10 VITAL STEPS TO STOP IT WRECKING YOUR PC (SURPRISE, SURPRISE!) WORKSHOP P35 - N EVERY ISSUE - MYSUBS
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10 vital steps to stop it wrecking your PC (surprise, surprise!) Workshop p35 017 20 ISSUE 514 ❘ 8 – 21 NOV every issue Learn something new in r stalking p74 These Boots were made fo £1.99
Welcome EDITORIAL Group Editor Daniel Booth Features Editor Mike Plant Technical Editor Sherwin Coelho From the Editor Production Editor Graham Brown My lasting memory of my first day as Art Editor Katie Peat Sorry, no technical or buying advice. Computeractive editor was how many emails I ADVERTISING received from readers. Some were requests for Advertising Director Charlotte Milligan Advertising Manager Alexa Dracos technical help, others made thoughtful comments on the magazine, but most of them MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Subscriptions Rachel Hare contained ingenious tech tips. From the start I Marketing Production Manager Gemma Hills For subscription enquiries ring 0330 333 9493 learnt that our readers are just as keen to share topics covered, but also the clarity with which their computing knowledge as they are to you explained the tips (our plain-English ethos PRODUCTION Group Production Manager boost their own. Indeed, many readers have must be rubbing off!). Stephen Catherall Production Controller told me that they love being the recognised Those we couldn’t fit on the seven pages of Sophie Griffin ‘PC expert’ among their family and friends. this Cover Feature we’ll save for the normal MANAGEMENT So it wasn’t surprising that hundreds of you ‘Readers’ Tips’ section over the next few Managing Director John Garewal MD of Advertising Julian Lloyd-Evans emailed me when I mentioned recently we months. Thanks to everyone who emailed. Commercial and Retail Director David Barker were planning a special issue of readers’ tips. Daniel Booth CFO/COO Brett Reynolds Chief Executive James Tye I was impressed not only by the breadth of editor@computeractive.co.uk Company Founder Felix Dennis BRAND USAGE AND REPRINTS Companies can obtain a licence to use approved quotations from articles, the Computeractive logo and Buy It! logo. Reprints of articles are also available. p35 Please contact Ryan Chambers for more information and rates: 0203 890 4027 p38 Email: anj_halai@dennis.co.uk Requests to use quotations from articles will need to be approved by the editor. Please send requests to: editor@computeractive.co.uk OVERSEAS LICENSING Computeractive is available for international licensing. Contact Nicole Adams at nicole_ adams@dennis.co.uk or +44 0203 890 3998 ONWARD RESALE This publication may not be resold or otherwise distributed, whether at, below or above face value. Nor can this publication be advertised for p50 sale, transfer or distribution. PERMISSIONS Material may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Please address such requests to John Garewal, Dennis Publishing, 31-32 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP LIABILITY While every care was taken preparing this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information or any consequence arising from it. All p58 judgments are based on equipment available to Computeractive at the time of review. Computeractive takes no responsibility for the content of external websites whose addresses are published in the magazine. A DENNIS PUBLICATION Computeractive is published fortnightly by Dennis Publishing, 31-32 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP. Company registered in England. Material may not be reproduced in whole or part without the consent of the publishers. ISSN 1461-6211 THIS ISSUE IN NUMBERS HOW TO USE SNIPCA URLs Average sales, Jan-Dec 2016, 83,856 copies per issue. £150 N E W! We use snipcas to turn long URLs that Price of Amazon’s are hard to type into ones that are © Copyright Dennis Publishing Limited superb new Fire HD short and simple. They aren’t websites 10 tablet - p20 themselves, which means they won’t be recognised if you type them into 37,000 4.50 Google. Instead, you need to type them People who downloaded New version of the into your browser address bar, then Computeractive fake Adblock Plus excellent photo software press Enter. Doing this will take you to Printed in the UK extension - p16 IrfanView - p18 the correct website. 8 – 21 November 2017 3
Contents 8 – 21 November 2017 • Issue 514 ‘ CO FEA VER In this issue… TU Readers Tips P50 RE 50 Readers’ Tips special Some of the best advice we get comes from you. So we asked SPECIAL Computeractive readers to share their tech tips on everything from PC programs to internet browsing and maintaining your hardware ISSUE 58 Best free programs enhanced Extras! Extras! Read all about it! Make the most of your favourite programs with our recommended plug-ins, add-ons and extensions 34 real-life tips that these readers love and will work for YOU too Addedd value lue to your progr programs grams p58 Why the NHS caught a hacking cough p11 In every issue… Are retailers tailing you? p74 6 News 33 Competition Win MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 11 Question of Plus software the Fortnight Why did the NHS fail to 49 What’s All the Fuss uss cope with WannaCry? About? Teachable Machine chine 12 Letters 64 Problems Solved 14 Consumeractive 71 Reader Support Your tech problems fixed ed 16 Protect Your Tech 73 Jargon Buster 18 Best Free Software IrfanView 4.50 74 The Final Straw Ken Rigsby discovers 30 Buy It! trouble in stores 4 8 – 21 November 2017
Subscribe ib be NOW! W!! See page 62 2 ecia ial for our special er subs offer Amazon Fire HD 10 Reviews p20 20 Amazon Fire HD 10 The latest Fire tablet reignites interest 21 Acer Swift 7 Acer’s new laptop is a golden opportunity 22 Brother MFC-J6930DW This printer does everything you need – in its own good time 23 HP Spectre x2 Windows laptop-tablet hybrid tries to do too much with too little 26 Nokia 8 Impressive, top-of-the-range phone provides a smart choice Brother MFC-J6930DW Nokia 8 p26 28 Google Home Mini p22 Google’s Assistant just got smaller and smarter 29 Vodafone Smart E8 A budget phone with basic instincts BUY IT! ★★★★★ THE ADVANCED GUIDE Workshops & Tips TO WINDOWS 10 14 pages of brilliant workshops and expert tips ON SALE NOW! 35 Fix problems with the 42 Master Microsoft’s Edge new Windows Update browser on your phone 38 Turn your PC into free 44 Phone and Tablet Tips home CCTV Share your location as you move in real time 40 Use Microsoft’s superb new video editor 46 Make Windows Better Take a screenshot of your lock screen 47 Make Office Better Identify matching Excel data quickly 48 Secret Tips For… Plex BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON at www.snipca.com/21617 8 – 21 November 2017 5
News The top stories in the world of technology Facebook: ‘We don’t listen to your conversations’ S ocial-media giant Facebook has once again denied it listens to users’ people’s interests and other profile information – not what you’re talking out loud COMMENT It says a lot about public conversations in order to about”. mistrust of Facebook that show relevant adverts. However, it did confirm rumours like this won’t Many users have that it accesses your phone go away. But the risk of reported seeing adverts or tablet’s microphone if exposure means they’re related to recent real-life you give its app permission unlikely to be true. Not conversations, suspecting they to do so, and if you regularly even a company as huge as were triggered by Facebook use a feature that requires Facebook would be able to listening to them through the audio. These include a tool survive such a global scandal. microphone on their Facebook might be listening to in the US that listens to But like all tech giants they’ll computer, phone or tablet. them. background music or films so never stop inventing new But in a message on Twitter One person, Kelley, wrote: you can add what you are ways to take (and sell) Rob Goldman, the company’s “I have been talking about listening to or watching to your personal data. Learn vice-president of ads, wrote: getting a cat. I didn’t post your status update. how to protect yourself in “We don’t – and have never about it anywhere but I did next issue’s Cover Feature: - used your microphone for start seeing ads for cat food”. Coincidence? ‘What Google, Facebook and ads. Just not true”. Another, Tori Hoover, wrote: Psychology could play a part Amazon Know About You’ – He was responding to a “A co-worker got an ad saying in the perceived connection on sale Weds 22 November. tweet by PJ Vogt, who presents ‘so you popped the question!’ between conversations and the technology podcast Reply minutes after he proposed, adverts. Many studies have All (https://gimletmedia.com/ before he told anyone it had shown that people are more possibly in response to a reply-all): “Call us if you happened”. likely to see and remember search on Google, but were believe that Facebook uses Facebook knocked back something if they have been noticed only after a related your mic to spy on you for similar accusations in 2016, recently talking or thinking conversation. ad reasons”. saying in a statement online about it. Coincidence may be Vogt received many replies (www.snipca.com/26066): So it may be that the another factor, as suggested from people who think “We show ads based on adverts appeared before, last year by mathematics Professor David Hand from …BUT IPHONE CAN TAKE SECRET PHOTOS Imperial College London. He told the BBC, which A Google employee has expression, and stream live themselves by buying was investigating whether exposed a security flaw in online what is being recorded. a webcam cover phones were listening to iOS that lets some apps take The device would give no (such as these on Amazon conversations, that people secret photos and videos of indication that it’s being used, www.snipca.com/26068), or are “evolutionarily trained to the owner. Felix Krause said leaving its owner unaware of revoking apps’ access to the seek explanations”. hackers could use an iOS any intrusion. camera, though this would He added: “This apparent privacy setting to take control Krause revealed the flaw make it generally harder to coincidence occurs and we of apps that are allowed to in his blog (www.snipca. take photos and videos. think there must be use the device’s camera. They com 26067), saying he has Krause added that the explanation, it can’t be could even run facial-detection contacted Apple about it. research isn’t connected with chance. But there are so many tools to read the owner’s He said users could protect his job at Google. opportunities for that coincidence to occur”. You’ll like this… … but not this Phones may soon have a flexible screen Artificial Intelligence can now fool CAPTCHA that doesn’t crack (www.snipca.com/26064) codes online (www.snipca.com/26065) 6 8 – 21 November 2017
Explore Saturn’s moons in IN BRIEF Google’s Solar System tour WEBSITES PLEDGE TO REMOVE TERROR CONTENT You can explore the moons of Tech giants – including Jupiter and Saturn, as well as Facebook, Twitter and the planets Mercury, Venus Google – have vowed to do and Mars, in a collection of more to remove terrorist stunning new images on content online following a Google Maps. meeting with the G7 nations The images of Saturn’s on the Italian island of Ischia. moons were taken by the Officials said the aim was Cassini probe, which launched to take down extremist in 1997 and spent 13 years content within two hours of orbiting the planet before it being posted. This was the crashing into its atmosphere Enceladus, Saturn’s sixth- pictured below left is looking time limit recommended by in September. During its largest moon, where Cassini at Earth from the Cupola, a Theresa May in September, mission, run by Nasa, the discovered water beneath small module that lets when she urged tech European Space Agency and the crust. Just as spectacular astronauts watch operations companies to go “further the Italian Space Agency, it are the images of Titan, that take place outside the ISS, and faster” to tackle hateful captured over 500,000 images, Saturn’s largest moon (see like the approach of vehicles. propaganda online. which have now been stitched main screenshot), home to Explore the images by together by scientists. methane lakes beneath the visiting www.snipca.com/ BT SLASHES LANDLINE Highlights include the icy thick clouds. In total there 26013 then clicking a location RENTAL BILLS are 12 new worlds to explore, on the left. Zoom in and out One million BT customers including the dwarf planets using the bottom-right plus will pay less for their landline Pluto and Ceres. and minus buttons, or by bills after the company Google has also added scrolling your mouse wheel. bowed to pressure from images from the International You can rotate the image by Ofcom. The regulator has Space Station (ISS), giving you clicking it then moving your been concerned about a lack an astronaut’s view of the mouse. Read more on Google’s of competition in the landline Solar System. The view blog: www.snipca.com/26011. market. The price cut – from £18.99 a month to £11.99 – is for customers who get only Microsoft exposes Chrome flaw in their landline from BT, not a ‘bundled’ package including tit-for-tat war with Google TV and broadband. It starts in April 2018. Microsoft has slammed Google fixing the full version of for not immediately fixing a Chrome, which it failed to do security flaw in its Chrome browser, in the latest clash for almost a month. Microsoft said this gave hackers “more Tomorrow’s between the two tech rivals. In a blog post (www.snipca. than enough time” to exploit it. The company’s comments world com/26009) Microsoft says come after heavy criticism A recent league table on it found a flaw in Chrome, this year from Google’s Project worldwide broadband speeds and notified Google on 14 Zero team, which has accused saw the UK in 31st place, September, receiving a Microsoft of leaving flaws company hasn’t fixed it within below countries like Latvia, ‘bounty’ payment of $15,837 unfixed even after being told 90 days of being notified. Thailand and Bulgaria. So (£12,000). Google fixed it about them. In its report, Microsoft we stand to benefit greatly within a week in the beta Most recently Google said that its strategy differs from research conducted at version of Chrome, which criticised Microsoft for fixing from Google’s, and urged University College London Microsoft acknowledged was flaws in Windows 10, but not 7 companies to use the principle on a broadband system that “impressive”. and 8.1, creating a “false sense of ‘Coordinated Vulnerability can hit speeds of 10Gbps But Microsoft criticised of security for users of the Disclosure’, in which before (10,000Mbps). It works by Google for publishing details older systems” (see ‘Question going public the ‘finder’ of shrinking the broadband of the fix on GitHub (https:// of the Fortnight’, Issue 513). the flaw lets the affected receivers connecting ISPs github.com) – where software Google’s policy, strongly company fully test “updates, with customers. Read more developers release source criticised by Microsoft, is to go workarounds, or other at: www.snipca.com/26051. code for others to use – before public with a security flaw if a corrective measures”. 8 – 21 November 2017 7
News IN BRIEF eBay removes cheap cartridges CCLEANER ADDS AUTO UPDATE TOOL after Epson pressure CCleaner has added an Emergency Updater to its Printer manufacturer Epson stated that items would d be free version, following a has been criticised for asking removed only after a court ourt major hack in September. The eBay to take down cartridges order, but has removed tool will “force a software made by other manufacturers printer cartridges solelyy update” in a “worst-case and sold by retailers. on Epson’s “say-so”, scenario” – for example, These third-party cartridges without any legal basis.s. should another hack leave are compatible with Epson’s ORG added that it was users vulnerable. Previously, printers and usually cheaper “concerning” that Epsonson only the paid-for version than those sold by the acted against retailers selling of CCleaner was updated company. But it claims that the cartridges before automatically. To get this new they violate eBay’s VeRO contacting the manufacturers acturers version (5.36) click ‘Check for (Verified Rights Owner) who made them. updates’ at the bottom right Programme, which lets firms Many companies selling ling of CCleaner. Read more at report items that infringe their cartridges are small www.snipca.com/26050. intellectual property, such as businesses that buy items ems in cartridges will “damage trademarks. bulk in order to sell them small businesses like mine HOTEL BOOKING Epson’s specific claim is cheaply. Preventing this without any real evidence SITES INVESTIGATED about abuse of its patents, “would be extremely bad for that anything wrong has Hotel-booking sites such as which applies only in the EU, consumers”, ORG said. been done”. Expedia and Booking.com leaving US customers still able Adrian Meakin, owner of Epson responded by saying are to be investigated over to buy the cartridges. Ink Squid (https://theink it deals with cases in an concerns they mislead EBay agreed to remove the squid.com), which sells “even-handed” way. The customers. The Competition listings, angering Open Rights cartridges for Epson printers, company’s PR Manager and Markets Authority will Group (ORG), which campaigns accused the company of Leonie Toal added that examine whether sites for privacy and free speech bullying competitors with while Epson welcomes prioritise hotels they get a online. It said eBay previously eBay’s help. He said removing “legitimate competition”, commission from. It will it objects to “companies also look into claims sites EPSON CARTRIDGES EBAY REMOVED and individuals that simply pressurise customers by copy the technologies that we • T16 XL • T24 XL • T27 XL • T33 XL • T0797 XL have developed and own”, giving a “false impression of • T18 XL • T26 XL • T29 XL • T0715 XL • T0807 XL claiming it is damaging to room availability”. “loyal customers”. Monitor young offenders’ online threats Young offenders should have assaults, while others saw their social-media profiles victims blackmailed using monitored to prevent crime, indecent images they were Have we had a chilling a probation watchdog report pressured to upload. Rival foretaste of how World has said. It warned that some gangs regularly threaten each War Three might start? of the vilest crimes, including other in videos online. A Palestinian construction sexual offences, are planned Offenders often use codes worker in Israel was online in ways that were when chatting online, dealing with young offenders arrested after his message “inconceivable” a few years ago. including NIFOC (‘nude in need help to “catch up” with ‘yusbihuhum’ (‘Good After examining 115 cases, front of the computer’) and this change of tactics. morning’ in Arabic) was HM Inspectorate of Probation POS (‘parents over shoulder’). The UK has 152 Youth automatically translated found that a quarter of the Dame Glenys Stacey, the Offending Teams, supervising by Facebook into ‘attack crimes were “directly related” chief inspector of probation, about 19,000 youngsters aged them’ in Hebrew and ‘hurt to the perpetrator’s use of said: “This is new behaviour. 10 to 18. The Youth Justice them’ in English. The man social-media sites. Its report Many of these young people Board said it had published was later released without said crimes were now “planned shun Facebook and other new guidance on tackling charge and Facebook in bedrooms rather than on common applications, in the problem of social media apologised, saying mistakes street corners”. favour of lesser known and, and would “carefully consider like this “happen from In some cases arguments therefore, more private media”. the recommendations within time to time”. online escalated into physical She added that teams the report”. 8 8 – 21 November 2017
Mobile networks ‘rip you off’ after IN BRIEF your contract ends IRAN BLAMED FOR HACKING MPs’ EMAILS Iran has been blamed for Vodafone, EE and Three have monthly bills for the hack on Parliament in been accused of ripping off customers who stay on June that accessed 90 email customers by continuing to their contract to reflect accounts, including 30 used charge them for phones even the fact they have paid by MPs. An unpublished after the cost has been paid off. for the phone. intelligence report seen by Research from Citizens It also said networks The Times points the finger Advice found that customers should tell customers at the Iranian Revolutionary who don’t sign up to a new when they have paid Guard, set up in 1979 to contract are paying an average for their phone, an defend Iran against foreign £22 extra a month. People appeal backed by the that “wherever possible” it interference. The attack, aged over 65 were the most Government. Minister for gives customers nearing previously attributed to likely to be hit, with 23 per Digital Matt Hancock said: the end of their contract Russia and North Korea, cent staying on their contract “It’s only right that mobile several options, including a is believed to be Iran’s after the fixed period ends. customers should be notified SIM-only plan. first significant act of Gillian Guy, chief executive when they have paid off the Three said it makes the cyberwarfare against Britain. of Citizens Advice, said: “The price of their handset, and contract’s end-date “very cost of handsets are hidden that their future bills should clear” when customers sign CHROME WARNING within some mobile-phone reflect this”. up, while EE claimed that INCREASES HTTPS SITES contracts giving phone Guy added that providers separating the phone and Browsing online is becoming providers a way to exploit should make it easier for tariff costs sometimes results safer according to Google, their customer”. customers to compare prices in customers paying more. which says the number The majority of those whose by stating the cost of the Customers can ask for of websites using HTTPS contract includes the cost of phone separately from the compensation only if it wasn’t encryption has risen sharply. the phone pay it off over two tariff cost (data and minutes). made clear in their contract The company said on its years. Citizens Advice called All three networks defended that they would continue paying Transparency Report site on phone providers to reduce their policies. Vodafone said the same price when it ends. (www.snipca.com/26030) that 66 per cent of all web traffic on Chrome is protected Shop online? You may have to enter code by HTTPS, up from 50 per cent a year ago. Google to fight fraud claims that this rise is partly down to its decision last year You may have to wait for a text to mark non-HTTPS sites as message before confirming “non secure”. an online purchase under Government proposals to REMOVE GAMBLING combat fraud. The message GAMES AIMED AT KIDS would contain a code that Gambling websites have you’d enter online at the been ordered to take down checkout stage. adverts for casino games The technique, known as targeted at children. In an two-step verification, is Rudd said she was “excited” Secretary Philip Rutnam said open letter to gambling firms, already used by companies by the plan. She told the that a new set of security the group of regulators, like Google, Facebook and Home Affairs select committee measures need to replace chip which includes the Gambling Apple to give you a second that it “could be a real win in and PIN. The Government has Commission and the layer of protection when you terms of protecting people”. been criticised for not doing Committee of Advertising sign in. You can add additional Another idea being enough to fight the dramatic Practice, said websites would phone numbers in case the considered is the introduction rise in online fraud, which face “sanctions” if they first device is lost or stolen. of credit and debit cards that costs Britons over £10bn a year. continued to post adverts Home Office ministers contain a unique code on the Earlier this year Sir Amyas aimed at under-18s. Games said the move could help to signature strip that changes Morse, head of the National such as “Fluffy Favourites” prevent thieves from using every hour. This would replace Audit Office, said the crime and “Pirate Princess” feature stolen credit-card details, a the current three-digit CVV had been “overlooked by “brightly coloured cartoon crime that affects a million code. Mastercard is working on Government, law enforcement characters” designed to “lure people every year. the early stages of the scheme. and industry”, and demanded children into gambling”. Home Secretary Amber Home Office Permanent an urgent response. 8 – 21 November 2017 9
News Darien Graham-Smith puts the boot into tech villains, jargon-spouting companies and software stuffed with junk WARNING: JUNK AHEAD Junk offender: Free Chromium’), replete with extensions, and YouTube Downloader that you commit to do all your online I could waste hours (and searches through Yahoo rather than frequently have) on YouTube. There are Google (in my case). literally billions of videos to discover and On the third page you’re invited to enjoy, from amusing shorts to fascinating install a video tool called GOM Player, documentaries. Unfortunately, it’s not which, should you accept said invite, will great for keeping you chuckling/absorbed be set as your default player for video on long journeys, because it requires a files. If you’re happily using Windows constant internet connection. Media Player or VLC, for example, this Thankfully, there are tools that can ride change will annoy the heck out of you. to the rescue. One of the most popular is The moral, as usual, is to pay close Free YouTube Downloader (www.snipca. Untick the box on this page to avoid having to attention when installing free software. browse Yahoo-style com/26052), a no-nonsense little program In this case, all of the ‘I agree’ boxes are that can copy any YouTube video to your you through three pages of agreements, sneakily pre-ticked, so it’s easy to breezily PC for your offline pleasure. Strictly but only the first one actually has anything click through the installation and end up speaking, you’re not supposed to do this, to do with the downloader itself. The with a browser and media player you but no one’s going to haul you over the second is innocently titled ‘Search Offer’. didn’t want and don’t like. So give Free coals for downloading the odd (perhaps It’s only once you plough through seven YouTube Downloader a miss. If you want very odd) video for personal use. lines of small print that you realise you’re to watch videos offline, use a free There is, however, a darker side to actually agreeing to install a whole new web-based download service such as YouTube Downloader. The installer walks web browser (the ‘Yahoo powered y2mate (http://y2mate.com) instead. What are they Darien’s Villains of the Fortnight talking about? Amazon & eBay What they say I love to shop online, and I’m always Google designer Ivy Ross eager to save money. So it came as a (www.snipca.com/26053): ): punch in the solar plexus to find “The mission was to create some of my favourite shopping sites a design language that are complicit in some very dodgy reflects something that we believe business. A parliamentary report has is very Google and really sets the tone found that foreign traders are selling and develops a unique point of view - goods on marketplace sites like may have been cheated out of as much we want to be cohesive as a family of Amazon and eBay without the required as £1.5bn. Think how many nurses products and do what’s best for each VAT being added. That means they and teachers that would pay for. product, never sacrificing the individual can offer low prices up front – but as Amazon and eBay claim to have form and function of a singular taxpayers we all end up paying cracked down on fraud, but you can’t product.” ultimately. leave a fox in charge of the chicken And it’s not just the small-time crooks coop. It’s time for big online What they mean who profit from this little scam. Amazon marketplaces to clean up their act. Google wants its products to have a and eBay get commission on every sale, recognisable style, but ease-of-use is raking in billions. MPs estimate that Want to nominate a villain of the fortnight? its priority. our communities and public services Email us at editor@computeractive.co.uk 10 8 – 21 November 2017
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