Search found 555 matches
- Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:03 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Changes to LastPass free
- Replies: 140
- Views: 8916
Re: Changes to LastPass free
I too am giving Bitwarden a try. Lastpass data imported with no troubles, and so far it's working well on my computer browser and Android phone. Unless I run into something unexpected with Bitwarden, I expect to delete my Lastpass account in a few weeks. Before this forced upgrade by Lastpass, I had...
- Mon Jan 25, 2021 5:43 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Desktop is dying - help me with replacement
- Replies: 72
- Views: 4647
Re: Desktop is dying - help me with replacement
Is there an error code displayed when the update rolls back? There's probably one in some log file somewhere that may hint why it's happening. Without further information, some things I would try are to make sure your hard drive has lots of free space, and unplug any unnecessary USB devices (especia...
- Sun Jan 17, 2021 9:37 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What to do with Amazon gift cards?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 5485
Re: What to do with Amazon gift cards?
You can buy groceries at Amazon Fresh. Some items are Whole Foods prices, some are competitive with local grocery stores.
- Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:38 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Have I Been Overpaying Amazon?
- Replies: 98
- Views: 7233
Re: Have I Been Overpaying Amazon?
I don't buy from Amazon as much as I used to, but they are still a prime (pun intended) shopping destination for me. Some reasons I choose Amazon over other vendors with the same price: 5% cashback on Amazon credit card, easy returns, convenience when shopping for multiple unrelated items in the sam...
- Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:53 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Official Registration For The 2021 Boglehead Contest
- Replies: 638
- Views: 15178
- Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:48 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fidelity site IRA to Roth conversion info
- Replies: 9
- Views: 763
Re: Fidelity site IRA to Roth conversion info
You can see Roth conversion $ by looking at the online transaction history for the Roth IRA account. In the online account: 1. Select the Roth IRA account from accounts listed on left side 2. Click on “Activity & Orders” tab 3. Select “+ History” 4. The default will show you the account history...
- Sat Dec 26, 2020 11:49 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
- Replies: 215
- Views: 16381
Re: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
Fidelity uses VIP access app. does anyone know if they have a backup method? What if I lose my phone with VIP access app? My phone totally stopped working earlier this year. I called Fidelity's login/VIP customer service number to activate the VIP app on my new phone. They authenticated me with the...
- Thu Dec 24, 2020 9:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PayPal Claim USPS In Transit Arriving Late
- Replies: 39
- Views: 2651
Re: PayPal Claim USPS In Transit Arriving Late
Patience is required during these extraordinary times. The sender has no control over the package once the carrier has it in possession. Since the pandemic started, I've had many USPS packages delayed by weeks during the pandemic, and it has gotten worse in the last month or two. I've seen packages ...
- Tue Dec 22, 2020 11:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are Strong Passwords Really Necessary?
- Replies: 313
- Views: 15428
Re: Are Strong Passwords Really Necessary?
Somebody getting access to your bogleheads account gets access to your email. That's a unique identifier, so your anonymity is compromised. If I were interested in siphoning money out of other people's accounts, compromising accounts at a site like bogleheads would be a very valuable secondary obje...
- Tue Dec 15, 2020 1:58 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are password managers safe to use?
- Replies: 360
- Views: 17514
Re: Are password managers safe to use?
The yubikey is a 2FA for the individual website or to be able to use 1password itself? Both. You can use a Yubikey as a second factor for 1Password itself while also using your Yubikey as a second factor for individual websites. https://support.1password.com/security-key/ Great. Do you know about L...
- Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: 2FA - SMS good enough or get a Yubikey
- Replies: 35
- Views: 2147
Re: 2FA - SMS good enough or get a Yubikey
Ok, I'm considering getting this Yubikey - https://www.amazon.com/Yubico-Security-USB-Factor-Authentication/dp/B07M8YBWQZ/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=yubikey+bluetooth&qid=1607990656&sr=8-10 or the 5 for $20 more. But then I started thinking about what if there's a fire and it gets de...
- Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are password managers safe to use?
- Replies: 360
- Views: 17514
Re: Are password managers safe to use?
The yubikey is a 2FA for the individual website or to be able to use 1password itself? Both. You can use a Yubikey as a second factor for 1Password itself while also using your Yubikey as a second factor for individual websites. https://support.1password.com/security-key/ Great. Do you know about L...
- Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are password managers safe to use?
- Replies: 360
- Views: 17514
Re: Are password managers safe to use?
I'm surprised that Vanguard considers an 8 character password to be secure. If you believe howsecureismypassword.net, an 8 character password consisting of uppercase, lowercase, numeric and special characters can be brute forced in about 8 hours. That's not long if someone is targeting you.
- Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: H&R Block 2020 software offer
- Replies: 413
- Views: 30754
Re: H&R Block 2020 software offer
Normally I'd just take shipping mistakes like this to work and pass them out to co-workers. Amazon's mistake is the team's good fortune. But we're all on remote work except for necessary on-site visits to fix a server or when authorized to pick something up from our offices that we forgot to take h...
- Mon Dec 07, 2020 6:21 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are password managers safe to use?
- Replies: 360
- Views: 17514
Re: Are password managers safe to use?
Is a separate password management app better than using the ones built into Apple and Google browsers? I am a big fan of Chrome's built-in password manager (and I do IT for a living). It does everything I need it to do, it is free, it doesn't require extra software and works automatically on all my...
- Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Are password managers safe to use?
- Replies: 360
- Views: 17514
Re: Are password managers safe to use?
You should change your Lastpass security settings to logout automatically after a specified number of minutes (I use 30) and when all browser windows are closed.
- Wed Nov 25, 2020 11:57 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Gaming PC Build: Newbie questions and feedback!
- Replies: 69
- Views: 4732
Re: Gaming PC Build: Newbie questions and feedback!
Just to toss in something totally from left field, if you happen to have a cat in the house, it will probably enjoy sitting on top of the computer case, especially if there's a vent on top pushing hot air. This can be a problem if the power button is also on top of the case. You don't want your cat ...
- Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:14 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Car will fit in garage with one inch to spare - thoughts?
- Replies: 111
- Views: 9105
Re: Car will fit in garage with one inch to spare - thoughts?
When I shop for a vehicle, among the most important specs I look at are width, length and height to be sure it will fit comfortably in my small one-car garage. If it looks too tight, I won't consider it. I use this stop sign on a flexible stick (not necessarily this specific brand). It works very we...
- Mon Nov 23, 2020 4:10 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: What charity are you donating to this Christmas season?
- Replies: 145
- Views: 6210
Re: What charity are you donating to this Christmas season?
I just donated to the local food bank, the local homeless shelter, and local meals on wheels.
- Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Investments
- Topic: Recommendations on a DAF provider
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1931
Re: Recommendations on a DAF provider
I'm happy with Fidelity Charitable, where I've had a DAF for several years. I had some equity shares at another brokerage I wanted to use to fund the DAF. First I initiated a transfer at Fidelity to move those shares from the other brokerage into a Fidelity brokerage account. Once that was done (too...
- Fri Nov 20, 2020 4:35 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PC Build Thread - 2020... and beyond!!!
- Replies: 507
- Views: 34088
Re: PC Build Thread 2020
I've been through that RAM timing game on some past builds. Usually some future BIOS update would fix the problem permanently to allow that specific RAM to work at default/XMP settings. Until that occurred, I would have to remember to reenter the RAM timings any time I did something that reset the B...
- Sat Nov 14, 2020 5:40 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Adobe Flash Player support ends 12/31/20 -impact/altermatives?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2046
Re: Adobe Flash Player support ends 12/31/20 -impact/altermatives?
A week or so ago I noticed a "Flash plug-in blocked" message on the citicards.com login page. Citi still uses Flash? Wow. Makes me less likely to use their credit cards. I have noticed it on Discover Bank's site, too. The block doesn't seem to affect my usage of either the Citi or the Dis...
- Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Adobe Flash Player support ends 12/31/20 -impact/altermatives?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2046
Re: Adobe Flash Player support ends 12/31/20 -impact/altermatives?
Uninstall it. There is absolutely nothing important that still uses Flash. The long, slow death was to give developers and webmasters time to build replacement apps using modern, secure technology. A week or so ago I noticed a "Flash plug-in blocked" message on the citicards.com login page...
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 6:40 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
- Replies: 215
- Views: 16381
Re: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
One kind of TOTP spoofing I've read about is via a man-in-the-middle phishing attack. You might get a phone call from "your bank" during which they ask you to verify your identity by reading your TOTP code to them, similar to how a credit card company may ask you your CVV2 code to verify ...
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:52 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
- Replies: 215
- Views: 16381
Re: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
Yes, but that sort of attack is going to work against any form of 2fa that isn't a u2f key. I was specifically asking about a SIM swap type attack using the Symantec app. As far as I know SIM swap attacks are unrelated to Symantec VIP, just as they're unrelated to standard TOTP apps. The cell phone...
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:40 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
- Replies: 215
- Views: 16381
Re: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
Symantec VIP is just a proprietary wrapper over standard TOTP 2FA. Same pros/cons, but added hassle. I wish they'd add U2F support. Huh, explains its behavior. Still, exactly how is it going to be spoofed again? It's not like they can have a low level cell phone employee swap a sim card. So, I'd im...
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:45 am
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
- Replies: 215
- Views: 16381
Re: Importance of 2 Factor Authentication
U2F is absolutely worth it if you can use it. TOTP 2FA? If it makes you feel better, whatever. We phish RSA, Duo, Azure AD 2FA, Google Authenticator and SMS 2FA systems with 75+% success rates on every campaign we run. The irony is people trust phishing sites even more when they get the app / SMS 2...
- Mon Oct 19, 2020 5:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: H&R Block 2020 software offer
- Replies: 413
- Views: 30754
Re: H&R Block 2020 software offer
I used to buy H&R Block early when the email offers started arriving. The last two years I ignored them and bought on Black Friday for a substantial discount. Just have to watch for the deals: Amazon, Walmart, Newegg or others should all have very low prices on Black Friday. The best place to fi...
- Sun Oct 18, 2020 10:50 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Windows 10 very slow (2 year old Dell Desktop)
- Replies: 76
- Views: 4603
Re: Windows 10 very slow (2 year old Dell Desktop)
Try running a Malwarebytes scan. It can find malware that ordinary anti-virus apps don't. Run task manager (as mentioned in earlier in the thread), go to the detailed view for Processes, click on the CPU column to show the highest CPU using process, and set the Always on Top option, and leave it vis...
- Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:07 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PC Build Thread - 2020... and beyond!!!
- Replies: 507
- Views: 34088
Re: PC Build Thread 2020
On the subject of cases, are there any concerns about RF interference with those clear / tinted covers? ... It's a major reason I'm going with a full metal case (not a clear cover). Am I overly concerned? That seems like a valid concern, and I see it's been brought up by many people on other forums...
- Sun Sep 20, 2020 7:52 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PC Build Thread - 2020... and beyond!!!
- Replies: 507
- Views: 34088
Re: PC Build Thread 2020
If you go with liquid cooling, make sure the case you buy has space for the radiator. Case reviews on gaming sites usually will mention where radiators can fit, and some cases may include that info in their specs. The PC I'm using now, built 6 years ago, has a Kraken X61 liquid cooler. It has two bi...
- Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:05 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: OLD papers [How do I dispose of old papers?]
- Replies: 53
- Views: 4108
Re: OLD papers
I went through my decades of accumulated paper statements last year, many of which were old enough to have social security numbers. Since recyclers tend not to like shredded paper, I tried to minimize what I shredded. I tore off the part of each page that had personal sensitive info, shredded those ...
- Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: PC Build Thread - 2020... and beyond!!!
- Replies: 507
- Views: 34088
Re: PC Build Thread 2020
I just built a new PC for my girlfriend a few weeks ago. She wanted something mid-range for work at home and future hobby/business when she retires in a few years. She researched pre-built PC's she thought would work for her, to give me a range of power and price. Her budget was considerably higher ...
- Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:43 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Question regarding password security]
- Replies: 101
- Views: 3443
Re: Security question on one's passwords
Thank you. I don't get any of the detailed information that you mention on haveibeenpwnd: when I click on the word 'breached' in their sentence 'Pwned on 3 breached sites and found 1 paste (subscribe to search sensitive breaches)' I just get to a page with a definition of breach (which I don't full...
- Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:01 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Question regarding password security]
- Replies: 101
- Views: 3443
Re: Security question on one's passwords
What I do HATE is any site that requires the use an E-mail address for the user-id. Hear! Hear! Fortunately more-and-more sites are allowing anything as a username so I use KeepassXC to generate two, unique, very complex "passwords" of different lengths. One I use as the username and the ...
- Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:49 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Question regarding password security]
- Replies: 101
- Views: 3443
Re: Security question on one's passwords
And another edit: https://haveibeenpwned.com gives you a an overview if your account/email address has been leaked. Tried it: my email address was: Oh no — pwned! Pwned on 3 breached sites and found 1 paste (subscribe to search sensitive breaches) Am I in any danger in practice now? What should I d...
- Sun Sep 13, 2020 2:30 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Question regarding password security]
- Replies: 101
- Views: 3443
Re: Security question on one's passwords
And another edit: https://haveibeenpwned.com gives you a an overview if your account/email address has been leaked. Tried it: my email address was: Oh no — pwned! Pwned on 3 breached sites and found 1 paste (subscribe to search sensitive breaches) Am I in any danger in practice now? What should I d...
- Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:53 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: [Question regarding password security]
- Replies: 101
- Views: 3443
Re: Security question on one's passwords
One complicated password for all is fine. But eventually, web sites require you to change passwords anyway. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no If you do this, your password is only as secure as the weakest site you use. You have no way of knowing ...
- Fri Sep 04, 2020 8:34 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: my instagram got hacked!
- Replies: 8
- Views: 774
Re: my instagram got hacked!
Did you use the same password on Instagram and other sites? If so, change the password on all those sites now, and make them unique. One way password hacks like this occur is by a password database leak somewhere. Depending on that site's security, anyone using dictionary words or other commonly use...
- Mon Aug 24, 2020 7:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: We received a request to reset your Facebook password.
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1411
Re: We received a request to reset your Facebook password.
It's most likely that someone else has simply mis-typed their ID and can't figure out why "their" password doesn't work. :oops: Then how did it come to MY email instead of that someone elses? It they had an issue with their password, the reset message would go to THEIR email. They are mis...
- Sun Aug 23, 2020 1:45 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: move from Microsoft Office to Libre Office - any advantages or disadvantages for those that have done so?
- Replies: 45
- Views: 3535
Re: move from Microsoft Office to Libre Office - any advantages or disadvantages for those that have done so?
I used Microsoft Office at work from about 1994 until I retired from Megacorp 7 years ago. I used it at home as well until a license change didn't allow me to install it at home. I started using OpenOffice at home, then switched to LibreOffice, and continued using LibreOffice my first few years of r...
- Fri Aug 21, 2020 10:13 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Fidelity card fraud
- Replies: 36
- Views: 4109
Re: Fidelity card fraud
4. Online store with weak protection was hacked probably and card used to order Chipotle pick up order I have to laugh at this one. They go to all the trouble of either running the hack or, more likely, buying the credit card number on the black market, and then all they do is order Chipotle. Credi...
- Sun Aug 09, 2020 1:33 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Recurring Amazon Charge (fraud suspected)
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1808
Re: Recurring Amazon Charge (fraud suspected)
From this page: https://www.amazon.com/ap/forgotpassword?openid.assoc_handle=anywhere_us&pageId=anywhere_us&mn=0 Has your email or mobile number changed? If you no longer use the email or mobile number associated with your Amazon account, you may contact Customer Service for help restoring a...
- Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:47 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: QuickSilver 1.5% back from CapOne - Anyone Using This?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1682
Re: QuickSilver 1.5% back from CapOne - Anyone Using This?
I keep this card because of no foreign transaction fees. Though I don't currently expect any international travel for the foreseeable future, it still comes in handy for the occasional online purchase at a non-US website.
- Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:16 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Oddly Difficult to Find Items During the Pandemic
- Replies: 308
- Views: 29874
Re: Oddly Difficult to Find Items During the Pandemic
Dried cranberries. My local supermarket has been out of stock for at least 3 weeks.
- Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:56 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Good Modern Science Fiction
- Replies: 492
- Views: 87340
Re: Good Modern Science Fiction
The murderbot novellas are very good (and short so you can easily decide if you like them) and the author just released a full length novel. I loved the murderbot novellas and am very happy to hear about a new novel. Martha Wells, Network Effect . Don't believe I actually just paid for an e-book fo...
- Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:42 pm
- Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
- Topic: New "Money In Excel"
- Replies: 46
- Views: 7425
Re: New "Money In Excel"
I tried it out last night with one checking account and two credit card accounts. It's pretty light on feature at the moment. I couldn't find a way to manually add transactions or accounts, so you're out of luck if you have any accounts not in the supported list. Nothing to help you track dates and ...
- Sun Jun 14, 2020 6:04 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need Landline Phone with "Parental Controls" for 90 yo
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1784
Re: Need Landline Phone with "Parental Controls" for 90 yo
If the landline phone company doesn't have a white list service as oldcomputerguy suggests, look for a landline phone with a feature that blocks telemarketers / robocalls, and allows you to set it to accept only calls from numbers on a white list. I have this phone https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/...
- Mon Jun 01, 2020 8:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Is voice verification more secure?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 1862
Re: Is voice verification more secure?
Fidelity's voice verification system doesn't require a specific password phrase. Your voice is verified during your conversation with the rep. The bad guys can't record that in advance.
- Sun May 24, 2020 2:25 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Investors: be aware of weakness in 2FA + strengthening
- Replies: 153
- Views: 9120
Re: Investors: be aware of weakness in 2FA + strengthening
How would somebody "phish" my Symantec VIP? Are they going to call me and ask me for the current code? :confused Actually, that's one way. You get a call from your bank (not really your bank, it's a fraudster pretending to be your bank). The person you talk to asks you some questions to c...