My favorite Linux distro

When it comes to usability, compatibility, and learnability, Pop!_OS is the best Linux distribution for my needs.

My machines of choice are the MacBook (2011 to present) and iMac (2012 to present). With Apple's discontinued support for macOS Big Sur and later, Linux breathes new life into the aging machines. Unfortunately, Ubuntu 21.04 and Kubuntu 21.04 have bootloaders which are incompatible with Mac hardware without workaround know-how.

Pop!_OS works almost flawlessly out of the box with my Mac computers. The only critical installation I need is Broadcom drivers for WiFi, which is easily done via the steps listed here. Otherwise, hardware compatibility is flawless. No other distribution (other than Apple's proprietary macOS distributions) has as smooth a navigating experience with Apple's trackpads. 

While the Pop!_OS distro is known for its compatibility for gaming purposes, its user interface is tailored for anyone who appreciates neat and intuitive design. The icons, layouts, and animations are easy on the eyes and everything fits together for a seamless experience. The system even knows when to adjust the display for high-resolution screens such as those with Retina Displays. 

The built-in Pop!_Shop app repository works like a dream for installations and updates. This is something most other distros can't seem to get right. Most basic productivity applications such as word processing and other system tools are bundled in with the software. 

This distribution is a breath of fresh air for anyone who wants to make the jump from Mac and Windows machines or any other clunky Linux distro. If you'd like to make the jump over, it's an easy one to make.

Pop!_OS is free and available for download here.

How to Install Broadcom WiFi Drivers for Macs on Linux

Some MacBooks and iMacs running Linux operating systems won't have functioning WiFi without the appropriate Broadcom drivers installed.

To install the necessary drivers:

• Connect to the internet via ethernet, a USB WiFi device, or tethered to an Android phone's internet connection via USB
• Open the Terminal emulator
• Type the following command and press return:
• sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source
• Enter your password when/if prompted to do so
• Wait for the installation to complete.

And you're off to the races!


Pop!_OS is my current Linux distribution of choice.

How to Tear Down Paywalls

There is important news right now. Actually, there always is. Sometimes, paywalls get in the way between you and the news. 

Here's a way to tear them down from a computer:

1. Go to https://github.com/iamadamdev/bypass-paywalls-chrome and click the Code dropdown menu, then select Download ZIP
2. Unzip the downloaded file and locate the folder named "bypass-paywalls-chrome-master"
3. In your web browser, go to the Extensions page (Chrome - chrome://extensions ; Edge - edge://extensions ; Brave - brave://extensions)
4. At the top right corner of the browser window, toggle on the switch for Developer mode
5. Drag the "bypass-paywalls-chrome-master" folder to your browser window and click Save at the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.

This is known to work for sites listed in the GitHub readme. Star this project on Github to support the developer.

Feeling stressed or anxious? Take a break from the news and put down your phone.

How to fix Teams Notifications on Mac

Microsoft Teams changed the way it notifies users of new/unread messages. Unfortunately, this caused users to stop receiving unread/new message notifications.

Here’s the fix:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams application on your Mac
2. On your keyboard, press command + comma
3. Click Notifications in the left panel
4. In the dropdown menu for Notification style in the right panel, select Mac
5. A notification may pop up on the top right corner of your screen. Hover your mouse over it, click Options, and click Allow

And that should do it.

Microsoft tends to break things that ain't broke.

Ubuntu 21.04 and Kubuntu 21.04 won't boot on Mac computers

If your computer won't boot to Ubuntu and/or Kubuntu 21.04, you're not alone. You may experience issues such as a blank unresponsive screen upon turning on the machine. This applies to both fresh installations and update installations.

There is currently a bug and a fix is in the works. 

A potential workaround in the meantime is installing rEFInd on your Mac.

Why is iOS 14.5 controversial?

Apple's latest iOS 14.5 release implements a new feature called App Tracking Transparency (ATT) which prompts users to either deny or allow an app's ability to track you across other apps. 

Apple

For example, Facebook may track a user's activity across other applications via Apple's identifier for advertisers (IDFA), which assists advertising campaigns in targeting users with personalized ads. 

So where's the controversy?

Where it hurts: Companies like Facebook will potentially lose out on ad revenue. 

Where it helps: Users recover a little more control over their privacy.

If a service is a free, then you're the product.

How to unblock an invalidated sender.

A user from your organization may receive an email from Microsoft Outlook with the following message:

Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups [...]

Your message couldn't be delivered because you weren't recognized as a valid sender. The most common reason for this is that your email address is suspected of sending spam and it's no longer allowed to send email. Contact your email admin for assistance.

This means their account may have been compromised and used as phishing bait. 

To fix this as a Microsoft 365 administrator, navigate to https://protection.office.com/restrictedusers and unblock the user's account.

The best practice to prevent hacking is to activate multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users at the following link: https://account.activedirectory.windowsazure.com/UserManagement/MultifactorVerification.aspx

How to install Kubuntu

Here's a no-nonsense guide to installing Kubuntu, my favorite Linux distribution. 

If you have an older computer collecting dust somewhere, this is a great way to breathe new life into it.

A. Why Kubuntu?

I like it for its ease of use, wide hardware compatibility, and beautiful KDE interface. It is a friendly distribution to those familiar with macOS and Windows interfaces.

B. Get a host device

Find a computer with at least 4 GB of RAM and prepare to erase the entire hard drive. The M1 Mac does not work with Kubuntu (yet).

If you don't want to wipe the entire hard drive, you can install Kubuntu alongside your existing operating system on your computer. However, I do not recommend doing so since it can get messy.

You can also install Kubuntu on virtualization software such as Oracle VM Virtualbox. A guide for this is in the works, but installing Kubuntu on a physical machine is my preferred method.

C. Download the Kubuntu 20.10 ISO file 

Download Kubuntu 20.10 here. 

The file will be in optical disc image (ISO) format.

D. Download balenaEtcher

Download balenaEtcher here.

E. Plug in a flash drive

Get a flash drive with at least 4 GB of storage capacity and plug it in to your computer. This will be wiped, so back up any files if needed.

F. Flash the ISO onto a USB drive

Open balenaEtcher. 

Step 1 - Select Flash from file and navigate to the downloaded Kubuntu 20.10 ISO file

Step 2 - Select the USB drive you plugged in from section E

Step 3 - Flash, ah ahh! (Your computer may prompt you to type in an administrator's credentials. If this causes the process to fail, then go back and start the flashing process again)

G. Configure the host device

PC

Boot into the PC's BIOS/startup settings. This method varies per machine make and model. Search for the method for your computer on Google. Usually this can be done by pressing or holding Esc, F2, F8, F10, F12, or Del while powering on the computer.

Configure your startup settings to prioritize USB media before your computer's hard drive so the computer can boot from the flash drive instead of your hard drive. Again, you may need to search for the method specific to your computer to configure this.

You also need to disable secure boot if there is an option to do so. This is usually under your BIOS security settings.

Save your changes and proceed.

Mac

Hold option while powering on your Mac. Your USB drive will show up next to your Macintosh hard drive. Select the USB drive with arrow keys and press return.

If nothing showed up after you held option, you may need to follow these instructions to disable secure boot.

H. Boot into Kubuntu

If everything is configured correctly up to this point, your computer should boot into the Kubuntu USB drive you created. 

You have options to try out Kubuntu or go straight to installing it. 

Install it once you're ready, and come back when it's time to dive deeper into the wonderful wacky world of Linux.

How to manually update Linux (Debian-based OSes)

To manually update and upgrade Debian-based Linux packages, run the following command and type in your password in Terminal:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y

Need to clean things up?

sudo apt-get autoclean && sudo apt-get clean && sudo apt-get autoremove

Are things broken?

sudo dpkg --configure -a

Still broken?

sudo apt-get install -f 

This was tested and working on Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Debian, Parrot OS, Kali, and Kodachi

How to fix OneDrive Sync Issues

Microsoft's OneDrive is the worst cloud storage system I have ever used. Contributing to that experience is its sync issues. 

If your OneDrive application is telling you "OneDrive needs your attention" and "There is a sync issue in OneDrive," then click the notification and review the list of files with issues. These issues are usually due to the naming of folders and files. 

Naming Issues

• Sync issues apply to both folder and file names
• The first and last characters of the name cannot be periods or spaces
• The following characters are not allowed anywhere in the file name: " * : < > ? / \ |

Solutions

• Rename your files by removing prohibited characters and spaces
• If you have a large amount of files with naming issues, conduct a search for all files via search bar within your OneDrive folder with the characters " * : < > ? / \ | so you can fix them in bulk
• If you are using macOS, select all applicable files, right-click, and click Rename. This will allow you to replace names of files in bulk 
• If you don't want to name each file, you can compress large amounts of files into .zip files so the files will not be lost or altered
• If the issue is concerning a merge issue, select the option to copy the files so you can keep both copies

Unfortunately OneDrive is bundled in with certain Office 365 licenses and consequently the cloud storage system of choice for many businesses. It is prone to glitches and server issues. Dropbox Business is my top choice for cloud storage due to its ease of use, intuitiveness, and reliability

How to set up a remote desktop connection via Chrome Remote Desktop

You can establish a remote desktop connection with the help of Google's Chrome browser. This allows you to access your computer from virtually anywhere via another computer's Chrome browser or a mobile device's Chrome Remote Desktop app.

What you need:

• A target device (computer)
• Google Chrome
• A Google account 
• Your Gmail account is your Google account

A. Remote Access vs. Remote Support

Google's Chrome Remote Desktop offers two different functions: Remote Access and Remote Support.

Remote Access establishes permanent access to a target device. So long as the target device is powered on and connected to the internet, it can be accessed remotely by another device where the same user is signed in. 

Remote Support generates a one-time access code. The target device generating and sharing the code grants access to any other device provided with the code. The code expires upon its single use. This function is ideal for one-time IT support sessions.

B. Setting up remote access (permanent usage)

1. Open Google Chrome and sign in to your Google account on your target device
2. Navigate to https://remotedesktop.google.com/access
3. In the pop-up window at the bottom right corner of the screen, click the Install button
4. Open the downloaded file and follow its provided instructions to install the remote desktop software
5. Return to https://remotedesktop.google.com/access and create a name and PIN for your target computer
6. Now your device is configured for access from a Chrome browser or Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS and Android

C. Setting up remote support (one-time usage)

1. Open Google Chrome and sign in to your Google account on your target device
2. Navigate to https://remotedesktop.google.com/support
3. If there is a pop-up window at the bottom right corner of the screen, click the Install button
4. Share your screen by generating a code under Share this screen, or access another device by inputting a shared code under Connect to another computer 
5. The target device is also accessible via the Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS and Android

I prefer Google's free* Chrome Remote Desktop for remote desktop connections over other paid software such as Splashtop or TeamViewer.

*Nothing in life is free

How to free up storage space on your Windows PC

Need to free up storage space on your Windows PC? 

Install TreeSize (free to download and run). Run this program as an Administrator to scan your hard drive for an easy visualization of storage space occupied your files and folders. Then find 'em and delete 'em once you're ready to purge.

Happy cleaning!

Need this, but for Mac? Refer to this guide

How to free up storage space on your Mac

You can check your Mac's remaining storage space by clicking the top left corner's Apple icon, About This Mac, and the Storage tab. Occupied storage space is categorized visually. Click the Manage... button for more storage categories in the left panel.

Unfortunately, the System category does not provide more specifics to help you free up space if your storage space is running low.

For a great breakdown of disk usage, I recommend using Disk Drill (free to download and use), which intuitively presents and frees disk usage under its Clean Up tool.

In Disk Drill, the Clean Up tool shows a breakdown of folders and files by the amount of space they occupy on your hard drive. Sorted by decreasing size, larger items are easy to find and purge. You can also mark files for deletion straight from the app.

Happy cleaning!

This was tested and working on macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, and macOS Big Sur. Need this, but for Windows? Refer to this guide

How to share your Mac's screen with your network

If you would like to view or control your Mac remotely from any device within the same network, here's how:

A. How to share the Mac's screen

1. Click the Apple icon on the top left corner of the screen
2. Click System Preferences...
3. Click Sharing
4. On the left panel, select Screen Sharing and click the box to its left to toggle it on
5. Click the Computer Settings... button, check both boxes, and include a password in the text field, and click OK
6. If desired, you may limit access by adding users under the Only these users window by clicking the + symbol
7. Take note of the message under the "Screen Sharing: On" text which reads "Other users can access your computer's screen at vnc://###.###.###.###/ or by looking for "[Computer Name]" in the Finder sidebar."

B. How to access the Mac's screen from another Mac

Preferred Method

1. Ensure your Mac is connected to the same network as the target Mac in section A
2. Click the magnifying glass at the top right corner of your screen to open the Spotlight Search bar
3. Type Screen Sharing and press return or click the app from the list
4. Under the "Connect To:" field, type in the entire vnc://###.###.###.###/ address provided in step 7 of section A and click Connect

Alternate Method

1. Ensure your Mac is connected to the same network as the target Mac in section A
2. Open a Finder window
3. Show the Sidebar by navigating to the menu bar at View / Show Sidebar
4. In the left Sidebar, click Network
5. Double-click the computer with the name provided in step 7 of section A 
6. Click the Share Screen... button on the top right
7. Enter the target Mac user's credentials and sign in

C. How to access the Mac's screen from a Windows or Linux computer

1. Download and install VNC® Viewer
2. Run VNC® Viewer
3. Ensure your computer is connected to the same network as the target Mac in section A
4. In the address bar, type in [Computer Name].local (name as provided in step 7 of section A, e.g. "MaccyMcMacface.local") and press enter/return
5. Click Continue and type in the user credentials to log on

D. How to access the Mac's screen from an iOS or Android device

1. Download VNC® Viewer for iOS or Android
2. Run VNC® Viewer
3. Ensure your iOS or Android device is connected to the same network as the target Mac in section A
4. Click the + icon to add the Mac 
5. In the address bar, type in ###.###.###.### (digits as provided in step 7 of section A, e.g. "192.168.1.100") and press enter/return
6. Click OK if an "Unencrypted connection" screen appears
7. In the Authentication screen, enter the password as provided in step 5 of section A to connect

E. Help, it's not connecting!

1. Is your device connected to the same network as the target Mac?
2. Is the target Mac powered on? Check its sleep settings under System Preferences/Battery (AKA Energy Saver) and disable the "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" setting
3. Check step 7 of section A to see if the address has changed. This may happen if your target Mac's network settings are configured for DHCP instead of static IP

Only activate this feature under a network you trust - or at the very least, create a very strong password in step 5 of section A

How to use "burner" debit cards for trial memberships

Initiating trials for subscription-based services such as audio and video streaming, cloud gaming, and food deliveries usually requires inputting debit/credit card numbers. The trial services automatically default to recurring billing at the end of the trial period if the trial is not cancelled. If you'd like peace of mind should you forget to cancel a trial membership, burner cards are for you.

With Oxygen's banking service, you can use unlimited "disposable virtual cards" for which you may set spend limits. New debit card numbers, complete with CVC codes and expiration dates, are generated after each transaction. 

I set a $2.00 spend limit so my burner card would deny charges exceeding the $2.00 amount. This amount is also a sufficient balance for authorization charges which are debited from and refunded to your account at the initiation of the trial so the service provider can authenticate the card.

I prefer using the Oxygen app on my phone, which is available on iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Android platforms. 

To view my burner card, I navigate to "My cards" under the Overview tab. From there, I swipe over to the Disposable virtual card tab where I can reveal its details by tapping on the card. Right below is the option to set its spend limit. 

Having a burner card is also useful for making purchases if you want to protect yourself from fraudulent charges should any transaction details be compromised

How to remotely control a Mac user's screen via Microsoft Teams or Zoom

Sometimes meeting software such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom are solid options for providing remote IT support. However, this will not work properly unless the presenter grants accessibility and screen recording privileges in their Mac preferences.

There is an easy fix for the presenter:

1. Click the Apple icon on the top left corner of the screen
2. Click System Preferences...
3. Click Security & Privacy
4. Click the Privacy tab
5. At the bottom left corner, click the lock to make changes
6. Input an administrator's credentials when prompted
7. In the left window, select Accessibility (and/or Screen Recording for macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur)
8. In the right window, check boxes for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or any meeting software with screen share capabilities
9. At the bottom left corner of the window, click the lock to prevent further changes

To access control of the presenter's screen, ask the presenter to share their screen via the share screen buttons from their meeting software and request control.

This was tested and working on macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, and macOS Big Sur

How to stop printing double-sided pages on macOS

If you're using a Mac and can't find the settings to turn off double-sided (duplex) printing, you can change your default printing options via the following steps.

1. Click the magnifying glass at the top right corner of your screen to open the Spotlight Search bar
2. Type Terminal and press return or click the app from the list
3. Type cupsctl WebInterface=yes and press return
4. Quit Terminal
5. Open any web browser (Safari, Chrome, Brave, Firefox, etc.) from your Mac 
6. Type localhost:631/printers in the address bar and press return
7. Select your printer from the list
8. There are two drop-down menus. Select Maintenance (left) and Set Default Options (right)
9. Navigate through the menus and search for the setting 2-Sided Printing or Duplex. Set the selection to Off and click the Set Default Options button at the bottom to save your changes
10. If prompted, enter your username and password. If that does not work, you may need to enter an administrator's credentials instead.
11. If successful, a screen will validate your changes.
12. Repeat steps 5 to 11 for other printers, if needed.

This was tested and working on macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, and macOS Big Sur