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I ran this from my desktop in my limited account but it comes up with folder view from Administrator account and is a REAL PAIN to get to my photos which are in a folder in my “Document” folder in my limited account!!!!!!!!!

Is there a better way to run this?

I have used PrivaZer (which I got after a review by Deanna many years ago) for many years and find it very similar to what you describe and it does allow you to choose cookies to save!!

I think the user interface is a bit simpler that this program.

I am not quite as obscessive as Deanna, but I do run it regularly.

https://privazer.com/en/

I am almost 80 year old.  I started with WordPerfect V 4.2 and switched to MS Office when I was forced into Windows.  I do not use OneDrive, I do not share documents or spreadsheets. I feel like I am being forced to purchase software full of features I will never use. These may be necessary for those who are still employed, but for most retirees, the new features go way beyond what we need or want to learn to use.  So, I am seriously thinking of moving to Libre Office and/or Google Docs.

The options you discuss are only available in major metropolitan areas!!
I live just north of Austin Texas and although we have had many fiber “ads,” due to the problems of trying to drill through limestone to lay cable, we are stuck with ONE cable provider or 5g and due to topography (it is hilly here) 5g is sometimes iffy.
You really need to take location/availability into consideration in articles like this.

Another “since the DOS days” and very FRUSTRATED Quicken user. Have no business needs, but have enough in investment accounts that it is worth the headaches to simplify my life with downloads.  Many, many years ago my husband was frustrated because he no longer had an ongoing  picture of our finances once I started using Quicken and no longer had occasional “balancing” issues that he had to correct!!!

I also have been severely frustrated since Quicken separated from Intuit and the quality control level seems to have slipped.  I also used to upgrade every 3 or 4 years and really thought that was quite fair, but am annoyed by the current subscription service which I need for the downloading capabilities which is my favorite feature.

Also have had annoying times when the bank connection fail – – particularly to a local bank in the Texas Hill Country.  But have not found anything to replace.  I will look at Money Dance suggested above, but the $40/yr for the downloading capability doesn’t seem much different from what I am paying now . . . and a learning curve for anything new.

Any other replacement suggestions appreciated!!

1 user thanked author for this post.

bwsantana

Has anyone but me ever heard of Secret! by LinkeSoft????

It is old-fashioned SHAREWARE, so, you can try it out for free and the price is EXTREMELY reasonable.  I think I have spent less than $25 on both desktop and phone versions including purchasing both Android and Apple at various times.

LinkeSoft is a German company and seems to be a “family” operation.

I use Secret! which is an encrypted database file ON MY COMPUTER with a synchronized file on my smartphone.  Because it is a simple database file, I use it for more than passwords – – information about my car: VIN, license plate . . .; Insurance information . . . . I can safely back up the data file, or copy it to another computer for a second installation because it is an “encrypted” file.

It is not “pretty” and taking the time to synchronize regularly might be a pain for some, but it has been working for me for close to 25 years and the “support” is fantastic! Because of the “time difference,” I usually have a reply in less than 24 hours.

I know I am a Luddite and and antique.  But I really prefer having all this  information ON MY COMPUTER, not on someone else’s server!  And I know that if something happens to me, my family (who all have the master password) can log into that file and find EVERYTHING they need to handle my affairs.  And it will not be lost due to non-payment of monthly fees or other issues that might affect a file not held locally.

https://www.linkesoft.com/secret/

Is there any way to PREVENT Copilot from being pushed to my Windows 10 machine???

If it weren’t for the cost, I would be tempted to DEEP FREEZE my machine!!!!!

I am almost 80 years old and find it really annoying to have to change things that are working just fine FOR ME.

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rc primak, Microfix, KevSpa

Deanna,

I too read and enjoy all of your columns.  But I must be a REAL dinosaur because this program seems to me to create a whole lot of unnecessary work! I have a shortcut on my Bookmarks bar to the sites I use frequently and I think I can hit the Amazon shortcut and type books in the Amazon search just about as quickly as I can set up a secondary program to do that for me!!

I HAVE installed many of your recommendations and please keep up the great work!!

I am still using Windows 10. I have used Classic Menu, now Open Shell for many years and multiple versions of Windows and it works with Windows 11. I cannot imagine wanting to go through all those “options” when I can install Open Shell and have my familiar menu back!

4 users thanked author for this post.

Microfix, rick41, Renee, Cybertooth

Please tell me how this program (RemindMe) differs from using the Google Calendar with its reminder features?? I have always had difficulty keeping up with conflicting schedules. (I used to have a whiteboard on the door to the garage with the kid’s schedules on it so that I knew as I walked out the door what was coming up!!)

I have used and loved Google Calendar since it first appeared. I had a husband with medical and memory issues at that time and it was invaluable for keeping us straight on doctor appointments!! And especially for allowing me to make appointments while we were in the doctor’s office without creating a conflict!! And since you can make multiple calendars and share them or not, it is easy to keep up with the whole family!

So, I am having a hard time figuring out why I would want another program to enter reminders into when they are already on my calendar??

Many thanks!! LOVE your column

Your recommendations for someone who “may be targeted” make sense.  But how about including a recommendation for the “average” user who is NOT a target???

Ex:  I am 77 years old. I have an iPhone 11.  I do not do banking or anything financial-related on my phone.  I use it 99% for phone calls, texting, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, and occasional Google searches.  I have an iPhone ONLY because I wear hearing aids and the MFI (made for iPhone) connection is still much more reliable than Android low energy.

I am about to upgrade to iOS 16 because I think the hearing aid connection issues have been worked out, but I HOPE I do not need a new PHONE for several more years!!

I have been reading this newsletter in its many forms since it was Langa List and have always enjoyed it and found the information valuable.  Thanks so much for all you do.

I did check and was told there was not enough interest in the iOS version to continue to support it.  It is saved in my iPhone Apps and will continue to work until there is a change in iOS that prevents it from working.  I will pray that Auracast will be available in all hearing aids and phones by then and I will transition back to Android!!!

I have used a simple, small encrypted file program, Secret! by LinkeSoft for well over 25 years.  This is a “shareware” program with an extremely reasonable one time price. This program creates an encrypted file on your computer and/or your phone (2 separate programs that sync).  You remember ONE password for the file and can save all your passwords.  Since the desktop and phone versions can be manually sync’d I am never without my passwords.  I back this up to both a USB drive and iDrive cloud backup and it is super simple to restore or move to a new computer.

I just checked the website and notice they are only showing the Windows and Android versions although I have had the iOS version on my phone ever since I started wearing hearing aids that only connect to iOS – – maybe 10 years.  I have contacted them to ask about this.

https://linkesoft.com/secret/

I assume from your article, that NoCrappyPasswords does not work/sync to iPhone, so I would have to have a different solution when using my phone??

This article is exactly why I purchased the Eufy Video Doorbell!!  I live in a Senior Living Apartment now, but enjoyed my Eufy for about 3 years and found it lived up to everything they promised and with NO monthly fees!  I recommend it highly!

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wavy

Some do and that is wonderful.  I just worry about those we leave behind if we “force” 2 factor on everyone.  Make it available, recommend it, but leave room for those who cannot.

 

3 users thanked author for this post.

ctRanger, DriftyDonN, wdburt1