ScottiesTechInfo

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are all the rage these days. All we hear is how Bitcoin has smashed another record high, cryptos are the future, don't miss this train, etc. The question is: How do you know what you're getting yourself into? Many people are talking of using their stimulus check to buy into Bitcoin, for example. While there is a lot of talk about blockchains and cryptos, actual simple explanations of what they are and how they work are hard to come by. How do you understand this stuff WITHOUT getting lost in a bunch of technical mumbo jumbo? Well, it's really not that complicated in the end. If you can understand a bank account and signing a check, you can understand cryptos! Goodies (affiliate links): - Trezor One crypto wallet: https://amzn.to/393NObS - Ledger Nano S crypto wallet: https://amzn.to/2PeuGkp More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Ah, the internet! It's so incredibly useful, and at the same time you won't find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Well, technically, it's more useful than villain-y. Still, it's good to be careful! So what's the best way to stay safe when using the internet? Strong passwords? Antivirus? Browser add-ons? Privacy enhancers? VPNs?! That's all well and good, but there's one trick that will never let you down... Stuff mentioned in the vid: - https://www.malwarebytes.com/ - Fix stunnel “Bad magic at ssl.c” error / crash on Ubuntu (article): https://scottiestech.info/2020/06/23/fix-stunnel-bad-magic-at-ssl-c-error-crash-on-ubuntu/ - The Biggest threat to Privacy: Browser Fingerprints (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDynjSbaCpU Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:43 Updates 2:19 Antivirus 4:49 Antimalware 8:13 Firewall 9:27 Private Browsing 10:17 Security Add-ons 11:17 VPNs 15:13 THE BIG SECRET! 17:51 What's your goal? 19:26 A story of Nosy Neighbors More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

For reasons unknown to me, other people are always asking me how to learn programming. Well, there's the traditional route: go to school, become a coder. Done! But as we all know, many of the best and most famous programmers were those who dropped out of school and were essentially self-taught. Are they onto something? Actually, yes, they are! Not only that, but most of the 'techniques' I talk about in this video are applicable to pretty much anything else you want to learn or do. Mentioned in the vid: - PikaJS: Think jQuery but smaller, lighter, and just as easy to use: https://scottiestech.info/2017/10/03/pikajs-think-jquery-but-smaller-lighter-and-just-as-easy-to-use/ - How to code smarter - now with 50% less irritation: https://scottiestech.info/2017/11/21/how-to-code-smarter-now-with-50-less-irritation/ - PikaJS on github: https://github.com/Scottie35/PikaJS More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Even if you don't know the term 'phishing scam', chances are you've already been targeted by many of them. A phishing scam is when someone uses a genuine-looking e-mail, login page, SMS, or whatever to fool you into giving up personal data - like logins, passwords, card and banking info, etc. They often involve some kind of 'hook' that makes you worried or scared. When that happens, you stop thinking and fall into the trap. But these scams are very easy to avoid with a bit of extra attention. I'll show an example of a phishing scam I received recently and then take it apart piece by piece so that next time, you'll know exactly what to look for to protect yourself. More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

In recent years, Microsoft hasn't done a very good job with updating Windows 10. Even those updates that are 'fully tested' often end up royally screwing up some computers. Everyone just assumes that a new Windows Update means crashes, blue screens, and stuff that doesn't work anymore. What if you could just roll back to before the update, and prevent it from installing again? Well, you can! And it's much easier than you think... Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:31 You can log in 2:21 You CAN'T log in 5:13 Using System Restore 6:44 Pause Updates More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

If you're a web developer, you've probably used Google's Material Design Icon font. It's a great way to include 1 small file and get gajillions of icons - instead of making 20 different pixel sizes of numerous icons, and then creating sprites and all that jazz. The trouble is that until now, there was no reference for PAST versions of the MD icon font. You're supposed to just load it from Google's servers and be happy. But what if you you don't need 1800+ icons at 102kB in file size? What if an older version of the MD icon font is just fine, you want to load the font file from your own servers or CDN, and you just want to know what icons are available in that older version? Now, you're all set! You can also use my Material Design Icon Viewer to see the differences between versions of the icon font, search for a certain icon, and even see the difference in font file sizes between versions. And then you can make a more intelligent decision as to what you really NEED in your application! Links mentioned in the vid: - Material Design Icons on Google Fonts: https://fonts.google.com/icons - Material Icons on github: https://github.com/google/material-design-icons - Scottie's Material Design Icon Viewer: https://scottiestech.info/material_icons/ - Code Example: https://scottiestech.info/2021/06/22/the-easy-way-to-use-material-design-icons/ More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Every now and then, you need to make a snapshot of what's on your screen - or maybe what's in a single application window. Most people think you need some kind of special software to take screenshots, but the truth is that it's actually a whole lot easier - and cheaper! Windows 10 has five simple ways to take screenshots. That means you're literally a keystroke away from taking as many screen captures as you want! More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Most people probably don't even notice the actual speed of their internet connection. If it 'goes fast', they're happy. What many folks don't realize is that they may be wasting a large chunk of their very high speed net connection. If you use even newer flavors of WiFi, chances are you aren't taking full advantage of the connection you're paying for! Heck, even with Ethernet, your download speeds may be lower than you think. So, how do you tell? Well, as always, it's complicated. But if you keep a few little details in mind, you can find out for yourself in just a few minutes... And then you can download at lightspeed to your heart's content! Goodies mentioned in the vid (affiliate links): - UGREEN Type A Ethernet Dongle: https://amzn.to/3uX9PCj - Anker Type C Ethernet Dongle: https://amzn.to/2RYDAnw - TP-Link TL-SGF105-M2 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Switch: https://amzn.to/3bzYSip - TRENDnet TEG-S350 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Switch: https://amzn.to/3eWKhj6 - PCI-E 2.5 Gbps Ethernet adapter for Desktop: https://amzn.to/3op4RM9 More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Microwave ovens that you use to cook food use 2.45 GHz. This is the same radio band where one finds WiFi, Bluetooth, and so on. So, why is everything lumped into this one chunk of the frequency spectrum? Is there something particularly magical about 2.4 GHz? There is a common misconception about this frequency and water. The truth, however, is far more mundane... An article about 'Electromagnetic absorption by water' that will make your brain hurt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_absorption_by_water#Rotational_spectrum More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

When it comes to privacy on the internet, the new word on the street is 'FLoC'. Led by Google, a group of businesses and advertisers is pushing a new standard that would have your browser identifying your particular group of interests (or 'cohort') by a unique ID number. This number will be sent to all sites you visit. VOILA! No more 3rd party cookies, and supposedly more privacy! Of course, there's the marketing mumbo jumbo and then there's the reality of the situation. So: What is FLoC? How does it work? And most importantly: Will it improve your privacy?? Further info on FLoC: - Building a privacy-first future for web advertising https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/2021-01-privacy-sandbox/ - Google Is Testing Its Controversial New Ad Targeting Tech in Millions of Browsers. Here’s What We Know. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/03/google-testing-its-controversial-new-ad-targeting-tech-millions-browsers-heres - Google’s FLoC Is a Terrible Idea https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/03/googles-floc-terrible-idea - Why Brave Disables FLoC https://brave.com/why-brave-disables-floc/ More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

We sometimes forget about the best tech around: LIFE! Mother Nature perfected "AI" ages ago... This little dude showed up one day. He's a hedgehog. His name is Herbie, and he's the cutest thing ever. Normally, hedgehogs are nocturnal, but Herbie showed up in the middle of a sunny Spring day right smack in the middle of the yard. Clearly, he was very sick. He could barely move, and should have been hidden away somewhere to sleep during the day. But with a little treatment, 5-star accommodations, and lots of love, he came back to life! Music from https://www.bensound.com: - Slow Motion - Little Idea - Birth of a Hero More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Most lighting these days uses LEDs. They're super-low power, provide good light, and last a long time. But you probably still have some fluorescent lights left. If you're like most people, you haven't quite gotten around to replacing them with LED tubes. You really should replace them though since LED tubes use much less power than fluorescent ones. The trouble is, it's complicated. There many types of fluorescent fixtures and rewiring is often required. So, how do you make it as easy as possible? Join me for a detailed yet simple 3-Step Guide to converting your fluorescent light fixtures to LED! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 5:06 Scottie's Guide to Fluorescent 2 LED Conversion 5:12 Step 1: Check Fixture 6:08 Tombstone Type 7:13 Single vs Double Ended LED tubes 8:31 Step 2: Buy 9:07 Color Temperature 10:23 Step 3: Install! 17:01 Multi-tube Fixtures 17:35 BONUS: Reversible Single-Ended tube Stuff to Buy (affiliate links): - Single-Ended 4000K LED tube: https://amzn.to/2YW2y7g - Double-Ended 4000K LED tube: https://amzn.to/3p28lTc - Amazon Basics Professional T8 LED tubes (low stock): https://amzn.to/3qdl4nq More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

We've heard a lot in recent years about the dangers of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). The power grid will go down, communications will be toasted, and some have even claimed that 90% of the population will be wiped out! This begs the questions: How bad is it, really? What actually happens during an EMP? Is the threat real, or have we all been watching too many Hollywood movies? Join me for a look at the complex reality of EMPs! Military specs for EMP protection: - http://everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0100-0299/MIL-STD-188_125-1_24887/ - http://everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0300-0499/MIL-STD-464C_28312/ More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Sometimes, you just need to Print Big. Historically, this was done with Microsoft's Paint application. But recently, they noted that Paint will be getting an update. If recent Microsoft 'innovations' are any indication, they'll remove this terribly useful feature. What are we supposed to do then?! It turns out you already have 2 other methods to turn a photo into a giant multi-page poster. You just don't know it yet! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:29 Paint Method 2:33 Method 2 4:25 Method 3 My original article: https://scottiestech.info/2009/08/08/how-to-easily-print-a-large-image-to-multiple-pages-in-windows/ Need a printer? (affiliate links) - Canon PIXMA MG2525 Color Inkjet: https://amzn.to/3uKIsLL - Brother HL-L3230CDW Color Laser: https://amzn.to/3b9WEXb More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

These days, you might not want too many Windows 10 updates given all the problems they tend to cause. But the fact remains that if you can't update Windows due to some cryptic error message, you're still in trouble. You're missing out on security and reliability updates that you obviously need! What to do when Windows Update keeps giving you the dreaded 'Retry' button along with an obscure error message that it can't update?? My article 'How to fix Windows Update errors, including in Windows 10': https://scottiestech.info/2015/12/13/how-to-fix-windows-update-errors-including-in-windows-10/ My video: Windows Updates broke your PC? NO PROBLEM! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NqdDXlDIXU More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

It's everywhere these days: 2FA (two-factor authentication). More and more, you must use something more than just a password to secure your online accounts. Some sites, like PayPal, are apparently requiring 2FA for everyone. So, what types of 2FA are there? Do you have to use a smartphone? Is there an alternative to SMS-based 2FA? And most importantly, is it that much safer? Finally, I reveal the other reason why everyone is pushing 2FA so much - and it doesn't have anything to do with your security or privacy! Hardware Security Keys (affiliate links): - Yubico 5 2FA USB + NFC key: https://amzn.to/2L1BzTY - Google Titan Security keys: https://store.google.com/product/titan_security_key Authy app: https://authy.com/ My article Two-Factor Authentication without SMS or a smartphone: https://scottiestech.info/2020/11/02/two-factor-authentication-without-sms-or-a-smartphone/ More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

I've been using dumbphones for awhile now, but I started to miss some smartphone features. Then a friend of mine mentioned LineageOS again. I decided to take the plunge... And I'm glad I did! It IS possible to have a relatively private smartphone without all the Googley madness - even in this day and age. But it does take a bit of time, patience, and some technical know-how. Note that I don't walk through the entire installation process here since it's particular to your specific phone. But at least you'll be headed in the right direction! - Aurora Store: https://auroraoss.com/ - LineageOS: https://lineageos.org/ - LineageOS Downloads & Install Instructions: https://download.lineageos.org/ - TWRP download: https://twrp.me/Devices/ - Tons of useful info: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ - Xiaomi Mi 8: https://amzn.to/2TCEGUb (affiliate link) More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

As regular viewers know, I'm not a big fan of the traditional smartphone craze. Sure, they're really handy gizmos, but the amount of data being hoovered up and shipped off to large service providers is a bit frustrating. As if things aren't bad enough on that front, it gets better! It turns out that even individual APPS running on your phone are spying on you - specifically, they're tracking your location (among other things). What's more, your location data can be easily linked to you as a private individual. To top it all off, this data is bought and sold to anyone who will pay - and all in the blink of an eye! Join me for a fascinating and disconcerting look at the wonderful world of Location Data companies and the inner workings of your favorite apps! Links from vid: - New York Times article "One Nation, Tracked": https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/19/opinion/location-tracking-cell-phone.html - KaiOS: https://www.kaiostech.com/ - LineageOS: https://lineageos.org/ - /e/ Foundation Phones: https://e.foundation/ More Techie Tips: https://scottiestech.info

I'm not a big fan of WiFi, but I do use it from time to time. It's just convenient to use for some gizmos where an ethernet dongle is not supported. Trouble is, I keep forgetting to turn off my WiFi router when I'm done... Not any more!! For a few bucks, you can easily make a little "evil WiFi indicator lamp" that reminds you to turn it off when you're done. And the light doesn't even have to be near your WiFi router. You can do the same with any gizmo that has a USB port on it - which is pretty much everything these days. Stuff I used from Amazon.fr: - USB light: https://amzn.to/2Kxrn4Q - USB extender cable: https://amzn.to/2KErCKx - Ping pong balls: https://amzn.to/2KtGxYM Equivalents on Amazon.com: - USB light: https://amzn.to/2NiRqKC - USB extender cable: https://amzn.to/2NjVyu1 - Ping pong balls: See local shop! Cheaper... More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Ever since I made my Stylish Smartphone Faraday Box videos, countless people have told me to just use a microwave oven, or just use an empty potato chip bag. Well, no... And yes! It depends. The truth is that Faraday cages don't block signals - they attenuate them. That means that depending on the situation (the phone itself, the signal strength, the microwave oven itself, and so on) it may or may not work. I also demonstrate that my Stylish Smartphone Faraday Box Mark II has a serious amount of signal blocking power. So if you want to be extra-sure, go Stylish! Faraday Box Mark II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NguyYHPjwnI Nokia 3310 3G Phone: https://amzn.to/2Vye71x MP3 Ring tone: "Everything Is Awesome!!!" by Tegan and Sara feat. The Lonely Island From the Album The Lego® Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) © 2014 WaterTower Music / Warner Bros. Ent. / Village Roadshow / DC Comics Get the MP3: https://amzn.to/2SDKv0X More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

First of all, it's finally happened: 2.5 Gbps Ethernet is HERE! It's already rolling out, and consumer-grade 2.5 gig switches will arrive shortly. The other big news is the unveiling of WiFi 6E. A new flavor of WiFi 6, the 6E variant adds the 6GHz radio band and speeds of up to 11Gbps... Or so they say. So, the question is: stick with wired, or go WiFi 6E wireless? Which is faster? Watch and see! All about WiFi 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR4IISTI_Rc More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

After the failure of my $16 battery tab spot welder, I saw Kevin Dark's DIY version. But it wasn't exactly what I needed, so I decided to build a modified version. The Modified Dark Welder, or Dark Welder 2, has a foot switch that triggers a precise welding current pulse that is always the same length of time - no matter how long you hold down the button. And in my new version, the button is now a foot pedal to keep your hands free. The best part is: IT WORKS! Check out Kevin Dark's original welder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1NFbchHeM8 Kevin's channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/darkkevind1978/ Also, don't miss his nifty 18650-powered DIY electric skateboard! Goodies in the vid (some affiliate links): - Capacitor Charge calculator: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/capchg.html#c1 - Capacitor Discharge calculator: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/capdis.html - Starter Solenoid Relay: https://amzn.to/2Igv1jB - Gebildet 2 Pieces Pedal Switch: https://amzn.to/3nJ3WoY - 4700 uF 63V electrolytic capacitors: https://amzn.to/2SPy0RG - Schottky 5A 100V diodes: https://amzn.to/3nM7R4y - 150 ohm 2W resistors: https://amzn.to/3nLnlp4 - Copper nails: https://amzn.to/33QZ6xZ - Lighted pushbutton switch: https://www.conrad.com/p/tru-components-tc-r13-527d2b-pushbutton-switch-14-v-dc-20-a-1-x-onoff-latch-1-pcs-1587919 - 12V, 10Ah, +150CCA lead acid battery: https://amzn.to/3eMsGZr - 16mm^2 wire - Large domino (screw terminals to hold welding cables + copper nails) See the schematics at my web site: https://scottiestech.info/2020/10/13/dark-welder-2-my-diy-battery-tab-spot-welder/ More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

If you have a fuel or water tank that is either metal or colored plastic, you may have run into the same problem I had: How do you know when it's empty? Mechanical level gauges are nice, but not always practical or even possible. So, I went on the hunt for an ultrasonic level sensor for my fuel tank. Alas, what's available on the market is too expensive, not very reliable, and often goofy in terms of features. So I decided to build my own! This ultrasound fuel gauge can be built for around $33 using a breadboard, Arduino Uno, and one of 2 different ultrasonic transceiver modules designed for use with Arduino or Raspberry Pi boards. For full plans, code, and other info, see: https://scottiestech.info/2017/10/24/diy-ultrasonic-fuel-gauge-level-sensor/ Grab the parts needed now: - Geekcreit UNO R3 Basic Starter Kit: https://www.banggood.com/UNO-Basic-Starter-Learning-Kit-Upgrade-Version-For-Arduino-p-970714.html - JSN-SR04T Waterproof Ultrasonic Module: https://www.banggood.com/DC-5V-Waterproof-Ultrasonic-Module-Distance-Measuring-Transducer-Sensor-p-1094462.html - Or get the whole shebang more quickly on Amazon (with HC-SR04 transducer): http://amzn.to/2zzIVmT More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

Ah yes, the IoT, or Internet of Things. The future is apparently filled with internet-connected everything, including dust (yes, dust). We're already seeing the beginnings of this brave new world, mostly in the form of smart thermostats, smart appliances, and things like Amazon's Echo toys. Part of this future IoT is 5G. As I mentioned in an earlier video, there is a fair amount of evidence in the form of numerous studies that 5G will be particularly bad for our health. As you'll see, even physicists have jumped on board to sound the alarm. And finally, a discussion of the 5G Internet of Things wouldn't be complete without a reintroduction to everyone's favorite forgotten topic: spycraft! - The book: https://amzn.to/2PRgg5k - WHO statement on cell phone radiation: http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf - TechSpot article on 5G: https://www.techspot.com/article/1582-state-of-5g-wireless/ - Amazon Echo Plus: https://amzn.to/2PPLEB9 - Amazon Microwave: https://amzn.to/2PNMXQT - Amazon Echo Auto (for cars): https://amzn.to/2SbKn8T More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info

In my last vid, "5G is just the tip of the iceberg" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-qzqOhDc_0), I talked about a bunch of recent studies showing that all this crazy wireless stuff is having negative effects on our health. Naturally, the question on everyone's mind is: What can we do about it?! Well, minimizing your exposure is probably a wise idea. There are all kinds of fun ways you can do that. And second, you should speak your mind. Share on social media, talk to your friends and family, show them the studies, sign petitions... Ya know: Don't assume that you are powerless! The quickest way to fail at anything is to never even try in the first place. More techie tips: https://scottiestech.info