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Tech Q&A: How to avoid browser hijacking
Q: I read that I could get better protection against hackers by switching to an independent internet connection service, such as Google Public DNS, Cloudflare or Quad9. What do you think?
-- Bob Lommel, Minnetonka, Minn.
A: There are some security benefits, but they fall short of what's needed.
The hacking you refer to (called DNS hijacking) ...Read more
Live music is nice, but buying performance licenses could be nicer
It started with letters. Then came the phone calls, and a guy on the other end of the line who kept saying, "If you don't pay, we'll have to sue."
Les Meyer felt threatened. And how the heck did they know he featured live music at his little winery in rural Nebraska?
"They wouldn't identify themselves, and they try to trap you into things," ...Read more
Let Amazon in your house? Get mail at your desk? Here's how to beat 'porch pirates'
You did your research, shopped around and finally found what you wanted online. In a few days, it'll be yours.
The tracking website says it's been delivered. But it's not there. Maybe it's been stolen.
It's easy for so-called "porch pirates" to snatch packages from your front door or apartment building stoop, and amid the rise of online retail...Read more
Sky News funding will increase under Disney ownership, British culture secretary says
Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox Inc. just got a step closer to buying European satellite television giant Sky, thanks to new commitments from Fox and Walt Disney Co. to alleviate regulatory concerns.
Fox and Disney have offered to increase funding for the prestigious 24-hour channel Sky News. Under the proposal, Disney will operate the news ...Read more
Trump health plan change may ease insurance costs for some; critics fear it could weaken Obamacare
Employees of small businesses and self-employed workers may soon be able to get cheaper health insurance under a new federal rule unveiled Tuesday, though critics warn coverage might not be comprehensive and could leave other consumers paying higher prices.
The rule expands the use of association health plans, in which small businesses, ...Read more
Bills headed for California Senate would put limits on payday, auto-title lending
State legislators killed a bill that would have reshaped much of California's consumer lending market, but two more-modest bills made it through the state Assembly and now move on to the Senate.
One would stop borrowers from taking out more than one payday loan at a time; another would cap interest rates on auto-title loans. Both will be taken ...Read more
Facebook misses another Senate deadline on privacy questions
Facebook Inc. missed a deadline to respond to questions from two top U.S. senators on its sharing of user data with device makers, the latest delay by the social network in addressing lawmakers' queries about its privacy lapses.
Sens. John Thune and Bill Nelson, respectively the Republican chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Commerce ...Read more
Angry over Fox News coverage, 'Modern Family' co-creator Steve Levitan says he's leaving Fox's TV studio
"Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan announced Tuesday that he will leave Fox's TV production studio, citing his personal disgust with Fox News as the reason.
Fox News and Fox's TV studio are both owned by 21st Century Fox. Levitan said on Twitter that he will leave even if the studio changes ownership, as the parent company is considering ...Read more
Bust to boom: Minnesota's Iron Range revives just as trade war looms
HIBBING, Minn. -- The taconite mines are back in action, factories are expanding and new stores and restaurants are popping up from Grand Rapids to Silver Bay.
Minnesota's Iron Range is experiencing an economic revival that seemed unlikely as recently as two years ago, when idled mines and job losses battered the region.
"Obviously the entire ...Read more
Uber begins a push to get its drivers into electric cars
As Uber tries to build its reputation as a good citizen, it's unveiling a new plan: get its drivers to adopt electric vehicles instead of driving cars that burn gasoline.
On Tuesday, the ride-hailing giant announced a yearlong pilot program in which it will provide monetary subsidies to some drivers who use electric vehicles, or EVs; build ...Read more
With 'Roseanne' and Samantha Bee, TV advertisers confront a political minefield
Television advertising is caught in the crossfire of the country's political battles.
When TV stars such as Roseanne Barr, Samantha Bee and Laura Ingraham get into trouble, advertisers retreat rather than risk having their brand names become collateral damage in the highly charged partisan atmosphere enveloping the media landscape.
By the time...Read more
Testimony begins in Qualcomm's bid to ban imports of some iPhones
A key milestone in Qualcomm's punishing legal war with Apple kicked off last week with testimony in the San Diego's company's bid to block certain iPhones from being imported into the U.S.
Opening arguments started Friday in the first of two patent infringement cases that Qualcomm has brought against Apple at the U.S. International Trade ...Read more
CFPB nominee Kathy Kraninger faces questions on her role in 'zero tolerance' immigration policy
WASHINGTON -- Two Senate Democrats want to know what role Kathy Kraninger, who is President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, played in the administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy as a White House aide.
Kraninger oversees the budgets for the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice ...Read more
Liz Reyer: New job in a new city requires a new approach
Q: Lately I have been feeling very insecure and lacking in confidence. It started when I moved to a different city to take a challenging new job. It's been a few months and I just can't seem to get my feet under me. What should I do?
--Celia, 31, graphic designer
A: Build multiple platforms to support you in your new setting to get the best ...Read more
'Pod racer' meets reality? KU aviation team advances in Boeing competition
By the end of the year, a team of students from the University of Kansas hope to have a small working model of a personal helicopter-like aircraft.
After that comes the full-size version.
"So when you see a pod racer on the silver screen, that's a Hollywood fantasy," said KU professor Ron Barrett-Gonzalez. " ... But if you made a specification...Read more
Battle builds around a new product-labeling bill in Congress
NEW YORK -- A new bill in Congress is raising the hackles of consumer advocates who say it'll give Americans less information about the ingredients in products they buy.
Dubbed the Accurate Labels Act, the bill backed by groups that represent companies such as Kellogg Co. and Dow Chemical Co. seeks to establish federal standards for labeling. ...Read more
Washington state maritime labor headed for a retirement cliff
When Capt. Ken Penwell's son was looking for a job, Penwell offered to get him work as a deckhand. Penwell captains hopper dredges for Seattle's Manson Construction, sucking up dirt and clay from river beds.
But Kyle Penwell didn't want to go into his father's career.
"Dad, I don't want to be gone that long from friends and family like you ...Read more
Why settling for a subpar job right out of college can hurt your career for years
CHICAGO -- Since graduating from college last month, Gabriel Villagomez has been polishing his resume, updating his LinkedIn profile -- and worrying.
Sure, the job market looks promising for new grads. And Villagomez, who plans to apply to medical school, just needs a job to hold him over for a year or so.
But with student loan bills looming, ...Read more
Your Office Coach: Working around a mediocre manager
Q: The head of our department is not a good manager. "Dave" has a very short attention span, so our attempts to communicate with him, both verbal and written, often go nowhere.
For example, we have tried to advise Dave about problems with the administrative staff. Our clerical employees ignore proper procedures and show little concern for ...Read more
Troublesome advanced engines for Boeing, Airbus jets have disrupted airlines and shaken travelers
SEATTLE -- A slew of technical problems with the three most advanced models of jet aircraft engines is widely disrupting operations at airlines, bleeding cash from the engine makers and grounding significant numbers of Airbus and Boeing jets.
The most difficult of the issues has this month left almost 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners sold to some of ...Read more
Popular Stories
- Washington state maritime labor headed for a retirement cliff
- Bills headed for California Senate would put limits on payday, auto-title lending
- Critics say CFPB nominee Kathy Kraninger lacks the experience to be the nation's top consumer financial watchdog
- Why settling for a subpar job right out of college can hurt your career for years
- Troublesome advanced engines for Boeing, Airbus jets have disrupted airlines and shaken travelers
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