Few places have the configuration for various platforms on how to prevent Google Chrome from installing the 4GB LLM model that got traction over the last few days. Luckily it is at [Wayback/Archive] default settings – How do I disable all AI features in Chrome? – Super User (thanks [Wayback/Archive] A-Tech and [Wayback/Archive] cachius):
Author Archive
default settings – How do I disable all AI features in Chrome? – Super User
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/11
Posted in AI and ML; Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Chrome, Development, Google, LLM, Power User, Software Development | Leave a Comment »
On my list of virtualized network solutions to try: ZeroTier | Global Area Networking
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/11
ZeroTier looks interesting: [Wayback/Archive] ZeroTier | Global Area Networking.
Especially since:
- [Wayback/Archive] zerotier/ZeroTierOne: A Smart Ethernet Switch for Earth open source repository
- [Wayback/Archive] Pricing (Plan Basic: Free / ZeroTier Hosted Controller, 1 Admin, 25 Nodes, Unlimited Networks, Business SSO: n/a, Community Support)
- [Wayback/Archive] ZeroTier on MikroTik
MikroTik now joins Ubiquiti, Teltonika Networks, OpenWrt, and OPNsense on our list of supported 3rd party networking firmware and routers.
The first is unlike Tailscale.
Too bad it is not available as official pfSense package:
- [Wayback/Archive] Official ZeroTier pfSense package : PFSENSE
I would love to have some contributors. github.com/ChanceM/pfSense-pkg-zerotier
Biggest issue right now is the upgrade process will remove the package and not start zerotier soon enough to prevent a mismatched interface leading to a un responsive firewall until you go to the console and reassign the interfaces.
If anyone at Netgate wants to give me a pointer in the right direction it would be welcome. - [Wayback/Archive] ChanceM/pfSense-pkg-zerotier: pfSense package to support zerotier. which is stalled, see above and this open pull-request:
- [Wayback/Archive] Zerotier One as a package – $100USD | Netgate Forum
Via: [Wayback/Archive] The definitive Guide to Zerotier VPN and why it is “better” than Wireguard (Tutorial) – YouTube
Queries:
–jeroen
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SABRENT USB Charging Station 252 W 8-Port PD 3.0 with LCD Display – GaN Charger Charger – Fast Charging Station for USB-C & USB-A Devices, Laptops, Smartphones – PPS, Overcharge Protection: Amazon.de: Computer & Accessories
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/08
This is a cool device as explained in the below video: [Wayback/Archive] SABRENT USB Charging Station 252 W 8-Port PD 3.0 with LCD Display – GaN Charger Charger – Fast Charging Station for USB-C & USB-A Devices, Laptops, Smartphones – PPS, Overcharge Protection: Amazon.de: Computer & Accessories
Despite good, I put this comment below the video:
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Posted in ElectricPower, Hardware, LifeHacker, Power User, PSU, USB, USB-C | Leave a Comment »
Little Snitch – I was living under a stone; thanks Angrynerds!
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/08
Boy have I been living under a stone, I wish I had known Little Snitch 2 decades ago (:
Little Snitch is a host-based application firewall for macOS. It can be used to monitor applications, preventing or permitting them to connect to attached networks through advanced rules. It is produced and maintained by the Austrian firm Objective Development Software GmbH.
At the time of writing, it was at version 5.x, and it was introduced early this century.
Site and other links:
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Posted in Apple, Mac, Mac OS X / OS X / MacOS, Power User | Leave a Comment »
Devs of VS Code extensions are leaking secrets en masse • The Register
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/07
Reminder from a while back: all your development tools are belong to us: [Wayback/Archive] Devs of VS Code extensions are leaking secrets en masse • The Register
--jeroen
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Posted in Development, JavaScript/ECMAScript, Scripting, Software Development, TypeScript, vscode Visual Studio Code | Leave a Comment »
Wondering if the takeown/icacls/del trick still work to screw up %windir%\system32 (via Patrick Doyle on Twitter)
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/07
A few years back this trick was shown to screw up %windir%\system32 [Wayback/Archive] Patrick Doyle on Twitter: “@SwiftOnSecurity @RoseAreaZero Delete any file in three easy steps: > takeown /F "example.ext" > icacls "example.ext" /grant "%USERNAME%":F > del "example.ext"“.
Like [Wayback/Archive] SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) / Twitter (see the long thread further below), I was expecting that Windows would either prevent you from doing this at all, or allow for easy recovery with System File Protection (now Source: Windows File Protection).
That didn’t prevent or recover it back then.
I wonder if that has been changed by now.
From the above Tweet:
Delete any file in three easy steps:> takeown /F "example.ext" > icacls "example.ext" /grant "%USERNAME%":F > del "example.ext"
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Posted in Batch-Files, Development, Power User, Scripting, Security, Software Development, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Development | Leave a Comment »
I Built a Commodore 64 Laptop That Never Existed (PI + EMULATION) – The Portable 64 Concept Design – YouTube
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/06
Cool to see what 3D printing plus a Raspberry Pi emulating a C64 can do [Wayback/Archive] I Built a Commodore 64 Laptop That Never Existed (PI + EMULATION) – The Portable 64 Concept Design – YouTube.
The Portable 64 with an original Commodore 64 joystick
However, published in December 2025 after Commodore had been resurrected from the C= brands, it would have been way cooler if was based on new Commodore 64 Ultimate hardware.
Maybe someone will do such a portable computer based on that hardware, or even better that it becomes available at [Wayback/Archive] Home | Commodore.
--jeroen
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Posted in 3D printing, 6502, C64, Commodore, Development, Hardware Development, History, Power User, Retrocomputing | Leave a Comment »
AbortController is your friend
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/06
Cool post [Wayback/Archive] AbortController is your friend starting with
One of my favorite new features of JS is the humble
AbortController, and itsAbortSignal. It enables some new development patterns, which I’ll cover below, but first: the canonical demo.It’s to use
AbortControllerto provide afetch()you can abort early:
It then continues with a series of nice use cases.
Via [Wayback/Archive] Roderick Gadellaa on Twitter: “Late to the party here (was published in June last yr) but great read if you (like me) missed it”.
Video at [Wayback/Archive] AbortController is your friend – YouTube.
–jeroen
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Posted in Development, JavaScript/ECMAScript, Scripting, Software Development, Web Development | Leave a Comment »
bash script for $* loop accept command line with spaces in wildcard file names at DuckDuckGo
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/05
Back when I wanted a more universal solution [Wayback/Archive] bash script for $* loop accept command line with spaces in wildcard file names at DuckDuckGo I got into a mess of tips that either did not work at all, or were very convoluted.
As back then I only needed a one-time solution, I just listed the filenames with ls into a text file, did some sed and editing steps, then had each file execute in a separate step. Low tech, non-repeatable when new files appeared, but good enough.
In case I want to go for a more universal solution, below are some links to investigate further. Will likely take me hours, so most of the time this is not worth it. Maybe the subshell plus $IFS (Input Field Separators) is a good start, though it gives me a feeling that in the future it will break something else that was expecting a default $IFS value, as is using while read loop. Both types of solutions feel too convoluted. Same for the array solution below.
I might have just been spoiled with PowerShell piping objects instead of strings having made life so much easier.
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Posted in *nix, *nix-tools, ash/dash, bash, bash, Development, Power User, Scripting, Software Development | Leave a Comment »
How to adapt a DucoBox Silent system to make it use Open Source hardware and software for keeping CO2 and humidity levels at healthy levels
Posted by jpluimers on 2026/05/05
The hackability of the [Wayback/Archive] DucoBox Silent “smart” home ventilation box with [Wayback/Archive] Flamingo-tech/Open-AIR: Open source system for home ventilation and control via HA based open hardware was shown by [Wayback/Archive] Jilles Groenendijk (@jilles_com) / Twitter with open source products from [Wayback/Archive] Browse products by TheFlamingo on Tindie in this Tweet:
[Wayback/Archive] Jilles Groenendijk on Twitter: “I bought a
duco.eu/uk/products/mechanical-ventilation/ventilation-units/eng-ducobox-silentripped out all its proprietary electronics and replaced it with open source hardware:tindie.com/stores/theflamingoNow I am able to measure temp/humidity/pressure/co2 of all the connected rooms. And switch the ventilation on each individual area.”
The above Tweet contains useful pictures and a video which I have added below the post signature because they so well show the placement of the open source hardware. Same for the pictures from:
- [Wayback/Archive] Jilles Groenendijk :mastodon:: “/mail from
tindie.com/stores/theflamingo“ - [Wayback/Archive] MaaikeV on Mastodon Social on Twitter: “RT @jilles_com@infosec.exchange I have upgraded the DucoBox Silent air ventilation system with new circuitry.
infosec.exchange/@jilles_com/109653396219635609“ - [Wayback/Archive] Jilles Groenendijk :mastodon:: “I have upgraded the DucoBox Silent air ventilation system with new circuitry.” – Infosec Exchange
The whole setup integrates well with Home Assistant.
–jeroen
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The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 