Web site to check if your email address or password has been hacked

The site is https://haveibeenpwned.com/.  There is a tab at the top of the page "Password" to check a password.  In general, if your email has been hacked, then change your password to something long and strong.  You're going to have to go to a password manager to be secure on the internet- you can't manage all your web sites on a sheet of paper.  Read this for background:  https://askleo.com/what-should-i-do-about-the-latest-breach/

Wireless Mice and Keyboards from Logitech- How to make them work with the receiver dongle

The general rule technical people learn is that a wireless mouse or keyboard or combination that communicates with that little device you plug into the a USB port of your computing device- the receiver- will only work between one unique wireless device and its receiver.  This means that if you lose the little receiver, you might as well throw away the mouse or keyboard; they won't work with another receiver. 

This is not true for logitech devices where the device and the receiver have a small orange asterisk-like symbol on them.  Any input device can communicate to any such receiver.  In fact, several input devices can simultaneously use the same receiver.  Logitech calls this "Unifying" and devices that can do this are called Unifying devices. 

This might seem like an irrelevant issue to most of you, but I my experience is that it is a common problem. 

Logitech has a small application you have to use to connect any the two devices.  It is called Logitech Unifying Multi-Connect Utility.  Find it here:  https://support.logitech.com/en_us/product/unifying/downloads.  This link is for the Windows and Apple versions.  If you have a Unix-based device, then read this article:  https://askubuntu.com/questions/113984/is-logitechs-unifying-receiver-supporteds

I've ripped off some instructions on how to use the app: 

One leave-in wireless receiver connects multiple compatible devices to a notebook computer. The tiny receiver stays in a notebook USB port and pairs with wireless peripherals at the office, at home, and in a laptop bag. Connect to up to six (6) compatible devices without fumbling with cords or multiple receivers. For more information, please visit https://www.logitech.com/unifying. For identification of Unifying products, please look for the Unifying icon on mice or keyboards and wireless receivers. Logitech Unifying Multi-Connect Utility It’s simple and fast to set up devices for the whole office using the Logitech Unifying Multi-Connect Utility designed specifically for the IT professional. Please speak with your reseller to get a copy of the Utility. Setup instructions of Logitech Unifying Multi-Connect Utility: 

Step 1 Launch the Logitech Unifying Multi-Connect Utility. 
Step 2 Plug in one Unifying receiver; remove any extra receiver from the USB port. 
Step 3 Click "Configure" to select the number of devices you would like to pair with the Unifying receiver. You can select any combination, up to a total of six (6) devices. 
Step 4 Follow the on-screen instructions. 
Step 5 When finished, click "Exit" when pairing all the devices to the receiver is done. If you would like to pair other Unifying devices to a different receiver, do not exit. Remove the first paired wireless receiver and plug in the next Unifying receiver. Repeat from Step 3. 

Trouble Shooting: Clear receiver. Start over from Step 3. 

SC Drivers License goes to Federal ID called Real ID

By Oct of next year (2020) all those who travel or have to relate to federal government entities in person with the requirement to show your ID will need a special new driver's license called Real ID... The DMV calls it the Federal ID when they talk about it.  This means, even if you don't have to renew your license for a while, you should go to the nearest dmv and renew your license, "upgrading" it to Real ID.  This isn't necessary if you don't travel, etc, but most everybody I know will need to do it.  Better now than when the rush comes later this year.  I will be traveling later, and my license will expire just about when I get back, so I got mine.  It took 20 minutes total and $25 with cash or check.  The details are at http://www.scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/REAL-ID

Documenting Poor Quality and Service by Apple

It's a stay-at-home day today, so I thought I would look into improving the performance and generally upgrading some old iPads and iMacs I have been given for the rummage sale this spring.  Hmmm... can't do.  Even though I was able to bring the samples I had up to new factory condition and then run them through upgrades, they still wouldn't upgrade past a certain point.  I know all you Apple fans out there know that this happens... if you have an Apple device that is something like 6 years old it will become a brick because the operating system isn't supported.  Unlike all other computing device manufacturers, it is not possible to replace the Apple operating system with another operating system, some derivative of Linux, the same operating system core platform Apple uses, to extend the life of the device and improve performance. 

Over the years- and I mean couple of decades- I have serviced Apple products, I have received many of the company's devices that had unexplained glitches that made them unusable.  After they had been given up as dead by their owners I would do a postmortem on the machines.  Sometimes I was able to bring them back to life by replacing defective parts.  Other times, I knew what the defective parts were, but it was too difficult to replace the part- the devices were not designed to be repaired, though the original owner had paid those excessive prices for the device in the first place.

A flashback to my experience with computers- I was on the design chips for the CPUs that went into all computers and computing devices.  I was on the test teams that devised the tests for the wafers, chips, motherboards, and computers- for 25 years.  Before that starting 67 years ago, I have been designing, building, and programming computers- many from "scratch." b I was also involved in the transfer of the technologies to other countries, with the ultimate manufacturer being some sweatshop in China, with software developed in India.  I saw and could measure the quality going downhill.  After I retired and began servicing computers as a hobby, I experienced first-hand the quality issue of all computing devices.  But Apple is the worst case because it cost so much to begin with and left no "off ramp" to repair or reinvigorate.

Apple products are overpriced and of poor quality- the quality shortcomings seemingly by design.  If you've stuck with me this far, then watch the following Youtube video for proof of my claim:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUaJ8pDlxi8. (The video is in the list on the right side of this blog page.) The video is 24 minutes long, but it really makes the case I have been trying to make. If I had time, I would make a companion video with my own war stories.