HeroicStories

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Begun in 1999, HeroicStories brings diverse, international voices to the world – reminding us that people are good, that individuals and individual action matter. Our mission is to publish examples of people being good to each other, to inspire similar heroic actions in others.

HeroicStories

Woodinville, Washington


    • May 31, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 868 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from HeroicStories

    Is Internet Provided by My Landlord Safe?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 4:04


    Connectivity is becoming an added perk in some housing situations. Make sure you know the risks and alternatives when someone else provides your internet connection.

    How to Hover Over a Link to Check It’s Not a Scam

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 12:25


    When it comes to links on webpages and HTML email, what you see is not always where you go. Hovering over a link is an important technique to look before you leap.

    The Big One Is Coming. Are You Tech-Ready?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 8:21


    Disaster planning includes thinking about your technology and online access.

    How End-to-End Encryption Protects Your Messages and Where It Fails

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 10:44


    You would think that for such an important concept as end-to-end encryption there's be some agreement on exactly what it means. Sadly, not so. There's the correct definition, and then there's the marketing definition. One protects you, the other not so much.

    CHKDSK: What Is It and How Do I Run It?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 9:40


    CHKDSK, short for Check Disk, is a utility that checks the integrity of the files and file structure of your hard disk. I'll walk you through it.

    Many Ways Your Account Can Be Hacked and What to Do About It

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 9:35


    There are many ways accounts can be compromised. There are also many simple ways you can protect yourself.

    The Curious History of A:, B:, and Why C: Rules the PC

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 4:58


    Floppies come and floppies go, but C: is apparently forever.

    Can You Really Know Your PC Is Clean and Malware-Free?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 6:10


    It's common to want confirmation your machine hasn't been compromised in some way. We can get close, but we can't prove it.

    Should You Leave Your Backup Drive Plugged In? The Real Risk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 7:05


    Some people are afraid to leave their external backup drive connected. They're trading a small risk for a much, much larger one.

    The Event Viewer, Explained

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 10:36


    Many Windows components log messages and use Event Viewer to display them. Sadly, the messages are often cryptic and inconsistent, and the result is a mess that scammers take advantage of.

    My (Not So) Favorite Question

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 6:16


    My favorite question? You'll never guess. Hint: it makes my job super easy, and you don't want that.

    Can AI Block Spam?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 6:52


    Can we apply AI to the problem of spam? We're already there.

    Passkeys Are Never the Only Way In

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 6:48


    Losing a device with a passkey to one of your accounts will not lock you out.

    Start11: Another Start Menu Replacement

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 9:51


    Want your old Start menu? We can do that. Want to tweak the taskbar in useful ways, including its position? Start11 can do that too.

    Extend Your Wi-Fi: Simple Fixes for Better Home Coverage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 4:55


    It can be difficult to get wireless network coverage throughout your home.

    Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: What's the Difference, and Is It Worth It?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 5:57


    Windows 11 Home vs. Pro: which should it be, and why?

    How Important Is a Clean Uninstall?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 6:27


    These days, you don't need to worry about leftovers unless you're tracking down a specific problem.

    Avoiding Scams: Why Hackers Can't Recover Your Gmail for You

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 6:40


    You'll often find testimonials and offers of amazing account recovery success. It's a trap.

    What Backup Program Should I Use?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 7:56


    Backing up your computer's data is critical. The best program is whatever you'll actually use.

    How Do I Remove Myself From the Search Engines?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 10:22


    The internet has a very long memory. Removal from search engines is pragmatically impossible, and I don't think it's what you really want anyway.

    The Enduring Myth of Annual Subscriptions to Windows

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 7:45


    I just don't see it happening.

    An Abundance of Cloud Storage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 11:15


    It seems like every online service provider includes some kind of cloud storage as a perk. It's easy to feel overwhelmed.

    Yet Another Way to Install Windows 11 With a Local Account

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 6:21


    The latest workaround allowing you to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.

    Where Do You Get Your Answers?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 8:30


    There are many ways to find information on the internet. Here are a few tricks of mine that can work for you.

    How Do I View Hidden Files and Folders?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 6:13


    We'll look at how to display hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer.

    How Does Security Software Protect Me After Windows 10 End of Support?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 6:17


    Security updates and security software have different jobs, and that difference matters.

    How Do I Know If My Hard Disk Is BitLocker-Encrypted?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 6:46


    Your hard disk could be BitLocker encrypted without your knowledge.

    8 Ways AI Can Help You Every Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 25:24


    It's time to start thinking about what AI can do for you.

    How Do I Split a Partition?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 5:52


    Let's say you want to partition your C: into two drives. I'll show you how.

    The Hidden Cost of Free Email: Protecting What Matters Before It’s Gone

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 6:35


    I hear of free email accounts being lost constantly. Here's how to reduce your risk and use free email accounts safely.

    How Often Do I Need to Create a New Emergency/Rescue/Recovery Disk?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 4:06


    You may choose to wait on that.

    Don't Trust the Cloud. You Need to Back Up Your Email and Online Data

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 8:49


    It's your data, so it's your responsibility to back up the information you keep online.

    Open-Shell: Regain Your Start Menu

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 7:06


    The single biggest complaint about Windows 11 is the Start menu. Don't like it? There's an app for that.

    Lets Chat About: China

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2025 6:16


    [glossary_exclude]It's complicated[/glossary_exclude] by Leo A. Notenboom Transcript (A pre-written script that I riffed from while recording the video.) That some of our software comes from overseas is, I hope, not news. Globalization is strong in technology. However it is you're watching or reading this, you can bet that components used in the software, computers, networks, and servers come from all over the world. When it comes to tech borders are in many ways irrelevant; it's one big planetary market. With recent political events and the rise of geo-political tribalism, those borders have become a little less imaginary. In fact, depending on the border you're talking about they're on the top of many people's minds. Case in point: I've recommended the backup program EaseUS Todo for a long time. One of the push-backs I get semi-regularly is that the company is based in China. While it's not prominent on their website, the corporate information can be found. CHENGDU Yiwo® Tech Development Co. 18F-K, Building 2 Huaxi Meilu, No.17 Section 3 of Renmin South Road Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000 China I received a comment recently: Question: [glossary_exclude]Why do you feel safe about using software from this Chinese owned company?[/glossary_exclude] My response is the same as it's been for years: There's been zero evidence of any wrongdoing. Zero. And I'm an evidence-based guy. If there's eventual evidence of wrong doing, then I'll drop my recommendation, but that's true for any software I use, regardless of the source. But I totally understand that even without evidence, more folks might be concerned in the light of heightened trade war issues. Here's the problem, though: there are few domestic alternatives. (To be fair, I've not evaluated every solution, so maybe there is. But that's kinda not the point.) So much of the software we use originates in other countries, or has massive contributions from overseas sources. A selection of backup and restore tools: Acronis: Singapore and Switzerland (though originally Russian in origin) Aomei Backupper: Hong Kong Ashampoo: Germany Hasleo backup: unknown(!). Macrium Reflect: UK Nero BackItUp: Germany Paragon: Germany DriveImage XML: US (Hawaii), though it's not the complete solution I generally look for and recommend. Open source tools like CloneZilla, and others invite contributions from around the world. It's not just backup software. Kaspersky is a great example of security software that's been explicitly banned -- without evidence, that I'm aware of -- because it comes from "the wrong country", a country some have concerns over, while others apparently do not. And it's not just software. Consider all the hardware we rely on every day. Components come from all over the planet, including China. It's complicated. Honestly I'm less concerned about espionage than I am about the practical impact of the trade war. I would not surprise me if, at some point, EaseUS and other products originating from China were banned (or tarriffed into oblivion) much like Kaspersky, not because of evidence of wrong doing, but simply by being a pawn in a larger geopolitical game. The net result would be fewer and or more expensive options for us all. I'd expect there to be evidence if there were actual espionage or data theft from tools like EaseUS Todo, especially after all this time. I'm comfortable using the tools until either there's proof of malicious behavior, or until the geopolitical situation says I can't have them any more. If you feel differently, that's fine. There are alternatives, but you'll need to choose once again just who it is you do trust. I mean, you're trusting someone, likely several someone's all over the planet, every time you even turn on your computer and connect to the internet. What's your take? Are you avoiding China, and if so based on what? Principle?

    Security, Privacy, and Spam: What Disposable Emails Truly Protect

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 9:57


    Disposable email addresses are convenient for some things, but it is important to understand what they offer and what they don't.

    I Use BitLocker. Are My Backups Encrypted?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 12:03


    It's important to understand when backups of encrypted drives are encrypted and when they're not.

    Should I Back Up to an SD Card, USB Stick, or SSD?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 5:36


    I see the appeal of slipping a little SD card into your computer for backups, but the safety of your data on that card has me worried.

    If You Don’t Have a TPM, You Might Still Have a TPM

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 3:28


    Many machines reported as not having a TPM have one that's simply not enabled.

    Let Chat About – Strong and Divergent Opinions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 4:42


    Differing opinions can be annoying, but they're also an opportunity to learn and understand.

    You Want More Than a Fix. You Want Knowledge.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 3:56


    You have questions. I have answers... with some confidence along for the ride.

    What is Quick Removal?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 6:15


    Windows changed the default setting for Quick Removal of external drives. I'll look at why, and what it means.

    Why Does My Computer Crash Randomly?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 6:32


    Random crashes are annoying and difficult to diagnose. I'll review common causes and steps you can take to determine what's happening on your computer.

    No, No One Is Forcing You to Buy a New Machine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 9:09


    The most common complaint about Windows 11 is based on a fallacy.

    Why Are My Incremental Backups So Large?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 5:52


    Incremental backups can be larger than expected, and that's okay.

    Let’s Chat About: Civility

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2025 7:42


    I find myself reacting more to those who are less then pleasant when they leave their feedback.

    A New Unit of Measurement?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 7:42


    In which we use the world's bestselling book to make gigantic numbers a little more tangible.

    Protecting Your Data: Why I Avoid Most Pre-Installed Security and Encryption Software

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 4:24


    External hard drives often come with security and backup software. I'm not convinced it should be used.

    Restore the Right-Click Menu in Windows 11

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 3:39


    The change to the Windows 11 right-click menu is annoying to many people. We can fix that (for now).

    Why Email Forwarding is Broken and What to Do Instead

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 10:24


    Learn to pull your email together rather than push it.

    The Email Tracking Myth: Why You'll Never Reliably Know If Your Message Was Read

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 11:59


    We often want confirmation that an email has been opened, delivered, or read. In the age of spam, it's not possible with any accuracy.

    Let’s Chat – About Experiments and Fear

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2025 9:27


    Why ask and wait, when you could just experiment?

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