For the show broadcast between June 21st and June 27th, 2008

Benjamin covered the usual assortment of new technologies, warnings of problems to come, and handled questions skillfully.  One of the most awe inspiring topics was that of an up-and-coming laser powered projector that will shape how we might watch movies in the future.  http://www.microvision.com is touting a futuristic projector that will run a fraction of the price, with more power, using some very simple adaptations, rather than reinventing the wheel.  Another glipse of the future was bendable plastic readout screens that are coming as well, from www.polymervision.com  and www.eInk.com. 

Benjamin talked about unwanted software, like root kits and Apple's forced sending of the Safari web browser through iTunes software.  Of course, the unwanted addition of Yahoo! or Google Toolbars when you install an unrelated software program.   

Also covered was how you can detect a rootkit, which may include problems such as keystroke loggers, and a corruption of the existing operating system, which could encourage virus activities.  A strong suggestion was to pick up the Microsoft Rootkit Revealer from Microsoft.com

Keeping people safe from the evils on the Internet, Benjamin gave a number of hints on securing your laptop when working on Wi-Fi.  Most notable, securing passwords with something like Password Safe and changing your workgroup or domain name are good starting points.  Ransomware was also covered, and Benjamin didn't have enough time to give all of the details, but some of the details from the intended discussion are as follows:

Some interesting bits about some new "ransomware".

It's malware that encrypts the victim's data and asks to be sent money for the decrypting software.

This would take about a year with millions of computers to break the encryption, so it's not something trivial to take on.

Will the attacker change the key before we're done.

How do we know this public key is a key the attacker actually has the matching private key for?

How do we know for sure this key doesn't belong to somebody else and by giving out the private key to thwart the apparent attacker we're actually helping him in his real attack against somebody else.

How do we know it's not even far worse and that this public key belong to some infrastructure we rely on to keep things safe ?

Imagine the key belonging to a CA used to sign SSL certificates ...

Imagine the key belonging to a bank's https site, it would become vulnerable to attack without the customers getting so much as to have to click next on their attempts to connect

Benjamin also spoke with Alicia Rockmore from http://www.getbuttonedup.com about some very good sites for saving money.  In no particular order, the ones that the station staff noted down as these went rapid fire were...  www.smartsource.com, www.gasbuddy.com, www.sidestep.com,  www.airfarewatchdog.com, and the Kroger discount card / coupon program at www.shortcuts.com which was an attention getter.  Purchasing groceries at www.amazon.com was an interesting idea as well. Of course, locating discount codes online is a great idea.  Since broadcast, Benjamin had a purchase to make at an on-line store, and he ran up Alicia's trick of searching for the store name with the phrase "discount code", and saved 15% and got free shipping... over $25 savings for 3 minutes of work.

A few more websites according to post-interview notes that we may have missed...

www.ShadowShopper.com
www.Stamps.com
www.americangreetings.com
www.bluemountain.com
www.shopzilla.com
www.Kayak.com
www.lastminutevacations.com
www.lastminute.com

Talema asked about syncing Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, and Benjamin advised to simply dump Outlook Express, and covered how to move the information over to the new program.  Angel asked about how to shrink pictures down to e-mail them to friends and family (Microsoft's PowerToys has a utility called Image Resize which works wonders).  Oz reported that his computer was locked up and didn't know what to do...  and Benjamin covered some emergency tips, but noted that frequently saving files is a very good practice (no offense Oz!)

Dan asked for hints on how to go green with computing.  Benjamin noted that LCD displays are inherently better due to their low voltage, recycled paper options, and also covered how to change the power settings to make a computer be even more energy efficient.  Tom noted he was having problems with printing from his laptop.  Paper would go through, but it wouldn't print, and apparently he left some tape over the nozzles which prevented printing.  Marion asked how to clean a keyboard. 

E-mails came in as well from a number of listeners and you can send Benjamin your questions too, right here.  Sherry asked for details on a laptop to be used as a desktop replacement.  Les asked why one should pay for Kaspersky or Panda Antivirus if the others are free, and Benjamin noted that the ones that do it for money are far more attentive and reliable than the folks that offer a free product...  along the lines of "you get what you pay for"!  Michael was advised to uninstall the trial version of Microsoft Office before installing the permanent "paid" version, if for no other reason than to make sure it was a clean installation.  Don asked how to setup a second Windows XP installation on an EXTERNAL hard drive and boot to either one and  Benjamin recommended Avanquest's System Commander

And we did all that in two hours?

AUDIO OF THE SHOW
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Hour 2
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