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Janis needs to download complete YouTube videos to her computer
I need to download several flute tutorials and background track music in mp4, all purposely placed on YouTube for downloading. Since I know of no safe websites to accomplish this (plus Spectrum ISP blocks those), I tried using the instructions for VLC Media Player. Two I could download and on others I got an error message that VLC could not play them. Sniffing around Google I found this remedy to replace the youtube.luac file within VLC; and I tried it on my laptop. It works, but I have no assurance what I did I should have. My question for you is— Since I don’t know what in the world I am doing, is this safe and what I should do with no danger to my computers or security?

Here is what I found via Google: (link removed)l

Which brought me to this link: (link removed)

Then I replaced the file in Program Files (not x86, where I couldn’t find any VLC).

Your advice is greatly appreciated. Janis

Our answer
Hi Janis. One of scammers' favorite ways to trick you into downloading and installing malware etc. is via video/audio converters. So you really have to be careful. I spent quite a while testing a few YouTube to MP4 converters this morning for you so as to answer your question with the best answer possible. After trying several (all of them tried to trick me into installing malware), I found one that didn't.

But it was not the easiest to use, but it worked well. It's not complicated, it's just not intuitive. You paste the link of the YouTube Video you want to download as an MP4 file and click a "Download" button. The Download button doesn't actually download anything, it opens the video in a new tab. On the video that opens in the tab, you click on an icon in the bottom left of the video... as you'll see in the screenshots below.

Here's a link to a Web site where you can safely convert YouTube Videos to MP4 format.

Here's how to use the site.

1. Paste the URL to the YouTube video you want to convert in the search box & press "Search" A thumbnail of the video will appear.

2. Select the format to which you want convert the video. I chose mp4 (the 360p) is the quality.

3. Click the download button:

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4. The video opens in a new tab and starts playing. Click on the 3 vertical dots icon:

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5. Click on the word "Download":

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The files all download with the same name "videoplayback.mp4". As soon as you download each one, right-click on the file and choose "rename" and rename it whatever you want.

The files will open with VLC Player if VLC player is set as your default music player.

I did my tests using Chrome with an ad blocker called Privacy Badger installed and all went well. However, when I tried this on Firefox & PaleMoon and it didn't work. I did not try this in Edge or I.E.

Please let me know if this helps you or if you need more help.

-------------
Janis wrote back: "This worked without a glitch or a hiccup, and I was easily able to download the tutorials and background tracks that I needed from YouTube. So much simpler than trying to work the complicated VLC way by replacing a program file, etc. (scary). Privacy Badger is already on my computer too, so that is good. I know that you read messages from people every day saying that you are wonderful—but—YOU ARE! Thank you for helping me. ~ Janis"

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Jill asks about Firefox Monitor
Hello you beautiful people! I received an email ostensibly from Firefox advising me to download Firefox Monitor to keep my computer from being hacked. They offered a free scan using email addresses before signing up which I did (sheepish me) - my bigpond address came up clean but my hotmail address had been compromised in 2013.

My questions are - is the Firefox Monitor legitimate and/or necessary as I have Emsisoft installed? As the hotmail account was supposedly compromised in 2013 and there doesn't appear to have been any bad results on it, can I just leave it the way it is or do I have to close the account/change password again etc.?

I would be grateful if you could answer my questions - from your pesky Aussie...Jill

Our answer
Hi Jill. Thanks! Unfortunately, you're going to be bombarded with this kind of stuff by everyone who wants to get your email address on a list. All of the major credit bureaus are offering this kind of "service" as well as many security companies. And note that Firefox is not known as a security company and as far as we know, Firefox is no more secure than Chrome or any other browser. To assume that Firefox has suddenly hired a staff of highly skilled security experts takes a huge leap of logic.

Here's what we can tell you. Just because your email address shows up on the dark web does not mean it's been compromised - yet we can tell you if your email address is on the dark web, you're going to get an alert that "your email address has been hacked". That is pure bunk. It may have been and it may not have been. It may be on a list of email addresses being sold on the dark web to spammers. If that's the case, you may be more spam, but your email account has not been hacked.

All these kinds of services do is scare people into action, but not the right action. The best action you can take ALWAYS is to make sure you use strong passwords, never use the same password twice, and change your passwords every few months. If you do this, you don't have to worry about your email address being "hacked" or showing up on the dark web.

So yes, Firefox monitoring is legit and the mail came from Firefox, but it's only to help Firefox. Alerting you to the fact your address is on the dark web or your email address has been hacked really doesn't do you a lot of good after the fact. It's kind of like locking the barn door after the horses have left.

Follow this good common sense advice: Use strong passwords for all your email accounts, don't use the same password more than once, and change your passwords every few months. And always use good security software like Emsisoft!

Hope this helps you!

---------------
Jill wrote back: "Wow, T.C. - you're on the ball tonight (our time)! Thank you so much for your quick reply and for confirming what I thought even if I was a bit slow to catch on. I have downloaded LastPass and will get that on my computer tomorrow. Thanks heaps for the information... Jill"

Terry wants to convert files to PDF (Windows 10)
What do you know about a free program called My Quick Converter. It's supposed to convert any file to PDF? Is it safe?

Our answer
Hi Terry. We can tell you that since you're using Windows 10 you don't need any converters to save files as PDF. And what we can tell you is that most freeware PDF converters are bundled with malware or PUPs. So we don't recommend you install any PDF converters at all - why install anything you don't really need?

For more information on saving files as PDF on Windows 10, see our "Save to PDF" article here.

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SeniorPass is valid for unlimited computer care & repair sessions for one full year starting with the first time you use it. The clock does not start ticking until you use your SeniorPass for the first time. A great deal!

Having SeniorPass is just like having insurance for your computer. You'll get one full year of computer care and get help with almost any computer problem whenever you need it. We're here to help you.

Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Version 1809) Is Available Now
Windows 10 (all versions)

We’ve been testing Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Version 1809) for about six weeks now and we’ve very impressed with its performance and all it’s new features, one of the best of which is the ability to change font sizes without changing the size of everything else on your screen.

NOTE: Although we’ve been testing Windows 10 October Update for a while now, and we find it to be one of the best of the Windows 10 Version updates ever as far as ease of updating and new features go, we are not advising you to update now or not to update now – this post is just for your information.

We have been testing Windows 10 Version 1809 on a 6-year-old Dell Laptop with 8 GB of RAM, Intel i5 processor and a 1 TB hard drive. All the hardware in that Dell laptop is the original stuff (except the keyboard); none of it has been updated.

BUT… this does not guarantee that the update will go smoothly for you or that it work well on your computer – no guarantees at all. All we can tell you is that of all the version updates we’ve installed, this update is has more worthwhile new features and installs more easily than some of the previous Windows 10 version updates.

Microsoft will be distributing Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) gradually via Windows Update over the coming weeks and months. But if you want to get it sooner you can download the Windows 10 Update Assistant and install it when you’re ready.

Here’s a screenshot for you. All you need to do is click the “Update now” button to download the Windows 10 Update Assistant. Once you download it you can update your computer right away or run the Update Assistant at any time that’s convenient for you.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: This is not a call to action. We’re not telling you to update or not to update, we’re just keeping you informed by letting you know that Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Version 1809) is available to you right now.

"Many people have a laptop or PC that everyone in the family, even visitors, have access to.

If you have an item that you don't anyone to view. Open the folder the contains that item. Click on the" View" tab. Check mark the "Item check boxes" and the "Hidden Items". Go the item or items that you want to hide and put a check mark in the items box. Then go to the "Hide selected items" box at the end of the ribbon and click on it. Now when you remove the "Hidden items" check mark, the item or items will disappear. Put the check mark back and the item or items will reappear.

To further hide item(s), go to the top of the screen, right click and click on "Minimize the ribbon. Remember, this only hides the item(s), it is not password protected.

How to Change the Default Download Location in Chrome
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10 (all versions)
Chrome browser

Chrome, by default, does not ask where you want to save your downloads like some other browsers do. Instead, it automatically saves files you download to your User account Downloads folder (C:\ Users\Your user name\Downloads) .

But you do have options to customize Chrome’s default download location or even set it up so Chrome asks you each time where you want to save a file.

1. Go to Settings in Chrome (Click the 3 vertical dots icon in the upper right hand corner of Chrome) then click Settings.

2. In the settings dialog, scroll all the way down to the bottom. You’ll see Advanced Settings. Click on Advanced Settings, then scroll down to Downloads

3a. Under Downloads, you can either change default location to the folder to which you want to download (Darcy uses Desktop, I use F:/downloads).

3b. Or you can turn the switch to “On” next to “Ask where to save each file before downloading”. After you do that, Chrome will ask you every time you download, where you want to save it.

You can download to any drive, internal or external or any folder of your choice using either option. See the screenshot below:

What Happens to Your Gmail Account If Something Happens to You?
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10 (all versions)
At least on Gmail/Google Account

Although we don’t like to think about the inevitable, we will all eventually escape the charades of Microsoft and go to that big, happy computer in the sky. And if that should happen unexpectedly, what happens to all the stuff you left behind on Gmail, Google Docs, Google Photos, YouTube and other Google services? And even if it happens expectedly — what if you’re not able to make such trenchant decisions? Eh?

And what if you just get tired of computers, smartphones, tablets, the Internet, Microsoft, and all things electronic and technical and decide to hermitize in SW Arizona and spend your days watching the sunrise and the scorpions crawling up your leg and swimming in your cereal bowl? What happens to all the information you left behind on your Google account(s)?

Google has an interesting feature called Inactive Account Manager. It lets you decide what to do with all the data in your Google Account(s) should something happen to you. You can give a friend or spouse or lover or whomever access to your account(s) should you no longer be around or capable or available to access them. Or, if your smart, like TC, you’ll just have Google delete your account upon your demise. Heaven knows I don’t want any of my friends or partners looking at my accounts and discovering the foibles of my worldly existence in the flesh!

But what happens to your data is your choice. Setting up Inactive Account Manager for each Google Account you own is a wise idea. You can remain in control of your data even while you’re floating around the pearly gates — or if you end up like EB, crossing the River Styx.

We're going to give you a quick pictorial guide to setting you your Google Account (Gmail Account) in case you pass on or decide to give up computers and live in the woods with the woodland fairies.

You can remain in control of your data, even when you've left this crazy world simply by using Google's Inactive Account Manager.

Here are some screen shots to guide you along - but you'll find that Google prompts you each step of the way. EB yells at me when I get too wordy, so I'll try to say it with pictures!

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Above: You can change the number of months before your account becomes inactive - although we think 3 months should just about to do it. You'll need to enter a cell phone number (it's required). If you don't have a cell phone, get a throwaway phone :) but don't throw it away.

You'll need to enter your Gmail account address and a recovery address (a different email address than your Gmail address).

You can add people who you want to give access to your data - children, grandchildren, good friends, etc. You can name up to 10, but you don't want them fighting over your data, so keep the number to just a few - unless you have 10 kids. You'll notice (above) you can also set up an autoreply, something like:

Hey EB, I'm our of your clutches and floating around with the angels (then insert an tongue-sticking-out emoji). No more orders and pay cuts from you!

Above you'll see just a tiny bit of a long list of things you can allow your chosen people to access in the event you are no longer around.

You'll have to confirm each person's phone number and email address. You can add a personal message. Make it nice!

You can choose to delete your entire Google account by flipping the switch to "On". If you named some trusted people and allowed them to access some or all of your data, they'll have 3 months after your account is declared inactive to do so. After that, your Google account and everything in will be gone in puff of smoke (that's a metaphor, EB).

And even cancel your plan if you later learn your immortal, or decide you want to set up a completely new plan.

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SeniorPass: A Great Deal for Our Friends 60 and Older!

Scintillating scenes, surrealistic sunsets, majestic, mauve mourning doves flying freely over freshly frosted fields and nose-numbing nihilistic, wind-driven snow swirling over Siberian savannas are only a few of the tens of thousands of photos you’ll see if you visit this beautifully-done free stock photo site.(Sorry about the adjectives, but I’m trying to get a job writing for Groupon. Don’t tell EB, OK?)

For those of you who don’t know, stock photos are photos used by publishers who are too cheap to hire their own photographers – like us for example. Most stock photo sites charge a fee, called a royalty-fee, to publishers who want to use a photo or photos from their stock galleries. But being the cheap, parsimonious types we are, if there is something we can get free and use without paying a fee we feel freed from our near-bankruptcy – and that feels really good.

After teetering on the brink for the last few years, struggling against the common enemies of humanity: hunger, thirst, the need for shelter, and good wine, we were momentarily taken aback when we saw this stock photo site offering license-free photos to the masses. Since we are as much a part of the masses as you, we were stunned by the seeming generosity of these fine folks.

All good fantasies must come to an end, said William Shakespeare of Pierre, S.D. And she was right (William is a nice name for a girl!). While you can download and use any of the tens of thousands of photos available on this site for your own personal use, you can’t use any of these photos and claim you took them yourself – or use them to make money like we are doing… WAIT! We’re just kidding. We are not making money from these photos! Honest!

Anyway, most of the photos on this site are super high-resolution. That means two things:

2. If you’re on slow connection and you want to see the full size images, start loading them and then go out to dinner, and by the time you come back they’ll be done.

By now you’re all getting seriously peeved at my obvious attempt to yammer incessantly in my desperation to be hired by Groupon as a writer before EB fires me or cuts my salary (yet again) because she can’t afford such superior talent and wit such as I bring to the table – so to speak.

OK! Hold on to your horses, I’m getting to the point where I’m about to tell you want you’ve been waiting to know.

By the way – if you look to your left -- you’ll see TC in purple and EB in green – those are our favorite colors respectively. EB has really nice teeth. Don’t you think? She went to Clear Choice… honest!

OK … What is this site? What’s it called? You want me to show me how to get to it. You want me to quit the babbling and bring forth the link. I hear you! I feel your pain!

Oh… one more thing: you will have to sign-up for an account to access the high-res images. But all you need is love… No. All you need is an email address and a password – and we all have those don’t we?