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Don’t run unknown executables for a dollar. And PLEASE don’t for a penny!

Dave Farquhar security June 24, 2014June 21, 2014antivirus, information security, NIST, preschooler

I can’t bribe my preschooler with a penny anymore, but, sadly, a consortium of Carnegie Mellon University, NIST and Penn State University found that 22% of respondents through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk were willing to run a dodgy unknown executable in return for a penny. Fifty-eight percent would do it for 50 cents, and 64 percent would do it for a dollar.

I’ve been telling people for 17 years not to take executable files from strangers. I know the percentage of people who will bend down to pick up a penny off the ground when they see one is less than 22%, so this saddens me. Read more

Some tips for trolling fake technical support calls

Dave Farquhar scams, security, Windows June 12, 2014April 18, 2017antivirus, AT&T, caller id, command prompt, FBI, Fraud, India, LAME, Missouri, old windows, preschooler, verizon, windows 98, windows 9x

I did a little more digging after getting yet another fake technical support phone call last week, and I’ve done some thinking on my own. If you want to troll these criminals when they call you, here are some ideas. Read more

Hints for surviving if the shutdown put you out of work

Dave Farquhar Saving money October 3, 2013Aldi, cable tv, christmas, DEC, mortgage, preschooler

I’ve seen plenty of news stories of how the government shutdown is affecting 800,000 or so government employees. What the news stories fail to mention is a large number of contractors are out of work too, until this passes. I can only guess on that number, but there’s no doubt it numbers in the millions, and little doubt it’s in the tens of millions.

As a former government contractor myself, I dealt with losing my job unexpectedly earlier this year, so some tips on dealing with an unexpected loss of a paycheck, even if it’s temporary, are fresh in my mind. There are five things you have to do.

I’m not here to gloat about anything. I’m here to try to help. Some of these things won’t be pleasant, but they’ll reduce pain in the long run if this lasts longer than a week. Keep in mind that everything I’m advocating is something I’ve done myself.

My nocturnal-minded son

Dave Farquhar Parenting, Personal February 28, 2013February 26, 2013preschooler

My preschool-aged son and I were running errands one evening when his mind tracked towards our dog and the last time we put her in the kennel.

This was a subject of great concern to him, which reminded me of how great it would be to be four again.
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Buy toys now, but keep procrastinating on the electronics

Dave Farquhar Saving money November 28, 2011November 22, 2018christmas, panasonic, preschooler

According to The Consumerist, if you’re shopping for Christmas (or Hanukah or Kwanzaa or any other giving occasion) gifts right now, this is a good time to buy toys but not necessarily electronics. The logic makes sense.
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