How-To

Where are Google Chrome Bookmarks Stored?

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Where is Google Chrome Bookmarks Stored?

Find where your Google Chrome bookmarks are stored can be difficult! Once in a while you’ll find the bookmark files to get rid of a corrupt file or you are searching for old bookmarks or backups. Another reason you may want to find old bookmarks is that you are migrating to a new browser or computer and need to find the location.

In this article we will show you how to find the location of Google Chrome bookmarks. We will show you how to find the bookmark location for operating systems; Windows, Mac, and Linux. Please follow the simple steps below to get started.

Locating you Google Chrome Bookmark Files in Microsoft Windows

Chrome will store you bookmarks and bookmark backups in a file path in Microsoft Windows operating system. Follow these steps:

Google Chrome Bookmarks File Location for Windows
  1. Shutdown/Quit Google Chrome
  2. Go the following path: AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
  3. The files “Bookmarks” and “Bookmarks.bak” are the files you are looking for
  4. You can copy, modify, migrate or delete these bookmarks files

Locating you Google Chrome Bookmark Files in Mac

Chrome will store you bookmarks and bookmark backups in a file path in Apple macOS operating system. Follow these steps:

Google Chrome Bookmark Location for Mac
  1. Shutdown/Quit Google Chrome
  2. Open a Finder window
  3. Under the drop-down menu for Finder, go to the “Go” menu and then select “Go to folder…” or you can press “shift + command + g” simultaneously
  4. Go the following path: /Users/<your username>/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default
  5. The file “Bookmarks” will be in the root of that folder
  6. You can copy, modify, migrate or delete these bookmarks files

Locating you Google Chrome Bookmark Files in Linux

Chrome will store you bookmarks and bookmark backups in a file path in Linux operating system. Follow these steps:

  1. Shutdown/Quit Google Chrome
  2. Go the following path: /home/<your username>/.config/google-chrome/Default/ or /home/<your username>/.config/chromium/Default/
  3. You’ll want to be in the command line because the “.config” is a hidden file
  4. The files “Bookmarks” is the file you are looking for
  5. You can copy, modify, migrate or delete these bookmarks files

How to Export Chrome Bookmarks

To export your Google Chrome books, just go to “Bookmarks” in Chrome. You should see a “Bookmarks Bar” option that says “Organize”, just click on that, and then when you scroll the bottom select “Export Bookmarks to HTML File”. Select the folder where you want your backup placed then you are ready to import those Bookmarks onto another browser or computer.

How to Never Forget a Password Again – 2020

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How to never forget a password

How to Never Forget a Password

How to never forget a password again in the days of data breaches. These days we are facing a data breach almost every time we turn on the news! When a data breach happens you have to change the passwords for almost all of your accounts and devices that were affected by the breach. This can be a painful and time-consuming process, not to mention keeping track of all the different passwords you have for all the different sites in accounts that you manage daily.

If you want to protect yourself online one of the things you can do is use a password manager that is compatible with your browser. With a password manager, you won’t have to memorize tens of dozens of passwords, honestly, you don’t even need to know what the passwords are. All good password managers create passwords for you and store them and then automatically fill them when you need to login to a website. Additionally, some password managers can even fill in complete passwords for you across multiple devices such as Android phones iPhones tablets, and more.

Why you’re strong password isn’t as strong as you think?

Not too long ago you could use a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters and that would be all you need to create a strong password. Of course, you couldn’t use a dictionary word or a password such as a password itself but that was usually strong enough to get you by. Unfortunately in today’s world, those types of passwords can be easily cracked in minutes not even hours. 

How to Create a Strong Password

To create a strong password today you need to have a good length for the password. For example, a password like “123SesameStreet” which is a 15 digit password is much stronger than a random 9 digit password. a 15 letter password would take over 50 years to hack according to the website “ how secure is my password?”. Shorter passwords can be hacked in only a few hours.

Should I use Cloud or Local Storage?

Choosing between cloud or local storage typically comes down to cost. The best password managers offer local storage for free. However, if you want to store your passwords in the cloud, which means your information will be stored on their servers, you will probably have to pay extra. As you read further we will go over the top password managers and their features. You should probably test two or three before you decide on a password manager.

How to use a Password Manager and Not Forget Passwords

Password managers are very small programs that you install on your browser which help you manage all your passwords and more importantly generate secure passwords. For iPhone and Android, they usually come in the form of apps. If you are installing on your browser they will be in the form of a plug-in. 

The good news is once you install an app or browser plugin you will only need to remember one password, which would be the password to log into the password manager. Moreover, when you sign up for a new account to a website or service the password manager will create a secure password for you and store it in its database. Password managers allow you to specify the password length and whether you want it to be alphanumeric or contain special characters. The passwords stored in the app manager database will be encrypted as well. Some very good password managers are free, while others require an annual fee for more advanced features.

1Password

If you don’t know, 1Password is a very popular password manager that is available for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android. 1Password stores all of your passwords locally on your device. For a small fee, they do offer cloud storage as well. Also, 1Password offers the option of using Dropbox or iCloud to store your passwords and share them across devices. For your home network, it can use Wi-Fi to synchronize your passwords locally on your home network.

Dashlane

Dashlane is a great password manager and it’s a way to never forget a password again and has become popular in the past few years. I’ve even seen Dashlane commercials on TV. Dashlane uses a two-step authentication process when you register a device. The two-Step authentication process gives you even more security, especially for your master password. Dashlane is free for one device however there is a small fee if you want to sync across multiple devices. Additionally, with the fee, you do get premium support from Dashlane.

KeePass

You may or may not have heard of KeePass which is an open-source project and free to use. That being said you may need some more technical knowledge to use all of its features. For example, to synchronize your passwords across multiple devices you would need to install a plugin. You would probably need several different plugins and scripts to do some basic things that are already included, other password managers. Moreover, KeePass allows you to use cloud storage applications like Dropbox Google Docs and Microsoft OneDrive. KeePass also allows you to create a password file and share it with many users. So if you are technically savvy, Keepass may be a good choice for you.

LastPass – this how I never forget a password!

Next up we have LastPass which is one of the most popular password managers available. It is mostly free but they do have a premium service. LastPass stores all of its information, your work passwords, in its cloud. This means with a basic installation of LastPass you get synchronization across all of your devices included, all in their basic free version. I’ve been using LastPass myself for years, and I’ve had very few problems with it. One issue I have found is that LastPass often competes with built-in password managers in Chrome and Firefox.

My recommendation is that if you use LastPass you should probably not use the built-in password managers as they compete to fill forms to complete passwords for the same site and cause bad logins and confusion. 

SplashID

A relative newcomer to the field is SplashID. Splash ID is a nice little password manager which gives you many options. With SplashID you get support for Apple, Android, Windows, and even Blackberry. SplashID offers one device free and the ability to sync or synchronize multiple devices for a small fee. One nice feature that SplashID has that others do not is the ability to decide to choose between cloud-based and local storage for your passwords. This is a great security option because certain information such as a bank account password would probably be safer on your local computer versus the cloud. 

BitWarden – the best free way to never forget a password again!

Last but not least is BitWarden which has become a very popular choice it is open source and free. Personally, my experience with Bitwarden was great! If I wasn’t a long time LastPass user I’d probably go with BitWarden. Bitwarden has limitations, however, it’s very polished and user-friendly.

The primary advantage of bitwarden is that it is open-source. When your app open-source anyone can look at the code and check it for bugs and fix them. Doing so you have a lot more people reviewing the code which makes it even safer to go with long-term. Furthermore, BitWarden was audited by third parties to ensure it is secure. You can even install BitWarden on a self-host and run your cloud.

BitWarden also has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Please note that BitWarden also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, and Vivaldi.

With Bitwarden you have a semi-automated password filling tool. When you go to a site where BitWarden has a password and username stored you’ll see a little icon that shows you the BitWarden has login information for that site. This is especially helpful if you have multiple accounts for a website. If you want fully automated password completion BitWarden supports that as well.

In Conclusion

There are many great options when selecting a password manager for your computer or mobile device. If I were starting today I’d probably choose between Bitwarden and LastPass. I’ve concluded this because they both offer great free options with features that would be suitable for most users. If you want a premium service Dashlane would be a great place to start because it is so user-friendly. I hope this article helps you choose a password manager. These password managers offer a nice beginning to a more secure easier to use internet experience.

How to Prevent Software Piracy

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How to Prevent Software Piracy

Before the Internet, pirating software required strenuous efforts. Disks had to be exchanged physically through the mail and on the streets. Physical software piracy still exists, especially in third world countries. Today As technology continues to advance, software piracy is becoming more prevalent. Today, software piracy has moved from the streets to the Web.

Fundamental Sources of Software Piracy

Peer-to-peer (P2P), auction, and social networking sites are some of the main sources of software piracy. Software pirates have a tendency to sell illegal counterfeited software online at very cheap prices on auction Web sites.

Adobe’s Anti-Piracy Initiative indicated that over 90 percent of software sold on auction Web sites is illegal. While P2P networking is an effective way to share files online, it is often abused and used to propagate illegal software on the Web. According to Symantec employee Téo Adams, the rise of P2P file-sharing has made it possible to distribute and obtain the software on the Web for free (see reference 5).

Dangers of Software Piracy

There are many risks of downloading pirated software to a computer. The Business Software Alliance indicates that there is a strong link between software piracy malware infiltrations and hacking. Malware programs can cause permanent damage to a computer, and the owner may lose sensitive data. According to Microsoft, P2P shared files include risks such as spyware, Trojans, and viruses. Those who download illegal software will also limited access to upgrades, technical support, and protection from malware.

Software Piracy Protection Law

Since software piracy violates the rights of software developers and rids them of potential revenue, the government is taking serious action against software piracy. The Software Publishers Association and the Business Software Alliance are working rigorously to stop software piracy. Both the Software Publishers Association and the Business Software Alliance encourage users to report software piracy. If people are caught pirating software, they will be liable under both criminal and civil law. The government can criminally persecute and fine them up to $250,000.

Ways to prevent Software Piracy

Using open-source software (Freeware) is an effective way of preventing software piracy. Open-source programs are also becoming widespread on the web. The authors of these programs usually generate revenue from donations and contextual advertising. Avoid buying seemingly cheap software from auction Web sites. The pirates will often sell the pirated software at a cheaper price to increase the incentive to buy it. Always buy software from the main developer to avoid scams. Be careful when browsing through P2P file-sharing Web sites. Premium expensive pirated software is usually distributed for free in these Web sites.

Contact the main developer of the software for a free trial of the software. Most programs have a free or a trial version. Software developers enjoy it when people review their software. Software developers often give the reviewer the full version of the software to perform a review. Therefore by tactfully asking the software developer the full version of the software to perform a review, it is possible to get free software.

Software developers can prevent software piracy by using more secure methods to build programs. Software pirates often “crack” the registration codes of programs. Therefore, use enhanced security features to prevent pirates from “cracking” the software. Software developers also need to inform customers about the consequences of software piracy. Inform them that pirating software is illegal and that they can possibly be fined up to $250,000 and be liable under criminal and civil law. This will help prevent them from pirating the software throughout the web. The Business Software Alliance also recommends reporting software piracy.

How to use a Binary Number System

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In this post, we discuss how to use a binary number system. Binary math is a system that consists of counting that only uses numbers 1 and 0. This system can allow the user to solve complex math problems quickly.

How to a use Binary Number System

Binary math consists of using the binary numbers systems of counting, which only uses the numbers 1 and 0. The binary system has grown to become the foundation for computer technology and large numbers are used to send huge amounts of data. Learning the binary system helps you understand computers and is valuable in solving complex math problems. It is possible to teach yourself, or your child the binary system basics. The binary number system is becoming increasingly popular and is used in many secondary schools and undergraduate studies when teaching math. After some practice, you will get better at solving binary math problems, without using a calculator.

Grab a pen and piece of paper and write down the following sequence of numbers: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64. Note that each number is double the one before it. Memorize the number sequence up to 1,024.

Beginning with the number 1,024, write down the sequence in reverse order on a separate piece of paper. Allow ample space beneath the numbers to write the binary.

Select a number between 1 and 1,024. To make this number, use whatever number in the sequence that add up to this number. For example, you can make 200 by adding 8, 64, and 128. Write a 1 beneath these numbers and write a 0 beneath all the other numbers. Beginning with the first 1, you arrive at sequence 11001000. This is 200 in the binary system. Try it again with other numbers until it feels more natural and becomes easier.

Practicing the Binary Math System

Continue doing binary without writing the sequence out. After a little practice, it may be possible to calculate numbers less than 100 without using paper. However, calculating larger numbers will be more difficult, and writing the sequence down on paper may be necessary, but this method should be much quicker than traditional methods. It will be possible to calculate and make any number after learning the binary basics. Using a calculator while learning binary basics may be helpful, but it should not be relied on or it could hinder completely learning the method without the aid of a calculator or paper. Once comfortable with the binary system, solving math problems will be much simpler.

How to Do A VIN Number Check, VIN Lookup, Free VIN Number Check

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How to do a vin number check

Why you Should do Vin Number Check Before Making A Purchase

Learning how to do a  VIN number check is essential if you’re planning to buy a used car, especially from a private party. There are many risk factors involved, and neglecting to check vehicle history to save a few bucks could wind up costing a fortune if you buy a lemon in need of expensive repairs.

You could also wind up paying too much for the vehicle if the true value has been inflated by the seller. A VIN number check produces a vehicle history report, which could reveal serious problems including odometer rollback, theft, lemon status, major collision, reconstruction, water and fire damage, and other pitfalls. A VIN lookup combined with checking the blue book value is the best way to avoid problems and find the best price.

A vehicle history report also documents previous DMV transactions, title transfers, past owners, and similar records useful for determining the actual value of the vehicle and if it’s wise to make the purchase or move on. Whether you’re buying a vehicle from a dealer, or through a private seller, you must complete a VIN number check. A seller could hide vehicle history to get the sale, or they might not even know anything about history at all.

What is a VIN Number?

A VIN number is a code that identifies a unique automobile. It’s like the social security number for your car.

Where To Find The Number For A VIN Number Check

In order to complete a VIN number check, write down the entire 17 digit figure, which is comprised of both numbers and letters. A VIN number is usually located on the dashboard in the far left corner of the driver’s side of the vehicle. The number is usually engraved into the dashboard, on a sticker, or on a label fastened to the surface.

You might also find the VIN number on the side of an opened car door, inside the trunk, near the engine, the inside of the window, or on the passenger side of the dashboard. Unfortunately, you cannot complete a VIN number check for vehicles built prior to 1981, because this is the year the number first came into use.

VIN Number Check For Motorcycles

A VIN lookup is not only used for cars but also motorcycles. The VIN number for a bike is usually 17 digits long, but occasionally only 11 digits. The numbers began to accompany bikes in 1950, so you can complete a VIN check for older bikes. The VIN number is usually printed on a metal plate found on the frame of the engine.

How to do a Vin Number Check and is it really free?

Check out websites advertising a free VIN number check and see what they offer. There are DMV websites that allow a free car history report, but you’re probably only going to receive a partial report and not the complete history. The DMV sites are good because they connect directly to national databases which contain more information.

In most cases, paying for a quality VIN number search is your best bet because you’re going to receive the most information. A free car history report won’t give you much information. Prices to use a VIN lookup service range from $30 – $40, which is actually very reasonable compared to similar types of services. Paying $30 is a wise investment if it can prevent serious financial problems in the future.

Hire a trusted certified mechanic to inspect a vehicle, in addition to using a VIN number check. Do not use the mechanic at the dealership. A good mechanic friend should be happy to pop open the hood and take a look at the parts, as well as complete a test drive.