The Computer Exorcist Podcast

This week we discuss: How Google Chrome ranks as the worst browser in terms of privacy (even amongst its peers) Which alternatives get the job done without all the spying Marc's new Edge Obliterator Script protects you from the Edge nagware How Google proposes to replace cookies with FLoC, which pigeonholes you based on your "type" The Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, and what could'...

Most of us have seen those scary popups that tell us we have viruses and beg us to call a phone number - but now they come with scary sirens and scary voices. They know most seniors can't lower their computer volume, especially when the popup is in fullscreen mode. We all know virus scanners and laws can never stop these things, because they're simply deceptive emotional sentences. So what...

It's a solo teaching episode of the CEP! Today we celebrate over 4000 downloads! We start the show by discussing Microsoft's latest debacle, the Recall Scandal. Oh, no big deal. Just them force-attacking every Windows PC with something that recorded your voice by default without any knowledge or permisison, that's all. More to come on that one, but feel free to look it up and warn peop...

Tonight I continue with my "Torment a Scammer" kick: A personal injury lawsuit scammer calls to ask if I've been in a car accident. Foghorn Leghorn answers in the affirmative, and it all goes downhill from there. The next scammer claims that he wants to give me health insurance benefits, but he needs MY credit card number in order to pay me. Interesting. So I read through a bunch of to...

And now, the moment you've been waiting for: It's another Torment a Scammer episode! First up, we have a Spectrum imposter. I give her the runaround by constantly changing my tune as to what cable company I subscribe to. Next, we have a very revealing call from a guy who admits I'm not "the no call list". I HIGHLY doubt he's referring to the American Do Not Call Registry. F...

In this episode, we'll discuss some recent Microsoft cloud service outages and explore why they still happen. We'll also discuss: Some recent update attacks and the resulting destruction to Windows PCs. What causes update attacks and how to prevent them. And finally, after eleven years of Marc hosting tech talk shows, finally, finally, someone in the government realized that Microsoft shou...

Tonight we discuss cybersecurity breaches: In other words, people stealing each other's data instead of doing something constructive. Microsoft Exchange is a software product from 1996 that holds your emails in a server. In 2021, the world watched as bad guys broke into Exchange servers and sucked emails out like a vacuum. The bad guys then shared the exploit with other bad guys. In other word...

It's another one-hour special! Today is a solo teaching episode, where Marc discusses: Nick Francesco's exposure of Apple's "Designer Exodus" A Plain English history of what brands of processors Apple has used, and the opportunity to repurpose old Apple computers and tablets You've heard of JD Power & Associates. It's a company that surveys consumers on their satisf...

When Marc saw this article, he knew he'd have to summon Dr. Mike to help him get through it with a bit of levity. Tonight's one-hour special is about the HP ink cartridge scandal. Not only does HP charge an arm and a leg for their cartridges, but they're now sending out update attacks that turn your printer into a paperweight if you dare try and use a third-party cartridge. Yes, remote...

Tonight's solo teaching episode focuses on one very poignant article, entitled "Can AI Curb Loneliness in Older Adults?" Many seniors are lonely. In response, one new company is now selling/renting robots to the elderly. It's one thing if you talk to it when you're lonely at home, but one lady reported shunning her family reunion because she felt as though the robot was now her...

Tonight's guest is Janet Gervers! One day in the 1990s, she heard about the web, and decided she should be a web designer. So she moved to San Francisco and the next morning the web took off! We even get a history lesson on the origins of Flash multimedia. She's now an expert in online branding, emphasizing branding that authentically communicates who you are and why you're different....

Here's the long-awaited sequel to the interview with our very own superhero, Aaron Welty. Tonight we discuss: What sparked his journey to Capitol Hill "Why aren't I at the next level yet?" Saving the world versus being the world to someone What happens when you realize life is finite When a group of students lay their hands on him and prayed for him, a miracle happened, but not the...

Tonight's guest is Aaron Welty. He has succeeded in life despite a number of obstacles, such as Cerebral Palsy, and worse yet, being born in Detroit. After doctors told his family he wouldn't survive past childhood, he defied them by going to work for the House of Representatives, climbing a mountain, and traveling the world as a motivational speaker. In Pt 1, we discuss: "The duty of...

This is the third and final segment of the Taylor Abrahamse interview! How does Marc remain optimistic? Is it your job to save the world? Why 9 is better than 11 Being your own worst enemy "I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of relaxing." Entering a dojang, stripped of the trappings of life, with nothing left besides your core identity Removing the "emotional charge" from y...

Today we continue our discussion with thinker/songsmith/voice actor Taylor Abrahamse. I hope you're finding this as fascinating as I did! We discuss: Artists (and us) leaving the whole scene behind and retiring (but then what?) WHY people like certain songs - what components make up a good song? The cynicism, pandering, and formulaic nature of this year's Big Game commercials - "a misc...

Tonight's special guest is Taylor Abrahamse. He's a thinker, a songsmith, and has been a voice actor for several famous TV shows and animes. I don't even know where to begin. We talked about so many fascinating things, we had to do three episodes. Here are some of the many topics we covered in Pt 1: Trying to be unique in a world of Taylor Swift fans who drive silver Camrys "Unique...

Today is a solo teaching episode where Marc discusses positive articles! If you have some data you really care about, like family photos, you can now burn it to a Thousand-Year DVD. It has a surface made of minerals, and is projected to last 1,000 years. How do we know this? Well we put them through torture tests like extreme heat and moisture. They remained intact, unlike normal writable DVDs (no...

It's another Torment a Scammer medley! Here's some of the mayhem you'll hear today: The first Spectrum impostor didn't understand percentages, so I explained to him that 120 was 50% of 240 until he snapped. In the next clip, I was talking to a Spectrum impostor and my other phone rang! It was a Medicare impostor so I put the phones together to let them duke it out. Next guy claims...

Today's special guest is Hank Eder - he helps small businesses by focusing their messaging and branding, finding their target market, and making them a logical website. Marc met him through the Polarizing Networking group (look them up), which is full of raw, unfiltered people instead of the buttoned down or fake meetings you might've attended. Hank achieved what Marc has been trying to do...

It's the 50th episode celebration!!! Sgt. Tim returns tonight to discuss: -Formalized control versus philosophical anarchy (social pressures and mob rule) -Containment of a deception versus the peace and freedom that truth brings -How to get free chicken salad croissant sandwiches -JRR Tolkien's concept of taking a terrible aberration and weaving it back into the story, and how we can do t...

Today we welcome The Amazing Jim Shulman! We discuss why entrepreneurs make the crazy decision to run their own business: Is it vulnerability? Does it mean I'm a failure at other things? Control? Time management? Independence? Fulfillment? Insanity? Yes. Who is The Amazing Randy and what can he teach us about IT? Did you know you can define your business not only by who you work with, but who...

Ever been to one of those networking meetings were people just pepper their resume around the room? They think it's a numbers game, and fail to get to know people, so they're forgotten easily. Today we learn how to do the opposite, with special guest David Andrews. He reminds us we don't need MORE connections, but BETTER connections. Marc recounts how he meets the best clients in relax...

Today we do another medley of scam call snippets! One guy calls me (as Foghorn Leghorn) and asks for my zip code. I pull a number out of the air and he looks it up and concludes that I'm from somewhere called "iDAho". I roll with it. Next guy calls and says he's Spectrum, then I convince him he's from AT&T, then he claims he's from Consumer Cellular. He doesn't care...

Tonight we talk with Sarah Fletcher, calling all the way from London. She helps nonfiction authors promote themselves and their brand. It turns out she can write a description of her clients better than they can describe themselves! We discuss an article about humility - what it is, and what it isn't. Turns out humility isn't about trumpeting yourself, nor is it about belittling yourself e...

Today we discuss an article about the Australian government's attempt to regulate Facebook. Facebook didn't like that, so they created a blackout of all news articles on their site. Do you see what happened there? Facebook said, hey, yeah, sure go ahead and regulate us. We'll show you who's really in control here. Google also threatened to shut down services in Australia, which wou...