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So, another Internet Explorer add-on toolbar...but wait! Quero Toolbar is different: It's actually worth using. For starters, it's not like those spyware "toolbars" that continue to plague unprotected PCs and careless users. Quero Toolbar is actually designed to block pop-ups, flash animations, and other ad-related annoyances that can spoil your browsing. It also integrates a search-as-you-type function, easily selectable search engines and international profiles, a highlighter, easy zoom and resize, security options, and much more.

Quero Toolbar installs seamlessly with all versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and above. The Quero button on the navigation … Read more

One of the best known and simplest Firefox add-ons, AdBlock Plus effectively blocks online ads from a predefined list of ad providers. You can quickly personalize that list by clicking on the AdBlock Plus "stop sign" button it installs on either your navigation toolbar or your status bar. Adblock Plus runs unobtrusively in the background, and right-clicking an ad brings up message box, through which you can easily add to the list of blocked ads. Removing an ad from the blocked list also is as simple as clicking and choosing the appropriate option. Via the same list, you … Read more

Sliding Block Puzzle does exactly what its name implies by mimicking a favorite childhood handheld game. Its simple graphics and relatively challenging gameplay make it a perfect choice for those looking for a brief brain-teaser or a bigger challenge.

In Sliding Block Puzzle, you click and drag tiles around to move a red square from a frame. We enjoyed the design of the program's interface, which is simple but with a clean, professional look. While the commonsense directions are straightforward enough that we didn't need any additional instructions, we were nevertheless disappointed to discover that the Help file … Read more

Next year will probably see new tablet computers from Apple and maybe even Microsoft. What do these companies know that our panel does not? Featuring Ryan Block and Harry McCracken.

Reporters Roundtable # 5: Tablets' uncertain future

It's the obligatory Tablets edition of the Roundtable, this time with even more great and smart tech journalist entrepreneurs from Gdgt (Ryan Block) and Technologizer (Harry McCracken). Watch or listen for the content. Click to the full story to see the notes we used when recording.… Read more

NASA is sending a rocket into the moon Friday morning to study the composition of lunar material. But really, you stopped listening when you heard "blow up the Moon." And so did Cooley. For one small second, that made him love space. We also talk about the world's largest phishing sting and Windows 8. Yep, 8.

Operation “Phish Phry” nabs largest number of phishers ever. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8295945.stm

Wife bans FBI head … Read more

In the 2010 version of its flagship security suite, Symantec continues to build on the unexpected progress it made last year. In addition to maintaining the quick load and scan times, and significantly smaller system footprint, Norton 2010 includes a behavioral detection engine based on both behavior and reputation.

Called Quorum, this new engine doesn't adversely affect Norton's performance--a major concern after years of system-crippling sluggishness. It works in concert with Norton Insight, introduced last year as a whitelist-style guard for ''trusted'' files. By examining your files and how they behave--both locally and when trying to access the … Read more

In the 2010 version of its well-known antivirus program, Symantec continues to build on the unexpected progress it made last year. In addition to maintaining the quick load and scan times, and significantly smaller system footprint, Norton 2010 includes a behavioral detection engine based on both behavior and reputation.

Called Quorum, this new engine doesn't adversely affect Norton's performance--a major concern after years of system-crippling sluggishness. It works in concert with Norton Insight, introduced last year as a whitelist-style guard for ''trusted'' files. By examining your files and how they behave--both locally and when trying to access the … Read more

Ashampoo FireWall Free is an easy-to-use program that lets users to their computers from unwanted connections to the Internet. Though it may not be the most robust firewall available, it's a great choice for novice users who know they want protection but aren't sure how a firewall should be configured.

The program's interface is sleek and intuitive, with its functions neatly organized in tabs. Users don't have to do much to configure the program initially; it will automatically notify users when an application attempts to connect to the Internet and ask whether users want to allow … Read more

It's Friday afternoon leading up to a three-day weekend. Let's be honest, you're not doing any work right now. So, how about a cool video to keep you entertained?

We've already seen Ken Block's inhumanly precise drifting in Gymkhana 1 and Gymkhana 2. Just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier, Ken Block and pal Rob Drydek get extra silly in Gymkhana 2.1.

Featuring Drydek piloting a go-kart kitted up to look like a Mini-Me version of Block's WRX STI car, this video features some close calls and a few funny … Read more