Eliana Willis

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  • 125 Shares119 Views

    in Networking

    Beyond Google: 5 Chrome extensions that give you search superpowers

    Jack Wallen/ZDNETMost people believe Google is enough — type your search string into the address bar, hit enter, and comb through the results. What if I told you that there were better ways to search using Google Chrome? With the help of a few simple extensions, you can extend and simplify the search process right from your browser.Also: 5 ways to declutter your Chrome browser – and take back control of your tab lifeFor those who’ve never installed an extension in Chrome, it’s simple:Go to the extensions page in the Chrome Web Store.Click Install.When prompted, click Add Extension.Before I continue, a word of warning: While searching for these extensions, I found several add-ons in the Chrome Web Store that were not verified by Google. Because some extensions require access to your Google account to function, I won’t recommend any option that has not been verified. You do not want your account information compromised! Therefore, even if an extension looks like it’s exactly what you’re looking for, if it’s not verified, featured, or doesn’t have a decent amount of positive reviews, avoid it.Similarly, if you filter extensions by either “Featured extensions” or “Established publishers,” you can trust that any extension listed is Verified.With that in mind, here are a few extensions I’ve found and used that can enhance your search experience.1. Search YouTubeSure, you can add YouTube as a site search in Chrome’s settings, but a handy extension called Search YouTube makes this a bit easier. Once installed, the Search YouTube extension adds a right-click menu entry so all you have to do is highlight a string of text on a webpage, right-click your mouse (or double-finger-tap your trackpad), and select Search YouTube for “X” (where X is your search string).Also: How to download YouTube videos for free, plus two other methodsYou can also pin the YouTube icon to your toolbar extension section. Click that icon to go directly to YouTube. This featured extension doesn’t offer much more than that, but if you search YouTube often, it comes in handy.You can install this free extension from the Chrome Web Store. More

  • 175 Shares159 Views

    in Information Technology

    Update your Chrome browser ASAP. Google has confirmed a zero-day exploited in the wild

    Jack Wallen/ZDNETGoogle has released a critical security update for the Chrome web browser. The zero-day flaw, CVE-2024-4671, is a “use-after-free” vulnerability in Chrome’s Visuals component.You might be asking, “what is Chrome’s Visuals component?” In short, it’s the part responsible for rendering and displaying content in the browser. Everyone uses a browser to open content, so everyone’s vulnerable.Specifically, the vulnerability enables an attacker to exploit out-of-bounds memory access. In English, that means if you go to a website with a malicious webpage, it can foul up your computer. It doesn’t matter if your machine’s running Linux, macOS, or Windows. This security hole is an equal-opportunity troublemaker.Also: 5 ways to declutter your Chrome browser – and take back control of your tab lifeDiscovered by an anonymous researcher and reported directly to Google, CVE-2024-4671 has a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) rating of 8.8, which means it’s a serious vulnerability.It could be worse — ratings above 9.0 are critical, aka Fix It Right Now — but this is bad enough. An attacker can use this flaw to read data from your computer, cause crashes, and even take over a PC. In short, it’s bad news.What really makes this one a stinker is that it’s being exploited now. The advisory notes that Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2024-4671 exists in the wild. More

  • 100 Shares179 Views

    in Information Technology

    Singapore updates cybersecurity law to expand regulatory oversight

    KrulUA/Getty Images With widening attack surfaces and technology infrastructures that are no longer necessarily physical, Singapore says its cybersecurity legislation must keep up with the changing threat landscape and be adequately administered to keep its critical infrastructures resilient. The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill was passed on Tuesday following two readings in parliament to address “shifts in […] More

  • 150 Shares99 Views

    in Information Technology

    Why Reddit’s new content policy is a big win for your privacy

    picture alliance/Getty Images Reddit has introduced a new public content policy that lays out a framework for how partners and third parties can access user-posted content on its site. This policy will apply alongside the site’s existing privacy policy, which covers how Reddit handles private user data, and its current content policy, which covers what […] More

  • 163 Shares169 Views

    in Robotics

    The best robot vacuums for pet hair of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

    Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete features: 15mm Auto Mop Lifting | Dual laser LiDAR navigation | OZMO Turbo 2.0 Spinning Mopping system | 210 minute runtime | Cordless vacuum | Price: $1500If you’re looking for a powerhouse robot vacuum and mop, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo Complete is the machine for you. This 3-in-1 machine has 8,700Pa of suction power, dual rotating mop heads, a cordless vacuum for quick cleanups, and an Omni Station that does your dirty work. You can use the cordless vacuum to pick up pet hair from your area rugs or clean up crumbs from your couch, then set it to charge on the Omni station and watch as the contents of its dustbin automatically empty into the dust bag within. The AI-powered Robot intelligently navigates your home and recognizes your soft floors, carpet, and rugs versus tile, hardwood, or laminate. The mop heads can lift 0.60 inches, easily keeping your rugs dry during cleaning.The Deebot X2 Combo Complete has easily kept up with my three (messy) kids and my mutt mixed with some of the hairiest breeds — Husky, Golden Retriever, Coonhound, and German Shepherd. I think that should speak for itself. Being a robot vacuum and mop, you can rest assured that your pet’s hair will be vacuumed while the dirty paw prints are washed away. Customer reviews agree with my assessment: “The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo engineers, designers and programmers did their homework and then went out and built an incredible, not just vacuum but a solidly built system that shines in its accomplishment.”Review: This robot vacuum and mop combo is the most convenient one I’ve ever used More