Random Bytes of Reality

I’m sure that anyone that reads this that’s from the greater Birmingham, AL area will agree that we have some of the best meteorologists around. Since the storms began to converge on Alabama late last night, these fine people tirelessly kept us informed, updated and warned of the impending danger.

The meteorologists from ABC33/40, CBS42, Fox6* and NBC13 have my gratitude and deep appreciation for a job well done. No matter who you prefer to watch or what station you like better…these folks all do a fine job!

*Due to several popups on the Fox6 website I chose not to link to them.

Every once in a while I come across a program or app that I think deserves mad respect. Secunia PSI (Personal Software Inspector) is one of those. This sweet little program runs in the background using hardly any noticeable system resources and actively protects you from having a program that’s out of date or insecure. Considering that the majority of computer users are unaware of just how out of date some of their software is, this free program can help by alerting them to this potentially unsafe scenario. How does it work? Glad you asked.

After installing Secunia PSI and running it for the first time, you want to go to the Settings function under Configuration. This is where you’ll set your installation up for your particular tastes. Under the Drives Tab, you’ll set this as the main drive on your computer normally. I’m showing a screenshot of mine here as an example only.

Once you have the Settings the way you want them, it’s time to start your first scan. This can take some time depending on the amount of software you have on your computer but shouldn’t take too long. You’ll be able to see the Scan Status (length of time scan has been running), Last & Next Full System Scan (scheduled) and the Scan Message windows. There’s also the Step by Step Scan Progress so you’ll know where the scan is in terms of it’s progress. Of course, the progress bar at the top kind of gives that part away too.

After Secunia PSI completes it’s scan, you’ll be presented with a small window with the results listed and options pertaining to the next steps. It will either show a warning or congratulations depending on what the scan results are as well as what is insecure, any end-of-life programs and any patched programs. Below this are two buttons which will either take you to the Dashboard or to the scan results. In this case, my computer is fully patched and no programs are insecure or at an end-of-life situation.

If you opt to view the scan results the following screenshot is what you’ll see next. The one after that is one with insecure programs listed. Insecure programs or end-of-life programs are listed at the top so you won’t have to hunt for them. Everything else is listed alphabetically.

Scan results – Secure

Scan results – Insecure

Considering the fact this program is free, there is no excuse for not using it to help ensure that the programs on your computer are up to date and thus leaving you with a secure machine in respect to the software installed on it. Unfortunately, Secunia PSI works on Windows computers only at this time. Hopefully, they will get it to work on Macs too at some point in the future. Linux users don’t have to worry about this as most Linux distros are good about keeping things up to date anyway with frequent updates.

So, to recap: Secunia PSI is a free program that helps computer users keep their programs and software up to date. This aids in keeping your computer secure plus it uses little in the way of system resources. I hope that you found this post to be of some use. If you have a program that you are particularly fond of, whether it’s native to Linux, Windows or Mac, or even cross-platform compatible…let me know in the comments.

This reminded me to remove that pesky Adobe Air app that I don’t need anymore using Revo Uninstaller. More on that later.

Tonight closes the final chapter in a long year for us here in this house. It’s been marked by yet another back surgery that resulted in hardware being attached (or fused) to my spine, more health issues for the both of us (getting old just plain sucks sometimes), work getting insane due to not enough folks to do what’s needed to be done (the old ‘do more with less’ campaign), and many more less remarkable things that all add up to me being glad that 2011 is coming to a close.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some good things to come out of 2011. But this post is about ending a chapter that didn’t sit all that well with me so let’s talk change. Change for the good. Change for the better.

Beginning in 2012, I will no longer spend holidays away from my family. I will make it a priority that work will no longer dictate my life. I will not be it’s slave. Sounds dark but if you know me well enough then you know how my work schedule has been over the past 6 years. No more. I have no problem working to earn my living. Just not every day/night/weekend and/or holiday! I’m tired.

I’ll be looking for a new job this coming year in a field that I hope will provide us with a brighter future than what I’ve been facing recently. I’m cracking the books again, going to study and fill my brain with the knowledge needed to become the best I can be at my newly chosen vocation. I will become certified in that field.

I’d like to spend the remaining years of my life with family and friends, enjoying them to the fullest. I want to plant a garden similar to the one I had at our old place so we can enjoy fresh home-grown vegetables again. I plan to focus more on getting Birmingham’s RSS off the ground and adding yet more RSS feeds and stories to it. I plan to spend a lot more time with my family.

I plan on taking my life back and making a better difference to those around me in 2012. I plan on making a change. For the better.

What are you planning for 2012?

Happy New Year Everybody! Bring on 2012!

Read this on my iPhone last night and thought I’d share.

*Verizon Wireless Cancels Plans To Charge $2 “Convenience” Fee* TECHCRUNCH | DECEMBER 30, 2011 http://pulse.me/s/4vnjY

Well, that didn’t take long. Less than 24 hours after word got out that Verizon Wireless planned to introduce a painfully ironic “convenience” fee of … Read more http://pulse.me/s/4vnjY