error to m...
Posted on August 16th, 2017
2017-08 Docs.com Alternatives for Online File Sharing
On December 15, 2017, Microsoft is shutting down Docs.com, one of the arms of its Office Suite ecosystem. Current users of Docs.com have been told to migrate their files to another service or online storage. Docs.com was an easy way to share Office files online. It lets you publish your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for the world to see. An integration with Office 365 Online meant that it was easier to publish any file you saved on OneDrive. So where do you go once Docs.com stops working? He...
Posted on August 16th, 2017
2017-08 Download Thousands of Free Music Tracks on YouTube Legally
By now, you know that YouTube isn’t only for watching cat videos and smartphone voyeurism. If you’re smart, it can be your go-to place for learning new skills and finding gems for research. But one of the best uses for YouTube is as a source of free music that you can legally download for free and use for all kinds of projects and endeavors. Grab Royalty-Free Music for Any Use The YouTube Audio Library launched in 2013 with 1,000+ free musical tracks. Thanks to our growing smartphone video production ski...
Posted on August 16th, 2017
2017-08 Site to Send Free Text Messages to Cell Phones (SMS)
Even though users are slowly moving away from SMS text messages to other forms of text messaging, SMS text messages still have their uses. For example, if you have a family member with a dumb phone, they may only be able to receive SMS text messages. We’ve already covered various ways to improve your SMS experience: checking messages from a PC, using alternative SMS messaging apps, and scheduling SMS messages for later. But here’s another nifty trick you should know: how to send free messages to anyone f...
Posted on August 16th, 2017
2017-08 IFTTT Alternatives You Might Not Have Heard About
IFTTT has developed a reputation for itself as the leading automation app. Using a series of conditional statements, you can make certain events trigger specific actions. For example, you could use the app to supercharge your Kindle, connect your wink hub to other devices in your home, or even beat procrastination. There are two primary reasons why IFTTT has grown in popularity. First, it’s free to use. Second, it integrates with a vast number of services. But just because IFTTT is so popular, it doesn’t...
Posted on August 15th, 2017
2017-08 Is Your Router Slow? It Might Be Your NAT Table
The network address translation (NAT) table is what allows devices on a private network to access a public network, such as the internet. There is often only one entry point between the public network and the private network, and that entry point is usually a router. The router itself has a public-facing IP address, but the devices on the private network ("hidden" behind the router) only have private IP addresses. When data packets move from the private network to the public network, those private IP add...
Posted on August 15th, 2017