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Uwe wants his drives in order
Dear Cloudeight. Is there a way to sort my drives by drive letters instead of drive names?

Thanks. Uwe.

Our answer
Hi Uwe. Mine are ordered by Drive Letter, ignoring the name as you can see in the screenshot below.

Jim asks about the Titan Security Key
What do think of the Titan security key?  Would it be good for an individual to use? I can't find any useful information about what it is used for in regards to using a password saver like LastPass. Jim

Our answer
Hi Jim. First, most password managers support two-factor authentication which is what the Titan Security Key supports. The only difference is the Titan Security Key is a physical device - which can be lost or stolen.

Rita fell for a tech support scam
My computer was hacked this afternoon. The message said to call Microsoft immediately. I foolishly called what was shown as the Microsoft number. A woman walked me through and took over my computer. She did a scan and connected me with someone else who told me that I was scammed for 17,000 from my checking account. and was giving me instructions on how to get it back, such as driving to a Bitcoin place in Chicago. I'm 83 years old and a nervous wreck on the phone. I refused all of her instructions. I know I did all the wrong things and now I'm out a lot of money. I just wanted to let you know even though there is nothing you can do.  Rita.

Our answer

Hi Rita. The chances your computer was "hacked" are slim. You fell for a Microsoft Tech Support scam. We've written many articles telling people how to avoid these scams - for instance, see this article. As we stated many times Microsoft will never call you - not ever. The only time they will call you is if you try to contact them, they may schedule a callback time - but never will they call you out of the blue.

 

The first thing you need to do is call your bank and tell them you were scammed. You need to do this right away. Tell them you thought Microsoft was calling and you were afraid. They'll take care of things and you won't lose your money. If you gave them a checking account number and routing number, make sure your bank knows this - they can help you - they'll probably change your account number and you'll need to get new checks.

 

Remember you're not the only one this has happened to. It happens to thousands of people every year. See this article about telephone scams.

 

After you call the bank, let me know if you want me to take a quick look at your computer to make sure all is well.  I'll be glad to look at your computer when it's convenient for you next week. In the meantime, if you're using Windows 10 / Windows 11 you have antivirus protection installed (it comes with Windows).

 

If you have any questions or concerns or need any help, just let me know.

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With our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service, we connect directly to your computer via the Internet to fix your computer problems, remove viruses or malware, optimize your PC and more. You never have to leave your home or leave your computer with a stranger. You'll be invited to watch us while we fix your Windows computer. And, we can fix your computer regardless of where you live. Our Cloudeight Direct Service is available worldwide. We offer world-class computer care services from the company you trust.

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Bernice wants to know if we'll ever make stationery again
I have been a member of your newsletter for many years. I miss your stationery. Are you ever going to start making it again?

Our answer
Hi Bernice. Thanks so much for sticking with us and for your long-time support. We both very much appreciate it.

 

We hope you find this info helpful - even if probably not what you wanted to hear.

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How to Reset Your Favorite Browser: An Updated Tutorial
Windows 10 / Windows 11  (Edge, Chrome, Firefox browsers)

When ads start popping up from nowhere, when webpages don’t open correctly, when you are constantly being redirected from one page to another, or when your browser seems sluggish and slow to respond, it might be time to reset your browser.

We published a tutorial on resetting your browser a couple of years ago but things change so quickly on the internet that it is now out-of-date. So, we’ve decided to publish an updated tutorial on how to reset your favorite browser. This tutorial includes how to reset Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox.

GOOGLE CHROME

To reset Chrome…

Type “chrome://settings/reset” (without the quotes) into the address bar and press Enter.

A page will open…

Click on “Restore settings to their original defaults” and the following dialog will appear.

Click on the blue “Reset settings button” to reset Chrome.

Chrome’s cache will be cleared. Your extensions will be disabled (you can re-enable them after the reset), and your bookmarks and saved passwords will be retained. Resetting Chrome may take a few minutes, so be patient.

MICROSOFT EDGE

To reset Microsoft Edge…

Type “edge://settings/reset” (without the quotes) and press Enter.

A page will open…

Click on “Restore settings to their default values” and the following dialog will appear…

Click on the blue “Reset” to reset Microsoft Edge.

Edge’s cache will be cleared. Your extensions will be disabled (you can re-enable them after the reset), and your bookmarks and saved passwords will be retained.

MOZILLA FIREFOX

To reset Firefox…

Type “about:support” (without the quotes) in the address bar and press Enter.

A page will open. On the right side of the page, you’ll see this…

Click on “Refresh Firefox” and you’ll see this dialog…

Click on the Refresh Firefox button to proceed. Your extensions will be removed, but your bookmarks and saved passwords will be retained.

Now you know how to reset your favorite browser!

Use the Windows Taskbar Search to Run Commands and Find and Open Programs
Windows 10 / Windows 11

If you’ve been using Windows for a while, you probably already know there are usually several ways to accomplish the same thing. Some ways are just faster and simpler than others. We always try to use the fastest, easiest, simplest way to do things.

Most of the time when we write articles for the newsletter that tell you to open the Run command and type a command in the Run box; we tell you to press the Windows Key + R to open it and then type a command.

For instance, to see what version of Windows 10 you’re using we’d have you type WINVER in the Run box and press Enter.

But did you know you can also run many commands and open some programs using the Windows 10 or Windows 11 taskbar search?

Indeed you can…

Let’s try it. Type winver in the taskbar search and click Open (or just press Enter) when you see “winver run command” appear in the search results.

Using this simple trick, you can find out what version of Windows 10 or 11 you’re using.

What if you want to see a whole lot of information about your computer? Just type MSINFO in the taskbar search. When the “System Information app” appears in the search results, press Enter or click “Open”. You’ll also have the option to pin this useful app to your Start menu or taskbar.

The System Information app gives you tons of info about your computer -try it and see!

If you want to open Notepad, start typing Notepad. Before you can finish typing that word, it will appear in the search results – just press Enter or click Open, and Notepad will open.

You can even run commands that require administrator privileges, although it requires a right-click. For instance, to run System File Checker (known as System Integrity Check and Repair), type sfc in the taskbar search. When you see the “sfc run command” appear in search results, click on “Run as administrator”.

And it’s almost the same in Windows 10. See?

You can open many other programs and apps this way too. For instance, in the taskbar search type Chrome and press Enter. Or type Firefox and press Enter. Try some of your favorite programs or commands. And if you’re looking to find a program type the first letter or two of the program or app in the taskbar search  – for instance on my PC, Control Panel, Calculator, and Google Chrome appear immediately. Play around with this… and you will see how this could come in handy and save time. 

You Better Watch Out… Holiday Scams are Coming to Town!

Did you know that online scams triple during the holiday season?

Just about every week, we get several emails from people who have fallen for an online scam – especially a computer repair scam. They have given their credit card information and access to their computers to criminals — and it usually always starts with a phone call. It goes like this. The phone call comes unexpectedly, and out of the blue, the computer user is informed that their computer is infected with something and/or is sending and spreading malware or viruses and infecting other computers. Of course, the caller has the cure — the fix — the solution.

Sadly, many people fall for this and give access to their computers to these scammers who then connect to the customer’s computer and proceed to ” fix” it. But they don’t fix it. Many times they install worthless software or software anyone can get free, or worse, they install malware to steal your passwords and usernames, and thus access to your bank accounts and other highly sensitive and personal information. Users give the criminals their credit card information, and in the best case scenario, they are charged a few hundred dollars — in the word case, their card numbers are stolen and used to make purchases and/or steal identities.

And this year, the popularity of AI is going to make things even worse than ever before. So you’ll need to be extra vigilant.

We warn you again — never give ANY information to anyone who calls you out of the blue, no matter who they say they represent. One of the biggest scams is the one where the caller identifies himself or herself as a Microsoft employee telling you that your Windows computer is infected with malware and that your computer is infecting other computers on the Internet. If you have caller ID their number may show that they are calling from a Microsoft number — but they’re not. It’s really easy to spoof caller ID.

Remember this: No legitimate company is going to call you out of the blue and tell you that your computer is infected. NONE. NADA. ZERO. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft or some other legitimate-sounding company, hang up. Do not give them access to your computer. Do not give them your credit card number. Do not give them any passwords.

We have published this advice before, yet every week we get several people who come to us for help after falling for a scam. And we help them by removing all the malware installed by the scammers and fixing things these scammers intentionally broke (so they can come back again and get more money from you).

So if you remember nothing else from this tip, remember this:

If you get a call from anyone claiming to be from Microsoft or some other legitimate-sounding company — or someone who tosses around complex computer terms and claims he or she can fix your computer — hang up. Hang up the phone and do not give them any information. none. nada. zero. If they continue to call after this report them to your phone company and/or your local authorities. The important thing is: Never give your information to anyone who calls you out of the blue telling you that you have problems with your computer. Never give access to your computer to anyone who calls out of the blue and warns you that your computer is infected. It’s always a scam – always.

If you are one who has already fallen for this scam, call your credit card company right away and tell them what happened. Tell them you were scammed and have the charges removed from your credit card. You should be able to get charges made by scam companies removed from your credit card. If you wish, you can report it to your local authorities, although we doubt it will do much good. Scammers are professional crooks and they are not going to operate under the same name or from the same location or use the same methods for very long. They’re going to move around, change names, and change schemes, and it’s very hard to catch up with them.

Here is some good information from the U.S. government (and no we are not being sarcastic!)

• NEVER give control of your computer to a third party who calls you out of the blue.

• Do not rely on caller ID alone to authenticate a caller. Criminals spoof caller ID numbers. They may appear to be calling from a legitimate company or a local number when they’re not even in the same country as you.

• Online search results might not be the best way to find technical support or get a company’s contact information. Scammers sometimes place online ads to convince you to call them. They pay to boost their ranking in search results so their websites and phone numbers appear above those of legitimate companies. If you want tech support, look for a company’s contact information on their software package or on your receipt.

• Never provide your credit card or financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from tech support.

• If a caller pressures you to buy a computer security product or says there is a subscription fee associated with the call, hang up. If you’re concerned about your computer, call your security software company directly and ask for help.

• Never give your password on the phone. No legitimate organization calls you and asks for your password.

• Put your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, and then report illegal sales calls.

How to Spot a Refund Scam

If you paid for tech support services, and you later get a call about a refund, don’t give out any personal information, like your credit card or bank account number. The call is almost certainly another trick to take your money. The refund scam works like this: Several months after the purchase, someone might call to ask if you were happy with the service. When you say you weren’t, the scammer offers a refund. Or the caller may say that the company is going out of business and providing refunds for “warranties” and other services. In either case, the scammers eventually ask for a bank or credit card account number. Or they ask you to create a Western Union account. They might even ask for remote access to your computer to help you fill out the necessary forms. But instead of putting money in your account, the scammers withdraw money from your account. If you get a call like this, hang up, and report it at http://ftc.gov/complaint  …”

See we told you — the U.S. government has some good advice for you to follow no matter where you live. Don’t get scammed. We hate to see any of you being taken advantage of by charlatans and criminals. You can read more tips here.

During the holiday season, the number of scams triples. Don’t let a scammer ruin the holidays for you.

• Think before you click.
• Be wary.
• Always use common sense.
• When shopping online, don’t hurry.
• If you’re in doubt about something, don’t do it. You can always go back and do it later.
• Don’t trust any text messages unless you know the sender or were expecting the text.
• NEVER click links in emails from banks, credit cards, online payment sites, or any financial institutions asking you to click a link to change your password, personal information, or anything else. No legitimate financial institution, bank, online payment service, or credit card company will ever ask you to do that. They may ask you to log into your account but never “click this link” to log into your account.

We want you to have a happy holiday season. Don’t be scared – be smart! 

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

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Add Some Christmas Magic to Your Emails

While not really a freeware pick in the usual sense, you can do all of the things in this article with the Emoji panel that comes with Windows 10 & Windows 11. If you're using Windows 10 an additional download may be required. Who doesn't like a little Christmas cheer? Let's see if we can make your holiday emails a little bit more cheerful and attention-grabbing!

First, before we get started, this won’t work with all email programs or all social media platforms. But this tip does work in most webmail apps including Gmail, Hotmail, and Outlook.com. It also works in OE Classic. Thunderbird, MS Outlook (current version), and the Windows 10 and 11 Mail app.

Windows Emoji Pad (as we call it – others call it the Emoji Panel) is an oft-forgotten feature of Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is the season for wishing our friends and loved ones all the best during the holiday season. Windows 11’s Emoji Pad (and to some extent Windows 10’s) allows you to easily spice up your emails (and social media posts on some platforms) with just a couple of clicks.

This post was written for Windows 11 and the Windows 11 Emoji Pad — the pictures of the Emoji pad shown here are from Windows 11.

WINDOWS 10 USERS NOTE: If you have Windows 10, you won’t have GIF options. See this page showing how to add GIFs to Windows 10’s Emoji panel.

.How to open the Emoji Pad

There are two easy ways to open the Emoji Pad in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Hold down the Windows key and tap the . (period) key.
— or—
Hold down the Windows key and t1p the ; (semi-colon) key.

When the Emoji pad opens it will open to the Emoji section.   And right below the Emoji section, you’ll see the GIF section.

Note that you can search all sections of the Emoji pad by typing your search term in the Search box. Since we’re in the Christmas season now, we typed in Christmas.

Adding some Christmas fun and magic to your holiday emails is easy

The Windows 11 Emoji pad has a limited number of Christmas emoji, but a nice selection of animated Christmas gifs. We’re going to use the Emoji to spruce up the subject line and save the gifs for the message body – but can use them any way you wish.

First, you can add emoji from the Emoji pad into the subject line by clicking in the subject line and then clicking the emoji you want to use in the Emoji Pad. Here we used a Santa and a Christmas tree.

Then, go ahead and type your message. You can add an animated gif anywhere in the message body by opening the Emoji Pad, scrolling down to the GIFS section, and clicking on the gif you want to add. There are a lot of gifs, but you’ll have to type CHRISTMAS in the search box to see them all.

When your lucky recipient receives your email they’ll see your cheery emoji in the subject line, your good wishes, and the animated gif in the body of the email… see?

You can use this tip in most email programs as well as in Gmail, Outlook.com, and Hotmail…

This screenshot is from the composition window in Gmail.

And this screenshot is from Hotmail/Outlook.com.

The Windows Emoji pad can help you add some Christmas fun and magic to your holiday emails!

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A Few Weeks Before Christmas

Last night, late, when the house was quiet and the only sound was the late-autumn wind whipping the skeletons of the forgotten lifeless trees, I watched the flame of a single candle flicker and thought about what Christmas meant to me.

I looked out the window and saw a winter scene painted by an invisible hand – snow swirling in the streets and colorful Christmas lights adorning the house across the street. And it occurred to me, then, that Christmas is just three weeks away.

When I was a young child, three weeks would have seemed an eternity as I waited for Santa Claus and the bounty of gifts I so hoped he would bring. Just three weeks until Christmas. How different – how much shorter three weeks seem now than they did when I was a child.

The flame of the candle flickers and before I know it, Christmas will be just another memory in an aging warehouse of sometimes fading and scrambled memories that grow larger and larger and darker and darker as I grow older and older.

A windy draft nearly blows the candle out, but the flame only bends. It flickers on – as I do.

Just a few weeks until Christmas

Soon people will be rushing around trying to finish their Christmas shopping. Some people set spending limits based on the importance of the people in their lives. Uncle John? He gets a $25 gift certificate for Home Depot. Maybe he can buy something for his workshop. A sister might get a $900 iPad – she loves to watch music videos in the gym while she tones her narcissism...

Read the rest of this essay here. 

See all our great money-saving Cyberweek deals on one page!

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Cyberweek sale prices are good through December 4, 2023. 

What the heck is "Smishing"?

Smishing is a type of phishing attack that involves sending fraudulent text messages (SMS) to trick recipients into revealing personal information, clicking on malicious links, or downloading malware. The term "smishing" is a combination of "SMS" and "phishing."

How Smishing Attacks Work

Smishing attacks often use a variety of tactics to deceive recipients, such as:

• Pretending to be from a legitimate organization, such as a bank, credit card company, or retailer.
• Creating urgent or alarming messages that make recipients want to act quickly without thinking.
• Including links or attachments that, when clicked, will take recipients to a fake website or download malware.
• Once a recipient has provided their personal information or clicked on a malicious link, the attackers can use it to commit identity theft, steal money, or spread malware.

How to Protect Yourself from Smishing Attacks

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself from smishing attacks:

Be suspicious of unsolicited text messages. If you receive a text message from an unknown sender, especially if it is urgent or alarming, do not click on any links or open any attachments.

Verify the sender's identity. If a text message appears to be from a legitimate organization, such as your bank or credit card company NEVER CLICK THE LINK. Always log into your bank, credit card, or organization's site by going to the site and logging in. Legitimate companies like banks, credit card companies, and/or financial institutions don't send text messages urging you to click a link in the message.

Never click on any links in a text message unless you are absolutely sure you know who sent it. Even then it's a good idea to hover over the link to see the full URL before clicking on it. If the URL looks suspicious, don't click on it. 

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Reg Organizer: Reg Organizer is the Swiss Army Knife of Windows tools. It's far more than just a registry optimizer and cleaner... it's a Windows all-in-one toolkit. Reg Organizer helps you keep your computer in tip-top shape and helps you solve annoying Windows problems. Reg Organizer works great with Windows 10 and Windows 11! Get more information about Reg Organizer (and get our special discount prices) here.

SeniorPass - One year of Cloudeight Direct Computer Care - unlimited sessions! Get more information here.

Windows 10 Customization: Make Windows 10 look and work the way you want it to. Learn more.

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We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly. Thanks so much for your support and for being an InfoAve Weekly subscriber.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a great weekend... be safe!

Darcy & TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - Issue #1051
Volume 21 Number 5
December 1, 2023 

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