New Google Assistant Ad Revives Kevin McCallister from 'Home Alone'

Personally I'm not a fan of in-home electronic personal assistants like Google Home or Amazon Echo. Namely, I don't like these companies spying on every conversation I have in my house. Even more, I don't like the NSA using these devices to spy on my every conversation either.

That being said, I am a fan of the original Home Alone movie, which features a young Kevin McCallister protecting his home from the "Wet Bandits"! Well, Google just revived that character in their new ad for Google Assistant!

Check it out:



Just because I don't like these devices, doesn't mean they are not popular. Millions of people find these to be very handy.

Do you use one? Which one? Why do you like it? Let us know in the comments.

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Is Bitcoin Finished?

It has been a pretty crappy year for Bitcoin investors since it reached an all time high of over $20,000 this time last year. Since then it has been a very turbulent downhill ride. Those who got in in the early days, and cashed out in December last year are laughing all the way to the bank! Those who just got into the game are crying themselves to sleep at night.

Well, in more heart breaking news for late investors, Bitcoin finally dropped below the cost to mine it.

Via New York Post:

To add to the misery to bitcoin enthusiasts, the act of finding or “mining” the cryptocurrency has become unprofitable as the price continues to crater. 

This raises further questions about the viability of the accounting system supporting the cryptocurrency. 

The volatile asset is now fetching under $3,200, off more than 84 percent from the highs seen during its “tulip mania” phase of a year ago.

If it's not even worth it to mine, and miners are what makes up the backbone of the cryptocurrency, then does that mean Bitcoin is doomed?

If not, then it's certainly a good time to buy. At the time of this writing Bitcoin is trading for roughly $3,500. If one were to buy now and the price ever gets back up to $20,000 they stand to make a lot of money.

What do you think? Is Bitcoin finished? Is this just a massive correction? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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Bitcoin Mining - How Bitcoins Are Generated?

Cryptocurrencies are the new kid on the block in the financial world. Some of you may have heard of the terms Bitcoin or Ethereum, and some of you may have seen news articles about the increasing price of Bitcoin and its subsequent crash.

Cryptocurrencies are basically a form of digital currency that are created using the blockchain technology and secured with encryption. Currently, the most prominent cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. It was the first digital currencies created and is undoubtedly the most widely accepted in the financial world.

A widely disruptive technological innovation, Bitcoin led to the creation of hundreds of cryptocurrency exchange sites, new ways to conduct business, new marketing strategies and much more. Saving us quite some time and providing great insight into this industry, Btxchange has published an interesting infographic you'll see below.

This article and infographic look at how bitcoins are actually generated.

It is done through a technique known as Bitcoin mining.

Whilst traditional money is simply printed and placed gradually into circulation, Bitcoin is mined using algorithms and dedicated mining computers.

Mining works on the premise that only a set number of bitcoins can ever be created (21 million to be precise). The mining process effectively creates and brings them into circulation. The actual process involves solving a puzzle and adding a hash number to the new block of data. This new data is then added to the public ledger, and the miner who solved the puzzle is granted 12.5 bitcoins as a reward.

The mining process involves a huge amount of processing power and electrical output, and some companies have even created mining farms composed of hundreds of dedicated servers. Mining means big business as the potential rewards can be great, but as the total number of bitcoins in circulation increases the difficulty in obtaining them actually grows.

The infographic below provides additional info about Bitcoin and mining.

[Via BTXchange.io]

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16 Blockchain Disruptions [Infographic]

Blockchain is one of the most revolutionary technologies to emerge in recent years. Many experts believe it will change our world in the next 20 years, as much as the Internet has over the last two decades. Let's find out how businesses from top industries use blockchain technology.

[Via BitFortune]

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Bitdefender Antivirus Overview - Free Version vs Plus Version

If you don't have much experience with IT security programs then you need a solution with a user-friendly interface, like Bitdefender Antivirus. Not only is it easy to use, it's very reliable. The free version alone offers plenty of protection against viruses and malware. This is a fast program that can run at max speed without slowing your system down.

All you need to do in order to use the free version is to create an account to activate it with, which is a simple process that requires only your name and email. The lack of settings and complex configuration options means that the program is easy to install. You should have it up and running within minutes.

The free version of Bitdefender Antivirus alone offers the following benefits:

• Fast installation and scanning, without slowing down the computer
• Powerful protection in a light solution
• Reliable, on-demand and on-access scanning
• Essential protection through a minimalistic approach
• No lag or annoying ads out of the blue
• Automatic, real-time protection
• Safe browsing and anti-phishing

There is a button to click on for a full system scan and a drag and drop spot for scanning specific folders or files. You can also view a timeline of recent activity,, which appears during a scan's progress.

Its anti-phishing capabilities are next-to-none. You can trust that you are getting the best protection possible when you shop online, pay bills, and do banking.

As great as the free version is, however, it's still not as great and comprehensive as Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. With the plus version, you can run your security from a mobile device. It has superior cyber-threat detection and multi-layer ransomware protection to keep all of your files safe.

Bitdefender Antivirus' Defense Against Ransomware

Ransomware is becoming a bigger problem this day and age, so the average person needs as much protection as he or she can get. Bitdefender Plus uses behavioral threat detection to keep your important documents safe from ransomware encryption. You'll have the peace of mind that your money and data are never compromised.

Another benefit of the Plus version is that it offers a Rescue Mode to prevent sophisticated viruses, such as rootkits, from affecting your system. When Bitdefender detects such threats it will reboot your PC in Rescue Mode to clean-up and restore your files properly.

Bitdefender Antivirus reviews praise this product's ability to protect PCs and mobile devices. There are other versions available for MAC users as well. It's recommended that you at least give the free version a try before deciding if this is the ideal antivirus and anti-ransomware solution for you.

You won't have to spend much money when investing in the Plus version, thanks to Bitdefender Antivirus promo codes. This antivirus software has won a lot of awards for its performance and fast-scanning technology. Compare Bitdefender coupon offers when shopping online.

To find out more about antivirus software, internet security suites, and VPNs along with coupons, discounts, and special offers, visit George's website (Best PC Security).

By: George Botwin 

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How to Become CompTIA Security+ Certified

This vendor-neutral certification is popular among IT enthusiasts who have some prior experience in IT administration and want to shift their focus to security. Mobile devices and cloud computing have changed the way that business is done. Hence, with the massive amount of data transmitted on networks, security has become an essential part of any organization. This certification validates the skill-set required to make the data flow safer and deter hackers.

Objectives of CompTIA Security+ Certification

The primary objective of this certification is to validate that the student is proficient in security measures to be adopted to deter network attacks. The exam aims to confirm that the examinee has adequate information about the following fields:

• Competence in Network Security
• Proficiency in Cryptography
• Knowledge of identity management and access control
• Ability to detect threat and vulnerabilities
• Ability to secure application, data and host information
• Ability to create the infrastructure to cater to security breaches
• Ability to anticipate security risks and guard against them
• Ability to react to security breaches

Syllabus of the CompTIA Security+ Certification

Before a candidate starts the preparation of the CompTIA Security+ exam, it is expected that the candidate is well versed in aspects of IT administration with a great focus on security. It is also expected that the candidate has a broad knowledge of the implementation of security measures. An inherent interest in the field of Network Security is an added advantage that lets candidates obtain the certification with ease.

Scope and Benefits of the CompTIA Security+ certification

Data networks are becoming more important each passing day. They are the backbone of all kinds of companies around the world. A person equipped with the knowledge of network security and with a certification in CompTIA Security+ certification will be able to secure these data networks and mitigate possible risk. There are following benefits of obtaining certification;

1. Globally recognized

This certification is a well-known in over 147 countries around the world. Once a candidate obtains the certification, he/she is capable of getting career opportunities related to IT security across the globe.

2. Earning potential

The earning potential associated with the CompTIA Sec+ is varied. Security Specialists, Administrators, and Security Managers are more in need today than ever before.

3. Vendor-neutral

This certification is a vendor-neutral certification which allows one to understand the basic concepts behind IT security without being tied to one specific brand. Obtaining this certification means that a person can work with a variety of software, hardware, and network configurations. This enables you to use your expertise in the security industry without being tied to a specific brand or network architecture.

4. Industry supported

The Security+ examination, its syllabus and examination questions are developed and maintained by experts in the field of IT security. The content of the syllabus is presented after in-depth survey feedback and contributions from a massive number of industries. Hence, having the certification means that the candidate is recognized as someone who can work in most industries.

Job roles after CompTIA Security+ certification

There are a considerable number of job opportunities available after the completion of the CompTIA Security+ certification. The job opportunities available are:

• Network Administrator
• Systems Administrator
• Security consultant
• Security Specialist
• Security Architect
• Information Assurance Technician
• Security Manager
• Security Engineer

By: Christy Melnick 

NOTE: If you are pursuing your Security+ or any other certifications, you can get a 45% off discount on test materials from PrepAway by using promo code GP264719 at check out! 

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Your Brain on Passwords [Infographic]

Remembering a myriad of passwords or passphrases can be very difficult. It's one of the reasons that I started using LastPass years ago. You only have to remember one password when you use LastPass, and that is the password to access your LastPass vault. Every other password you need in the world can then be randomly generated and stored there keeping you secure!

On top of that, LastPass can be used on multiple workstations for free! If you want to take it with you on your mobile device, you'll have to upgrade to premium for the bargain price of $10 per year.

Anyway, the folks at LastPass put together this interesting infographic that shows how your brain works when it comes to passwords. Check it out!

[Via LastPass Blog]

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