Author: Evan Wondrasek

  • Curious About Google Docs? Now You Can Try It Without a Google Account

    Instead of purchasing expensive office suites like Microsoft Office, many people are using free online services like Google Docs to do their word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets.  The best thing about Google Docs is that your files are available anywhere you have an internet connection, and they can be instantly exported into common formats (including…

  • Google Chrome: Quickly View Larger Facebook Pictures with Facebook Photo Zoom

    Lately, I’ve realized how little I like clicking on things.  When opening programs, I’d rather type a command with my keyboard than open my Start menu.  If I need to open a file in a folder, I type the first few letters of its name and press the enter key.  So when I’m on Facebook,…

  • New Dropbox Feature Lets You Pick Which Folders Sync

    I sometimes get asked, “What size USB flash drive do you have?”, especially when people are looking for a way to keep their documents with them between home/work/school.  Well, if you haven’t heard of Dropbox, you’re in for a wonderful revelation – you don’t need flash drives anymore! Instead of keeping your files on USB…

  • Hide Your Google Searches from Prying Eyes with SSL Encrypted Search

    Web searches are usually pretty harmless, but I don’t like the idea that somebody could see the Google search I did for “Goose Juggling” earlier today.  Until recently, though, anybody could see what you were searching for on Google because those search results were unencrypted. Last Friday, Google began rolling out encrypted web search using…

  • Security Tip: Deauthorize Old Facebook Applications to Protect Your Profile [Updated]

    It’s no secret: Facebook hasn’t exactly won any awards for protecting your privacy lately.  But Facebook’s privacy policies aren’t the only thing you need to be concerned about when using the popular social network – you also need to keep an eye on the apps that have access to your information. Whenever you use an…

  • Google Tip: How to Search Within a Specific Website, Domain, or News Source

    I was recently asked if it was possible to do a search on Google but only look at results from a specific site.  This is indeed possible, and is a great way to track down specific information when you know the general area it should be located.  I frequently use this to search for information…

  • How to Remove Hidden Duplicate Copies of USB Device Drivers in Windows

    If you’ve ever had problems installing USB devices in Windows, i.e. if you connect a mouse and Windows doesn’t properly install the drivers for you, I learned a great trick that might be able to resolve this problem. From what I can tell, Windows stores a “ghost” copy of any device you install which doesn’t…

  • Welcome to Techerator v2! (Updated)

    You may have noticed we’ve been a bit quiet lately – well, today we can finally divulge the big news.  For the past few weeks, we’ve been stealthily putting together the new version of Techerator which officially launched today! This new version is a complete visual redesign, but we’ve tried to preserve the overall layout…

  • How To: Create and Store Passwords Securely Using LastPass

    Answer the following: Do you use the same password for multiple (or all) websites? Have you had the same password for more than 6 months? Is your password strong? Does your password contain plain dictionary words, or include personal information such as your name, address, or phone number? Do you use your browser’s built-in password…

  • How to Fix Unwanted Amazon Recommendations Caused by Gifts or One-Time Purchases

    I suffer from bad Amazon.com recommendations, and I’m not afraid to tell you about it.  Sure, Amazon’s recommendations are one of the most useful features of the site, but because I once bought some engineering textbooks and a Jackie Moon Halloween costume, my recommendations couldn’t have been more inaccurate. It turns out there’s a pretty…