Would you like to learn how to hack systems like black hat hackers and secure them like security experts? This free ebook (worth $23) could be what you’re looking for!
Written for anyone who wants to learn how to perform hacking and penetration testing, this practical book is aimed at beginners with no prior knowledge.
You’ll first learn some basic terminology, and how to set up your own penetration testing lab to practice safe and legal hacking. Then, when you’ve learned the basics, you’ll study various penetration testing fields, including servers, client-side attacks, networks, websites, and more.
For each of these fields, you’ll learn how they work, their vulnerabilities, how to exploit and hack those vulnerabilities, and how to secure the system.
By the end of the ebook, you’ll have a solid grasp of hacking and penetration testing, allowing you to “combine the techniques shown and tailor them to suit different scenarios”.
You have composed a draft email inside Gmail and would like to send the same message to multiple people, but separately. The subject, the email body, the attachments are common and the only thing that differs between each message is the recipient’s email address.
Maybe you are sending your résumé to multiple companies. How can you do this without having to copy-paste the subject and body of the draft message multiple times?
Create Duplicate Email Messages in Gmail
When you compose a draft email in Gmail and hit the Send button, the email is automatically removed from the Drafts folder and moved to the Sent Items folder.
There are however two easy ways to create duplicate draft emails inside Gmail. You can either use Mail Merge for Gmail or, if you are looking for a more simple one-click option, use the Duplicate Drafts feature available inside Email Studio.
Here’s how to get started.
Open your Gmail mailbox, compose a new email message and save it as a draft. You can attach files, embed inline images and other rich content.
Go to Email Studio and authorize the app* to access your Gmail account. This is required since the app will read your Gmail drafts and create copies inside your Gmail account.
Once the app is authorized, click the Draft Copier section.
Copy Gmail Drafts
To quickly clone a message to send separately to someone else, select the source draft from the drop-down, then select the number of copies you wish to have and click the Create Drafts button. The copied drafts will include the complete contents of the original message, including file attachments and inline images.
The Gmail clone tool works on both desktop and mobile so you can copy Gmail draft messages on a mobile phone as well.
The web app is written in Google Scripts and uses the Gmail API to create drafts copies. The app only requires Gmail access to copy your drafts and does not share, store or upload your data anywhere.
Email Studio is free for basic usage. Free users can copy a maximum of 3 email drafts at a time while premium users can duplicate up to 10 Gmail drafts in a single batch. No branding is included in premium version.
[*] If you have trouble authorizing the app, please ensure that you are not logged into multiple Google accounts. You can try try Email Studio in Chrome’s incognito mode or use this link to sign-out of your Gmail accounts.
What is slowing down my computer? A slow computer is frustrating and keeps you from getting work done.
While all computers slow down over time, in many cases, your own behavior can cause your computer to run slowly. Here are common mistakes that will slow your machine down to a crawl, and how to stop making them.
1. Running Too Many Programs
Over time, you’ve probably installed dozens of programs. Maybe you use a variety of tools for different functions, or have a bunch of apps installed from years ago that you forgot about. Running too many apps all the time can lead to your computer slowing down, as we explained when we looked at why installing software slows down your PC.
The biggest issue comes from programs setting themselves to automatically run in the background. This means that they’re eating up RAM, even if you never use them. To combat this, keep an eye out while installing new apps. If you see a checkbox similar to Automatically run [app] when I start my computer, make sure you clear it.
You can get an idea of what’s running in the background by looking at the System Tray in the bottom-right corner of your screen. You’ll see an icon for each program running, and may need to click the arrow to show the full list. In most cases, you can right-click an icon and choose Exit to close an app.
Removing Startup Programs
Instead of closing programs every time you boot up, you can disable programs from running at startup altogether. On Windows 10, open the Task Manager using Ctrl + Shift + Esc and click More details if you only see the basic interface. From there, switch to the Startup tab and you’ll see everything set to run when you log into Windows.
It’s classic advice to reboot your PC when you have a problem. But restarting regularly is important even if you’re not troubleshooting an active issue.
You might be tempted to never turn your computer off so that you can quickly resume where you left off next time. But this is a bad idea and can result in your Windows computer running slow.
The main benefit of restarting is that doing so flushes your RAM. Because RAM is volatile, it starts fresh upon every reboot. If you have any programs you run have a memory leak (meaning software never returns used RAM to the computer), restarting will fix that temporarily.
Windows also installs OS patches when you restart. Of course, Windows 10 will eventually try to force you to reboot to do this. But if you don’t reboot for long periods of time, your computer will be without the latest security fixes.
In most cases, you don’t need to reboot every night. Aim to restart your PC a few times per week. At other times, you can put your PC to sleep or use hibernation to quickly resume what you were doing.
3. Clicking Without Thinking
Next time you find your PC running slow, you should consider how carefully you click when online. Unfortunately, many websites are a minefield of harmful content. Fake download buttons, giant ads that lead to shady sites, and all sorts of other nonsense can cause problems on your computer.
Even legitimate downloads aren’t safe. While it’s not as big of a problem as it used to be, many free programs try to foist junky third-party software on you with preselected checkboxes. If you click “Next” without thinking, you could end up with extra trash on your system just from installing a few apps.
In the worst cases, this can even lead to malware getting on your system. You can open yourself to infection (and a slow computer) by opening a malicious email attachment that installs spyware or similar.
The lesson here is to make sure you always know what you’re clicking on. Take the extra second to confirm you aren’t missing a hidden checkbox or clicking on something that’s dangerous.
4. Not Maintaining Your Computer
Windows 10 is better than ever at taking care of some maintenance tasks on its own. But it isn’t perfect, so you’ll have to perform some basic tune-ups every once in a while. Making sure you take care of these could be the difference between your laptop running slow and working at peak performance.
As it works, your system builds up files that it only needed for a short time. This is a normal part of computer operation, but if you let these files pile up, they can start to take a toll on speed after a while. This is especially the case if you have a small SSD that fills up quickly.
You can head to Settings > System > Storage to turn on Storage Sense, a Windows 10 feature that helps you free up space automatically. For additional options, search for Disk Cleanup in the Start Menu.
Run Maintenance Scans
While your antivirus is likely set up to scan on a schedule, it’s wise to get a second opinion and scan with a dedicated anti-malware app occasionally. Malwarebytes is a great choice for this since the free version only scans on-demand. It’s much better to catch malware with a scan than to find that your computer is running slow weeks later.
Aside from this, Windows has some other scans you can run for maintenance, but you shouldn’t need to do so often. These include chkdsk and sfc.
The check disk command, or chkdsk, scans your hard drive for bad sectors that can cause your computer to act up. If you have an SSD in your machine, this isn’t as pertinent. But if you notice a sudden slowdown and still have an old HDD in your computer, it’s worth a try.
System file checker, or sfc, is a similar command. This one scans Windows system files and attempts to repair any that are corrupt.
Typically, people run these commands as part of troubleshooting an issue. But doing them every month or so can help you catch problems before they get worse.
Install Updates
We mentioned restarting to install Windows updates earlier, but it’s still a good idea to go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to check for updates manually every once in a while. Doing so makes sure that updates aren’t stuck.
You should also take the time to make sure the software you use regularly is up-to-date. Using the latest version can introduce speed improvements not present in earlier builds.
5. Confusing Your Computer With the Internet
It’s common to think that your computer is slow, when in reality, your internet connection is the problem. If you only have trouble when accessing websites, streaming music, or doing other network-reliant activities, you probably have an issue with your internet connection. This can happen even with a blazing-fast computer in perfect shape.
We’ve taken a look at common user behaviors that can cause your PC to slow down. If you’ve done any of these, now is a great time to change your ways based on the advice provided. Eventually, all computers do slow down and need replacement. But until then, you can use these tips to regain some speed again.
Roku devices are regarded as one of the best ways to stream content on your TV. However, what if you want to use your Roku for other things, such as browsing the web and sorting through your photos?
What you need is access to Google services on your Roku. And in this article, we explain how to get Google on Roku. Including Google Play Movies and TV, Google Photos, and Google Search.
How to Get Google Play Movies and TV on Roku
We begin with one of the more straightforward ways to get Google on Roku.
Given that Roku devices support all of the major streaming services, it should be no surprise to learn that Google Play Movies and TV has an official Roku channel that you can download and use.
Once you have installed the Google Play Movies app on your Roku, you need to pair it with your Google account by visiting play.google.com/roku. You will also need to provide a payment method during the sign-up process, though you won’t be charged unless you order something.
On Google’s official help page, it claims some geo-restrictions exist. In theory, you can only use the app if you live in Canada, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, or the United Kingdom. It is unclear how accurate the information is; I live in Mexico and can download and access the service on my Roku. Just be aware that non-supported countries may have issues.
Sadly, there is no official Google Play Music for Roku devices. You can draw your own conclusions about Google’s reasoning (cough, Chromecasts).
There used to be a couple of ways to listen to Google Play Music on your Roku—you could use the Nowhere Music private Roku channel, or you could use a third-party plug-in for Plex. Alas, development has ceased on both projects.
As such, the only remaining option is to cast Google Play Music from an Android device or Windows computer directly to your Roku device. Roku sticks use Miracast technology, so iOS devices are not supported. Check out our explanation of how Miracast works to learn more.
It’s an inelegant solution for lots of reasons, but it works. Just remember that you’ll need to control the playback directly from your phone or computer rather than through the Roku TV remote.
To listen to Google Play Music on a Roku, follow these instructions if you’re an Android user:
Make sure your Android device and Roku device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
On your Android, swipe down on the Notification Bar.
Tap on Cast.
Select your Roku from the list of devices.
Or follow these steps if you’re running Windows:
Make sure your Windows computer and Roku device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Open the Settings app.
Navigate to System > Display.
Scroll down to Multiple Displays.
Click on Connect to a Wireless Display.
Choose your Roku device from the list of available options.
As long as you are running Roku OS 7.7 or later, you do not need to take any action on the Roku device itself—the mirroring will start automatically.
How to Get Google Photos on Roku
Again, there is no official Google Photos app for Roku. This time, however, you can use a third-party app from the Roku Channel Store.
The app is called PhotoView for Google Photos. It started life back in late 2016 as a small and unpolished piece of software. Today, it holds an official “Partner” status with the Google Photos app and has become the best way to access your pictures on a Roku.
PhotoView supports your Google Photos albums and has an integrated search feature. The app also comes with a screensaver feature; you can play your photos in a slideshow when your Roku is not in use.
Be aware that you will need to give PhotoView access to your Google account during the setup process. Some people may feel uncomfortable with this.
Even though we’re sure that many people wish it were possible, there is simply no way to get the Google Play Store on your Roku device.
It’s because of the underlying services that the Play Store relies on. Your Roku would need to be running Google Services Framework, Google Account Manager, and Google Play Services—none of which are available. And, unlike the Fire TV, there is no way to sideload those components onto your stick.
In terms of getting Google apps on your Roku, the upshot of the lack of the Google Play Store is that if you want to use software like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Keep, et al., you’ll be out of luck.
Again, the only possible solution is to mirror your screen using the steps described earlier. In this case, it’s not clear what benefit screen mirroring would have over merely using the respective apps directly on your phone or tablet.
Can You Get Google Chrome on Roku?
In what’s becoming a familiar story, there’s no Google Chrome app for Roku devices.
If you absolutely need to access Chrome on your TV screen, you need to mirror your screen from another Miracast-enabled device.
How to Get Google Search on Roku
If you are wondering how to get internet on Roku, we’ve got some bad news. Your list of options is minimal. The quality of web browsers on Roku devices is not as robust as the choices on Fire TV sticks or Android TV boxes.
Indeed, there are only two options to choose from: Web Browser X and Poprism.
Poprism is only text-based—it cannot display images, photos, or Flash content. Web Browser X is seriously unreliable. To use Google Search, navigate to google.com in the usual way.
If neither of the browsers work for you, the only option is to mirror your Android or Windows screen onto your TV once again.
Of course, just because the outlook for using Google’s apps and services on your Roku isn’t great, it doesn’t mean there aren’t still tons of great Roku channels for you to choose from.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the 3-2, party-line vote by FTC commissioners was carried by the Republican majority and will be moved to the Justice Department’s civil division to be finalized.
A $5 billion payout seems like a significant sum, but Facebook had already set aside $3 billion to cover the cost of the settlement and the company could likely make up the figure in less than a quarter of revenue (the company’s revenue for the last fiscal quarter was roughly $15 billion). Indeed, Facebook said in April that it expected to pay up to $5 billion to end the government’s probe.
The settlement will also include government restrictions on how Facebook treats user privacy, according to the Journal.
We have reached out to the FTC and Facebook for comment and will update this story when we hear back.
Ultimately, the partisan divide which held up the settlement broke down with Republican members of the commission overriding Democratic concerns for greater oversight of the social media giant.
Specifically the FTC was examining whether the data breach violated a 2012 consent decree which saw Facebook committing to engage in better privacy protection of user data.
Facebook’s woes didn’t end with Cambridge Analytica. The company has since been on the receiving end of a number of exposes around the use and abuse of its customers’ information and comes as calls to break up the big tech companies have only grown louder.
The settlement could also be a way for the company to buy its way out of more strict oversight as it faces investigations into its potentially anti-competitive business practices and inquiries into its launch of a new cryptocurrency — Libra — which is being touted as an electronic currency for Facebook users largely divorced from governmental monetary policy.
Potential sanctions proposed by lawmakers for the FTC were reported to include the possibility of elevating privacy oversight to the company’s board of directors and potentially the deletion of tracking data; restricting certain information collection; limiting ad targeting; and restricting the flow of user data among different Facebook business units.
While the agility of a Spot or Atlas robot is something to behold, there’s a special merit reserved for tiny, simple robots that work not as a versatile individual but as an adaptable group. These “tribots” are built on the model of ants, and like them can work together to overcome obstacles with teamwork.
Developed by EPFL and Osaka University, tribots are tiny, light, and simple, moving more like inchworms than ants, but able to fling themselves up and forward if necessary. The bots themselves and the system they make up are modeled on trap-jaw ants, which alternate between crawling and jumping, and work (as do most other ants) in fluid roles like explorer, worker, and leader. Each robot is not itself very intelligent, but they are controlled as a collective that deploys their abilities intelligently.
In this case a team of tribots might be expected to get from one end of a piece of complex terrain to another. An explorer could move ahead, sensing obstacles and relaying their locations and dimensions to the rest of the team. The leader can then assign worker units to head over and try to push the obstacles out of the way. If that doesn’t work, an explorer can try hopping over it — and if successful, it can relay its telemetry to the others so they can do the same thing.
Fly, tribot, fly!
It’s all done quite slowly at this point — you’ll notice that in the video, much of the action is happening at 16x speed. But rapidity isn’t the idea here; Similar to Squishy Robotics’ creations, it’s more about adaptability and simplicity of deployment.
The little bots weigh only 10 grams each, and are easily mass-produced, as they’re basically PCBs with some mechanical bits and grip points attached — “a quasi-two-dimensional metamaterial sandwich,” according to the paper. If they only cost (say) a buck each, you could drop dozens or hundreds on a target area and over an hour or two they could characterize it, take measurements and look for radiation or heat hot spots, and so on.
If they moved a little faster, the same logic and a modified design could let a set of robots emerge in a kitchen or dining room to find and collect crumbs or scoot plates into place. (Ray Bradbury called them “electric mice” or something in “There will come soft rains,” one of my favorite stories of his. I’m always on the lookout for them.)
Swarm-based bots have the advantage of not failing catastrophically when something goes wrong — when a robot fails, the collective persists, and it can be replaced as easily as a part.
“Since they can be manufactured and deployed in large numbers, having some ‘casualties’ would not affect the success of the mission,” noted With their unique collective intelligence, our tiny robots can demonstrate better adaptability to unknown environments; therefore, for certain missions, they would outperform larger, more powerful robots.”
It raises the question, in fact, of whether the sub-robots themselves constitute a sort of uber-robot? (This is more of a philosophical question, raised first in the case of the Constructicons and Devastator. Transformers was ahead of its time in many ways.)
The robots are still in prototype form, but even as they are constitute a major advance over other “collective” type robot systems. The team documents their advances in a paper published in the journal Nature.
