Microsoft has not stopped forcing Edge on Windows 11 users
Microsoft announces vague changes to the default web browser setting for Windows Insider. Nothing but wishful thinking. Still force-opens web links in Edge.
Latest
The trouble with decommissioning a used FIDO security key
You can’t throw out your worn-out USB security keys when you can’t recall what locks they’re for. Physical security tokens come with their own problems.
The deafening problem with the FreeStyle Libre 3 app for Android
People with diabetes use the app to monitor glucose levels and trigger alerts when it goes critical. Unfortunately, it raises the volume to uncomfortable levels.
Phone Link relays your personal data through Microsoft servers
The Phone Link app doesn’t transfer data directly between your devices over the local network. Instead, it allows Microsoft to peak at your personal data.
Norway’s BankID undermines anti-phishing best practices
An easily-spoofed iframe embedded onto every random online merchant’s websites is not a safe place to enter my bank password! Is it really BankID‽
I’ve joined Vivaldi Technologies
Back in November, I began my new job as a Quality Assurance (QA) Tester at Vivaldi Technologies. Vivaldi is the productivity super-app of web browsers.
Sync issues finally drove me away from the Joplin note-taking app
Joplin for Android stopped supporting local file syncing and Syncthing. I tried cloud-storage alternatives, but the other sync methods are slow and unreliable.
Don’t record your social life on an append-only social network
The tech behind peer-to-peer (P2P) social networks such as Secure Scuttlebutt enforces permanency. Absolute permanency isn’t what you want in a social network.
First look at Microsoft PC Manager and its conflicting interests
Microsoft’s new PC cleaner app puts the company’s interests in front of its customers’. At least it doesn’t over-promise and under-deliver like its competitors.
The frustrating RouterOS–WireGuard VPN peering bug
A bug in RouterOS’ webconfig interface caused me to waste hours troubleshooting what I initially believed was a mistake in my WireGuard VPN configuration.
TP-Link network equipment hijacks some DNS requests
No one remembers the IP address of their favorite websites. Why should you remember your router’s IP address? TP-Link hijacks DNS to give itself a domain name.
I miss del.icio.us – the web’s discovery-engine and link classifier
The early 2000s social bookmarking and link-sharing website was great for organizing and discovering the web by topic. I really wish it still was around.
Mobile Apps
A Sony Headphones app feature kills your phone’s battery life
Adaptive Sound Control auto-adjusts your noise-canceling and ambient-awareness levels based on detected activities and location. At a significant battery cost.
HTTP Caching
A closer look at Steam’s local network cache proxying protocol
Valve Software has introduced a new automatic method for caching game downloads on a local proxy server without needing to reconfigure individual Steam clients.
WebPerf
You don’t want to be on Cloudflare’s naughty list
My home IP ended up on Cloudflare’s naughty list for six days. Most websites and many apps loaded slowly, partially, or not at all. Just had to wait it out.
Review
Review: Aqara indoor climate sensor (for home automation)
The Aqara temperature and relative humidity sensor for Zigbee-home automation is unreliable and it doesn’t work in humid environments (where you’d want one!)
TP-Link
TP-Link band-steers 2,4 to 5 GHz Wi-Fi even when the radio is off
TP-Link Wi-Fi access points mindlessly band-steer clients off 2,4 GHz to the 5 GHz radio; even during periods when the 5 GHz radio is powered off.
Hardware
Finally fixed my PC’s persistent graphics and audio stutters
I experienced intermittent stuttering when my PC ran Linux and Windows. A mix of hardware, firmware, and driver issues created a difficult to diagnose problem.
Privacy
Stop using DICT dictionary apps (such as GNOME/MATE Dictionary)
MATE Desktop installs a Dictionary app (a fork of the retired GNOME Dictionary app). The apps don’t protect your pricacy, and you might want to stop using them.
Networking
“Gigabit Router” doesn’t mean it can deliver gigabit internet speed
Make sure you buy a network router that can fully exploit your gigabit internet connection. Many routers say gigabit on the box, but doesn’t deliver gigabit speed.
Fonts
TeamViewer installs suspicious font only useful for web fingerprinting
A weird almost unreadable font file bundled with TeamViewer for Windows software lets website detect if you’ve installed the software. Raises privacy concerns.
Localization
On-device browser translations with Firefox Translations
Firefox can now do offline and privacy-preserving translation of eight languages with more on the way. Powered by open-source and machine-learning.
Browser Extensions
How to set per-creator/channel playback speed on YouTube
Fine-tune your preferred playback speed per-channel with Samuel Li’s Speed Controller for YouTube extension. Set and forget on your favorite slow channels.
Keyboard
Review: Dygma Raise split mechanical keyboard for enthusiasts
The Raise is two fully programmable keyboards with eight independent thumb-keys instead of a space bar. Its unique hardware comes with unique software problems.