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£2.10
Homepage Issue 424

Hack your way to high speed


I
t’s been many years since I’ve heard the we reveal how to boost your broadband
horrible screech of a 56K dial-up modem. using secret hacks that only experts know
If I were ever to stumble across one, about – rather than the usual, obvious
perhaps in a technology museum or police advice such as “switch to a faster ISP” and
incident room, rather than experiencing “don’t put your router in the microwave”.
a Proustian rush of nostalgia, my first From DNS and TCP to QUIC and
instinct would be to smash it to bits with DD-WRT, we make baffling internet
an axe, such are my disturbed memories initials easy to understand and simple
of that slow, aggravating device. to tweak, so you can hack your way
Nowadays, we take our fast, silent to a better web connection.
internet connections for granted, which
means that as soon as speeds drop, we Robert Irvine
start cursing and crying in confusion (well, robert_irvine@dennis.co.uk
I do at least). In our cover feature this issue, #webuser

5 Things you’ll
learn this issue
p52
1 How to share a file with
someone over the web
without uploading it
page 28

2 How to display European


works of art on Chrome’s
New Tab page
page 30

p38 3 How to use your phone to


find cashpoints when you’re
out and about
page 33

4 How to quickly check which


version of Windows 10
you’re using
page 67

5 How to create
personalised
covers for your Spotify
playlists page 69

p58 p48 Subscribe to


Web User!
Never miss another
issue – subscribe at
Average sales, Jan-Dec 2016, 28,298 copies per issue subscribe.webuser.co.uk

Share your knowledge at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 3


FREdrEivver

Contents
S cr e w
Se t

SSU
UBBSSCCRRIP
IPTTIO
ION
NSS
TuTurnrntotoppag
ageeX62X for
sp
spec ia l
ecialsu subbssofoffefersrs
ISSUE 424 31 MAY - 13 JUNE 2017

COVER E
FEATU
R
The Hacker’s Guideto…
FASTERINTERNET
We reveal the tweaks, tricks and hacks
you need to make your connection faster p38
Samsung’s
g Galaxyy Tab S3
t bl t vs the
tablet iP d p20
th new iPad 20

VS What does the web know


about your local area? p48

IN DEPTH Articles on the latest tech topics REVIEWS Apps, sites and products on test

36 FAQ 14 Best New Websites


Windows 10 S About.com has relaunched as Dotdash

38 COVER FEATURE 20 Product Test


The Hacker’s Guide To… FASTER INTERNET • Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 vs the new iPad
Follow our advice to supercharge your internet • TP-Link Archer VR2800
connection without spending a penny
26 Best Free Software
46 Best free to-do list tools Edit videos with Free Video Cutter Expert 4
Organise your time and never forget a task with
our pick of to-do list tools 30 Best New Browser Tools
Improve the quality of your writing
48 Discover secret info about your area
Explore maps for everything from Census data 32 Best Free Apps
and crime stats to film locations and local smells Chrome unveils its new browser for Android

4 31 May - 13 June 2017


Contents

www.webuser.co.uk www.facebook.com/webusermagazine www.twitter.com/webusermagazine

FAVOURITES Must-read regulars EDITORIAL


Group Editor Daniel Booth
Deputy Editor Robert Irvine
Technical & Reviews Editor Andy Shaw
6 What’s New Online Don’t let directory enquiries Staff Writer Edward Munn
Earn rewards from Microsoft Art Editor Laurence Hallam
rip off your mum p74 Production Editor Miki Berenyi
Editorial Tel: 0203 890 3890
8 Need to Know Visit forum.webuser.co.uk
for technical and buying advice
This fortnight’s top tech news stories
ADVERTISING
Tel: 0203 890 3846
12 Stay Safe Online Group Advertising Manager Charlotte Milligan
Security advice for PC and mobile Deputy Advertising Manager Alexa Dracos

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
18 Build a Better Site Group Production Manager
Stephen Catherall, 0203 890 4050
Expert tips, tools and practical help Production Executive Lawrence Brookes, 0203 890 3794

MARKETING
24 Best Buys Marketing Manager Rachel Hare
Marketing Production Manager Gemma Hills
Our pick of the best new products
MANAGEMENT
50 Broadband Deals 71 Inbox Tel: 0203 890 3890
Managing Director John Garewal
Find the best-value package for you Tell us your views and opinions MD of Advertising Julian Lloyd-Evans
Commercial and Retail Director David Barker
CFO/COO Brett Reynolds
51 Take a Screen Break 74 Page 404 Chief Executive James Tye
Company Founder Felix Dennis
Guess the company name emoji Barry calls out directory enquiries
SYNDICATION AND USE OF LOGOS
Syndication Senior Manager Anj Dosaj-Halai

pa 16
Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3816
Email: anj_dosaj-halai@dennis.co.uk

Practical
Workshops, tips, projects and problem solving
ge
s INTERNATIONAL LICENSING
Web User is available for licensing overseas.
Licensing & Syndication Assistant Nicole Adams
Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3998
Email: nicole_adams@dennis.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS
Tel: 0844 322 1289
Email: webuser@servicehelpline.co.uk
52 Workshop 1 Clean up after the You can manage your existing subscription through
Discover Opera’s Reborn browser
Creators Update p54 www.subsinfo.co.uk. This should be your first port of
call if you have any queries about your subscription.
Fax: 01795 414555. A subscription to Web User for one
54 Workshop 2 year costs £52 for UK subscribers, £90 for Europe and
£146 for the rest of the world. Call 0844 322 1289 to get
Clean up after the Creators Update the next issue, delivered free to your door.

PRINTING
56 Workshop 3 Printed by Wyndeham Bicester, Oxon
Receive Android alerts on your PC Distributors Seymour 020 7396 4000

PERMISSIONS
57 Workshop 4 Material may not be reproduced in any form without
the written consent of the publisher. Please address
Schedule websites to open such requests to: John Garewal, Dennis Publishing,
automatically when you need them 31-32 Alfred Place, WC1E 7DP

Store files in your very LIABILITY


58 Weekend Project own cloud p58
While every care was taken preparing this magazine,
the publishers cannot be held responsible for the
Create your own cloud storage accuracy of the information or any consequence
arising from it. All judgments are based on equipment
available to Web User at the time of review. ‘Value for
64 Web User Masterclass money’ comments are based on UK prices at time of
Tidy up your Windows Desktop review. Web User takes no responsibility for the
content of external websites whose addresses are
published in the magazine.
66 Ask the Expert © Copyright Dennis Publishing Limited. Web User is a
All your technical questions answered trademark of Felix Dennis.

A DENNIS PUBLICATION
68 Readers’ Tips Web User is published fortnightly by
Dennis Publishing Ltd, 31-32 Alfred Place, WC1E 7DP.
The best tips from our readers Company registered in England. Material may not be
reproduced in whole or part without the consent of
70 Readers’ Helpdesk the publishers. ISSN 1473-7094

Answers from our reader forums WEB USER


PRINTED IN THE UK

Subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 5


What’s New Online
Earn rewards by searching the web
with Bing
D
o you prefer using Google and
Chrome to Bing and Edge? If so,
you may reconsider when you
find out that Microsoft is offering
goodies in exchange for you using
its search engine and browser. It has
finally introduced Microsoft Rewards
in the UK (it’s been available in the
US since 2010), which lets you earn
points as you browse the web –
provided you log into your Microsoft Obviously, this is another way of
account and stick with its services. trying to lock you into Microsoft’s
You can swap your points for films, products (the new Windows 10 S forces
apps, games, competition entries, you to use Bing and Edge, as you’ll
Skype credits, subscriptions and learn in our FAQ on page 36), but as
more, but you’ll earn them even a bonus you get 50 points just for
faster if you shop at the Windows or signing up to Rewards. The dashboard
Microsoft Store. For every pound you keeps track of how many points you’ve
spend, you’ll receive a point to put earned, and you can set goals or take even donate your points to charity,
towards your next download and part in competitions, quizzes and and Microsoft will match the amount.
even a new Surface laptop. special offers to get more. You can bit.ly/rewards424

Grab a friend’s Spotify Learn how to make music


playlist learningmusic
.ableton.com
www.spotify It’s probably too late
.com for you to headline
If a friend is the Glastonbury
playing a song Festival later this
on Spotify and month, but music-
you like what software specialist
you hear, you Ableton’s free music
can now get lessons will certainly
it for yourself give you a better understanding of
simply by taking the concepts of crafting a tune. The
a photo. The lessons are spread across 10 fully
music service interactive chapters. You start by
has introduced experimenting with ready-made
scannable drums, bass, chords and melodies,
Spotify Codes in its iOS and Android apps that let you and then move on to producing your
share tracks, artists, albums and playlists quickly. To own musical patterns, programming looping beats and
access a song that’s on your friend’s phone, navigate to learning more about the instruments involved in their
it, tap the three-dot menu and look for the code beneath production. The lessons become increasingly challenging,
the artwork. Tap the camera icon next to the search bar covering tempo, style, backbeats, pitch and more, and you
on your phone, scan your friend’s screen and the music get to play around with real songs including Queen’s
will be available on your device instantly. Spotify hopes We Will Rock You and Bob Marley’s Get Up, Stand Up before
that musicians will start printing the codes on their powering through to The Playground where you can try out
posters, flyers and magazine adverts, making it easier everything you’ve learned. Don’t worry about getting
to discover new music. You can also tap Codes on your bogged down with too much information, either – you can
own phone to share your Spotify music on social media. easily pause your lessons and resume them later.

6 31 May - 13 June 2017


What’s New Online

We pick the 10 best things you must do on the web this fortnight

See cyber-attacks in real time


cybermap.kaspersky.com
5 TO FOLLOW
ON TWITTER
Those neon lines on Kaspersky’s real-time map @VisitBritain
aren’t as pretty as they look: each highlights the Be inspired to take a (hopefully)
spread of cyberthreats around the world, based sunny British holiday this summer
on the security company’s data. You can zoom in
and out and spin the globe to see information @Wimbledon
about different countries, including which are the The tennis championships are on
most infected areas. You can also discover which their way, so catch the latest news
current threats are the most problematic.
@UberFacts
This feed delivers a constant

Filter your face Watch live


stream of random stuff you never
realised you needed to know

on Instagram concerts on @Nigella_Lawson

Amazon Prime
Nigella shares a tasty recipe each
www.instagram.com day, peppered with promos and
Instagram now competitions
offers eight face bit.ly/live424
filters that you In its ongoing bid to attract @bigtechquestion
can apply to your subscribers to Prime, Amazon has Incisive tech advice and opinion
selfies, Snapchat- started running and promoting its own from the experts – see our review
style. Opening series of intimate concerts, with Alison of the site on page 14
the camera Moyet, Texas and Katie Melua to look
presents a new forward to this month. Tickets are
face icon in the exclusive to Prime members and
bottom-right limited to two per person, but you’ll Pin WhatsApp
corner which, get to see the stars up close in a small, conversations
when tapped, London-based venue, followed by a www.whatsapp.com
lets you Q&A session. Don’t worry if you can’t The latest beta version of
augment your make it, though, because each gig will WhatsApp for Android lets you pin
selfie with be streamed on Prime Video. up to three of your most interesting
moving koala ears, nerd glasses and chats to the top of your list by
more. These work with your phone’s selecting a conversation and
front and back cameras, and you can pressing the pin icon.
add your augmented images to Your
Story or send them by Instagram
Direct. Instagram has also added Discover things to do
a new Rewind feature that plays with Airbnb
videos backwards, allowing you to www.airbnb.co.uk
produce some clever visual tricks. Airbnb now suggests activities for
any planned trips to London, Paris,
Barcelona, Cape Town, Los Angeles,

Flick through the


San Francisco and more under its
For You tab, so you can book them

Wolsey Manuscripts
in advance or while you’re there.

www.wolseymanuscripts.ac.uk Take a grand tour of Italy


The Gospel and Epistle Lectionaries bit.ly/italy424
commissioned by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey With five Google Cardboard tours,
in the final years of the 1520s have been two dozen videos, hundreds of
digitised for this fascinating new website. images, 21 Street View walks and
Browse, zoom and pan the pages of the 38 digital exhibitions, this virtual
manuscripts to enjoy their amazing detail, journey brings Italy to life and
and choose between full screen, thumbnail, book and scroll views. You can also teaches you about its rich history.
read about the history of the manuscripts and how they came to survive.

Tell us your favourite new things at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 7


Need to Know
WannaCry: who’s to blame for
worst ransomware attack ever?
What happened?
A nasty strain of ransomware spread
across the world on 12 May, infecting
networks in more than 100 countries
including the UK, where 40 NHS
organisations including hospitals and GP
surgeries were forced to go offline and
cancel appointments. It’s been called, by
Avast and others, the worst ransomware
outbreak in history (bit.ly/avast424).
The WannaCry ransomware, also
known as WannaCrypt and Wanna
Decryptor, locked down PCs by
encrypting files, showing a message
demanding $300 (about £232) in
Bitcoin within three days or the data
would disappear forever. The
ransomware appeared to infect
Windows computers via a vulnerability
that was hoarded and then leaked by
the American National Security Agency.
Many reports also pointed out that NHS
computers running Windows XP – which
hasn’t received security updates from
Microsoft for more than three years – How can it be avoided? the same criminals behind the attack
were particularly vulnerable to infection. If you’re running Windows XP, it’s well against Sony Pictures in 2014. But many
The rapid spread of WannaCry was at past time to upgrade – either get a new experts are also blaming Microsoft for
least temporarily halted by a 22-year-old PC or update to Windows 7 at the very failing to provide security for patches
British security researcher, who noticed least. If you’re running any other version for Windows XP unless users pay a fee.
the ransomware was contacting a of Windows, make sure the OS is up to Microsoft has since issued a patch for
website before infecting computers. date by checking your Windows Update Windows XP, but this came months after
That website didn’t actually exist, so the status in ‘System and Security’. the fixes for newer versions of the OS.
researcher registered the domain – and Going forward, make sure you have Some pin the blame on poor funding
this turned out to be a built-in ‘kill Automatic Updates switched on – they for the NHS, while others note that
switch’. The ransomware saw the may be annoying, but they’ll help keep Microsoft did in fact roll out patches
domain appear, and stopped spreading. you protected from such attacks. Also for most versions of Windows,
That doesn’t mean WannaCry is dead, make sure you have backups of all key but some people – be they individuals
simply that this version of the threat has data, so you can still access your files if or organisations – didn’t bother
been paused – for the moment, at least. you’re infected by ransomware. to install them.
As ever, help your less tech-savvy And then there’s the NSA, which knew
friends and family by making sure about the very serious vulnerabilities in
they’re running an up-to-date operating Windows, but didn’t tell Microsoft
system and software, and that they too because it wanted to use the holes in
have backups of essential files. And the code for its own purposes. However,
remember the key rule to never open an the weaponised flaws were leaked, and
email attachment – or click a link in a ended up in hackers’ hands.
message – from an unknown sender.
Will there be more attacks?
Who’s to blame? Do you really need to ask? Of course
Initial evidence suggests that the there will – this is the second time the
WannaCry spread across the globe, hackers were based in North Korea, and hackers have used WannaCry in such an
wreaking havoc in more than 100 countries are believed to be the Lazarus Group – attack and it was hugely successful, so

8 31 May - 13 June 2017


Need to Know

What we think of this fortnight’s top tech news stories and rumours,
and how they affect you

SHOULD I PAY THE RANSOM?


The $300 ransom is just low
MP3 format declared
enough for some victims to
willingly stump up the cash
‘dead’ by its creators
to get their data back.
There’s no guarantee that What happened? affect the files you already
hackers will unlock your data, MP3 is the audio-file format have, and the format
but it’s in their best interest that revolutionised music, continues to be supported
to do so, to encourage more but it’s time to move on. by music players. Because
Kaspersky offers free
people to pay up. After all, decryptors for files That’s according to the MP3 is mostly patent-free,
it’s the cash they want, not affected by ransomware Fraunhofer Institute, the there’s no reason to end
your family photos. organisation that funded such support. However, it’s
That said, in this particular case, paying the ransom and developed the format feasible that at some point
definitely isn’t advisable. At the time of writing, there – and has now ended the in the future digital players
have been no reports of anyone affected by WannaCry licensing programme, will stop supporting older
managing to unlock their data by paying the ransom, and effectively killing off MP3. formats – just as record
security experts examining the code have said there’s no The format’s demise has players gave way to CD
obvious way for the hackers to associate your payment been triggered by the rise players.
with your data. It’s unclear if they ever intended to of more efficient audio
decrypt the data or if it’s merely a sloppy mistake, but codecs such as AAC, which What do we think?
either way, you’re unlikely to get your files back. is used by iTunes and was Most of us assumed that
More generally, before paying hackers, try tools such partially developed by our digital files would last
as Kaspersky’s No Ransom (noransom.kaspersky.com) to Fraunhofer. AAC and other, longer than their physical
see if you can get your files back without shelling out. newer formats “can deliver counterparts, but this news
more features and a higher suggests that’s not always
audio quality at much the case. Although there’s
why should they stop? And if we depend on a bit of a pass. lower bitrates compared to no cause to panic that your
the existing vulnerabilities But that’s no excuse for the MP3,” the institute said. MP3s won’t play in the
are fixed, the criminals can rest of us – many Additionally, online music future, plenty of other file
simply find new flaws to poke organisations that don’t has increasingly moved formats have been phased
their way in. suffer the limited funds and from downloads to out for better ones. There’s
Even if the WannaCry IT support of the NHS were streaming services such as no reason for music players
hackers are caught and jailed, also hit by the ransomware, Spotify. not to maintain ‘backwards
there are plenty of other including Telefonica, Renault MP3 was developed compatibility’, but with
criminals out there running and FedEx, so it’s not only during the Eighties and even the world-dominating
ransomware campaigns, and about money and perceived Nineties, and became the iPod losing popularity,
such attacks have risen technical knowledge. standard file format for who can predict how we’ll
steadily over recent years. Installing updates can be digital downloads, as well be enjoying our tunes
annoying, but it’s much as illegal file-sharing tools in the future?
What do we think? worse to be hit by such as Napster.
The extent and speed of this ransomware, and even more
hack highlights how bad we serious to be one of those How will it
all are at prioritising security. who helped it spread. This affect you?
We all know we need to keep incident has made the Don’t fret: this
our operating systems and repercussions of such hacks move won’t
software updated, run decent clear: while the hackers made destroy your
antivirus and back up our only tens of thousands of beloved music
data, yet major organisations dollars from the attack, many library. In fact, you
failed to do so. people will have lost key may even be using
We hope Microsoft will do work and personal files, and AAC or a similar
all it can to ensure that hospitals had to postpone MP3 alternative
poorly funded but essential operations and important without even
organisations such as the treatment, and turn away realising it. You’ll
NHS get as much free help as ambulances. WannaCry still be able to
possible. The company proves that digital security play MP3s in your
makes enough profit from can have a serious offline collection because
the rest of us to give impact – let’s sort this out the licence won’t
hospitals and other bodies before people lose their lives.

Discuss web news at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 9


Need to Know

Microsoft unveils next update to Windows 10


What happened?
Microsoft revealed that Windows 10’s
next major update, codenamed
Redstone 3, will be called the Fall
Creators Update and will come to our
machines later this year. Its headline
feature is Story Remix, a new app that
lets you easily stitch together images
and video clips. It’s a simple but
powerful tool that works intelligently to
create customised ‘stories’ at the click
of a few buttons. It can also identify
highlights and specific individuals in
your videos to tailor your stories for
your needs. Story Remix will work on
Windows, iOS and Android, allowing
you to quickly synchronise photos and
videos across multiple devices.
This cross-platform integration
extends to third-party apps and
introduces three useful new features: How will it affect you? Windows users are likely to have an
Clipboard, which lets you use Unless you’ve signed up for the Android or iOS phone or tablet rather
compatible apps to copy and paste Windows 10 Insider Program, you’ll have than a Windows one.
across devices – for example, from your to wait until September to try the new
Windows 10 PC to your iPhone’s features in the Fall Creators Update, but What do we think?
keyboard; Timeline, which remembers the long-awaited iTunes app should be We’ll reserve judgement on Windows
the apps you were using on a previous available from the Windows Store soon. 10’s new features until we’ve tried them
device; and Pick Up Where You Left Off, If you’re still mourning the passing of – after all, the recent Creators Update
which lets you resume reading from the Windows Movie Maker, which was turned out to be less exciting than its
same spot when you switch from discontinued by Microsoft earlier this pre-release hype had led us to believe.
desktop to mobile, and vice versa. year, you’ll probably be most looking However, we will say that Fall Creators
In other news, iTunes will soon be forward to Story Remix, which has been Update is a very dull and unimaginative
coming to the Windows 10 Store, so described as “Movie Maker on steroids”. name – perhaps Microsoft will change
you’ll be able to use its lightweight app Cross-platform integration should also its mind by September – if only to the
rather than its bloated old software. be welcomed, especially because most Autumn Creators Update!

FIRST LOOK
HTC U11 and water-resistant and rated to IP67,
bit.ly/htcu424 with a fingerprint reader on the front
and a microSD slot allowing the
The HTC U11 was teased with the addition of up to 2TB of extra storage.
bizarre tagline “Squeeze for the The camera specs look very
Brilliant”. The squeezable element, impressive: the rear camera has
it turns out, is Edge Sense, a series of a 12-megapixel resolution with
pressure sensors built into the lower an f/1.7 aperture and optical image
half of the frame of the phone that stabilisation, just like the Samsung S8.
lets you launch apps from the Meanwhile, the front-facing camera
lockscreen and carry out various captures images at a huge 16
actions within those apps, such as qHD LCD screen with bog-standard megapixels, has a 150-degree field of
capturing selfies. bezels above and below. view and an f/2.0 lens.
There’s nothing remarkable However, it is only the second phone So despite looking like nothing
about the appearance of the device. we’ve seen this year to run the special, there’s plenty going on within
It looks similar to the HTC U Play Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip and it the HTC’s new flagship phone to make
and HTC U Ultra, although there comes with either 4GB of RAM and it competitive. The big sticking point,
are two new colours: ‘Amazing 64GB of storage, or 6GB of RAM and however – aside from its lack of the
Silver’ and ‘Solar Red’. There’s 128GB of storage. This means it ought ultra-widescreen bezel-free design of
no ultra-widescreen, bezel-free to be incredibly quick and responsive, rivals – will most likely be the U11’s
display like the Samsung Galaxy and the new processor should beef up price, which HTC has set at a rather
S8 and LG G6, but instead a 5.5in its battery life. The phone is also dust- hopeful £649 inc VAT.

10 31 May - 13 June 2017


Need to Know

WHAT’S THE RUMOUR


WEBOMETER
Has Netflix blocked
rooted Android phones? WE LIKE...
Amazon upgrades its
budget tablets
Many Netflix viewers who have rooted Amazon’s Fire 7 and Fire 8 HD
their Android phones have found that tablets, which
the streaming service no longer works cost £49.9999
on their devices. Instead, users are and £79.99 9
being told that their handsets are respectively,
ely,
“incompatible” with the Netflix app now includede
when they try to download the latest its voice-
version from Google Play. That’s no bug: assistant
Netflix is actively blocking rooted Alexa for the
handsets because they don’t support first time. Both
Android’s built-in DRM tool. tablets also offer improved
Netflix uses the DRM technology battery life.
Widevine to play protected content.
“With our latest 5.0 release, we now Charge your phone in five
fully rely on the Widevine DRM provided minutes
by Google; therefore, many devices that Israeli startup
are not Google-certified or have been StoreDot says that
altered will no longer work with our its FlashBatteryy
latest app and those users will no longer Power Bank,
see the Netflix app in the Play Store,” offline, because downloads are easier which
Netflix said in a statement. to pirate if you can get around charges
Google Play doesn’t check if the copyright protections such as DRM. phones to full
Widevine DRM is on your rooted phone, capacity in five
but appears to be looking for Android minutes, will go on sale
Pay’s ‘SafetyNet’ tool, which checks if LIKELIHOOD RATING next year.
devices are rooted, customised or ✓✓✓✓✓
infected with malware. That’s a Netflix appears to have made up
controversial way to check for DRM its mind about blocking rooted WE DON’T LIKE...
protection, because there’s plenty of phones and it’s not difficult to Chrome bug lets hackers
good reasons to unlock or root a see why: if viewers can download steal logins
handset, such as letting you install more its content for free, then why A vulnerability in Google
flexible software. That said, Netflix isn’t bother paying for subscriptions? Chrome could let
the first app to block rooted devices – Of course, it’s possible to get cybercriminals
Sky Go has long done the same. around the restriction by steal users’
Netflix may have decided to block ‘sideloading’ the app’s APK file Windows login
rooted devices after finally offering the from another source. credentials,
ability to download shows to watch according to a
security
researcher. Google

What’s new on Kickstarter


is aware of the flaw
and is taking the “necessary
Our favourite new project on the crowdfunding site actions” to patch it.

iPad Mini ‘to be killed off’


Alarmshock Reports suggest that Apple
bit.ly/alarm424 | From £77 will stop releasing software
updates for its
It’s always tempting to hit your alarm clock’s ‘snooze’ smallest tablet,
button when you don’t want to get up in the morning, casting
but with Alarmshock there’s no such easy escape. When it’s time to start your uncertainty
day, you’re woken by sound and vibrations from the wristband, after which you over the future
have two minutes to deactivate the alarm via its docking station. If you fail, of the device.
you get an electric shock, which increases in power and frequency the longer The iPad Mini
you stay in bed. Alarmshock may sound like a torture device, but it’s was introduced
undoubtedly effective at tackling lazyitis and hopes to raise £40,000 by 8 June. in 2012.

Discuss web news at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 113


3 Ju
June 2
2017
017
01 7 1111
Stay Safe Online
News about the latest threats and advice from security experts

SECURITY ALERT! | What’s been bothering us this fortnight


Screen-hijack exploit apps hiding malicious codes can bypass messages, which read “I love the new
targets Android security, specifically the ‘SYSTEM_ colors for whatsapp http:// шhaтsapp
An unpatched exploit ALERT_WINDOW’ permission, which .com/?colors” include a fake URL that
in the Android allows apps to display over other apps directs users to a website where
operating system without notifying the user. This means they’re asked to verify their identity
means that almost apps can display fraudulent adverts or by sharing the link with their contacts.
40% of users are links to malicious code. Google says that After circulating the message with
vulnerable to screen-hijacking apps. a fix will be issued in time for the release their friends, users are then informed
The bug, which was first spotted of Android O in the late summer. In the that the colours are only available in
by researchers at Check Point meantime, Check Point has urged users the web version of the WhatsApp and
(www.checkpoint.com), is caused to beware of dodgy-looking apps. invited to install adware posing as
by a development oversight in bit.ly/android424 a Chrome extension. Google has been
Android permissions. In the past, made aware of the adware and
users were required to manually WhatsApp hit by removed the add-on from the Chrome
grant downloaded apps the ability adware scam Web Store, but it’s not clear whether
to display content on top of other WhatsApp users have the website has been updated to
app panes, but following complaints been targeted by a target users in a different way.
from users who found the process scam claiming to offer The scam follows another WhatsApp
difficult, the Android 6.0.1 a new colour scheme scam earlier this year, which asked
‘Marshmallow’ update made for the messaging app, users to pay if they wanted to carry
it automatic. according to Reddit on using the service.
However, the fix has meant that user yuexist. The spam bit.ly/whatsapp424

Security Helpdesk | Your questions answered by security specialists


THIS ISSUE’S EXPERT: relies on the user to make
The attackers made about $20,000
Costin Raiu, Director a mistake: for example,
of Global Research by clicking a suspicious link, (about £15,500) in the first 24 hours
& Analysis Team allowing Word to run
at Kaspersky How can the
Q
a malicious macro or Based on the current
(www.kaspersky.co.uk) downloading a suspicious Bitcoin exchange rate the government
attachment from an email attackers made about prevent this sort
message. WannaCry can $20,000 (about £15,500) of thing in future?
infect your system without during the first 24 hours. Niamh Grant, Facebook
you doing anything. Taking into account our
In what way
Q A
experience in observing I’m not an expert
is WannaCry Are people paying
Q
Bitcoin ransomware in regulations or
(see page 8) the ransom and, if payments, we estimate that politics, but an
different from other so, does this mean the peak was reached within incident of this magnitude
ransomware? they regain access to 24-48 hours from the is bound to result in
David Turnbull, Facebook their files? beginning of the attack, most discussions and possible
Luke Sykes, Twitter likely because people need special measures being

A
WannaCry’s aim is to research ways of acquiring implemented to avoid

A
to infect and We have observed Bitcoins to make the future attacks. This may
propagate, then multiple ransom payment. Kaspersky also have to do with exploit
download an encryptor payments in Bitcoins wants to clarify we do not development, usage,
to lock your computer’s for the three known wallets recommend paying the safeguarding, export of
content. Most ransomware we are monitoring, which ransom because this only exploits, cryptocurrencies,
that infects a computer amounts to about 70 people encourages the criminals Bitcoins, e-payments and
with a common encryptor who have paid in total so far. to continue their activities. patch management.

12 31 May - 13 June 2017 Email us your security questions at webuser@dennis.co.uk


Best New Websites
Site of the Fortnight
ADVICE NEW

Dotdash
www.dotdash.com
For 20 years, US website About.com
published online articles on all manner
of topics, but it closed on 2 May to be
replaced by Dotdash. This new hub VERYWELL
spreads its previous incarnation’s content Get health and wellbeing advice on
across six spin-off sites for health, home, topics ranging from eye strain to IBS
technology, finance, travel and learning.
Content is knowledgeably written and
presented in easily digestible chunks,
and headlines from the individual sites – THE
which look fresh and engaging, and a BALANCE
world away from About.com’s dated old Find out how
to manage
design – are gathered together on the
your money
homepage in a smart, minimalist layout.
better and
Overall, Dotdash is the shot in the arm further your
that About.com sorely needed. career

Our rating ★★★★★

NEW
GIFTS

Super Geek Stuff


www.supergeekuk.co.uk
Super Geek Stuff sells personalised
mystery boxes packed with merchandise
NEW related to anything from retro games to
TECHNOLOGY Star Wars – just choose your theme and
The Big Tech Question let the site select suitable gifts for you.
The premise is sound and the concept
bigtechquestion.com is fun, but the lo-res, grainy images and
This site from a group of tech journalists (including our columnist Barry Collins) frequent spelling mistakes, grammatical
could save you a lot of head-scratching in front of your PC or phone. Spanning five errors and clunky descriptions make the
categories – Smart Home, Hardware, Software, Gaming and Reviews – its neatly site look unprofessional. Worse still,
presented pages provide authoritative answers to multiple conundrums such as the seller uses a Hotmail address and
‘What does the AltGr key do?’ and ‘Why does my BT Smart Hub keep disconnecting’? provides no phone number, which makes
You can also comment on articles and share them on social media. We like the mix buying boxes a real stab in the dark and
of short and long reads, the wittily written content and the lists of popular and most doesn’t inspire you with any confidence
discussed topics. It’s a great bookmark to visit for some daily advice. in making a purchase.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

14 31 May - 13 June 2017 Reviews by David Crookes


Best New Websites

We review this fortnight’s best new and relaunched websites and


rate them for content, design and features

THE SPRUCE
This site offers
DIY tips,
recipes and
other advice for
a happy home

LIFEWIRE
Useful hacks
for getting
more from
technology and
fixing problems

RELAUNCH NEW RELAUNCH


TRAVEL LOCAL EMPLOYMENT

Great Northern Rail In Your Area Glassdoor


www.greatnorthernrail.com www.inyourarea.co.uk www.glassdoor.co.uk
Great Northern Rail is on the right track From Trinity Mirror, the company that Glassdoor lets you find out more about
with this user-friendly relaunch. Now owns the Daily Mirror, this ‘hyperlocal’ a company before you apply for one of
more focused on your journey than website provides lots of news and their vacancies, or advertise your own
distracting you with corporate guff, information about your area. It draws jobs to find the ideal candidate. The site
it’s quick and easy to find live train times, on reputable sources to bring together was previously rather cramped but this
while buying tickets is more efficient weather forecasts, travel updates, revamp gives it a slick, streamlined look
because you can select return journeys, planning applications, crime statistics, that makes it much easier to access
specify the number of passengers and property prices and even food hygiene information about companies across the
add a railcard directly from the search ratings for restaurants. It’s not perfect – globe. This includes current vacancies,
box on the homepage. We love the a search for Chinatown in London salary expectations and reviews from
prominent button for Delay Repay (a brought up a story about Chinatown in employees, as well as photos, videos
scheme offering compensation for delays Birmingham – but it already looks useful and statistics. You need to register your
and cancellations) and speedy drop- and it’s certainly pleasant to browse. You details to unlock Glassdoor, but this is
down menus, but we’d like to see GNR’s can sign up for daily email updates, and free and should ensure that reviews
service updates back on the homepage. community forums are promised soon. are genuine and trustworthy.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

Tell us about your website via webuser@dennis.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 15


Best New Websites

RELAUNCH NEW NEW


PUBLISHING MUSIC ENGINEERING

My Book Corner Musician Go Tesla Solar Roof


www.mybookcorner.co.uk www.musiciango.com bit.ly/tesla424
This comprehensive book review site It may seem that musicians merely need As well as rolling out electric cars, Tesla
for children and young adults has to rock up to an X Factor audition to gain is revolutionising the solar-panel market.
opened a new chapter. It’s still packed publicity, fame and fortune, but the truth This new site lets you pre-order its first
with recommendations from authors, is that most struggle to find an outlet for two products – texture and smooth-glass
teachers, journalists and book lovers, but their talent. By registering with this site, solar roof tiles – and explore Tesla’s
now feels more structured. Its insightful artists, bands, teachers and anyone forthcoming Tuscan and slate solar
reviews are organised by reader age, and associated with music can advertise their varieties, each of which is designed to
the responsive new design is easier to services for free, while those seeking complement the look of your home. You
browse on smaller screens. We loved to hire session musicians or find local can place a refundable order simply by
being able to search by title, author tuition, a local shop or studio can entering your name, email adress, phone
and ISBN, and also liked the price connect easily. You can browse the site number and credit card details, and read
comparisons, weekly newsletter, book- by category or search for a location. about the science behind the tiles. This
awards section and author interviews, Profiles can include audio and video, wasn’t in-depth enough for us, however,
while the comments below articles and there’s a great built-in messaging and leaves lots of questions unanswered
encourage interaction. We’d welcome a service. You can also leave reviews and about the tech. You can sign up for
way of saving recommendations, though. check out the informative blog. future email updates for free, though.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

DO
CO B E
UL TT
D ER
RELAUNCH
ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology Ireland
archaeologyireland.ie
Delving into this relaunched site
without splashing the cash won’t
unearth many archaeological gems,
NEW but it’ll give you a flavour of what
PHOTOGRAPHY the accompanying magazine has
Apple Photography to offer. You can read just three free
articles and grab a list of published
bit.ly/applephoto424 heritage guides while discovering
If you want to make better use of your smartphone’s camera, shoot over to Apple’s the contents of the most recent
new website. It’s aimed primarily at iPhone users but those of you with Android quarterly issues. Buy a subscription,
phones will also find many of the bite-size videos useful for improving your however, and you can search the
photography skills. You may prefer to visit the site with the sound off – the music entire archive and read as many
is rather annoying – but you’ll find tips on capturing portraits, close-ups, panoramic articles as you like. The site is smart,
verticals, action shots and perfect selfies. There are also tutorials on shooting without fast and uncluttered, but a few more
a flash, taking bold images and capturing unique angles. Hovering over a subject freebies and online archaeological
lets you click and play instantly, and you can share the videos on social media. links would make it better.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

Tell us about your website via webuser@dennis.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 17


Build a Better Site
Specialist tips, top tools and practical help

Top Tips of the Fortnight Web-building Helpdesk


THIS ISSUE’S EXPERT:
Guide to Python that helps site-builders John Morris, CEO of
Haynes is world- see how their websites UK2 Group
renowned for its look on mobile and (www.uk2.net)
manuals that teach wider-screened devices
you how to fix simultaneously.
I heard you shouldn’t put your
Q
your car and it’s It’s just been updated
applied the same to use all the new email address on your website.
no-nonsense technologies in What’s the best alternative way
principles in this Chromium 57, including of letting visitors get in touch?
latest book, the CSS Grid Layout. Warren Pearson, via email
Coding Manual, The screenshot tool

A
which takes you has been improved, To avoid receiving a lot of spam, it’s
through your first steps in as has its ‘new tab’ page, and you better not to have your email
programming in Python. The book can now also choose a dark address posted on your website as
breaks the main concepts of colour scheme. text, for example yourname@yourbusiness
programming into digestible You can find a Mini Workshop .com, because spammers and cybercriminals
chunks, and explains how they on using Blisk with your site in trawl the web looking for the @ sign. If they
can be applied to Python, starting Issue 398’s Build a Better Site come across yours, you might find your
with the basics and progressing (bit.ly/webuser398). mailbox full of unwanted correspondence.
to making simple games and Instead, either write your email address in
writing your own database. full, as you would speak it: ‘yourname at
You can buy it from Amazon for Deal of the Fortnight yourbusiness dot com’ or include a contact
£13.62 at (bit.ly/code424). CyberHostUK (www.cyberhostuk.net) is form on your website. You could also add a
offering 25% off any of its hosting packages. Captcha (www.captcha.net) that asks users
New Blisk enhancements Use the code 25OFF during signup. to type the text seen in an image.
Blisk (blisk.io) is a browser tool

MINI WORKSHOP | Create WordPress charts with a handy plug-in


WordPress Charts: bit.ly/chart424 | 10 mins | WordPress website
If you have some data you’d like to convert into a chart, take a look at the handy WordPress Charts plugin.
It uses colour and design to bring visual impact to a dull list of numbers and makes them easier to understand

1
1
2 2

3 2

1 Install the plugin in the usual way by


clicking Plugins and ‘Add new’. The
plugin uses shortcodes, which are
2 Copy the code below one of the
examples and go to the post you
want to add a chart to. Paste the code
3 To get the best possible design for
your charts, it’s worth going
through the various attributes available
snippets of text, a bit like HTML code, directly into the text-editing window of for use in the shortcodes, which you’ll
to create charts from templates. Click the post. 1 Click Save Draft 2 and find at the bottom of the WP Charts
the Media menu and select WP Charts Preview 3 to see how it looks. Edit the page in the Media menu. There are
1 to see examples. 2 text of the code to add your own data or options to give your chart a title, 1 set
to change elements such as margins and the size 2 and change all kinds of
alignment. elements from headings to colours.

18 31 May - 13 June 2017 Email us your website building questions at webuser@dennis.co.uk


Scan & Win a
SoundblasterX Katana!
T & C apply

CUSTOMIZABLE 24-BIT HI-RES GAMING UNDER-MONITOR AUDIO SYSTEM

A small, beautiful-looking soundbar that


delivers good audio for under £300

For keen gamers who want


something flexible for movies and
music as well, it’s a great buy.
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HI-RES 24-BIT/96KHZ AUDIO DECODING 5-DRIVER DESIGN
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flash drive, Aux-in, Mic-in, Headset For uncompromised clear, unprecedented levels of audio realism with
well-balanced, room-filling audio 7.1 virtual surround and clear cues

http://uk.creative.com/cs #GAMERSFORLIFE
Product Test
We test and compare the latest products

V
Samsung
Galaxy
Tab S3
Both Samsung and Apple have produced new 9.7in tablets.
We test them both to see which one you should buy

T
he proliferation of so options have clearly been £119 it’s an expensive add-on. the iPad trumps the Samsung
many great-value designed to rival Apple’s This is further proof that it’s model’s maximum brightness
laptops has impacted 9.7in iPad Pro. chasing the iPad Pro (£549 with 520cd/m2 (candles per
on tablet sales, so in an Meanwhile, Apple has for the basic 32GB model), square metre) to Samsung’s
effort to turn the tide, both bucked its usual trend of which also works with a stylus 301cd/m2. However, the new
Apple and Samsung have improving on existing models (the Apple Pencil costs £99) iPad’s screen doesn’t have
upped their game with their by producing its cheapest- and a detachable keyboard the iPad Pro’s special
latest models. Samsung’s ever 9.7in iPad. With the (Apple’s model is £149), both treatment, which reflects
Galaxy Tab S3 is easily the basic 32GB model priced at of which are available as light in a way that makes it
best 9.7in tablet we’ve seen £339, it currently costs less optional extras. However, easier to read in bright light.
from the manufacturer, than the cheapest iPad Mini. Apple’s input devices won’t The S3’s screen is therefore
but it’s expensive, starting work with the new iPad, only better for using outdoors.
at £599. Its price and Build and accessories with Apple’s more expensive Moreover, Samsung’s
Superficially, neither product Pro models. AMOLED screen has a better
looks particularly different to contrast than the iPad’s
PRODUCT INFO its predecessor. The Samsung Screen and display and can produce 100%
has the same gorgeous 9.7in Both the new iPad and the S3 of the colours in the sRGB
Samsung Galaxy AMOLED display as the Tab have an identical screen size standard, although the iPad
Tab S3 S2 and is impressively slim of 9.7in and resolution of is no slouch and manages
Price: £599 (6mm) and lightweight 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, although a superb 96.5%.
Buy from Amazon: (429g). The new iPad, on the
bit.ly/sam424 other hand, is fatter (7.5mm)
and heavier (469g) than the Performance in Geekbench 4 benchmark test
FOR iPad Air 2, which it’s
✓ Gorgeous AMOLED screen replacing. However, the
✓ Brisk performance overall look and feel of the
✓ S Pen included in the box iPad remains the same, Multiple-core
Apple iPad (2017) 4204

having barely changed its test


AGAINST external design since its first
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 4208

✗ Pricey incarnation.
The biggest difference
★★★★★ between the new Samsung Single-core
Apple iPad (2017) 2490

tablet and the previous test


FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 1751
model is that it now comes
PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
with a free S Pen stylus.
EASE OF USE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
It also has an optional
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
detachable keyboard that Benchmark score
doubles as a cover, but at

20 31 May - 13 June 2017


9.7in Tablets Product Test

VS
New
Apple
iPad
Performance suggests that the iPad’s want an Android device, the
Internally, the Galaxy Tab power-efficient dual-core Tab S3 is the top of its class. PRODUCT INFO
S3’s specification includes processor might be a better It gives the iPad Pro a run for Apple iPad
a quad-core Qualcomm bet, particularly if you are its money and the bundling Price: from £339
Snapdragon 820 processor. after a tablet to accompany of the S Pen is more than Buy from Apple:
In our Geekbench 4 tests, you on frequent travels. worth the small increase in bit.ly/ipad424
it managed an excellent price. But with Apple
multi-core result of 4,208 Value for money providing an affordable FOR
and a single-core score of All this brings us round to alternative for those people
1,751. The iPad has a dual- value for money. Apple now who want a great tablet
✓ Cheap (for an iPad)
core A9 processor, which has a better range of options without the fussy extras, it’s a ✓ Great performance
you’d expect to be slower, than Samsung, with its shame that Samsung doesn’t ✓ Generous storage
but it runs at a faster clock top-of-the-range 9.7in model currently have its own AGAINST
speed than the S3’s in the iPad Pro and this cheaper 9.7in option.
processor and achieved very
✗ Screen isn’t as good as iPad Air 2
impressive scores of 4,204
and 2,490 respectively –
If you can live without a stylus and ★★★★★
almost as fast as the
FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Samsung processor in the detachable keyboard, the new iPad makes the
multiple-core test and
PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

significantly faster when


Tab S3 look very expensive – not something EASE OF USE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

running on a single-core. we’re used to saying in Apple reviews! VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

However, Samsung’s extra


cores appear to have taken
a bite out of its battery life. significantly cheaper model,
Although the S3 has a larger which may not have all the OUR VERDICT
battery than its S2 optional extras of the iPad
predecessor, it lasted only Pro but can keep up with the The Galaxy Tab S2 was a Apple’s iOS software is
11 hours 43 minutes in our performance of the Tab S3, brilliant tablet but the S3 unbeatable and is much
continuous video-playback and even outperformed it in is even better. With its better suited to tablet use
test, which runs a sequence some of our tests. If you can speedy performance, than Android, so the
of videos on the device from live without a stylus and bundled S Pen and reduction in price for its
a full charge until the battery detachable keyboard, the pixel-perfect display, new standard 9.7in model
has completely drained. This new iPad makes the Tab S3 it’s a gorgeous, high- is just too attractive to miss
falls well short of the S2’s 14 look very expensive, which is performance tablet. – this is the cheapest iPad
hours 33 minutes, and is also not something we’re used to Unfortunately, it’s also very Apple has ever made and
far behind the new iPad’s 14 saying in Apple reviews. expensive. it’s still brilliant.
hours 47 minutes, which However, if you specifically

Discuss this review at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 21


Product Test TP-Link Archer VR2800

TP-Link Archer VR2800


Jonathan Bray tests a superfast broadband router designed to
replace your ISP’s basic ADSL gateway
ateway

M
ost of the routers number with the Archer
we’ve tested lately VR2800. It’s a top-of-the-
are Ethernet-only range model with a hefty
devices. If your internet £199 price to match, but it’s
connection enters your replete with features and
property via a telephone line, stacked with the very latest
as most ADSL and fibre technology the Wi-Fi world
connections do, you still has to offer.
need to use an Ethernet A black slab with four
modem or your existing antennae at the back, the
router with the Wi-Fi VR2800 has four Gigabit
switched off to bridge the Ethernet ports and a VDSL2/
gap to your phone line. ADSL2+ compatible socket,
To replace your existing plus a couple of USB 3
router altogether, you need sockets on the left-hand edge. it managed to return USB3 memory stick reaching
to get a ‘gateway’ router, There’s a line of bright a respectable average a heady 41.8MB/s, which is
which does everything a status LEDs ranged along the download speed of 10.8MB/s. absolutely fine for file sharing
normal router can but also centre of the router’s body This is slower than the mesh and occasional backups.
plugs into a phone socket. but these can be disabled systems we’ve tested recently, Setting up broadband
This kind of router is less if you don’t want to be such as Google Wifi (Issue connections is a doddle:
widely available, but TP-Link distracted by flashing lights. 423, bit.ly/issue423) and BT simply run through the
has just added to their Over 5GHz, it’s capable Whole Home Wi-Fi (Issue 419, router’s Quick Setup routine,
select your provider from the
list (which includes all the big
PRODUCT INFO
TP-Link Archer Downloads speeds were the fastest at UK ISPs, although Sky is
problematic), pop in your
VR2800 close range of any router we’ve tested username and password and
Price: £199 the router does the rest.
Buy from Amazon: TP-Link’s Tether app
bit.ly/tp424 of delivering speeds up to bit.ly/issue419), but is enough (available on iOS and
2,167Mbps thanks to its 4x4 to deliver full bandwidth of Android) is also excellent.
SPECIFICATIONS stream MIMO (Multiple Input most broadband connections It gives access to most of the
■ 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, 802.11b/g/n Multiple Output — a way of in most parts of the home. tools available via the router’s
2.4GHz Wi-Fi streaming several Wi-Fi USB transfer performance web-based admin pages,
■ WPS signals at once). You won’t was just as impressive, with including firmware updates
■ 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, be able to connect at those sequential reads from our and parental controls.
WPA-PSK/WPA-PSK2 security speeds with any single device,
■ 4 x Ethernet ports simply because there isn’t one
(1 x WAN/LAN, 3 x LAN only) that supports 4x4 MIMO yet. OUR VERDICT ★★★★★
■ 1 x RJ11 port However, when we connected
■ 2 x USB 3 ports to the 3x3 adapter in our test If you live in a modestly FEATURES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

■ 264 x 198 x 37mm laptop – an older MacBook sized home with an ADSL PERFORMANCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Pro 15in – we found or fibre broadband EASE OF USE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
performance was excellent. connection, and you want
FOR VALUE FOR MONEY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In our close-range tests, to replace the free router
✓ Fast 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi we saw download speeds you got from your ISP,
✓ Top-of-the-range features reach 109MB/s (872Mbps), the Archer VR2800 provide a better connection
✓ Easy to use which is almost as fast as is easily the fastest at long range, but they are
Gigabit Ethernet and the alternative we’ve ever seen. more expensive and you
AGAINST fastest close-range speed For larger households, would have to continue
✗ Not as fast at long range as of any router we’ve tested. mesh systems such as using your old router as a
mesh Wi-Fi It wasn’t quite as impressive those from Google and BT bridge to your phone line.
at long range, although

22 31 May - 13 June 2017


Web User’s Best Buys

Web User’s Best Buys


Web User and its sister titles test over 2,500 products every year

HARDWARE
TABLET SMART ASSISTANT
Apple iPad NEW! Google Home
From £339 from bit.ly/ipad424 £129 from bit.ly/home422
Tested: Issue 424 Tested: Issue 422

Apple has reduced the price of its new Google Home is a remarkable home helper and
standard 9.7in iPad, making the tablet the we can’t recommend it more highly. It can already control
cheapest it’s ever produced. Battery life is excellent, a variety of apps and services, with more to come, and has a
performance is swift and the screen and build are top quality. good-quality speaker. It’s simply designed to enrich your life.

KEY SPECS KEY SPECS


Tri-core 1.5GHz processor ■ 8-megapixels rear camera ■ 9.7in High-excursion speaker ■ Supports HE-AAC, LC-AAC, MP3,
2,048 x 1,536 pixels-resolution screen ■ 1.2-megapixels front Vorbis, WAV, FLAC and Opus ■ Far-field voice recognition ■
camera ■ 32/128GB storage ■ 2G RAM ■ iOS 8.1 ■ 240 x 169.5 microUSB, DC power ports ■ Android 4.2+ and iOS 8+ ■ 477g
x 6.1mm ■ 437g ■ One year return-to-base warranty ■ 142.8 x 96.4mm ■ 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)

GRAPHICS CARD WI-FI REPEATER


Asus AMD Radeon R7 250 TP-Link RE450
£78.59 from bit.ly/250amd416 £44.99 from bit.ly/tpl414
Tested: Issue 416 Tested: Issue 414

This graphics card provides enough power to The TP-Link RE450 provides a strong signal at
make less challenging games run smoothly in 1080p a price that’s hard to resist. It’s better at extending
resolution with high-detail settings enabled. It’s very cheap the 5GHz network than the 2.4GHz, but it also acts
and benefits from plenty of speedy stream processors. as a bridge to transfer older devices to the newer network.

KEY SPECS KEY SPECS


2,048 stream processors ■ 128 texture-mapping units ■ 2 x 60mm, 1 x 42mm antennae ■ 3.8W power consumption
32 render-output units ■ 926MHz GPU frequency ■ 4GB ■ 2.4GHz (450Mbps) and 5GHz (1,300Mbps) ■ 802.11ac

RAM ■ Supports up to six displays ■ 4,096 x 2,160 pixels Wi-Fi ■ WPS button ■ Repeater and access point modes
resolution ■ DisplayPort, DVI-D and HDMI video connectors ■ 163 x 76 x 37mm ■ Three-year return-to-base warranty

MONITOR BUDGET TABLET


AOC Q2781PQ Amazon Fire HD 8
£299.99 from bit.ly/aoc412 £89.99 from bit.ly/8hd410
Tested: Issue 412 Tested: Issue 410
All prices correct at time of review

This good-value monitor offers impressive image quality, a For its low price, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 is a pleasant surprise:
lovely design and 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing it’s great for media streaming and web browsing, its battery
angles. You won’t need to calibrate it, either. If you’re after life is exceptional and it’s easy to use. Once it’s integrated
a monitor with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, buy this. with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, it will be even better.

KEY SPECS KEY SPECS


27in flat screen ■ 2,560 x 1,440 pixels resolution ■ 1,000:1 Quad-core 1.3GHz processor ■ 8in 1,280 x 800 pixels
contrast ratio ■ 350cd/m2 brightness ■ 60Hz refresh rate resolution screen ■ 2-megapixels rear camera ■ 16GB storage
■ DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA inputs ■ 330 x 180mm base ■ (12.09GB free) ■ MicroSD memory card slot ■ Fire OS
Three-year collect-and-return warranty operating system ■ 214 x 128 x 9.2mm ■ 341g

24 31 May - 13 June 2017


Web User’s Best Buys

SOFTWARE & SERVICES


CLOUD BACKUP Web User Gold Award winners
CrashPlan PRIVATE BROWSER
£49 per year from Epic Browser NEW!
www.crashplan.com
Tested: Issue 420 Free from www.epicbrowser.com
Tested: Issue 423
If you’ve got a For total privacy online, Epic Browser is fast, easy to use and
substantial archive of offers all the tools you need to stay anonymous.
data, CrashPlan is an impressively versatile and cost-
effective way to keep it safe. It performed well in our tests
and has plenty of options, giving you full control over VIDEO-CALLING APP
what’s backed up and when. Google Duo
KEY FEATURES Free from duo.google.com
$59.99 (around £49) per year for 1 PC ■ Unlimited storage ■ Tested: Issue 422
Back up external drives ■ Adaptive versioning ■ Continuous Google Duo is designed to put you at your ease.
and daily backup schedules ■ Compatible with Windows Calls are smooth and it’s easy to set up and use.
7/8+/10, MacOS 10.9+, Linux, Android 3.2+ and iOS 7+

REMOTE-DESKTOP SOFTWARE
INTERNET SECURITY TeamViewer
Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 Free from www.teamviewer.com
Tested: Issue 420
£19.95 from bit.ly/kaspersky2017 This powerful free remote-desktop program has an
Tested: Computeractive Issue 493 impressive array of features that raises it well above its rivals.

Kaspersky is rock solid at protecting


your PC from the worst of the web, SCREEN RECORDER
and has come top in nine of our most oCam
recent tests, blocking all malware with
its robust defences. Use the URL above to Free from bit.ly/ocam419
save £15.04 on the software (normal price £34.99). Tested: Issue 419
With oCam, you can record for as long as you like, in any
KEY FEATURES format, and use great extras such as picture-in-picture video.
Antivirus and firewall tools ■ Protects online shopping and
banking ■ Identity and privacy tools ■ Dangerous-website
alerts ■ New software updater ■ Secure-connection VPN MUSIC PLAYER
■ Advanced ad-blocking system ■ Multi-device version
MusicBee
■ Compatible with Windows 10

Free from getmusicbee.com


Tested: Issue 418
ONLINE STORAGE MusicBee offers everything you need from a music player.
It’s fast, easy to use and can be customised to your tastes.
Google Drive
From free from drive.google.com SAFER-BROWSING TOOL
Tested: Issue 389 Webutation
Google Drive is easy to use Free from www.webutation.net
and has lots of free storage. Tested: Issue 417
The Windows software The excellent Webutation combines a reliable blocker with
integrates with Explorer, a database built on trusted services and users’ experiences.
so saving and syncing files
is like keeping them in any
other PC folder. ANDROID KEYBOARD
SwiftKey
KEY FEATURES
16GB free storage ■ Web-based office software ■ Works Free from bit.ly/swiftkey416
with XP, Vista, 7, 8+ and 10 ■ Chrome browser add-on ■ Tested: Issue 416
Android and iOS apps ■ 100GB extra storage for £1.36 per SwiftKey is the king of Android keyboards, with an unmatched
month; 1TB for £6.01 per month; 10TB for £60.16 per month combination of features, usability and performance.

Subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 25


Best Free Software
VIDEO EDITOR

Free Video Cutter


Expert 4
bit.ly/cutter424
Min requirements: Windows XP/
Vista/7/8+/10
File size: 7MB

Unless you’re planning to create


a Hollywood-style blockbuster, you
probably won’t need many of the tools
and options found in a lot of expensive
high-end video-editing software. Free
Video Cutter Expert keeps things simple
while offering most of the important
editing features you need to make
a decent movie.
As you can guess from the name,
the program’s primary function is to cut
unwanted sections from your video,
which it does in the same way as other MPEG and MOV – just use the sliders to you’re working on a large project, you
editors. Once you’ve imported a video set the start and end points. You can can set the software to shut down your
– all the major formats are supported, use your mouse or keyboard to adjust system once a task has completed.
including MP4, MKV, WMV, FLV, AVI, these points with a good degree of The latest version of Free Video Cutter
accuracy, split videos into equal parts or Expert shows thumbnails as you move
split them by time, and preview the your mouse across the playback bar, and
results in the player window before lets you save any frame as an image. It
making the cuts. also eliminates the delay in switching
However, that’s not all the software positions when you click the playback
can do. It also lets you join multiple clips bar and fixes several bugs.
together to create a single movie, fade Make sure you decline the bundled
finished videos in and out, and convert junk when installing the program (an
a file from one format to another. If unfortunate trade-off for it being free).

MINI WORKSHOP | Edit and convert videos using Free Video Cutter Expert

1
3 2 3

3
1
4

1 2 4

1 Drag and drop a video on to the


main program window, or click
Open Video and browse to the file you
2 To trim content from the beginning
of the video, move the yellow
marker on the left 1 to the new start
3 You can also use the yellow box in
the top-right of the main window
to set the Start and End points 1 or
want to work with. The video will point. To trim content from the end, specify a duration for the video.
appear in the preview window 1 with move the right-hand marker to the Preview the results by clicking the
thumbnails in the playback bar below. desired point. 2 The thumbnail above button 2 and make the desired cuts.
2 You can view the video by clicking a marker 3 displays that frame in the 3 To convert the finished movie to
the Play and Stop buttons above. 3 video. Use the bar above 4 to jump another format, pick a new video type
through the video in set increments. from the drop-down menu. 4

26 31 May - 13 June 2017


Best Free Software

This fortnight’s top new software downloads to help you make


the most of your PC, and they’re all FREE

New Windows Apps

Accent Applicator
bit.ly/accent424
Min requirements: Windows 10
File size: 500KB
This app lets you change the colour
of selected text and some other
interface elements in desktop
applications. It’s easy to use and
produces good-looking results.

ANTI-MALWARE TOOL
SanityCheck Home Edition
bit.ly/sanity424
Min requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 1.5MB AccuWeather
bit.ly/accu424
We wouldn’t say that the fear of malware infection is enough to drive you insane, Min requirements: Windows 10
but it’s certainly a cause for concern. SanityCheck is an advanced tool that aims to File size: 52.4MB
allay your fears by scanning your PC for threats and irregularities that indicate This weather app was designed for
malware or rootkit behaviour. It doesn’t remove the problems but it provides a Windows 10 and provides the latest
detailed report containing suggestions on how to solve them. SanityCheck is free news and forecasts. The automatic
for home use, and the latest version has been updated to work with Windows 10. theme changes from light to dark
depending on the time of day.

Blitz Brigade Rival Tactics


SYSTEM TOOL FTP CLIENT bit.ly/blitz424
Reset Data Usage Cyberduck 6 Min requirements: Windows 10
bit.ly/rdu424 cyberduck.io File size: 111.9MB
Min requirements: Windows 10 Min requirements: Windows XP/ In this real-time tactical combat
File size: 804KB Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 45.3MB game, you assemble a squad of
eight heroes and then send them
Windows 10 contains a tool that lets Cyberduck is an FTP client but it has into battle. You can unlock and
you keep an eye on your bandwidth much more to offer than simply upgrade units, and join a faction
consumption. This is useful if you have transferring files over that protocol. and build allies.
a metered connection and lets you see The latest version introduces client-side
how much data you’ve used over encryption, based on Cryptomator
various connections in the past month. (cryptomator.org), which can secure
Just go to Start, Settings, Network & files uploaded to cloud-storage services.
Internet and click ‘Data usage’. Reset To use it, create a vault in Cryptomator,
Data Usage is a third-party tool that lets open it in Cyberduck and then manage
you reset and clear this stored data, so your files, which are encrypted and
you can start afresh. decrypted in the background.

Recommend free downloads at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 27


Best Free Software
UNINSTALLER
UninstallView
www.nirsoft.net
Min requirements: Windows XP/
Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 95.5KB

Software developer NirSoft’s latest portable


tool displays details about your installed
applications. Run it to show a wealth of
information on all your programs including
display name, registry name, display version,
install date, install location and much more.
The program removes unwanted software
quietly – so you won’t see any prompts – if this
option is supported by the target application,
and can uninstall multiple items in one go.
UninstallView also lets you uninstall software
on a remote computer via the PsExec tool
from Windows SysInternals (bit.ly/psexec424).
Drop the PsExec.exe file into the same folder
as the UninstallView.exe file for this to work.

FILE-SHARING TOOL
O&O FileDirect
bit.ly/oofd424
Min requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10
File size: 9.46MB

If you have a large file that you want to share


with someone, the most common method is to
use a cloud-storage service such as Dropbox
or Google Drive. O&O FileDirect provides a
better solution that doesn’t require you to
upload files to the cloud.
To use the program, just drag the file you
want to share to the main interface. The
software will create a web link that takes
recipients to a secure web page where they can
download the file directly from you. Obviously,
your PC will need to be switched on with O&O
FileDirect running for this to work.
All file transfers are secured using WebRTC
encryption.

FILE MANAGER
Saladin
bit.ly/sala424
Min requirements: Windows XP/
Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 8.4MB

Saladin is a useful open-source file manager


for Windows. It has a dual-pane viewer, which
makes it easy to copy or move content
between folders, and you can specify home
directories for each panel. Pressing Alt+Home
will take you to the relevant location.
Saladin’s integrated file viewer lets you
preview images, text files and more without
opening them, and you can browse ZIP
archives in the same way as regular folders.
You can also use Saladin to connect to an
FTP server.
There are dark and light themes available,
as well as a compact mode that shrinks the
toolbar down to a simple menu bar.

28 31 May - 13 June 2017


Best Free Software

Don’t install... ...Install this instead


Disk Space Fan TreeSize Free
www.diskspacefan.com bit.ly/tree424
Min requirements: Min requirements: Windows Vista/7/8+/10
Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 7.1MB
File size: 1.7MB
A hard drive will soon fill up with large programs
Disk Space Fan was once a and media files, and the excellent TreeSize Free
free tool but it now reveals where all that free space has vanished,
charges you £14.95 (£12.61) identifying the files that are taking up the most
to scan your hard drive and room. The latest release introduces the
tell you which files and hierarchical treemap chart that was previously
folders are taking up the only available in the paid-for edition ( 44.95 –
most space. Considering around £38). This makes it easier to visualise
GAME that you probably won’t data distribution across your system, so you can
Path of the Rabbit use it very often, and there pinpoint bloated areas and delete the offending
bit.ly/rabbit424 are many free alternatives files. TreeSize can also scan Dropbox, Google
Min requirements: Windows XP/ available, we’d advise you Drive and OneDrive folders.
Vista/7/8+/10 to spend your money on
File size: 3.3MB something more useful.

The aim of this game is to lay down tiles


to create a path for your bunny without
sending her over the edge. Your critter
hops along the lines automatically, and
you have to guide her to water to refuel.
Fighting off foxes and wolves costs lives
but also builds up strength for the boss
battle. Like the cute little protagonist,
this game is tougher than it looks!

UPDATED | New tweaks and fixes for your favourite free programs

FILE-COMPRESSION SYSTEM TOOL SYSTEM CLEANER SYSTEM TOOL


TOOL WifiHistoryView 1.45 Black Bird Cleaner Windows Repair
PeaZip 6.4.1 bit.ly/wifi424 1.0.1.8 3.9.30
www.peazip.org Min requirements: blackbirdcleaning.com www.tweaking.com
Min requirements: Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10 Min requirements: Min requirements:
Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10 File size: 74.4KB Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10 Windows XP/Vista/7/8+/10
File size: 7.2MB File size: 948KB File size: 31.9MB
This program displays the
PeaZip is an open-source history and details of Black Bird Cleaner removes Windows Repair helps fix
file and archive manager connections made to wireless junk files from your hard annoying problems with a
that supports 188 popular networks by your computer. drive to free up space, and misbehaving PC. The new
file formats. The latest This updated version now lets you choose the areas you version updates the default
version of the software reads archive log files when want to target. The latest Registry and file
introduces an experimental connecting a remote version of the free software permissions for the
privacy mode that reminds computer, and can read log has had a makeover, Windows 10 Creators
users to provide a files from Shadow Copy replacing the original dark Update, and fixes some
password when they’re (snapshots of files) theme with a more colourful minor problems and
working on sensitive data. in Windows. green design. spelling mistakes.

GET FREE SOFTWARE FIRST subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk

Recommend free downloads at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 29


Best New Browser Tools

This fortnight’s most useful tips and add-ons to help you get the
most from Chrome, Firefox, Opera and more

F
FIREFOX OTHER BROWSERS
Remember to
Copy and paste multiple sit up straight

items at once
It’s easy to get into bad
posture habits when browsing
the web, slouching in your chair
With its ‘one item at a time’ or hunching over your desk,
approach, the Windows which places undue pressure on
clipboard is pretty limited, your poor old back. A new
especially if you use copy and Opera add-on called Quasimodo
paste a lot. Text Multicopy (bit.ly/ (bit.ly/quasimodo424), after the
text424) solves this problem famous hunchback of Notre
by letting you copy as many Dame, helps you improve your
items as you want from different posture by reminding you to sit
locations, then paste them all in up straight at regular intervals.
one go. Simply highlight some text, right-click You can choose the frequency of
and choose Save Selection from Text Multicopy’s these notifications – from every
side menu. Repeat for as many pieces of text as minute to every half hour – and
you want, then choose ‘Copy Saved to clipboard’ select one of three different
and paste the lot wherever you like. Text Multicopy saves your content until sounds, while a ‘silence mode’
you’ve transferred it to the clipboard – even if you restart Firefox – and pop-up lets you shut Quasi up for set
notifications tell you how many items you’ve saved so far. Each item includes periods during the day.
a location URL for your reference, but you can disable this option if you prefer.

Perform reverse-image and dropping them to the add-on’s


searches more easily sidebar or by clicking Browse to
Reverse-image searches, such as those select them manually. Search results
offered by Google Images (images open in a new background tab so they
.google.co.uk), help you find out more don’t interrupt your browsing.
about the origin and subject of a photo
by using the picture as your search Give YouTube a cherry Sort downloaded
term. You can speed up the process by makeover files in Vivaldi
installing the excellent Firefox extension In Issue 422 (bit.ly/webuser422), The latest update to
iGoogle (bit.ly/igoogle424) – not to be we showed you how to activate Vivaldi lets you sort the files in
confused with Google’s now-defunct YouTube’s secret Dark Mode to make your Downloads folder by
personalised-homepage tool of the the site less harsh on your eyes when various criteria, making it easy to
same name. With this installed, you can watching videos at night. But on a find the items you want. Just
reverse-search for any online image lovely sunny day, a dark theme can click the menu bar above the
simply by right-clicking it and choosing look depressing, so why not make Downloads list to sort them by
‘Search Google for YouTube look more cheerful by name, size, date added, date
this image’. However, installing YouTube Cherry Mode finished and web address. Click
the really useful part (bit.ly/cherry424)? This rejuvenates the arrow in the top-right corner
is that you can also the site in a fetching shade of pink, to reverse the order of the list.
search for images with a “romantic” wallpaper of Another useful addition to the
from your hard drive, cherries and hearts. You can toggle browser lets Windows 8+ and 10
either by dragging the theme on and off, depending users set their Desktop
on how cherry-ful you’re feeling! wallpaper as the background
image on Vivaldi’s start page.

Tell us your favourite add-ons at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 31


Best Free Apps
App of the Fortnight
BROWSER UPDATED MINI WORKSHOP
Chrome for Android Download web pages to read
bit.ly/chrome424 offline in Chrome
(varies with device)

It’s easy to take your


internet connection for
granted until you’re deep
1 Install and launch the
latest version (58) of
Chrome (you can check 1
into reading a web page this in Settings), then go
on your phone and your to a web page. To save
mobile or Wi-Fi an offline version of the
connection suddenly whole page, tap the
goes on the blink. three-dot icon to open
To save you from such the sidebar menu, then tap
crises, Google has the Download icon. 1
updated its Chrome app Tap the page to close the
(for Android, at least) sidebar. To save an offline
to let you quickly and version of a linked page,
easily download pages long-tap the link, then tap
for viewing offline. ‘Download link’.
To use this new
feature (which isn’t
immediately obvious),
you need to long-press a link to get the option ‘Download
link’. This downloads the linked page for viewing offline.
2 As well as saving
offline versions of
pages, you can download
If you long-press a photo, you’ll see an option to ‘Download media elements such as
image’. It took us a while to learn which download tricks photos, videos, PDFs and
work best for different types of content – you can follow audio files. For example,
2
our instructions in our Mini Workshop on the right. to download a photo,
Finding your saved content is much easier. Open a new long-press it and tap
tab then swipe up to see Downloads. Swiping even further ‘Download image’. 1 You
reveals another new feature – ‘Articles for you’ – which can also choose to open 1
suggests web links based on your browsing history. the photo in a new or
You can add any suggested article to Downloads by incognito tab; share it;
long-pressing, without having to open it first. copy its link address 2
With Chrome now offering and more. Note that not
suggestions and letting you all sites allow this.
read offline, is there any room
in your life (or on your device)
for a separate read-it-later
app such as Pocket? Not
3 To find your
downloads, tap the
tabs icon (between the
3

1
unless you’re a particularly address bar and three-dot
voracious reader. Chrome has icon), then tap the plus
even started offering mobile- symbol to open a new tab.
friendly versions of many Swipe up to see
sites, much like Pocket’s Downloads, including
readable layout. It can’t offline versions of pages
match Pocket’s unlimited you’ve saved. 1 Tap one
online storage, but if your to open it. To delete one,
main concern is to keep long-press it and tap
things simple, Remove. To explore more
Chrome is now of your downloads,
the only offline tap More 2 or use the 2
reading app search box. 3
you need.

Our rating ★★★★★

32 31 May - 13 June 2017


Best Free Apps

This fortnight’s top free and paid-for apps for


Android, iOS and Windows phones and tablets

TEXT CAPTURE NEW EDUCATION NEW KIDS NEW


Prizmo Go Felix NetAware
bit.ly/ felixmath.com bit.ly/
prizmo424 10 netdroid424
10 bit.ly/netios424
Our second (varies with
Take a photo text-capture device) 8
of printed app of the
text and fortnight also It’s a scary fact
Prizmo Go recognises that the children
automatically digits in in your life – kids,
converts it for photos – but grandchildren or
copying and instead of perhaps pupils
pasting into simply copying – are likely to be
other apps on them to your using apps and sites that compromise
your iPad or clipboard, their privacy and make them targets for
iPhone. No more standing around it uses them to do maths (or “math”, bullies and trolls. You can discover the
jotting down dates from event posters to quote Felix’s transatlantic twang. potential dangers of 50 popular social
or web links from this page of Web Ah well, not everyone’s good at maths networks, apps and games – including
User – just use Prizmo Go to capture and spelling.) Felix is capable of solving Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat –
the details and copy them into quite complex algebra - even from a using this new app from the NSPCC’s
Calendar, Safari or another app. The photo of barely legible handwriting or NetAware project (www.net-aware.org
free version lets you highlight text for a laptop screen – and offers a detailed .uk). Reviews are crowdsourced from
pasting, but OCR (optical explanation of the answer, parents and children, and
character recognition, emphasising its role as a come with step-by-step
which converts images to tutor, rather than a cheat. guidelines on improving
editable text) costs 99p An Android version is your privacy settings in
via an in-app purchase. in the works. every app on the list.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

MONEY NEW GET THE DEFINITIVE


Link ATM Locator GUIDE TO ANDROID
bit.ly/linkdroid424
bit.ly/linkios424 Our updated
4.0.3 7 Android MagBook
is packed with
Google Maps’ ATM Finder 148 pages of apps,
doesn’t work in the UK workshops and
and Link’s free online ATM advice to unlock the
Locator (www.link.co.uk/ full potential of your
atm-locator) is too fiddly tablet and phone.
to use while you’re out and
about. But worry not, Discover how to:
cash-seekers – Link has • Master new tools in Lollipop
finally launched an app to and Marshmallow
help you navigate its • Stop apps leaking your
UK network of 70,000 personal data
hole-in-the-wall dispensers, • Record anything on your phone
and it supports voice control to make searches even easier. and tablet
The app displays your current location on a Google Map, then adds • Prevent updates from wrecking
colour-coded dots to indicate cashpoints. Tap one to view its details your device
and get directions. Tap the three-line ‘hamburger’ menu to narrow the • Remove hidden junk so it never
field by only showing cashpoints with, for example, wheelchair access, comes back
audio assistance and £5 notes. Results were fast and accurate when • Switch from iOS without
we tried it, but that may be because we’re in an urban area with almost losing data
as many cashpoints as potholes. Order it now from Amazon at
bit.ly/androidbook2016
Our rating ★★★★★

Recommend free phone apps at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 33


Best Free Apps
RECORDING TOOL NEW MUSIC UPDATED
Mobile Witness SoundCloud
bit.ly/witness424 soundcloud.com/mobile
5 4.1 8

Silently record audio, video and SoundCloud is a kind of Spotify for


location data, then automatically and musicians without record deals.
securely upload the recording to your You’ll also find audiobooks, live
cloud-storage account. Why might concerts, podcasts, radio shows and
you want to do that? “Solid defence the odd chart-topper in its vast
against aggressive persons and audio-streaming catalogue. ‘Machine
dubious law enforcement officers,” learning’ is the technology behind
suggests Mobile Witness, which personalised content. Put them
seems to have watched rather too together and you get The Upload,
many Hollywood movies. We’d suggest less sinister uses: a new SoundCloud feature that creates automatic playlists
record important consultations with your doctor, for example, based on your listening history. Each day, you’re offered
or capture a plumber giving you a complicated a different playlist containing newly uploaded
quote. You could even use the app to track your songs and other audio content. The more you
location and keep audio notes when you go use The Upload, the more it will learn your
hiking. Just remember that legally you should tastes. It’s a great way to discover music and
ask permission before recording anyone. shows you’d never find elsewhere.

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

5 NEW APPS WORTH PAYING FOR


DOCUMENTS widgets. Ideal for holiday time,
PDF Expert 6 when you may want to keep
bit.ly/pdf424 a map and boarding pass within
Price: £9.99 quick and easy reach.
9
View, manage and password-protect CAMERA
your PDFs using the redesigned new Fast Camera
version of Readdle’s app, which now bit.ly/fast424
lets you edit PDFs, too – but only Price: £1.79
if you cough up an extra £9.99. 4.0.3
If you’re trying to photograph
ACCESSIBILITY wildlife, sport and other things
DeafWake that won’t keep still, use this app
deafwake.com to shoot multiple frames in a
Price: £1.99 rapid burst. It includes advanced
4.4 9 editing tools, gesture controls
This ludicrously loud alarm was and HD-video recording.
designed for people with hearing
impairment, but would be equally SCIENCE
useful for waking heavy sleepers. Pocket Anatomy
Set it to flash, vibrate and sound www.pocketanatomy.com
a truly alarming alarm. Price: £9.99
4.4 8
REMINDERS Fly around the human body then
LockScreenIt zoom in on anatomical structures
www.lockscreenit.com in high-res 3D, gathering facts as
Price: 99p you go. This virtual textbook has
10 enough detail for medical
Pin up to five photos, notes and other students but is also fascinating
items to your lock screen as reminder for the rest of us to explore.

PDF Expert 6 DeafWake LockScreenIt Fast Camera Pocket Anatomy

34 31 May - 13 June 2017


Best Free Apps

Best New Mobile Games


PUZZLE NEW CASUAL NEW SIMULATION NEW
Star Wars: Puzzle Droids Hydraulic Press Pocket City Mania
bit.ly/starwars424 bit.ly/hydraulic424 bit.ly/city424
4.2 8 4.1 7 4.0.3 8 Phone 8.1

This shameless but slick cash-in from After a stressful day, what better way City Mania harks back to games such
Disney combines the simplicity of to relieve your frustration than to as SimCity, in which you build a
match-three puzzle games – in which crush a succession of objects using an metropolis from scratch, although
you make rows of matching jewels, industrial hydraulic press? That’s the here the focus is more on fun than
fruit or whatever – with characters concept behind this game, which is complex municipal matters. Construct
from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. inspired by the popular Hydraulic hundreds of unique buildings, expand
The graphics and gameplay are Press Channel on YouTube. You start your streets with homes, shops and
impressive, especially if you’re a fan of by squashing easy items, such as essential services such as a hospital
cute rolling robot BB-8, and there are a balloon and a light bulb, for an and fire station, and then populate
plenty of obstacles, collectables and (imaginary) video that you post on your city. You can decorate your
power-ups to keep things interesting. YouTube to attract views, comments skyline with famous landmarks – so
But in-app purchases, which cost up and likes. The objects get tougher to you could have Big Ben sitting next to
to £71.99(!), and adverts crush as you progress, the Eiffel Tower (Brexit
keep us from endorsing and you need to ensure be blowed!) – and visit
the game unreservedly you don’t damage your your friends’ cities to
– especially for cash- equipment. It’s oddly see how their efforts
strapped parents. addictive and satisfying. compare. Awesome!

Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★ Our rating ★★★★★

Don’t install... ...Install this instead


Snore No More Do I Snore or Grind
bit.ly/nomore424 bit.ly/snore424
5 9
This app promises to stop you snoring by
vibrating or ringing to wake you from your If you’ve ever been accused of keeping
noisy slumber. Quite how that’s supposed to your bed partner awake with your
solve the problem in snoring or teeth grinding – prompting
the long term is an outraged response of “I don’t do
unclear, and this is that!” – this free app can reveal the
compounded by the truth about your night-time noises.
fact that it doesn’t It detects, records and analyses your
work. It failed to snoring and grinding sounds, so you
detect snores while can play them back the next morning
misidentifying other to see what time they occurred and
sounds, and often how loud they were. Do I Snore or
crashed. It hasn’t Grind suggests remedies for both
been updated since problems, and you can use it offline in
2010, but the aeroplane mode if you’re worried that the
developer is still Sandman might try to listen in. Separate iOS
charging £1.43 for it apps for snoring and grinding are available
in the Play store. from bit.ly/snoreios424.

Recommend
Recommend games
free phone
at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine
apps at www.facebook.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 35
FAQ Everything you need to know about the most
interesting new technology trends and events

Our guide to
Microsoft has unveiled
its rival operating
system to ChromeOS,
but do you really need
it if you already have
Windows 10 Home or
Pro? David Crookes
explains all

What is it? life of your laptop, Microsoft claims, with apps from its official online store.
Windows 10 S (bit.ly/w10s424) is a new allowing the computer to run for an This means that software available from
version of Microsoft’s operating system entire working day on a single charge. elsewhere will not install or run, so a huge
that’s been designed for the educational What’s more, you’ll still be able to use number of PC programs that are only
market and lower-cost computing. It most peripherals that are compatible available directly from the developer
promises to be “streamlined for security with other Windows computers. or download sites can’t be used. This
and superior performance” – which may will affect software including Adobe
explain the ‘S’. Although it will be offered Does it look any different? Photoshop, Chrome, Steam and many
alongside Windows 10 Home and Pro, No. On the face of it, Windows 10 S will other popular titles.
it will be more locked down than either look and feel just like the Windows 10
of those, making it feel more restrictive. versions you’ve come to know and even Why has Microsoft done this?
love, so switching to it will be virtually Microsoft says that forcing people
What are the benefits of using it? seamless. That said, anyone moving from to download all their apps from the
Microsoft is promoting the new version’s Windows 10 Home will get the benefits Windows Store removes the risk of
faster speed, claiming that it will boot of Pro features such as Azure Active users installing dodgy software from
15 seconds faster than a machine running Directory, BitLocker encryption and unsafe places. That’s partly because
Windows 10 Pro. It also says the OS won’t Mobile Device Management. It’s by no the company requires developers
slow down over time because it is more means a cut-down OS in that respect. to fix security vulnerabilities in any
lightweight than the other versions – applications they sell on the store or
something that will ensure it runs very So how is it more restrictive? else risk having them removed. By
well on less powerful hardware. Such The biggest difference is that – as with eliminating the underhand traps in
improvements will prolong the battery ChromeOS - Windows 10 S will only work software installers that trick users
into downloading junk programs, they
can also dramatically lower the risk
of malware and intrusive pop-ups.

So it’s not about control?


Well yes, it’s undoubtedly about control
as well. By restricting you to its own
store, Microsoft will be able to rule the
app market for machines running
Windows 10 S and prevent you from
Windows 10 S is so lightweight, these If you like apps, you’re in luck, but downloading and paying for programs
students have had to glue it to a desk if not you’re rather stuck from its competitors.

36 31 May - 13 June 2017


Windows 10 S

from the Windows Store and neither are in the future, but this feels like
Firefox, Opera or any of the other major a retrograde step.
brands. Until they are, you’re stuck with
Microsoft’s Edge browser. But even when So there’s no way out of
(if?) those rivals come on board, Edge Windows 10 S?
will always be the default browser for There is one: you can upgrade to
Windows 10 S and there’s no getting Windows 10 Pro. This will be free until the
around that – anything you try to open end of 2017, after which the upgrade price
will always activate Edge. In fairness, has been set at $49, so expect to pay
Edge is faster, slicker and more secure around the same in pounds. Following
than Internet Explorer ever was, but this path would let you use apps from
This student can’t believe that GIMP isn’t Microsoft is still depriving users of outside the Windows Store again – but it
available in the Windows Store a choice of browser – an arrogance also means you’ll need a computer that
that has got it in trouble before. can comfortably handle Windows 10 Pro,
But what if I want an app that’s and you’d lose the speed, security and
not on there? I’m happy with Edge – so all’s battery perks of 10 S. Also, once you’ve
Tough. You’ll have either to forget it well, then? upgraded, you can’t go back.
exists, wait until the developer releases Not quite. Any search queries you type
an app version or look for an alternative. in the address bar will be handled solely Ignoring all that, how can I get
The problem is that free software such as by Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, and Windows 10 S “for a friend”?
GIMP (www.gimp.org) – which is a great you can’t change that either. Microsoft Various machines will come with it pre-
substitute for Photoshop – are unlikely is locking you into its own services by installed from the summer while schools
to reach the Store, which could leave you preventing you from using Google and will be able to swap Windows 10 Pro for
bereft of good options. Still, with a bit other rivals by default. This could easily 10 S, with the bonus of getting Office 365
of luck, the restriction should eventually be a deal breaker for many users. Education thrown in. The first available-
boost the number of apps available in to-buy computer is the new Surface
the Store, especially if Windows 10 S Isn’t there a workaround? laptop, which comes with a 13.5in
becomes a roaring success. Given the If you wanted to use an alternative search touchscreen, up to 16GB of RAM and
relatively poor number of apps in there engine to Bing (and let’s face it, you will), a solid-state drive of up to 512GB.
at the moment, that would certainly then you’ll have to visit www.google.co.uk This will last for up to 14.5 hours of video
please Microsoft and would also make (or whatever your preferred search playback thanks to the way Windows 10
the Windows 10 platform more secure. engine is) by manually typing its URL S is built. Other computers with the OS
in the address bar. You could bookmark installed will be sold by Acer, Asus, Dell,
So what apps can I use? such sites to make them easier to visit Fujitsu, HP, Samsung and Toshiba.
Microsoft’s full Office suite will be
available and you can use popular tools
such as Facebook, Netflix, Kodi, Dropbox,
Adobe Photoshop Express and Autodesk
Sketchbook. Spotify will also
be bringing its app to the
Windows Store, while
Windows 10 S will
integrate with OneDrive,
letting you save and
sync files to the cloud.

Can I use any


Edge’s logo browser I want?
looks happy
No. As we’ve already
that it’s seen off
the threat of its pointed out, Chrome Bing is known for its attractive homepage A Windows 10 S laptop will open you up to
rivals forever isn’t currently available photos – except this one a world entirely controlled by Microsoft

WILL WINDOWS 10 S BE GOOD FOR GAMING?


Although Windows 10 S comes with a free subscription to Minecraft:
Education Edition, it won’t make for a versatile games machine.
You’ll be able to run any game you find on the Windows Store,
which means you can enjoy Microsoft-endorsed blockbusters such
as Forza Motorsport, Call of Duty and Age of Empires, along with
lots of indie titles. But you’ll be prevented from downloading and
installing games from other services such as Steam (store.
steampowered.com) and Electronic Arts’ Origin (www.origin.com),
which will put huge numbers of games out of reach. Don’t even
consider Windows 10 S if you are an ardent gamer because, in the
lingo of gaming aficionados, you’ll find it “majorly sucks”.

Discuss Windows 10 S at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 37


The Hacker’s Guideto…

FASTER
INTERNET If you’ve tried everything to speed up your
COVER E Williams and Edward Munn present the best
connection, but to no avail, never fear. Wayne
R
FEATU new tricks to make your internet faster

38 31 May - 13 June 2017


COVER E
The Hacker’s Guide to Faster Internet FEATU
R

I
nternet providers now offer faster speeds than ever but if you know how. This feature rounds up the sneakiest
the fact remains that many of us never get the service and most effective hacks to help you beat restrictions
we signed up for. This is true whether you’re using and get the internet you pay for.
ADSL, fibre, cable or mobile internet. Factors such as slow Over the following six pages, we show you how you can
DNS servers, signal black spots and the settings and boost your connection by tweaking your DNS and other
hardware you use can all slow you down and prevent you settings, look at ways to hack your router and boost your
from enjoying a smooth, fast and reliable service. browser, and reveal the best solutions for upgrading your
Thankfully, there are several actions you can carry out to network. Additionally, on page 44, we explain how to
improve the speed and reliability of your connection, speed up your connection on your phone.

TWEAK YOUR DNS AND OTHER SETTINGS


Switch your DNS server .opendns.com) or Google Public DNS
DNS (Domain Name System) is the (bit.ly/googledns424).
service used by the internet to translate You can change your DNS manually
site names (URLs using words that we by following the instructions provided
humans understand) into IP addresses on these sites but it’s much easier to use
(numbers – the language that web DNS Jumper (bit.ly/dnsj424). This free
servers and routers understand). The tool tests the speed of various DNS
DNS server you use is probably the servers and lets you switch to the
default one provided by your ISP, but fastest one in a couple of mouse clicks.
you may be able to improve your speed Change your router’s DNS-server
and security by switching to an Change your router’s DNS information for better speeds
alternative, such as OpenDNS (www It’s possible to change the DNS for your
entire network, but only if your router • 208.67.222.222 (primary)
supports the option. To check if it does, • 208.67.220.220 (secondary)
open your web browser, enter your If you can’t find a DNS entry, check
router address (you can usually find this your manual or search online for how to
on a label on the router) and log in. change the DNS for your particular
If your router supports the feature, router. If your model doesn’t support
you should see a DNS option that lets DNS changing, you can either buy a
you change the Primary and Secondary replacement that does or switch your
DNS server information. current router to ‘modem’ mode and
Google’s Public DNS IP addresses attach a second router to it.
(IPv4) are:
• 8.8.8.8 (primary) Flush the DNS cache
• 8.8.4.4 (secondary) Windows automatically caches IP
DNS Jumper lets you switch to the fastest The IP addresses (IPv4) for OpenDNS addresses and other DNS results for
DNS server possible (now owned by Cisco) are: sites you look at to speed up future

MINI WORKSHOP | How to limit reservable bandwidth in Windows

1 3

4
1
2

1 We’re using Windows 10 in this


Mini Workshop but the process is
largely the same in other versions of
2 Open the Network folder, 1 then
find and click QoS Packets
Scheduler. 2 You’ll see an entry for
3 In the pop-up box, click Enabled 1
(if it isn’t already selected) to see
the current ‘Bandwidth limit’ 2 in the
Windows. Click Start and, in the search ‘Limit reservable bandwidth’ in the box below. By default this is 80%. You
box, type gpedit.msc. Click Enter. right-hand pane. 3 Click it to read about can change this to whatever figure you
The Group Policy Editor will open. what it does, 4 and then double-click it would like. Remember, though, that
In the left-hand tree view, expand to open a box where you can tweak its changing it to 0% will mean system
the Administrative Templates folder settings. processes won’t be prioritised and will
1 under Computer Configuration. need to fight for bandwidth.

31 May - 13 June 2017 39


particularly beneficial for XP users or make manual changes, if you have
because it could help improve both some networking knowhow. How much
upload and download speeds. of an improvement you’ll see from your
TCP Optimizer is still around and endeavours is debatable, but you can
regularly updated, and works on all easily roll back the settings if things go
Flush your DNS to fix problems with versions of Windows, from XP to wrong or you want to start over.
cached websites loading Windows 10. You can use it to
automatically tweak and tune your TCP Free up bandwidth in Windows
visits but this occasionally stops a site (Transmission Control Protocol) settings Windows sets aside a chunk of your
loading. To solve the problem, you can bandwidth for prioritised system
flush (clear) the DNS cache. Right-click activities such as Windows Updates and
the Start button and select ‘Command licence renewals. By default, this is
Prompt (Admin)’ or ‘Windows limited to a maximum 80% of your
PowerShell (Admin)’ (depending on connection, but you can change this to
which version of Windows you’re any figure, including 0% (although that
running). Type ipconfig /flushdns will impact operating system activities
into the window and press Enter. such as automatic updates). When
Windows doesn’t need any of your
Tweak your connection using bandwidth, it won’t take any.
TCP Optimizer You can limit the reservable
Back in the days before Windows began bandwidth through the Windows Local
automatically optimising broadband Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc),
connections to provide the best although this is only available in the Pro
performance at all times, SG TCP versions (and up) of Windows.
Optimizer (bit.ly/sgtcp424) served a Tweak your TCP settings for a potential See our Mini Workshop on page 39
very useful purpose. The tool was performance boost for instructions on how to do this.

HACK YOUR ROUTER FOR EXTRA SPEED


Check for router-firmware Replace your Cable (£8.99 from bit.ly/antcable424).
updates router’s antenna Simply detach the existing antenna,
to boost your
Just as software is occasionally patched then screw in the replacement (or screw
Wi-Fi signal
to plug security holes, fix bugs, in the cable and attach the old antenna,
introduce new features and improve if you go for the cable-only approach).
performance and security, so is
firmware (this is essentially software Prioritise specific types of
that has been written to a hardware internet traffic
device’s memory where it stays “firmly” Some routers give you the ability to
in place). So if you’ve had your router adjust the QoS (Quality of Service) of
for a while but haven’t updated its your broadband. This means that you
firmware, it’s worth checking to see if can prioritise certain types of web traffic
there’s an update for you to install. – such as Skype calls and streaming, for
You may be able to look for and example – to ensure they always get the
download firmware updates bandwidth they need, ahead of other
automatically through your router’s less important types of traffic.
management page (log into your router Hub, download and install firmware To see if your router offers this
and look for an upgrade option – updates automatically in the feature, and to change it as required,
possibly under Maintenance), although background, so you don’t have to log into your router-management page
some routers require you to download do anything. and look for a QoS option – try looking
the firmware directly from the under Advanced Settings or similar.
manufacturer’s website and then upload Replace the antenna Enable the QoS option and, if you can,
it to your router manually. Certain Placing your router high up and away decide which programs to give the most
routers, such as Virgin Media’s Super from walls and furniture can improve (and least) bandwidth to.
signal coverage, but it’s not always
Virgin a practical option. If your router is
Media’s equipped with external antennae, you
Super Hub
can adjust their position to help direct
updates its
firmware the signal, but you can also replace
automatically them with better versions.
The TP-Link TL-ANT2409A 2.4 GHz
9dBi Directional Antenna (£14.61 from
bit.ly/antenna424) has a cable attached
which lets you position the antenna at
a distance from the router. You can also
achieve a similar result with the TP-Link Enabling QoS lets you give important
TL-ANT24EC5S 5m Antenna Extension programs extra speed

40 31 May - 13 June 2017


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The Hacker’s Guide to Faster Internet FEATU
R

MANAGE WINDOW AUTO-TUNING


Window Auto-Tuning was first introduced in Windows Hacking
Window
Vista and has been included in every version of Windows
Auto-Tuning
since then. It’s designed to improve the performance can speed up
of programs that receive TCP data over a network and data transfers
should make transfers more efficient. That said, it can
sometimes have the opposite effect, especially if you
have an older router. There’s
To check the feature is on and working as intended also a more
in Windows 10, right-click the Start button and select restricted
‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ or ‘Windows PowerShell version you
(Admin)’ (depending on which version of Windows 10 can try by
you’re running). typing:
In the window that opens, type netsh interface netsh int
tcp show global. Look for the entry: ‘Receive Window tcp set
Auto-Tuning Level’. It should say Normal. If it doesn’t, global autotuninglevel=highlyrestricted
type: netsh int tcp set global If none of that helps, you can disable the feature entirely
autotuninglevel=enabled and reboot. by typing: netsh int tcp set global
If things don’t improve, or they get worse, try typing: autotuninglevel=disabled
netsh int tcp set global To turn it back on again, type netsh int tcp set
autotuninglevel=restricted global autotuninglevel=normal
This keeps the feature running, but in a more limited In most cases, you won’t need to mess with it at all,
mode which should reduce potential problems. but it’s still worth knowing about.

Find and a Linux-based open-source download


switch to a that was originally designed to replace
faster Wi-Fi
Linksys firmware but is now compatible
channel
using Xirrus with most popular makes and models
Wi-Fi of routers.
Inspector Before proceeding, you’ll need to
make sure your router is supported.
To check this, browse the database at
bit.ly/routerdb424. Assuming your
device is compatible, you can download
and install DD-WRT on it.
Change the channel Replace your router’s firmware The process involves “flashing” the
A wireless router can transmit signals on with DD-WRT ROM (so called because the ROM is
different channels and switching from Routers come with their own firmware, usually flash memory), but it’s just like
your current channel to another one but you can replace this with a custom installing a new program over an old
helps you avoid interference from your version from a third party. The benefits one. There is, however, a danger that
neighbours’ Wi-Fi. However, knowing of doing so include introducing new you could brick your router if you do
which channel to switch to isn’t obvious. features and configuration options that something wrong, so take care and
Channels 1, 6, and 11 are usually your may not be available in your router’s don’t turn off your router or computer,
best choices, but you can use Xirrus ‘stock’ (supplied) firmware, such as QoS or close your browser, during the
Wi-Fi Inspector 2 (bit.ly/inspector424) management and bandwidth usage installation and setup.
for Windows and Mac to identify which tracking. The best known alternative
channels offer the strongest signals. firmware is DD-WRT (www.dd-wrt.com), Use an old router as a booster
The software offers a range of other If you have an old wireless router that
features, too, including a dynamic radar you no longer use, you could turn it into
that displays all other connections in a range extender to boost your wireless
range, including names and distance. signal. The process for doing this will
Changing the channel your Wi-Fi vary depending on the make and model
operates on is easy enough. Open your of the router, and it’s possible its
router settings page and look for the router-management page won’t provide
Channels option under Wi-Fi. It will you with the options you need.
probably be in the form of a drop-down However, you can replace the firmware
box. Click this, select a channel to on the router with DD-WRT, which
change to and click Save Settings. If you should solve the issue.
don’t see any performance boost (and it Take a look at the DD-WRT wiki
may only be very slight), you can repeat DD-WRT may look dull but it unlocks (bit.ly/ddwrtwiki424) and follow the
the process with a different channel. some useful router options instructions for linking your routers.

31 May - 13 June 2017 41


UNLOCK YOUR BROWSER’S HIDDEN SPEED
Enable TCP Fast Open some cases up to 40%”.
TCP Fast Open (TFO) is designed to TCP Fast Open is available
replace the old T/TCP system and speed in Chrome, but only on
up the opening of successive TCP Android and Chrome OS, not
connections between two endpoints. in the PC browser (to access
The old TCP protocol uses a “three-way it, type chrome://flags
handshake” (three round-trips to the and look for the ‘TCP Fast
server, or 3-RTT). By combining TCP Open’ setting). Microsoft
Fast Open and something called TLS Edge on Windows 10 does
False Start, the initial handshake support it, though. To enable
performs all the key negotiations, so it, open Edge, and type
there’s just the one round-trip to the About:Flags into the
server before the HTTP traffic starts, address bar. You’ll see an
which means pages often load Enable TCP Fast Open
significantly quicker. According to setting under Networking,
Google, it can improve “whole-page which is where you can turn
load time over 10% on average and in on the feature. Hack Chrome to turn on its experimental QUIC feature
Bear in mind that this is an
experimental feature, so you might run HTTP/2), including congestion control
into problems. We’ve used TCP Fast and requiring zero round-trips once the
Open extensively without any trouble initial 1-RTT handshake has been
but if something does go wrong, you completed. You can enable the QUIC
can just untick the setting to go back to protocol in Chrome by opening the
how things were. browser and typing chrome://flags
into the address bar. Click Enter and
Enable QUIC in Chrome scroll down to Experimental QUIC
QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) protocol (Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome
is a new transport protocol developed OS, Android). You can switch between
TCP Fast Open boosts page-loading by Google. It has a number of benefits Default, Enabled and Disabled in the
images by up to 40% over other protocols (such as TCP, TLS, drop-down menu.

TEST THE SPEED OF YOUR NETWORK


Use the new Speedtest upload speeds. Because internet speeds identify anything that might be causing
Making changes to your setup might can fluctuate, it’s worth running the test slower-than-expected speeds, such as
appear to speed up your connection, several times, and at different points in application-specific blocking, throttling
but how can you tell for sure? One of the day, to get an average. There’s also and traffic shaping. All the tests are
the best-known ways is to measure your a free mobile app (speedtest.net/ open-source and created by researchers.
upload and download speeds using mobile) available for iOS, Android and The site records and analyses over
Ookla Speedtest (www.speedtest.net). Windows 10, which you can use to test 242 million user-generated internet-
The former beta version (beta the connection around your home. speed tests from more than 87,000
.speedtest.net) has now replaced the cities, and lets you view the results and
old Flash-based test but works in the Measure your quality of service see how yours compares.
same way. in the M-Lab
Click the Go button and Speedtest The Measurement Lab (www Troubleshoot problems using
will measure your connection’s ping .measurementlab.net) offers a selection NetCrunch Tools
time (the length of time it takes for a of tests you can run to check the speed All sorts of things can affect your
site to receive a connection and send a and latency of your connection (over internet speed – from issues with your
reply) along with your download and the network and on mobile), and router to outages at your ISP’s end.
Identifying the problem can sometimes
be tricky, but NetCrunch Tools 2 (bit.ly/
nctools424) provides almost everything
you need to troubleshoot slowdowns
and diagnose the cause. It offers 11
commonly used networking tools such
as Ping and Traceroute, as well as Who
Is and DNS info.
NetCrunch Tools does a good
job of explaining what all the
tools do, although it helps if you
have at least some knowledge of
Find out if your tweaks have had any Try M-Labs tests to identify the causes of networking. You need to register the
speed benefit slowdown software before you can use it.

42 31 May - 13 June 2017


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The Hacker’s Guide to Faster Internet FEATU
R

UPGRADE YOUR HARDWARE & NETWORK


Replace your outdated router Velop works with Amazon Alexa for
If your router is more than a few voice-controlled access.
years old, you should consider
replacing it with a newer model – Add Google Wifi to your network
although the benefit you’ll get from Google Wifi (bit.ly/gwifi424) is the
doing so will depend on a couple of search giant’s mesh offering, and
things. If your router only offers the adding this to your network can make a
802.11g Wi-Fi standard, you should huge difference to the range and quality
definitely replace it. If it offers of your coverage. Although it’s not the
802.11n, then it makes sense to only smart-home networking system
upgrade it to an 802.11ac model. around, it has the benefit of being an
While this standard offers elegant solution that’s easy to set up
significantly faster speeds and and manage.
greater coverage, it does require you Plug the first Google Wifi into your
to also have devices that are compatible router or modem using an Ethernet
with 802.11ac. Anything that doesn’t Linksys Velop is one of the best options cable, then connect to it using the free
support that standard will only receive for a mesh network Android or iOS app. Create a password,
802.11n speeds. then add the next Wifi unit and it will
The good news is that all modern alongside the power. However, a better, create a mesh network. You’ll then need
smartphones, such as the iPhone 7 and more modern option is to set up a mesh to connect all your smart devices to the
Samsung Galaxy S8, are fully 802.11ac network. This is a modular Wi-Fi system new router.
compatible. Here’s how the standards with multiple access points that work A single Google Wifi unit costs £129,
compare, to give you an idea of the together to deliver solid coverage and while a twin pack is £229. You can buy
speed benefits of upgrading: use a single name and password. and add as many units as you require,
Although it’s not the cheapest choice, but it gets pricey. We reviewed Google
Standard Year Frequency Data Rate Linksys Velop (bit.ly/velop424) is a Wifi in our last issue (bit.ly/
802.11g 2003 2.4 GHz 54Mbps whole-home mesh network with webuser423).
Dynamic Tri-Band
802.11n 2009 2.4 GHz/5 GHz 600Mbps
technology that means
802.11ac 2014 2.4 GHz/5 GHz 1,300Mbps
you don’t have to worry
about buffering. On
Upgrade to a mesh network Amazon, a single unit
If you have weak or patchy Wi-Fi in your costs £199.99, a twin
home, there are several options you can pack is £249.99 and a
try to boost it. A range extender takes triple pack is £399.99.
your existing signal and repeats it, while
HomePlugs make use of your house’s Google Wifi is easy to use and
electrical wiring and transmit data significantly boosts your signal

BROADBAND SPEEDS HALVE DURING PEAK TIMES


A recent report from Ofcom revealed in the year to November 2016,
that many broadband customers although in rural areas this is as low
using the internet at peak times only as 12.2Mbps.
get half the speed promised by their Ofcom’s reasons for web users
ISPs. The watchdog found that not getting the speeds they pay for
households on a standard broadband are as follows:
deal offering speeds of up to 17Mbps • Your Wi-Fi router may need an
often receive speeds of just 9.8Mbps upgrade, or may be poorly
in the evening. configured.
This may affect users’ ability to • Your router may experience
perform data-intense activities such interference due to its location
as playing online games and within your home.
streaming Netflix films and TV shows • More people use your provider’s
without experiencing ‘buffering’ network during peak hours, which
and freezes. According to Ofcom: may cause slower speeds at these
“The speeds offered by providers times
are not consistent throughout the • Distance from the cabinet exchange
day and can fall significantly during can affect your broadband
busy periods due to people going the average UK broadband download connection.
online at the same time.” speed has risen in the past year, For a full breakdown of the report,
The regulator’s report found that increasing by 7.3Mbps to 36.2Mbps see bit.ly/ofcom424.

31 May - 13 June 2017 43


SPEED UP YOUR MOBILE INTERNET
Switch to a less congested If you want a faster alternative to the with ‘https’ or when you’re using
network Twitter app, try Twitter lite. There’s no incognito tabs. However, another
Your mobile internet can become slow need to install anything, just visit benefit of Data Saver is that it activates
when you’re in a busy area – even when mobile.twitter.com from your mobile Chrome’s Safe Browsing system, which
your device shows a good 4G signal web browser. The first time you log in protects you from phishing websites
– because of the large number of people with Google Chrome, a pop-up appears and other malware.
using the network. One way to combat asking if you want to add a shortcut to To switch on data saving, tap the
this problem is to turn off 4G. This may the web app to your home screen. From three-dot menu and choose Settings.
sound counterintuitive, but doing so the site’s Settings menu, enable ‘Data Under Advanced, select ‘Data saver’
forces your device to use the next saver’ to use even less data and load and slide the switch to On. If you have
fastest connection – usually 3G or the H+ tweets even faster. any problems loading websites in this
band - which is often less congested and mode, you can turn the feature off at
therefore produces faster speeds. To Compress web pages in your any time from the same menu.
turn off 4G, open Settings, tap More and browser
choose ‘Mobile network’ and ‘Preferred Opera for Android (bit.ly/operaa424) Use Opera Max to reduce data
network type’. By default, 4G devices has built-in features to help you use less usage
will be set to 4G/LTE so select the next data and load pages faster, including Opera Max for Android (bit.ly/
option down, which should be 3G. image- and video-compression tools. operam424) helps you manage data
From the browser’s Settings menu, usage across all the apps on your
choose ‘Data savings’, then tap the smartphone or tablet. As well as
switch next to Enabled. You can now identifying which apps use the most
tick the box for ‘Video compression’ and data, it lets you route your internet
choose the ‘Image and video quality’ traffic through a VPN to provide data
using the slider. You can also turn on the savings and load content faster in apps
‘Block ads’ function to help you load such as Chrome, eBay and Instagram.
pages even more quickly. There’s also a handy new feature that
Google Chrome (bit .ly/gc424) also lets you benefit from even more data
has an option to reduce the amount of savings when using Facebook’s mobile
data used when you visit web pages, website. Open the app on its Home
enabling websites to load faster on slow screen, then tap the button to ‘Save in
connections. Like Opera’s tools, it works Facebook’ and you’ll be invited to log
by first loading the pages to Google’s into your account. Once that’s done, tap
servers. This means it won’t work with the three-dot
secure pages that have URLs starting button and
choose ‘Create
Use the Lite version of apps shortcut’ to
If you can’t make your internet any add a Home
faster, the best thing to do is to make screen
sure you have less to download in the shortcut for
first place and one way to achieve this is ‘Savings for
by getting rid of slow, bloated apps Facebook’.
such as If you think
Facebook. This a particular
doesn’t mean app is using
avoiding the up too much
social network bandwidth
altogether and slowing
because you you down,
can still access it you can use
with your web Opera Max
browser at
m.facebook
.com. This SPEED UP YOUR BT MOBILE CONNECTION
handy web app
is much the If you’re a BT Mobile customer, you
same as the can now speed up your mobile data
Facebook Lite connection by buying an Extra Speed
app designed 4G add-on (bit.ly/bt424). Available
for use on 2G networks in developing for £4 a month, these 30-day bolt-ons
countries, so it should cope with even let you access network speeds of up
the worst connections you encounter. to 60Mbps. You can use the coverage
See the Opera Max tip on the right for checker at bit.ly/bt4g424 to check
help with saving even more data when if you’re in an Extra Speed 4G area.
using Facebook.

44 31 May - 13 June 2017


COVER E
The Hacker’s Guide to Faster Internet FEATU
R

to block it see which areas offer faster mobile data on devices running older versions of
from using connections. Android – if your phone is a recent
the internet One of the app’s standout features is model, you’re less likely to encounter
altogether. a compass that tells you which direction problems related to memory.
Tap your signal is coming from, so when your
‘Manage signal starts dropping in and out, you Change your DNS server without
apps’ from know which direction you should move rooting
Opera in to get a more reliable connection. The As we explained on page 39, changing
Max’s main app also displays the location of all your DNS servers can produce
menu, then nearby cell towers in a map view and significant speed benefits. Doing this on
follow the lets you check which networks have your phone usually requires you to ‘root’
instructions better 3G and 4G reception. it, but DNS Changer (bit.ly/
on screen. dnschanger424) offers a simple
Next, while Clear your app cache workaround and operates on both Wi-Fi
the Mobile It’s possible that the reason for your and mobile data connections. Simply
Access tab slow internet has nothing to do with install the app, pick a DNS provider from
is selected, your connection but is the fault of your the drop-down list and tap Start to
tap any apps you want to block from Android device and the apps installed connect to the servers.
accessing the internet while you’re on on it. Indeed, if one app is hogging too You may or may not notice speed
a mobile connection. There’s a separate much memory, it can cause everything improvements from the app, but it is
tab for Wi-Fi Access, so you can ensure to slow down – including the speed at totally free to use, so there’s no harm in
your apps continue to sync properly which you load web pages. To see how trying it. One caveat is that DNS
when an appropriate connection much cache an app is using, open Changer cheekily asked us to give it a
is available. Settings, then Apps and tap the app you 5-star rating in order to carry on using
want to check. Next, tap Storage and the service. We were able to bypass this
Find the best area for 3G or 4G you’ll be shown how much cache the by tapping OK and then selecting Back
Sometimes a slow internet connection app is using. Tapping ‘Clear Cache’ after the Google Play Store loaded.
is purely down wipes it.
to poor This is an especially common problem
reception.
Speed Test
(bit.ly/
speedtest424)
is a handy
Android and
iOS app from
OpenSignal
that not only
tells you how
fast your
mobile
network is,
but also maps
this data
anonymously
so you can

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31 May - 13 June 2017 45


Best free
to-do list tools

With Microsoft killing off


Wunderlist, Andy Shaw
re-evaluates to-do list
tools to find out which
one ticks the most boxes

Todoist | todoist.com | ★★★★★


FEATURES ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★★★

What we liked:
Wh devices.
If you’re forever making These sync
lists of things you have to immediately,
get done – whether you so if you make
you use random scraps changes on the
of paper or an organised, web interface
digital system – Todoist will
dig then switch to
make the job easier and more
mak a mobile app,
efficient. This finely tuned tool provides for example,
you with the basic equipment for the changes
creating simple tick-lists but also will sync
harbours the power to turn you into straight away.
a super-human task manager if you
unleash its full capabilities. How it can be
When you first open Todoist, it improved:
presents you with some basic questions Todoist tracks
to get your first few tasks set up, then the number of
encourages you to transfer all your things you’ve
tasks over to the system, starting you ticked off your
off with handy preconfigured projects lists and twists
for you to fill, including Personal, Work the data into
and Errands. Click a project, click the a mash-up of ‘karma’ and gamification.
plus button or the ‘Add task’ link and It then encourages you to beat your OUR VERDICT
type in the details. productivity score to achieve task- Whether you want to organise
You then have the option to based enlightenment, which is all a bit small projects or need a serious
customise your tasks further, adding much. However, this is well hidden away organisation tool that can track
priorities, deadlines, labels and filters. so you won’t notice it if you don’t want and manage several large projects,
Some filters are already set up, so you it. The Premium version costs £21.99 per Todoist is the ultimate to-do list
can see tasks that are due today or in year (£1.83 per month) with a few tools tool. Adding new tasks is simple
the next seven days. – such as reminders – available only to and straightforward, and doesn’t
The main interface is web-based so paying customers. However, most get in the way of actually getting
you can access it on any computer, but people will find the free version the tasks done.
it also provides apps for all your mobile perfectly sufficient.

46 31 May - 13 June 2017


To-do list tools

Toodledo | toodledo.com | ★★★★


★★★★★ BEST OF THE REST
FEATURES ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★
★★★★★
Any.do
What we liked:
Wh www.any.do
Par
Part of Todoist’s Where our award winners stick to
appeal is its the traditional layout of to-do lists,
great-looking Any.do defaults to a card-like
interface, but structure, which is a different
Toodledo has approach to organising your lists.
kno
knocked all that The default view is to organise tasks
superficial
erf nonsense by when they’re due, putting them
into a cocked hat. Despite its into four columns: Today, Tomorrow,
frivolous-sounding name, Toodledo type using special keyboard commands. Upcoming and Someday. Viewing
is all about the end result – creating lists This is great if you prefer using them in a more standard list is only
of tasks and managing them until you a keyboard to a mouse, although a button-click away, but this could
can tick them off again. it takes a bit of getting used to. be a good option if you’d like a
It does this by displaying everything different way to view your tasks.
in its web-based interface, which is so How it can be improved:
plain it’s almost text-based, with only The functional design and steep
a few icons for tick boxes to indicate a learning curve will put some people off
task’s completion and stars for marking who may prefer the bold design and
them as important. High-priority tasks themed mobile apps of Todoist.
can be highlighted in bold but there’s
no colour for folders or any other such
distractions. It doesn’t even space OUR VERDICT Trello
things out aesthetically, so you get a lot If you value function over form, trello.com
of information on the screen and a good you’ll get a lot out of Toodledo. For anyone planning to impose their
grasp of everything you need to do. It has more tools for creating to-do organisational skills on others,
This businesslike approach applies lists than its rivals but it’s nowhere whether it’s family, a club or work
across the board, from the no-nonsense near as attractive or as friendly colleagues, Trello has some great
mobile apps to the methods for adding as Todoist. tools for sharing the responsibility
tasks, which can be organised as you (and culpability) for tasks. Far more
than just a simple task-ticking tool,
it can be used to organise vast
Microsoft To-Do | bit.ly/mstd424 | ★★★
★★★★★ projects, using a card-based system
FEATURES ★★★★★ PERFORMANCE ★★★★★ EASE OF USE ★★★★★
that provides a visual flow of tasks
as they’re completed.

Wh
What we liked:
If you’re happy to manage
your to-do lists while
sitting at your Windows
10 PC (or any other
Windows 10 PC that’s
log
logged into your Microsoft
account), then Microsoft’s new TickTick
software could be all you need. ticktick.com
Compared to the likes of Todoist, that Microsoft has halted all future If, for some strange reason, you
To-Do is disconcertingly simple. You development. However, Wunderlist isn’t don’t get on with Todoist, try
just type in your tasks to add them and dead yet – Microsoft has claimed that TickTick instead. It’s so similar it
organise them into folders. If you want it won’t shut the service down until could almost be a clone of our Gold
to work on them today, you can drag this new app can do everything that Award-winner, but it looks and feels
them into the My Day section, which is Wunderlist can. That’s great news, a little different and has a few extra
handy for focusing on urgent jobs. You but frankly it still looks a long way off. tools. The free version has some
can also defer tasks for tomorrow but limitations, though, and the paid-for
no further, so any tasks you need to version is more expensive at $2.79
complete in the fututre can’t be hidden OUR VERDICT (£2.16) per month.
from your current list of jobs. Microsoft bought Wunderlist but
Despite such limitations, To-Do is slick has sadly ceased development
and easy to use, and if Microsoft follows and moved its engineers over to
through on its promise to turn it into the Microsoft To-Do. While this is good
next Wunderlist (www.wunderlist.com), news for To-Do, it’s bad news for
it’s sure to become more popular. Wunderlist. To-Do is a simple and
effective tool but has a long way
How it can be improved: to go before it can rival Todoist.
We loved Wunderlist so it’s a real shame

Discuss to-do list tools at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 47


Discover secret info about
Learn more about your neighbourhood without leaving
the house by exploring the web’s best local-data maps.
Robert Irvine rounds up our favourite free tools
View information about downloaded as a PDF map or a CSV file.
local land For Scottish data, see scotland
Land Explorer (landexplorer.uk) .datashine.org.uk.
is a new tool from not-for-profit
organisation Shared Assets that lets you Discover the age of
view open data about any area of land your home
in the UK (or it will eventually – it mostly Are you living in a predominantly
covers England at the moment). Explore Victorian area or a post-war
the map, then click a location to see development? Find out by using the
useful information in a sidebar on the excellent CDRC Maps (bit.ly/cdrc424),
right. This includes the land type (grass, which uses colour-coding to show you
crop, wood and so on), the potential for when dwellings in your area were built For house prices, check the
agriculture, the flood risk and any – from pre-1900 to 2010-15 – as well as Guardian’s Unaffordable Country map
known planning restrictions. You can the population density. If that doesn’t (bit.ly/unaffordable424), where you can
also look up who owns a property by excite you, CDRC also provides other enter your annual salary to see which
clicking the link to the Land Registry, data, including residents’ preferred areas in England and Wales are within
although its dated website makes this methods of getting to work, their or beyond your means.
a rather frustrating experience. country of birth and even the type
of central heating they use! It covers See where your
England and Wales only. neighbours are moving
The Royal Mail has collated data
from the redirection requests of
more than a million of its customers to
create a map (bit.ly/redirection424) that
shows where people are migrating to
and from. Enter the first part of your
postcode to discover where people
have relocated, as represented by blue
lines that cross the UK. You can switch
between movement in and out, and
Learn more about view further info such as the average,
your neighbours Check where you can greatest and shortest distances moved.
Censuses offer a fascinating afford to live
insight into the people in your The cost of renting and buying
area, and although the most recent property in the UK is exorbitant,
national data is now six years old, but it’s handy to know exactly how
it’s still worth exploring via DataShine’s much you need to earn to live
interactive map (datashine.org.uk). comfortably in a particular area.
This places a wealth of colour-coded The new Earnings Vs Postcodes map
information from the Office for National (bit.ly/earnings424) tells you the
Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales average hourly salary required to rent
at your fingertips, so you can learn in specific postcodes, based on a single
much more about your neighbours person working a 37.5-hour week and
(anonymously, of course), from their rent being 35% of income. In Central
living arrangements, occupations and London, unsurprisingly, this can be as Find out what was
education to their ethnic groups, high as £119.45 per hour, while in filmed near you
religions and health. The data can be Burnley, Lancashire you need earn Even if Hollywood hasn’t
‘only’ £7.49 an hour. dropped by recently, it’s
interesting to find out which films and
TV shows were made in your area.
The BFI’s Map of Britain on Film (bit.ly/
bfifilm424) pinpoints the shooting
locations of thousands of vintage films
– for example Cradley Heath Market
(1967), Pitlochry Welcomes You (1958)
and Llandudno – Gateway to Snowdonia
(1975) – and lets you watch them online

48 31 May - 13 June 2017


Local-data maps

your area

GET A WHIFF OF WHAT LONDON SMELLS LIKE


Smelly Maps (bit.ly/ London Zoo. The
smelly424) provides data is sourced from
an olfactory guide to social-media posts
the capital by including Flickr
revealing the smells photo tags and
that characterise smell-themed
different London tweets. It’s an
for free. TV addicts should check out streets. For example, ingenious idea,
Tim Ritz’s map at bit.ly/timritz424, the Waterloo IMAX although thankfully,
which details the locations of series roundabout is predictably dominated perhaps, it’s not ‘click and sniff’.
ranging from Call the Midwife to Dad’s by the stench of traffic emissions, Smelly Maps also covers New York,
Army, while Hillary’s (bit.ly/hillarys424) while Covent Garden gives off Barcelona, Rome and other big cities,
has a map of 82 famous film homes, pleasant food aromas and Regent’s but it’s a shame it hasn’t expanded
from Doune Castle (Monty Python and Park carries the whiff of animals from beyond the Big Smoke in the UK.
the Holy Grail) to Hardwick Hall (Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
to scare yourself, but the site also monitoring every 15 minutes. The map
Browse crime statistics provides helpful advice about also features webcams for 147 locations,
for your area preventing crime and details of your so you can see water levels for yourself.
Not every local crime is reported local policing team.
in the press, but it’s likely to have Expose landfill sites in
been logged by the police, which is why Get flood warnings as your backyard
Police.uk (www.police.uk) is such an they happen Last year it was reported that
invaluable resource for residents of Knowing the flood risk for your living within three miles of a
England, Wales and Northern Ireland. area is all very well but when landfill site increases your risk of lung
Click the Find Your Neighbourhood heavy rain causes unexpected cancer and other respiratory diseases
button on the homepage, enter your problems, it’s crucial that you have (bit.ly/landfill424), but you might not
postcode and click Search to see a map up-to-date info. That’s the idea behind even realise there’s one around the
of incidents near your home. You can Shoothill GaugeMap (www.gaugemap corner. The Environment Agency lets
filter these by month and crime type – .co.uk), which provides real-time data you see the exact locations of landfill
from antisocial behaviour through about river levels so you know when to in England and Wales, both authorised
to shoplifting and violence; expand the dig out your wellies and sandbags. The and historic (meaning the sites are
selected area to a mile radius or draw site gathers its info from the thousands closed or covered). The agency’s
freehand; and view detailed statistics of Environment Agency gauge stations ‘What’s in your backyard?’ page (bit.ly/
about crime levels, case timelines and around the UK, each of which has its backyard424) also covers pollution
outcomes. It may sound like a good way own Twitter feed and shares the current emissions, water quality, flooding and
status of the river, reservoir or tide it’s erosion information.

Discuss data maps at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 49


Broadband Deals
Call FREE on 0800 083 2357 to switch your broadband
Contract Broadband First-year
Provider Package name Monthly price Allowance
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Data supplied by www.broadbandgenie.co.uk. Correct as of 16 May 2017. is powered by Simplify
Digital, the Ofcom-accredited
switching service

xt issue of our sister title


In the ne
Computeractive… SNEAK PREVIEW!

• RANSOMWARE • Add 3D images to your newsletter


What you must do to stay safe from
the next attack • Download and keep YouTube videos
• Have you REALLY signed out of PLUS: Windows 10 Creators Update:
your accounts? change what Microsoft got wrong On sale
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Weds
Find broadband help at forum.webuser.co.uk
7 June
Take a Screen Break
WIN A
Give your eyes a rest from your computer by taking WEB USER
MUG!
our fortnightly challenges. Can you guess our Be the first to send
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company-name emoji and solve our word puzzle? webuser@denn
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5 6

WEB USER WORD PUZZLE


Enter the answers in the grid to 1
reveal a computer term in the
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1 Cumbrian lake and village 3


2 King Arthur’s queen
3 1983 single by Wham! (5,4) 4
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6 US acting dynasty – Lionel,
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Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/webusermagazine 31 May - 13 June 2017 51


Practical
16 pages of workshops, tips, projects
and problem solving

Discover Opera’s best new tools


Opera’s latest update, codenamed ‘Reborn’,
CHAT
offers a glimpse into the future of browsers. We Use the shortcuts for
show you how to use its best new tools WhatsApp, Facebook
Messenger and
Telegram to chat
Opera: www.opera.com | 20 mins | Opera without constantly
switching tabs. Pin

T
he new update introduces some messages. The sidebar itself is new, and your favourites so
of the best features from Opera’s you can customise it by adding any they’re always visible
concept browser, Neon. One shortcuts you like. Other improvements
standout feature is the ability to browse include the option to choose which
and chat at the same time. Shortcuts for ad-blocking lists the browser uses and
WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to pick from a range of themes and SIDEBAR
appear in a sidebar, and you can resize wallpapers. The browser also warns you The new
and pin them so you don’t have to switch if you try to enter private information in sidebar lets
between tabs when responding to a non-secure web form. you quickly
access your
bookmarks,
extensions
and history
2
3
1
1 2

1 Open Opera. In its new sidebar,


you’ll find icons for WhatsApp 1
and Facebook Messenger. 2 Click
2 Click the three-dot button for options
to mute the messenger 1 or hide it.
2 You can also do this by clicking the
the messaging service you want to shortcut again or pressing Ctrl+Shift+M.
connect to, then click Get Started 3 Alternatively, click the pin 3 to dock the
and follow the instructions on screen. panel alongside your tabs. Press Alt+P to
You can resize the chat panel by open Settings, then scroll down to
dragging its edge with your cursor. ‘Manage sidebar’ and click it.

1 3

2
2 2
3

3 You can choose what appears in the


sidebar. As well as WhatsApp and
Facebook Messenger, the default sidebar
4 Open Basic Settings again (Alt+P)
and tick the box to ‘Block ads and
surf the web up to three times faster’. 1
5 When you load a page that contains
ads, a counter in the toolbar shows
how many the browser has blocked. 1
contains shortcuts for Speed Dial, Opera lets you choose which block lists it Select the counter to see how many ads
Bookmarks, ‘Personal news’, History and uses. EasyList and EasyPrivacy are Opera has blocked over different time
Extensions. 1 If you’d like the sidebar to enabled by default, 2 but you can click periods. 2 If you click the switch to
appear only on the Speed Dial page, ‘Manage lists’ 3 to choose from a range disable ad blocking for that site, 3
untick ‘Pin sidebar’. 2 of others or add a custom list. Opera reloads the pages instantly.

52 31 May - 13 June 2017


Workshop 1

DARK THEME
Opera Reborn’s new
dark theme turns the
browser’s toolbar black

WALLPAPERS
The update lets you
choose from a range
of new, modern-
looking wallpapers

1 2

2
1
4
3
5

6 To change the way Opera looks,


open Settings and click Browser. 1
Scroll down to ‘User interface’ 2 and you
7 Below the ‘User interface’ menu is the
Wallpapers section, 1 which contains
a range of new backgrounds. Use the
8 If you load a page that contains a
form but doesn’t provide a secure
HTTPS connection, Opera displays
can tick the box to enable Opera’s new right arrow to scroll through the various a warning to stop you accidentally
dark theme. 3 Here, you’ll also find options. 2 If you don’t find anything you leaking sensitive information. The
handy options to ‘Show the bookmarks like, click ‘Get more wallpapers’ 3 to view warning message says ‘Login
bar’, 4 ‘Show tab previews’ and ‘Show more. When you’ve found one you like, not secure’, 1 and you can click
system color on top bar’. 5 click to select it. it to see more information.

Subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 53


Workshop 2

Clean up after the


Windows 10 Creators Update
Windows 10 Creators Update: bit.ly/cu424 | 20 mins | Windows 10

EXPERT TIP
T
he Creators Update introduced some major changes to
Windows 10 and it’s a big download – but did you know
that the files Microsoft saves to your PC don’t get removed
Wayne Williams says
If upgrading to the Creators Update is
once the installation is complete? On top of that, the upgrade
causing you major problems and none
backs up the previous version of the operating system,
of the steps below help, rolling back
so it can be restored if you encounter problems. Altogether,
to the Anniversary Update (for now
this could hog a massive 20GB of space. In this Workshop,
at least) is the best solution. Click Start,
we show you how to reclaim this space, and our first three
open Settings, select ‘Update & security’,
steps tell you how to tackle any common problems
and click Recovery on the left. Click
you may have encountered with the update.
‘Get started’ under ‘Go back to the
Bear in mind, though, that once you’ve reclaimed
previous version of Windows 10’. This will
the hard-drive space, there’s no way to go back,
only work if you haven’t yet removed
so make sure you make a full external backup
the ‘Previous Windows installation’ files.
before you remove anything permanently.

1 2
Installing the Creators Update may have interfered with Under ‘Update settings’, click ‘Advanced options’ 1
the existing software and hardware on your PC. It’s worth and make sure ‘Give me updates for other Microsoft
checking whether Microsoft has issued any fixes that solve products when I update Windows’ is ticked. Under
any problems you may be having. Click Start, open Settings ‘Choose when updates are installed’, select ‘Current Branch’.
and go to ‘Update and security’. Click ‘Check for updates’. 1 This will ensure you get all of the updates as soon as they
Windows will install any that are listed. become available.

1
2

3 4
If you’re having a problem with a particular program, check Once everything is working, you can start removing the
the developer’s site to see if there’s a newer version that’s update’s files. Almost everything you need is available
compatible with the Creators Update. Hardware drivers in the operating system itself. Click Start and type disk
can cause problems, too. Install Driver Booster (bit.ly/driver424, cleanup. Launch the Disk Clean-up app that appears in the
taking care not to install any unwanted extras) and scan menu. Make sure your system drive is selected in the drop-
existing drivers. In the Outdated tab, 1 click ‘Update now’. 2 down box (if you have more than one drive) 1 and click OK. 2

54 31 May - 13 June 2017


Workshop 2

1
2

5 6
The Disk Cleanup tool scans your hard drive and calculates You’ll see a new ‘Previous Windows installation(s)’ entry 1
how much space can be regained. 1 However, this first which includes the files created by installing the Creators
count doesn’t include any Windows files. For that option, Update – in our case, a whopping 35.2GB. Removing this
click the ‘Clean up system files’ button. 2 Select your system will free up all that space, but also means you can’t roll your PC
drive, as before, and click the OK button again. The tool will back to how it was before the upgrade, so make sure you’re
recalculate your space savings but include additional options. happy with your current setup before you proceed.

1
1
2

7 8
You’ll also want to tick the box to remove ‘Temporary You can also free up hard-drive space through the
Windows installation files’. 1 These are files that were Settings app. Press Windows+i and click System, then
downloaded in order to upgrade your old version of click Storage on the left. 1 This will display all your
Windows 10 to the Creators Update. Click OK 2 to remove connected drives 2 and show the amount of free space you
the selected files and regain your missing hard-drive space. have remaining on each one. 3 Click a drive to get more details
Be patient because the process may take a while to complete. on its usage.

9 10
If you click the Temporary files entry, 1 you’ll have the It’s a good idea to do a spot of general tidying up
option to remove junk files. The list of options varies and remove any unwanted bundled apps. Open Start,
depending on what is on your system, but may include find an unwanted app in the list of applications on
temporary files, old downloads, Recycle Bin contents and the the left 1 – Get Office, for example – then right-click it and
previous version of Windows (which makes this another handy select Uninstall. 2 Repeat the process for any other apps
way of cleaning up after the Creators Update upgrade). you no longer need.

Get more practical advice at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 55


Workshop 3

Get Android phone alerts on your Windows PC


O
ne of the useful new features in Windows 10 Creators your battery is low – and you
Update is that you can set Cortana to sync notifications can even set Cortana to show
from your smartphone to your PC and vice versa. This notifications from your other
means you can be notified when you receive a call or when installed smartphone apps.
Cortana: bit.ly/cortana424 | 10 mins | Android 4.4

1 2
Install Cortana for ‘Low battery
Android and follow the notifications’ 1 is
instructions on screen, 2 enabled by default and
allowing any permissions the options for ‘Missed call
it requests. Next, tap the notifications’, 2 ‘Call
Account icon and open the
3 notification’ 3 and ‘Incoming
app’s Settings menu. Tap message notifications’ 4
‘Sync notifications’ and allow 4 (the latter option is only
the further permissions 1 compatible with Windows
that the app requests. Insider preview builds) are
1 activated by the permissions
approved in Step 1.

3 4
Tap ‘App notifications After choosing the apps
sync’ and ‘Got it’, then whose notifications you
tap the slider to give want to see on your PC,
Cortana notification access type Cortana into the PC’s
and tap OK. Tap back, press Start menu, then click
the slider again and you’ll see ‘Cortana & Search settings’.
an option letting you choose
1 Scroll down to the option
which apps to sync with ‘Send notifications and
Cortana. 1 information between devices’
1 and click to enable it. 2

2
1

1
1

5 6
At this point, you might be asked to sign into your When you reopen the Cortana settings menu in
Microsoft account again. Click Sign in, select the Windows 10, click ‘Edit sync settings’ to choose whether
appropriate account and click Continue. Then enter your notifications from your PC are also sent to the
your password 1 and click ‘Sign in’ again. 2 mobile app. A message may appear in Action Center asking
you if you trust the PC you’re using 1 before notifications
start appearing.

56 31 May - 13 June 2017


Workshop 4

Schedule websites to open when you need them


M
ost of us routinely open certain websites at a time. It can also defer pages until they’re
particular time, such as perusing the latest headlines needed, are updated or you just have
over a morning coffee. Open Me Later lets you more time to read them, acting as a handy
schedule and automate a website to open at just the right reminder to check or buy something later.

Open Me Later: bit.ly/oml424 | 10 mins | Chrome

3
4
2
1 2
5
4 3

1 2
Go to a page you want to open regularly and click the Click the clock 1 to set a time for the page to open.
Open Me Later icon. 1 Click the days on which you want Clicking the hours or minutes lets you type in the time
it to open. 2 This automatically puts a tick in the ‘Every or you can click the up and down arrows instead. 2
week on these days’ box. 3 If you want to open it every day, Choose whether you want the website to open in a New Tab
both weekdays and weekends, tick the Daily box instead. 4 3 or a New Window. 4 Click the Open Me Later button. 5

2
1
1 2

3
4

3 4
If you want a site to make a one-off appearance later Your scheduled site appearances are listed below the
today because, for example, you know it will have some main window. 1 Click the plus button 2 to manually
updated sports results at a particular time, just set the add a new event, then click the Date, Time and Website
clock 1 to the time you’d like the page to reappear and click URL box 3 to edit it. Click Add 4 when it’s ready.
the Open Me Later button. 2

3 1

2 3

2 1

5 6
The time and date can also be adjusted from the list You can make sites appear as far into the future as you
– just click the relevant section, make your changes and like. This is handy if you spot, for example, a Christmas
click the Save button. 1 You can remove sites you no gift you want to earmark for a future purchase. Use the
longer want to appear by ticking the boxes next to them, 2 calendar’s arrow buttons 1 to find a future date 2 and click
then clicking the minus button. 3 it. Click the Open Me Later button to confirm. 3

Get more practical advice at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 57


Weekend Project MTWTFSS

Get to grips with some serious PC DIY to boost


your computer’s performance

How to
... Create your own
personal cloud storage
Wayne Williams shows you how to turn a spare PC into an unlimited
cloud-storage server you can access from anywhere

T
here are numerous cloud-storage services you can sign up
to and use for free, including Dropbox, Google Drive and
OneDrive. They all offer lots of features and are (for the
most part) very reliable. However, they have one restriction in
common, and that’s the amount of storage you get for free.
If you’re storing or sharing a lot of files, you’ll soon find yourself
reaching these limits, at which point you’ll either need to delete
some files or upgrade to a paid-for plan.
Another more pressing concern is security.
Using a cloud-storage service
means entrusting your
personal data to a
company, which can leave
it vulnerable to snoops
and hackers.
By creating your
own cloud storage,
you can avoid these
problems and,
because you have
unlimited space
available, you could
also use it as a way
to back up your PC,
so you don’t lose access
to your files if you ever fall
victim to a ransomware attack.

Why create your own cloud For example, Google charges $10
storage? (around £8) per month for 1TB of space,
By setting up your own cloud storage, but you could buy a 1TB hard drive to
you no longer need to worry about install in your own PC for around £40.
storage limits because you’re the one in Using your own cloud storage makes it
charge of how much space you have at completely private, so you don’t have
your disposal. If you need more, just add to worry about snoopers and, because
it. Installing a large hard drive will provide it’s yours, you can choose to use it for all
you with terabytes of storage space,
which would cost hundreds of pounds Free cloud services become expensive
per month from the professional services. if you need a lot of space

58 31 May - 13 June 2017


Weekend Project

kinds of purposes, including personal


(or very exclusive) file sharing, backing
up your PC and transferring files
to different devices.

What you’ll need


To create your own cloud storage, you’ll
need a computer that will act as a server
for your files. This can be your current
PC, an old desktop or laptop computer,
or even a Raspberry Pi. It doesn’t need Hover your mouse over a file on the server To share a private folder with someone,
to be very powerful, so long as you have to download, share or delete it consider password-protecting it
a connection to the internet and
sufficient storage. v3 or a 64-bit version, even if you’re link (this may also be different,
You’ll also need a copy of the Seafile running a 64-bit version of Windows. depending on your version of Windows)
server software from www.seafile.com. You’ll also need your server’s and, in the new window that opens, click
There are different versions to choose IP address – this is your PC’s internal the ‘Environment Variables’ button.
from, depending on whether you plan IP address, not the one that websites see In the ‘User Variables’ section at the
to run your server on Windows, Linux or when you’re browsing the web. To get top, double-click on the Path entry. In the
Raspberry Pi. The process for setting up this, press Windows+R, type cmd and window that opens, click New and enter
Seafile will depend on which operating press Enter. Type ipconfig and press the install path for Python (C:\Python27).
system you’re using. In this Weekend Enter. You’ll find the IP address next to Click OK, then OK any other open
Project, we look at how to create a server ‘IPv4 Address’. Make a note of it. windows.
under Windows, which we found to be You can now install Seafile – we guide
the easiest method. However, you’re not Set up Python you through the process in our Mini
limited to accessing your files through Once you’ve downloaded the Python file, Workshop, below. We also show you how
that operating system because there are you can install it. You need
Seafile clients for Windows, Linux, to add the installation path
Android and iOS. to the system PATH
To set it up, you first need to download environment variable,
a copy of the Seafile Server for Windows, which sounds a lot more
which is available from bit.ly/sf424. complicated than it is.
Download the newest version (6.0.7, Make a note of the directory
at the time of writing). You’ll also need Python was installed in
a copy of Python v2, which you can (probably ‘C:\Python27’)
download directly from bit.ly/python424. and open File Explorer, then
Our link takes you to a direct download right-click My PC/This PC
to ensure you get the correct file, (depending on your version
because you need version 2 of Python, of Windows) and go to
not version 3; and it has to be the 32-bit Properties. Click the Click the Linked Devices option under Tools and you can
version. Don’t be tempted to download ‘Advanced system settings’ see which devices have connected to your server

MINI WORKSHOP | Install Seafile Server for Windows

3
1

1 1

1 Once Python is properly installed,


create a new folder for the Seafile
installation files on your Desktop or
2 If you have more than one hard drive
attached to your PC, select the one
you want to use for storage. A Seafile
3 Go into the ‘conf’ folder and open
ccnet.conf in Notepad. Enter your
IP address next to ‘SERVICE_URL =’.
anywhere else you’ll be able to find it icon should appear in your notification So, for example: SERVICE_URL =
later. Using a program such as 7-Zip area. If it doesn’t, launch ‘run.bat’ again. http://192.168.1.100:8000. Save the file,
(www.7-zip.org), extract the contents Right-click the icon 1 and choose ‘Add then right-click the icon in the
of the server file (seafile-server_6.0.7_ an admin account’. 2 Enter an email notification area and select Restart
win32.tar) to this folder. It will take a address as a username and a password. Seafile Server. Open a browser window
while. When it’s done, open the folder 3 Right-click the system-tray icon and and go to http://127.0.0.1:8000. 1
and double-click the run.bat file. 1 choose ‘Open seafile-server folder’ Log in with your Admin details. 2

Subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 59


Weekend Project

Click the Select link in the client to sync When you click a photo, video or To create a new library, click the New
a folder on that computer to your server document, it opens in a preview window Library button in the server, then name it

to get started with Seafile in our Mini protection and/or an auto-expiration or read-only. You can also share
Workshop at the bottom of this page. date to a download link, and you can the folder with a group.
also password protect upload links.
Share using Seafile Additionally, you can share the library Mobile clients
Once your server is up and running, you with a particular user (search for the user Like all good cloud-storage services,
can begin using it to share files. Your files by name or enter their email address), Seafile has apps for Android and iOS that
are stored in libraries, each of which can and specify the permission – read-write, let you access and share your files and
be synced and shared individually. folders from a mobile device and
Like Dropbox, anything stored in your join in group discussions. Search
personal library is synced to a folder on for Seafile on Google Play or the
your computer. To view this, open File Apple App Store (there are also
Manager and you’ll see a My Library entry links on the download page
on the left-hand side. You’ll recognise it at bit.ly/sf424).
because it displays the Seafile logo. You When you launch the app,
can copy content to and from this folder. you should choose to add an
To share a library or some folders, account, select Other Server
you have two options. You can create and enter the IP address of your
a shared library in a group, or you can personal server (toggle HTTPS
click the Share icon next to the library off first), followed by your email
on the My Home page or the Share address and password. The client
button in a folder. A box will appear that will now connect to the server
provides options to create a download Seafile’s mobile apps let you browse files and folders and you’ll be able to access
or upload link. You can add password on your server, and also share items your libraries.

MINI WORKSHOP | Share and sync content in Seafile

3 4 5
1
1 1

2
4
3 2

2
3
4

1 Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be


able to manage any files you add
and share. Click My Libraries 1 and
2 To access your files from somewhere
else, you’ll need to install and run the
Seafile Client from bit.ly/sf424. At the
3 The software connects to the
server, and you should be able to
browse through the libraries, 1
open My Library. By default, this login window, enter your server address including shared content. 2 If you
contains a tutorial file. 2 To add (the IP address you noted down earlier want to sync a new folder, drag and
something to your storage, click – with :8000 at the end). 1 Next, enter drop it to the grey bar at the bottom.
Upload 3 and select a file. You can your email address 2 and password 3 3 Click the cloud icon 4 to sync
also create a new folder. 4 and click Login. 4 a library. Any starred content can be
viewed here. 5

On sale
NEXT ISSUE How To... Create and set up your own VPN server Wedn
esday
e
14 Jun

Subscribe to Web User at subscribe.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 61


Web User Masterclass
Tidy up your Desktop and remove
distracting shortcuts, files and folders
with helpful tips from our experts

Use taskbar shortcuts to launch programs

Y
our Desktop can become a
dumping ground for all sorts of
files, folders, program shortcuts
and links to websites. You can easily
reduce some of this clutter by moving
your program shortcuts to the taskbar.
When a program is running in any
version of Windows, right-click the icon
in the taskbar and select ‘Pin to taskbar’.
The icon then remains in the taskbar
after the program has closed, and you
can reopen it with one click. You can
also right-click a Desktop shortcut and
select ‘Pin to taskbar’ to add its icon,
then delete the Desktop shortcut to
clear some space.
If the taskbar becomes crowded with
icons, open the Windows 10 Settings
app and click Personalisation, then
Taskbar. Turn on the switch labelled
‘Use small taskbar buttons’. Clear Desktop space by pinning programs to the taskbar and deleting the shortcuts

Tidy icons into folders Create custom organised resolution, but most people tend to
Folders on the hard drive are used to wallpaper stick with the same resolution, so this
organise files into Pictures, Documents, If you’d still rather keep all your shouldn’t be a problem.
Videos and Music, and you can use the shortcuts, files and folders on your
same technique with Desktop shortcuts. Desktop, you can at least organise them Create tiles for shortcuts
Right-click the Desktop (if you can find so the screen doesn’t look such a mess. Another way of keeping program
an empty space) and select New, then Find an image you’d like to use as shortcuts off the Desktop is to add
Folder. Give the folder a short but Desktop wallpaper, such as a photo tiles to the Windows 10 Start menu.
descriptive name. you’ve taken or downloaded. Open it Right-click any shortcut or program,
Drag all your web links into one folder, in Paint.NET (www.getpaint.net) either on the Desktop or in an
your Word documents into another or another photo editor and use the Explorer window, and select ‘Pin to
and so on. Organising your Desktop selection tool to allocate areas on the Start’. Open Start, find the tile and
clutter into folders makes things easier image where you can place icons. click and drag it to the top-left corner
to find and keeps your Desktop tidy. Drag your Desktop icons to the of the tiled area. Add all your favourite
You may find you can manage with designated areas to organise them. programs as Start-menu tiles and then
a handful of folders instead of 50 Windows rearranges Desktop items delete the shortcuts on the Desktop.
or more icons (yes, some people’s whenever you change the screen Windows 7 users can also pin items
Desktops really are that cluttered).

If you see words that look like


they’ve been typed in a
typewriter, follow the instructions
and type them exactly as they
appear, paying close attention to
spaces and punctuation. BEFORE AFTER
Cleverly designed wallpaper can bring order to your Desktop

64 31 May - 13 June 2017


Web User Masterclass

to the Start menu. Pinned programs


appear in the top-left corner, which is TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
the handiest place for your frequently More advanced tips for when you’re feeling brave
used programs.

Launch from the most Turn a folder into


recent list a toolbar instead
of storing icons
You don’t need to create Desktop on the Desktop
shortcuts or taskbar icons for the
programs you use most frequently which adds a small
because they’re already listed on the rectangular box to
Start menu. Click Start in Windows 10 your screen. This can
and you’ll see a list of your most used replace most of the
programs on the left. Simply click one icons that are cluttering
to run it. This means you can delete any up your Desktop.
Desktop or taskbar shortcuts for SlickRun is basically a
programs on this list. command-line tool,
If you don’t want a particular program which means you click
to appear on the ‘Most used’ list, it and type in a
right-click it and select ‘Pin to Start’. Turn a folder into a toolbar command. It comes with a collection
Right-click it again and select More, A useful way to clear Desktop clutter of ready-made commands, so typing
then ‘Don’t show in this list’. This moves is to turn folders into toolbars on the paint opens the Paint program,
it from the list to the tiles section. taskbar. Open Explorer, go to your player opens Windows Media Player
Adding a tile makes the program quick Documents folder and create a new and google opens a browser and
and easy to find, and removing it from folder called Desktop. Then drag your goes to Google.
the ‘Most used’ list makes room for files and shortcuts from the Desktop The best part is that you can create
another item. to this folder to clear the screen. your own commands, which the
Right-click the taskbar and select program calls ‘MagicWords’. Right-
Pin folders to Explorer Toolbars, then ‘New toolbar’. Select click the SlickRun box and select New
If you keep folders on your Desktop, the folder you created and it will be MagicWord. Enter a word, select a
or even shortcuts to folders, you can added to the taskbar at the right, next program and add it to the MagicWord
organise them better by pinning them to the notification area. Click it to see collection. You can now click SlickRun
to Explorer and still access them in a all the items that were previously and type your designated word to run
couple of clicks. Use Explorer to move cluttering your Desktop. the program, so there’s no need for a
folders off the Desktop and place them Desktop shortcut.
in the Documents, Pictures, Videos or Expand the taskbar
Music folders as appropriate. Then If your taskbar is getting
delete their Desktop shortcuts. cramped due to all the
In Explorer, select a folder you’ve shortcuts and folder toolbars
moved and choose ‘Pin to Quick access’. you’ve moved there, you can
Repeat with other folders you access make it bigger. Right-click the
regularly. Now when you open Explorer, taskbar and make sure there’s
you’ll see your favourite folders listed in no tick next to ‘Lock the
the sidebar, where they’re just one click taskbar’. Click and drag the
away. If Explorer is closed, minimised or top of the taskbar up the
buried under other windows, right-click screen to make it two or even
its icon in the taskbar and left-click the three rows deep. It can then
folder you want. hold many more program
shortcuts. If you’ve turned Replace Desktop shortcuts with SlickRun and use
a folder into a toolbar, click MagicWords to start your programs
and drag the double bar to the left
of it. The toolbar contents then Use Cortana to open apps
appear as icons on the taskbar. and files
Go to Settings, Personalisation, You can use Cortana in Windows 10
Taskbar and turn on ‘Automatically to open programs and applications
hide the taskbar in desktop mode’. via vocal commands, such as
This hides the taskbar until you move “Hey Cortana, open Word”, or
the mouse to the bottom of the “Hey Cortana, open Notepad”. To set
screen, when it pops up with two this up, click in the search box on the
or three rows of your favourite items. taskbar and then click the gear icon.
Turn on the switch under Hey Cortana.
Try a launcher Experiment with this. If you have
A launcher is a software tool that lets a shortcut on the Desktop, say “Hey
you open all your other programs Cortana, open...” and see if it opens.
from one place. One example If it does, then you could delete the
Pin folders to ‘Quick access’ and right- is SlickRun (www.bayden.com), shortcut to save Desktop space.
click the icon to access them

Visit our Hints & Tips forum at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 65
Ask the Expert
Roland Waddilove, computer programmer and PC
journalist since 1981, answers all your technical questions.
Email us for help at webuser@dennis.co.uk

GENERAL PC
GENERAL PC Stop windows popping up
Switch off Q I have a problem on my Windows
10 PC. Sometimes, when I’m using
background apps either Gmail or Word, a program
from my Desktop opens up over

Q A message appeared on my
Windows 10 laptop saying:
“Too many background apps can
whatever I’m doing. I close it, only
for it to pop up again. I then have to
restart my PC and hope the problem
drain your battery. Select here to goes away. It’s very annoying.
improve your battery life.” I have Also, when I type in Word, the letters
a number of apps on my taskbar, don’t always appear on the screen, so I’m
including TripAdvisor, Amazon and wondering if it’s something to do with
Stop apps running unnecessarily in the
Dropbox. I don’t use these, so should background to improve battery life my keyboard, which is relatively new.
I remove them to make more room Edward Turner, via email
on the taskbar? How do I do this? Only software that’s running affects
Darren, via email the battery life, but some apps run in
the background. Press Windows+i, A Budget keyboards start at around
£5, so it wouldn’t cost much to try

A Icons appear on the taskbar to


show you which apps are running,
but you can also pin icons to the
click Privacy and select ‘Background
apps’. You’ll see a long list of apps,
each with an on/off switch that
a different one to see if it fixes the
problem. But most such glitches are
caused by software so check a few
taskbar and use them as shortcuts to determines whether or not it’s allowed things first before spending any cash.
launch apps. In other words, if a to run in the background. Turn off any Windows 10 has lots of keyboard
program appears on the taskbar, that that don’t need to do this, such as shortcuts. Is it possible that you’re
doesn’t necessarily mean it’s running. Candy Crush Saga and Calculator. pressing keys accidentally – perhaps by
If you want to create a shortcut, Only apps from the Windows Store resting your hands on the keyboard as
right-click an icon while a program appear in the settings. To see which you type? For example, Windows+1
is running and select ‘Pin to taskbar’. other software runs in the background opens the first item in the taskbar,
The icons for services such when you start your PC, press Windows+2 opens the second and
as TripAdvisor and Amazon are Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, so on. Windows+A opens the Action
shortcuts. If you’re short of space, then select the Startup tab. Disable Centre and Windows+Tab opens the
right-click an icon you don’t need any non-essential startup programs task switcher. Could you be touching
and click ‘Unpin from taskbar’. to reduce battery drain. the Windows key by mistake?
You don’t specify which programs
open or whether it’s the same one each
EMAIL Is there a way I can download or time. Could it be adware or a potentially
Download email from Lycos transfer my emails? Can this be made unwanted program (PUP)? Check which

Q I have a free Lycos email account


and would like to back up all the
messages there, preferably by
to work with Thunderbird?
Ernie, via email
programs start automatically with
Windows to make sure there are no
unwanted items. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc
downloading them. The problem is that
my Lycos account doesn’t offer POP3
access or anything other than logging
A You’re right – free Lycos Mail
accounts don’t provide POP or any
other kind of direct access to your
to open Task Manager and select the
Startup tab. If anything looks suspicious,
select it and click the Disable button.
into the account through the website. messages. For that you’d have to pay
I’ve tried various programs, including for Lycos Mail Plus, which costs $4.95
a couple of suggestions in Weekend (around £3.82) per month or $19.95
Project (Issue 421 – bit.ly/webuser421) (around £15.41) per year. If you decide
but without success. to do this, you can find the server, port
I found a program called POP and other details you need to set it up
Peeper (bit.ly/peep424), which lets with Thunderbird at bit.ly/lyc424. You
me read my messages without having can then forward any important emails
to log into the account, but it doesn’t to another account for backup
offer any tools for backing up my purposes, such as Gmail or Outlook – Disable adware and other unwanted
email or transferring it elsewhere. both of which are free. software in Task Manager’s Startup tab

66 31 May - 13 June 2017


Ask the Expert
BROWSERS
Reinstall Opera A This is probably due to a bug in one
or more drivers or applications.

Q Can you tell me how to uninstall


Opera? I’ve tried removing it in the
usual way using the Control Panel, and
A known problem affects some laptops
that use certain NVIDIA video cards,
and there is a fix at bit.ly/nvd424.
have also tried Revo Uninstaller (bit.ly/ To check that your other drivers are
revo424), but neither worked. Each up to date, right-click Start and select
time, a message appears on the screen Device Manager. Expand each section,
saying ‘Unable to uninstall Opera’. I only right-click each item and click Update
want to uninstall this program so I can Driver Software. Just update everything
reinstall it to solve some problems with from ‘Audio inputs and outputs’ to
it occasionally crashing. Has Opera Printers. There’s no need to go further.
deliberately made its software Also update any software you have
impossible to uninstall or am I doing You can set Edge to start with your installed, and check for Windows
favourite homepage in Settings
something wrong? Updates in the Windows Settings app.
John William Jones, via email Open Edge and click the three-dot
menu button in the top-right corner. Click HARDWARE
Connect to a network printer
A Opera is usually easy to uninstall,
either from the Control Panel or
using an uninstaller such as Revo. On
Settings and you’ll see ‘Open Microsoft
Edge with’ near the top. From the box
below, choose ‘A specific page or pages’. Q I bought a printer with the intention
of sharing it between the two
rare occasions, however, something can In the box that appears, type the address computers on my home network. I’ve
go wrong. It’s not you, it’s the software. of your chosen homepage, such as www done this before, so I wasn’t expecting
Restart Windows. You can’t uninstall .bing.com or www.google.co.uk. Quit any problems, but I can’t install it.
Opera if it’s running, so right-click the Edge, then restart it, and you’ll see your Nicholas Harwood, via email
taskbar and select Task Manager. Look homepage and the familiar interface.
for Opera on the Processes tab and,
if you see one or more items in the list,
right-click each one and select ‘End
HARDWARE
Wake a sleeping laptop
A This is a known problem with
network printers and computers
that have less than 4GB of memory.
task’. Then try uninstalling it.
If this doesn’t work, download and
install the latest version and then try
Q Since installing Windows 10 Creators
Update, I’ve had a problem with my
laptop. It goes into sleep mode when I
Windows Update will probably deliver
a fix sooner or later, so it shouldn’t be
a problem in the future.
to uninstall it. The new version might close the lid but doesn’t wake up when I Type command prompt into the Start
repair or replace corrupt files, which open it again – all I get is a black screen. menu. When it comes up, right-click it
may then allow the uninstaller to work. I have to hold down the power button and choose ‘Run as administrator’.
to power off, after which I can start the At the command prompt, type
BROWSERS computer as usual. Any suggestions? sc config fdphost type=own. Press
Bring back Edge Brian Wells, via email Enter and try reinstalling the printer.

Q Edge recently disappeared from my


Windows 10 laptop. I am relatively
new to Windows 10 and wanted to try GENERAL PC
out the new tools it offers. However,
the next time I booted my laptop,
Find out your
Edge was missing. Now, when I try to Windows version
open it, the blue Edge page appears
for a moment, but is then replaced
with a page saying, ‘Where to next?’
and a search box that says ‘Search or
Q How can I tell which version of
Windows 10 I have? I’ve heard that
the Creators Update is version 1703,
enter web address’. If I type Edge into but I can’t find any reference to 1703
this, I simply get a series of addresses or any other number in Windows –
advising me to purchase Windows 10. just that it’s Windows 10. Open the Settings app to find your
I should add that I haven’t deleted Helen Mayers, via email Windows version and build number
anything on this laptop since upgrading
to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1.
Derek Wellings, via email A You’ll find this information in the
Settings app. Press Windows+i
and choose System, then About. Here,
Each version has a build number.
These indicate minor updates that
have been installed, such as bug fixes

A It sounds as if everything is working


as it should. Edge has an unusual
interface that can be confusing at first.
you’ll see which edition you have –
such as Windows 10 Home or Pro –
as well as the version and OS Build.
and patches. New builds don’t usually
add features to Windows. Version
1607, for example, had 16 build
For example, there isn’t an address box Windows 10 has received three numbers at the last count. Version
at the top for typing in web addresses, major updates since the original 1507 1703, the Creators Update, is brand
just a ‘Where to next?’ box in the middle version: 1511, 1607 and now 1703, new but already has two build
of the window. It’s weird, but you can which is the Creators Update. New numbers – the original and a newer
change this in the startup settings to versions add features to Windows. build that fixed some early bugs.
give it a more familiar look.

This fortnight Roland has set up his own cloud storage on a spare PC. Try it yourself on page 58

Find more solutions to PC and web problems at forum.webuser.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 67
Your Top Tips
Our pick of the best advice from our
readers. To get help or offer it to others,
visit forum.webuser.co.uk

Mug
TOP TIP winner
HARDWARE

Clone your Wi-Fi by using HomePlugs


For years, I’ve used a Devolo
HomePlug to improve the Wi-Fi
coverage on the top floor of
my house. This appears as
a separate Wi-Fi network,
and all my wireless devices
upstairs are set to connect
to the Devolo network
rather than the main router.
This works well, but problems A simple firmware update could make
sometimes occur when using a mobile your Devolo Wi-Fi devices even better AnyMote replaces your TV and set-top
device around the house. If I’ve been box’s remote control
using my tablet in the living room, To clone your Wi-Fi network, press
for example, I have to manually switch the Encryption button on the Devolo out, and they’re not cheap to replace.
to the Devolo network upstairs, device that’s connected to your router, However, I found an alternative when
because the main router is still just then press the WPS button on your mine stopped working. It’s a free app for
in range but has a very weak signal. router and wait. Now that I’ve done Android phones called AnyMote (bit.ly/
I recently discovered a solution to this, my devices usually choose the anym424) that lets you control your
this problem. A firmware update to my option that gives the best signal TV and set-top box using your phone.
HomePlug a couple of years ago made automatically. If they don’t, I just As with any universal remote control,
it possible to clone a Wi-Fi network toggle the device’s Wi-Fi off and on it takes a minute or two to select the
and doing this provides all the benefits and it always picks the best option. correct TV and Sky box model, but it
of a normal HomePlug setup, but only It’s certainly a lot quicker than opening then works well. I can switch my TV
one network appears in your Wi-Fi the Settings menu and selecting the and Sky box on and off, browse the
settings. The effect is similar to using network manually. menus, select programmes and so on.
a Wi-Fi extender. Lauren S, via email I’ll probably buy a proper remote
control eventually but at least I can still
watch TV for now.
GENERAL PC H Carr, via email
Reset Windows 10’s Store it is. However, you don’t need it anyway
I’ve noticed that a few people are having because you can reset the Store from GENERAL PC
problems with the Windows Store in Settings. If you don’t yet have the Restore lost files
Windows 10. There is a command that Creators Update, Open the Settings app Windows backs up your files
resets it but I can never remember what (Windows+i) and click System. Select automatically but not many people are
‘Apps & features’ and find the Store app. aware of this. If you lose, overwrite
Click it, then choose Advanced options or accidentally delete files, here’s how
and click Reset. to get them back.
My wife’s laptop has the Creators Right-click the folder where the files
Update installed, which has moved things were stored and select ‘Restore previous
around in Settings, so ‘Apps & features’ versions’. A window opens with a list of
is now in the Apps section. previous versions of the folder saved at
Paul Hayes, via email various times in the past. Select one, click
the arrow next to the Restore button and
MOBILE select ‘Restore to’. Choose where to save
Control your TV with your it and Windows will restore the folder
phone with all the files it contained on that date.
The Windows 10 Store can be reset in the Sooner or later the buttons on the The only problem with the system is
Settings app to fix problems remotes for TVs and set-top boxes wear that Windows doesn’t make backups

68 31 May - 13 June 2017


Readers’ Tips

very often. Sometimes they’re a week exceed 25 attachments and that the total
or a month old, but this is still useful file size is less than 50MB.
if you’ve run out of other options. FratPark, Web User Forums
Michael Godwin, via email
BROWSERS
EMAIL Access additional settings in
Stop sorting Outlook mail Edge
I logged into Outlook.com today and Did you know that you can access some
found that my mail was sorted into two experimental settings and configurations Access thousands of hidden genres in
lists: Focused and Other. This means that in Microsoft Edge? Type about:flags Netflix
rather than seeing all my messages in in the address bar and press Enter.
one place, I have to look in two places. You can fiddle with any of the settings available categories, visit bit.ly/
I’m not sure this is an improvement. and if you don’t like them, just reset them netflix424. Click a link on this page
To change the inbox back to how it to the default configuration by clicking to open the category directly in Netflix.
was, click the gear icon in the bar at the ‘Reset all flags to default’. Bedstor, Web User Forums
top and select ‘Display settings’. Click Stewart40, Web User Forums
Focused Inbox at the top and select WEBSITES
‘Don’t sort messages’, then click the WEBSITES Find overwritten files in
OK buttons to close the settings. Unlock hidden Netflix genres Google Drive
Gary Griffiths, via email I recently discovered a handy way of Yesterday, I added a file to a folder
browsing for films in Netflix. The service in Google Drive and was dismayed
has thousands of categories, ranging to discover that it had overwritten
from ‘Mind-bending movies’ and ‘Cult a file with the same name. However,
horror movies’ to ‘Movies starring I remembered seeing a pop-up a few
Matthew McConaughey’, but only shows days before that said if you add a file
25 or so by default. Each category has of the same name as an existing one,
a four- or five-digit code and if you know Google Drive adds it to the version
this, you can see all the films in that history rather than creating a duplicate.
category by typing the standard genre With this in mind, I right-clicked the file,
URL into your browser and adding the selected ‘Manage versions’ and found
Do you prefer your email automatically code to the end, so it looks like www the overwritten version, which I then
sorted or not? Choose at Outlook.com .netflix.com/browse/genre/XXXX downloaded. Note that previous versions
(substituting XXXX with the identifier are only available for 30 days.
SOFTWARE code). For a comprehensive list of the Neil Bowler, via email
Customise Spotify playlist
covers
Did you know that you can add custom
BLUNDER OF THE FORTNIGHT
artwork to your Spotify playlists rather
GENERAL PC Windows
than using the default covers generated 10 lets you
from the songs it contains? It’s best to
use a square image, otherwise it won’t
Stop Windows 10 set any
Wi-Fi
display correctly. To add your image, wasting data network as
metered
click a playlist in the PC version of
Spotify, then click the three-dot button Last week, my home broadband
and select ‘Edit details’. Click Choose stopped working. While I was waiting
Image and select the appropriate file for BT to fix it, I decided to connect
on your PC. Note that the image must be my PC to the internet using my
a JPEG and less than 4MB in size. smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Jack Gold, Web User Forums Unfortunately, because I hadn’t used
my PC for a while, Windows Update
EBOOKS started downloading some large files If you want to keep an eye on how
Reboot Kindle to fix problems and now I’ve all but used up my entire much data you use, open Settings,
If you are having problems with a Kindle, mobile data allowance for the month. click ‘Network and Internet’ and
you can restart it as you would I’ve since learned a simple way to choose ‘Data usage’ from the sidebar.
a misbehaving PC. Press and hold the avoid this problem in Windows 10, Make a note of the Wi-Fi total so you
power button for seven seconds until which is to set the hotspot as a can calculate how much data you’ve
the power box appears, then tap Restart. metered connection. To do this, click used during a given period.
If the power box doesn’t appear, the network’s name in the Wi-Fi You can also monitor your usage on
press and hold the power button for settings menu, select Properties and your Android device. On my Samsung
40 seconds to restart your Kindle. turn on ‘Metered connection’. Now Galaxy S6, I open Settings, then ‘Data
Another quick tip for Kindle users is when I use my phone as a personal usage’. The total for ‘Mobile hotspot
that if you have a lot of ebooks or PDFs hotspot, my PC no longer downloads and tethering’ is in the application list.
that you want to send to the device, you software updates automatically. Ed Wright, via email
don’t have to send them one at a time.
You can add multiple attachments to the
Have you managed to fix a PC-related disaster?
email you send to your ‘Send to Kindle’
If so, please send your story to webuser@dennis.co.uk
email address. Just make sure you don’t

Send your tips to webuser@dennis.co.uk – win a Web User mug! 31 May - 13 June 2017 69
Readers’ Helpdesk
Our pick of the best solutions posted on our
reader forums. Visit forum.webuser.co.uk
– it’s friendly and free!

GENERAL PC

How do I stop File


GENERAL PC
Does Windows 10 need a History pop-ups?
Microsoft account?
Q My neighbour is trying to set up his
new laptop but can’t remember the
Q I often get a notification on my
Windows 10 PC that says I need
to reconnect my File History drive.
details of his Microsoft account – What does this mean, and how do
or indeed whether he even has one. I stop the notifications appearing?
Is there an easy way to check this? Pups, Web User Forums Stop notifications by right-clicking them
The Badger, Web User Forums in Action Center and choosing an option

A You don’t actually need a Microsoft


account to activate Windows 10.
A Have you set File History to back
up your files to an external hard
drive? Technically, File History needs to
have as many previous versions to
choose from if the drive isn’t there
When asked to enter your account have a drive connected permanently – to save them. To create a File History
details, simply look for the button that I use a NAS drive on a 12-hour schedule. backup manually when you next
says ‘Skip this step’. There’s an article at If you disconnect your external drive, connect the drive, open Settings, click
Gadget Hacks (bit.ly/msa424) if you you’ll keep seeing the notifications. ‘Update & security’, then Backup, ‘More
want more information. Alternatively, If you want to hide the notification, options’ and select ‘Back up now’.
you could create a new Microsoft right-click it when it next appears and One advantage to not having your
account during the setup if you don’t opt to ‘Turn off notifications’. Beware, backup drive connected all the time
have one or you want an additional one. though, that doing this instead of is that you should be better protected
If your neighbour can’t remember connecting an external drive will stop against ransomware.
whether or not he has an account, File History working properly. When Cantrel, Helmut and lizzygraham,
one trick is to try entering the phone restoring files, for example, you won’t Web User Forums
number he would have registered with
the account into the box in the login
screen and see if anything comes up. rebooting
lizzygraham, Web User Forums the laptop,
restarting the
router and
using a different
browser, Resetting your TCP/IP settings fixes many internet connection problems
but nothing
has worked. to the forum. If you still get the error
I’ve also run scans using both AVG message, click Start, type ncpa.cpl
(www.avg.com) and Malwarebytes and press Enter. Right-click whichever
(www.malwarebytes.com), and used network adapter you’re using and select
CCleaner (www.piriform.com/ccleaner) Properties. If (TCP/IPv6) is ticked, untick
You can log into your Microsoft account to clean all browser caches and remove it, then click (TCP/IPv4) and select
using your mobile phone number
redundant junk. I can still browse other Properties. Click the button for ‘Use
websites without any problems. the following DNS servers’, and type
NETWORKING egg, Web User Forums 8.8.8.8 into the top row of boxes.
Why can’t I access the Web In the row below that, type 8.8.4.4.
User Forums?
Q I’m having problems with my
HP ProBook 4540s laptop when
A Right-click the Start button, select Tick the box to ‘Validate settings upon
Command Prompt (Admin) and click exit’, then click OK and Close. Finally,
Yes. Type the following commands, open Command Prompt (Admin) again
trying to post on the Web User Forums pressing Enter after each one: and enter the following commands:
(forum.webuser.co.uk). Just recently, netsh winsock reset ipconfig /flushdns
it refuses to post my replies and I keep netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt ipconfig /registerdns
getting the error message “This site shutdown /r /t 00 Close the console and you should
can’t be reached”. I’ve tried various Once you’ve done that, your PC will hopefully be able to access the forum.
things to fix the problem, including reboot and you can see if you can post Cantrel, Web User Forums

70 31 May - 13 June 2017


Inbox

Inbox
You can let us know your views via:
webuser@dennis.co.uk, www.facebook.com/webusermagazine,
www.twitter.com/webusermagazine and forum.webuser.co.uk

Mug
Star Email winner
Google will never block its own ads

R
eading your lead news story in they stil
still
till d
distract you from genuine
Issue 422 (bit.ly/webuser422)) search re
results and creepily seem to
about Google adding an know w
kno what you’ve been looking at.
ad blocker to Chrome, I have to If Google is to build its own ad
wonder if we’re all being taken blo
blocker into Chrome, I think it’s
for fools. After all, Google is the hig
highly unlikely that we’ll be able
biggest advertising network on to use it to block Google’s own
the web – indeed, in the world adv
adverts, or it will be cutting off
– and has built its fortune mainly its nose to spite its face. It’s
on getting web users to view and mor
more probable that the blocker
click online ads. Now we’re will o
wil only filter the ads from
supposed to believe that it’s made com pan
companies that aren’t signed up
a U-turn and decided that ads are with Goog
oog Adwords, to wipe out its
Google
a bad thing after all, and is giving compet
petiti
competition.
us an easy way to block them. isi sites
challenge anyone to visit ite such
uch as Per
Personally, I will stick with using
Well, forgive me while I stroke Mail Online or CNN without being driven uBlock Origin, which I find is perfect
my chin in a sceptical manner. doolally. To be fair to Google, its own ads for my needs and doesn’t take
I have found that using the web are less intrusive than those awful video backhanders from advertising
without an ad blocker is nigh on pop-ups that start playing automatically, companies. If I don’t want to suffer
impossible these days, such is the and the fly-out banners that obscure the ads online, then why should I have to?
prevalence of annoying ads, and I’d articles you’re trying to read. However, Spencer O’Neill, via email

Confuse phone scammers they should already have access to my …or by being completely
by asking for specifics… computer and be able to provide a bit bonkers
I agree with David Barton-Smith more detail. I read with interest your Star Email from
in Inbox, Issue 422: Web User is worth The phone tends to go dead at that David Barton-Smith, but I wonder why
every penny. point. If it doesn’t, I ask them – less than he wasted his time explaining his
I just wanted to share a tip I use when politely – not to try scamming me again, situation and past experience to a caller
I get obvious scam calls such as the and then I put the phone down myself. who already knew that, and couldn’t care
famous Microsoft tech-support scam or It’s funny how few of these calls I get less anyway.
the BT call that David describes – I ask these days. Is there a central I find that a good way to deal with
the operator the make and model of knowledgebase perhaps? these scam calls is to say something
the particular piece of equipment they Jeff Hurst, via email completely bonkers, that has nothing
are referring to.
In the case of the Microsoft scam,
where you are told
that software on
Quiz Answers: Issue 423
your computer has WINNER!
been infected with 1 Bath Jaso n Crouch
viruses, I ask which was the first
computer and to email us
2 Dartmouth the correct
which piece of
software. They’ll answers and
wins a Web
reply with 3 Hornsea
User mug
something generic
like “your Windows
computer” and
4 Cambridge
have a guess at some popular software WORD PUZZLE
application. I usually stop them there by 5 Belfast
telling them I know it’s a scam because Boot disk
I use a Mac but if I’m feeling playful, I ask
them to be more specific. After all, if they
6 Windsor
know I have a virus and can fix it for me,

Air your views, write to us at webuser@dennis.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 71


Inbox
box
Web User readers almost certainly know
how to punch ‘plumber’ and ‘telephone number’
into Google
Turn to page 74 to find out
what’s making Barry mad this issue

to do with Barking up the wrong family pages, faulty or otherwise! Is it that


the subject – tree there’s a hardware fault in the
or indeed, In your write-up of My Family Tree 7 programmers brain? Or are we being
anything else. in Issue 422, it would have been more attacked by aliens from the planet Geek?!
I change what complete to point out that this Jon98, Web User Forums
I say from time application is yet another product
to time, but my of the wretched Mormons, Squirrel your data away
current tactic, in pursuit of their bizarre notions. in the UK
when they tell me I do not want my ancestors In a recent edition of Web User
about all the baptised or whatever it is these (Issue 420, page 21), I read with interest
dreadful things my people do. So do us a favour your article on cloud backup, but was
computer is suffering, and find some good genealogical surprised to see that you hadn’t included
is to say with great software that isn’t polluted by SquirrelSave (www.squirrelsave.co.uk).
joy and enthusiasm: this nonsense. I started using this company three
“I’ve got a blue rabbit!”. Bill Anderson, via email years ago and haven’t
So far this phrase has achieved looked back.
100% success with their ending the Web User says: My Family Tree is the I thought about
call immediately. In fact, we haven’t work of Chronoplex Software’s developer using Carbonite
had any scam calls for a while now. Andrew Hoyle (bit.ly/hoyle422). It is in but like the idea
Mike Palmer, via email no way affiliated with the Church of that my data is
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stored in the UK.
Rip-off prices killed the although it does let you import GEDCOM I can also use this
music industry files – a format that was developed by software on all
Regarding the recent debate in your the Mormons as an aid to genealogical three of my PCs.
Inbox pages about copyright: under research, which has become the After the initial backup, which takes
copyright law, when you buy a book, standard for some time (depending on how much
you are buying the licence to read it. Yet exchanging data you have to back up), SquirrelSave
you can buy second-hand books all over family-tree runs in the background updating
town, even though this breaks copyright data. Other automatically. You can also recover
law. What is annoying – especially if than that, deleted files up to 30 days later.
you’re like me and quite old – is that if the Maybe next time include this company
you purchased an album on tape then software in your review?
vinyl then CD, you’ve paid three times for is entirely Andy Chandler, via email
the same product. Some old VHS videos secular.
like Infected by The The have never been Bored of reading about Kodi
put out on DVD format so what are fans Are we under attack from Every now and then, something comes
to do but transfer their old VHS copy to aliens? along that gets hyped up so much you
DVD? Similarly, Lady Gaga has made lots In the past, I’ve commented on the fact just get sick of hearing about it. Last
of great videos for her songs, but has that software programmers speak a year, it was Pokémon Go, the year before
nev
never put language not previously heard on earth. that it was Windows 10, and this year
the
these on Another example appeared in Issue 422, it’s Kodi ruddy Kodi.
aD DVD, so when a reader said their PC wouldn’t I open the newspaper and there’s
peo
people copy boot, and the message “Page fault in stories about Kodi; go for lunch with
the
them from non-paged area” appeared. family and they talk about Kodi; and
YouTube. Now, you’d think that if an area is when my favourite tech magazine pops
The music ‘non-paged’, there’s no way it could have through my letterbox, what a surprise:
industry used a page fault – or anything to do with it’s got Kodi on the cover and eight
to advertise pages of Kodi inside.
that “Home Having tried Kodi a couple of years
Taping is Killing ago, I really can’t understand what all
Music”, but most of the things I taped the fuss is about. As a piece of software,
from the radio that I liked, I purchased at it’s pretty basic and boring-looking –
a later stage. The thing that killed music certainly not on a patch on Windows
was the high cost of CD albums, which Media Centre – and it really only
were much cheaper to manufacture than becomes interesting once you install
vinyl but double the cost. Also, people add-ons.
only have so much disposable income, As we well know from recent stories
so if they had no money they would not in the press, it’s these add-ons that get
have purchased the CD anyway. you in trouble with the law because most
Adrian Bonnington, Northampton of them are specifically designed to

72 31 May - 13 June 2017


Inbox

stream TV
channels and The priority is to ensure everyone is
films illegally.
Fortunately, What you connected. Some people in my area
(rural north Wales) still have dial-up.
most of them
are so fiddly say... Anne Blackwood

to set up that Fast broadband for all would be great,


most people but I doubt it will happen, because BT
quickly give and Openreach have ruined any
up on Kodi –
I know I did.
I realise that
H OW WORRIED ARE YOU
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
SPYING ON YOU IN REAL TIME
chance of future-proofing our
telecommunications.
Pete Fitzsimmons
Web User and (bit.ly/realtime424)?
its sister title
need to sell magazines, and that Kodi
is a current ‘hot topic’, but I believe
I speak on behalf of a lot of readers when
I’m not bothered about what the
Government sees because I’ve nothing
to hide. What I am bothered about,
A NEW REPORT SAYS THAT
ON AVERAGE PEOPLE
USE 10 APPS A DAY. HOW
I say that I’m bored of reading and though, is hackers using the same MANY DO YOU USE?
hearing about Kodi. I’d be much happier back door to harvest information they
if we could all move onto the ‘next big could use to steal my identity. I regularly use at least 16 of the 280
thing’ (until we get bored of that, too). Lee Dodgson apps I have installed on my phone.
So please, let’s hear no more about Tweety McTweetface @Gary_Olsen
Kodi – at least for a while. I’m not worried at all. If you’re law
Frank Christensen, via email abiding, you have no need to worry These are the apps I open every day:
about what you get up to. Facebook, BBC News, BBC Weather,
Hurry up and split BT from Geoffrey Boow Guardian and my work email. I always
Openreach open the weather app first, looking for
Not so long ago, you told us that BT was It’s not so much the Government, signs of summer.
separating from Openreach, which would but there are hundreds of Chris Armstrong
make things better for other ISPs. So I organisations whose employees can
was very annoyed recently when my Sky spy on you now. Your neighbour I only use three: a browser, Facebook
connection disappeared, leaving me could be prying into your affairs! and LinkedIn.
without internet and landline phone for David Batty Lance Parkington
four days. When I eventually got through
to Sky’s customer support – which took The trouble is that the Government None for me. I use the internet on my
several phone calls that got me nowhere, won’t deal with the real problems, PCs, and use my phone just for calls.
a failed attempt at text help and finally such as returning jihadis. They Paul Adrian
having to install the My Sky support app endanger everybody’s online security
– I was told the problem wasn’t Sky’s because of their weakness in dealing
fault but BT Openreach’s. This meant
that all Sky could do was notify
Openreach of the problem, and say that
with people who are really a threat.
Derek Briggs Y OU’LL SOON NEED A
PASSWORD TO WATCH
ANYTHING ON IPLAYER.
an engineer would probably be sent out DO YOU APPROVE?
“within five working days”. Talk about
passing the buck!
The sooner this Openreach split
L ABOUR SAYS IT WILL
DELIVER 30MBPS
BROADBAND TO EVERYONE BY
No. I think most of the BBC content is
terrible, and its news coverage biased.
happens, the better for all of us. 2022. CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED? I pay to watch Sky instead.
Carol Jameson, via email Mike Dailly
They can say anything they like,
because they have no chance of I don’t watch TV so I don’t have a
winning the election. licence. This password thing won’t
Robert Slater @Mistyrobert affect me. If I must watch a program,
I’ll just download it
It’s a realistic target, at least, Andrew Wakeman
and needs serious Government
intervention, rather than No, because it’s a hassle. People just
the Tories blaming BT and want to watch a programme instead
occasionally slapping its wrist. of faffing about with passwords.
Richard Morgan goldmaster @imthegoldmaster

Air your views, write to us at webuser@dennis.co.uk 31 May - 13 June 2017 73


Page 404
Barry Collins reckons one small sticker could
put directory enquiries out of business

Ring the necks of


rip-off phone lines
R
ang directory enquiries lately?
No, of course you haven’t,
because this isn’t 1987 and
you’re a Web User reader who
almost certainly knows how to punch
the words ‘plumber’ and ‘telephone
number’ into Google.
True, not everyone is as tech-savvy as
you, which is why services such as 118 118
exist – to profit from the vulnerable and
the elderly. It was recently revealed that
the service charges a minimum of £8.98
to give you the requested telephone
number, with some lesser-known rivals
charging as much as £10.50 per call.
So that’s a tenner to have a minimum-
wage slave in a call centre punch
a search query into Google and read
the number aloud over the phone,
or the same amount again if you want
them to actually connect the call.
When directory enquiries was
deregulated in 2003, telecoms regulator
Ofcom let prices drift from a flat rate of check online for a cheaper, more direct and I can put a stop to the 118 extortion
40p to the current, shocking maximum way to obtain a contact number.” right away, and all it will cost is the price
of £23.97 per minute, and it’s naturally If these people had access to Google, of a plain sticker. On that sticker you
getting hot under the collar now that do you think they’d be ringing the write your telephone number and attach
the scam (remove that word Web User marathon-runner rip-offs in the first it to the phone of an elderly relative,
lawyers, I dare you) has place? It’s your friend or neighbour. Invite them to call
been exposed. “Ofcom 87-year-old you every time they need to find a
is very concerned
That’s a tenner to have mum who’s number for an electrician, the council
about the rising prices a minimum-wage slave in keeping these or even Susan from number 72, instead
of some 118 numbers,”
a call centre punch a search services alive of getting fleeced by the 118 numbers.
a spokesperson told the – she doesn’t If they’re ringing your smartphone,
BBC. “We are already query into Google and read ring them for you can even look up a number on
planning to review this the number aloud company Google while they are on the line. Just
market to ensure prices in between press the Home button on your phone,
Illustration: Andrew Torrens

are transparent and fair games of open your web browser or Google app
to consumers.” Talk about shutting Cut The Rope on her iPad. She rings and search for the details you need.
the stable door after the horse has them because the telephone is her main It’s a 10-second job that will save that
set up a premium-rate phone line. connection to the outside world, and person a tenner. How good will that
Meanwhile, the Department For because she’s seen their silly ads on the minor inconvenience make you feel?
The Bleeding Obvious at consumer telly during Coronation Street. And now Plus, you’ll get the satisfaction of
watchdog Which? says: “Our advice to we know how they pay for them. watching the greedy 118 merchants
consumers looking to avoid being hit Regulators and watchdogs aren’t the tumble out of business, which is no
with these exorbitant charges is to solution to this problem: we are. You more than these shysters deserve.

74 31 May - 13 June 2017 Do you agree? Let us know at webuser@dennis.co.uk

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